Erie County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Expense reimbursement submission

Expenses claimed under this section must be itemized.

All expenses claimed under this section must be itemized.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Must include

caption

Pleadings must include the listed case-identifying and scheduling information in the caption, including a first-time party's residence address and the assigned judge's name once assigned.

The caption of such papers shall contain the following: A) Docket Number B) Style of the cause C) Character of.the contents (e.g., COMPLAINT, ANSWER, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, MOTION TO DISMISS, etc.) P) Residence address of a party whose name appears in a pleading for the first time, E) Any hearing date and/or trial date that has been assigned, regardless of the nature of the pleading. F) The name of the judge handling the cause, after assigned.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil complaint

A complaint in a civil case must be filed with a case designation form and a pre-recorded videotape trial statement.

The following shall be filed with the complaint in all civil cases: A) A case designation form. (Appendix 1 - copies will be available in the Clerk's office until further notice.) Counsel will complete the top portion of the_ form where applicable._ B) A pre-recorded videotape trial statement (Appendix 2).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil answer

An answer in a civil case must be filed with a pre-recorded videotape trial statement.

The following shall be filed with the answer in all civil cases: A) A pre-recorded videotape trial statement (Appendix 2).

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Amended pleading

After a pleading is amended, the original may not be withdrawn or obliterated unless the Court gives written leave to substitute the amended pleading.

In no case after pleadings are amended shall the original pleading be withdrawn from the files or any part be obliterated unless leave be given ·by written order of the.Court to substitute the Blllended for the original pleading;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Amended pleading

An amendment may not be made by interlineation without a written court order.

nor shall the amendment be made by interlineation except by written order of the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Must include

legal argument

A memorandum citing the authorities relied upon must be filed with every civil motion, including qualifying summary-judgment motions.

A memorandum citing the authorities re~ied upon must be filed with all civil motions, including motions for summary judgment raising questions-of law or· fact for determination.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Title indicia

No order, judgment, or decree affecting the real estate title may be entered until the title indicia are filed with the Clerk.

No orders, judgments or decrees affecting the title to suoh real estate shall be made and entered in the case ~til such _indicia of ·title shall have been filed with the Clerk,

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition

In actions affecting real estate title, the plaintiff must file specified title information with the Clerk when filing the petition.

In any action wherein the title to real estate will be affected, such as actions for the marshalling and foreclosure of liens, actions to quiet title, actions for the partition of real estate, actions based upon·use restrictions, etc., the plaintiff shall file with the Clerk at the time of.filing the petition an abstract, policy of title -insurance, guaranteed statement of title, or other adequate statement of title showing the record condition of the title to the premises concerned in the action and/or such other matters apparent from the county records as may be necessary or convenient for the intelligent and accurate determination of the issues _in the action.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Title indicia

After a deed transferring ownership is recorded or an order quieting title is entered, the preparer must extend the title indicia to include it.

If the action shall result in a change of ownership of the real estate concerned, or if the title to said real estate or part thereof shall be quieted, the abstractor or attorney who prepared such indicia of title shall, after the recording of the deed conveying such real estate, or after the entry of the order quieting title, extend such indicia of title to include such deed or order quieting title.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Restraining order or injunction

Counsel must submit restraining orders and temporary or permanent injunctions in judgment-entry form; the Court will not issue them by endorsement on pleadings.

All restraining orders, temporary injunctions .and permanent injunctions must be submitted by counsel in judgment entry form. No orders will be issued by endorsement on the complaint or other pleadings.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Attorneys from a firm or partnership must list the firm name and separately identify themselves as trial counsel with their address and phone number on all pleadings.

Attorneys who are members o:f a :firm or partnership representing parties shall, in addition to listing the firm or partnership name on all pleadings, list their own name separately, as trial counsel, together with address and phone number.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment entry

Counsel seeking withdrawal must obtain a judgment entry ordering withdrawal and continuing further activity in the action for thirty days so the parties can obtain new counsel.

Counsel shall :further secure a judgment entry containing the.Court's order thiit their.name be.withdrawn as counsel therein, and that :further activity in said action be continued for thirty days in order to give the applicable parties an opportunity to obtain new counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Default application

A judgment entry must accompany an application for default.

A ,·judgment entry -shaJ:l, accompany ·the application' for default.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed judgment entry

If counsel cannot agree on an entry within the prescribed time, they must immediately notify the Court and each submit a proposed entry; the Court may hold a hearing or prepare its own entry.

If within the time limits herein prescribed counsel are unable to agree upon a satisfactory entry, such faot shall be made known to the Court immediately, and each counsel shall submit to the· Court a proposed entry. · The Court may sche.dule a hearing thereon or prepare its' own entry forthwith.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Approved judgment entry

After approval within the prescribed time, prevailing counsel must deliver the approved entry to the Court, and it is to be entered in the Clerk’s Journal forthwith upon the Court’s approval and signature.

Upon the approval of the entry within the time limits hereinbefore prescribed, counsel for the prevailing party will cause ··such approved entry to be delivered to thEr Court. Said entry shall forthwith be entered in the Clerk's Journal upon the approval· and signature of the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Execution instructions

Execution instructions must include the exact location, serial number, detailed description, and title copy for a motor vehicle or watercraft, and written instructions for the sheriff.

*****Complete Instructions for execution required; exact location, serial number, detailed description and copy of title for motor vehicle or watercraft needed. WRITIEN instructions for sheriff MUST also be provided.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Out of state witness summons application

The Court will summon an out-of-state witness only upon counsel’s written application to the Court stating the witness’s materiality and necessity.

The Court will summon out of state witnesses in compliance with R.C. §§2939.25-2939.29 only upon written application by counsel, to the Court, stating the materiality and necessity of the witness.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits

Trial exhibits must be labeled before trial; plaintiff’s exhibits must be numbered and defendant’s exhibits lettered, or they will be inadmissible.

All exhibits intended to be used dUTing trial shall be labeled prior to trial . . Failure to do so will result in their inadmissibility. Plaintiff's exhibits shall. be numbered and defendant's exhibits shall be lettered.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to suppress

A motion to suppress must bear the defendant’s signature.

All motions to suppress shall bear the signature of the defendant:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

A motion must be accompanied by a brief statement of the issues and a memorandum.

A brief statement bf the issues involved and a memorandum shall accompany the motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mental examination request

For a requested psychological or psychiatric examination in a criminal case, counsel must file a written request with the Adult Probation Department stating the examination’s specific purpose.

in. 'criminal cases where a psychological and/or psychiatric examination or evaluation is requested by the defendant or the State, counsel· will prepare a written request stating specifically the purposes of the examination, i.e., A) ' . Competency to sta.~d trial, Section 2945.37 . B) Insanity at the time of act, Section 2945.4o C) Drug dependence, Section.a 2951. 041 arid 2951. 04 D) Mitigating Circumstances, Section 2947.06 and file same with the Adult Probation Department for referral to the appropriate agency ..

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Objections

A proponent filing videotape testimony must also file written, numbered objections for decision and a brief statement of the basis for each.

1. When a proponent o:f ·testimony files a videotape. with the Clerk, he shall also :file in writing the numbered objections upon which he wishes a ruling "by the Court; together with a brief statement of _the basis for such objections.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Videotape

A statement attached to the videotape cover when filed must identify the case, docket number, witness, and testimony length.

F. A statement shall be.attached to the cover of the videotape when filed, indicating the name of the case, docket number, name of wi tpess and length of testimony.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Arbitration report

If the panel members do not unanimously agree on the finding and award, the dissenting member must submit a written dissenting opinion for filing with the majority report.

In the event that-all three members·do .not agree on the finding and·award, the dissenting member shcl.11. submit 'a 'wri tteri dissenting opinion to be .fil~il \'ii th. the majori VJ report.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint or answer

In civil cases, each party must sign and file the specified videotape-trial statement with the complaint or answer.

In all civil cases filed, . in the Erie County Com,mo;n Ple.as· Court each party shall sign and file with it~ Coinp:Laint or Answer the :following statement: "I (we) have been advised by my (our) attorney·. that the trial of this case will be advanced out of regular order if I (we) request that all of the testimony .be pre-recorded on videotape pursuant to Civ. R. 40. _ _ _I (we) request that the trial be advanced.. - - -I (we) do not want the trial to be advanced.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment entry

The plaintiff’s attorney must promptly prepare a judgment entry complying with Rule 9.01 and confirming the sale.

whereupon the attorney for the plaintiff 11 •• , • ·sha11· forthwith prepare 'a judgment entry in· compliance with Rule 9.01, infra, confirming sale 1 • • • 11

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to suppress

A motion to suppress must be accompanied by a statement of facts and a brief.

Motions to suppress shall be accompanied by a·statement of facts and brief. 11

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Indicia of title

In actions affecting real-estate title, the plaintiff must file adequate, properly prepared indicia of title with the petition, current to no more than 30 days before commencement.

In any action wherein the title to real estate will be affected, such as actions for the marshalling and foreclosure of liens, actions to quiet title, actions for the partition of real estate, actions based upon·use restrictions, etc., the plaintiff shall file with the Clerk at the time of.filing the petition an abstract, policy of title -insurance, guaranteed statement of title, or other adequate statement of title showing the record condition of the title to the premises concerned in the action and/or such other matters apparent from the county records as may be necessary or convenient for the intelligent and accurate determination of the issues _in the action. Such indicia of title shall be pre- pared by a competent abstractor or attorney-at-law, and shall be extended to a date not more than thirty ( 30) days next preceding the commencement of the action.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Indicia of title

No order, judgment, or decree affecting the real-estate title may be entered until the indicia of title are filed with the Clerk.

No orders, judgments or decrees affecting the title to suc]:l real estate shall .be made and entered in the case until such _indicia of title shall have been filed with the Clerk,

CRITICAL

Applies to

Attorney certificate

The attorney’s certificate must itemize all travel expenses, including mileage, airfare, lodging, meals, and miscellaneous items.

The attorney's certificate shall include an itemized statement of all travel expenses including mileage,. air fare lodging, ·meals, and other miscellaneous items.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Assigned counsel fee application

An application for assigned counsel fees must be fully completed and include the appointment date, disposition and offense details, itemized expenses, and hours worked with the stated in-court and out-of-court rates.

7) Application for assigned counsel fees shall be :fully completed and contain the following: 1) date of.appointment; 2) disposition including,,na.Ine q;f. of:f_ense, tyJJe and degree of of±:ense·and the sections of the Ohio Revised Code that have.been violated; 3) detailed itemization of expenses; '. 4) number. of hours worked:. in Court @ $30 hour· out of Court@ $20 hour

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Videotape testimony objections

When filing videotape testimony, the proponent must also file written numbered objections for decision and a brief statement of the basis for each.

When a proponent o:f ·testimony files a videotape. with the Clerk, he shall also :file in writing the numbered objections upon which he wishes a ruling "by the Court; together with a brief statement of _the basis for such objections.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Expense reimbursement submission

Reimbursement submissions must include receipts for expenses over $5, except parking and taxicab fares, which require receipts over $1.

All expenses· submitted for reimbursement which exceed $5.00 (except parking and taxicab fare) shall be accompanied by a receipt. Parking and taxicab fare expenses exceeding $1.00 shall be accompanied by a receipt.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Appointment of assigned counsel

Eligible assigned counsel must be appointed by the judge, with the appointment entered by signed journal entry on the court docket.

All counsel eligible for payment under the authorized fee schedule shall be appointed by the Judge of the General Division of the Erie Courity Common Pleas Court and said appointment shall be entered by signed journal entry recorded on the Court docket.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Assigned counsel payment request

Assigned defense counsel seeking payment must submit a motion to approve counsel fees and a completed affidavit of indigency on State Public Defender forms.

All assigned defense c~unsel seeking payment under·the authorized fee schedule shall.submit .a motion to, approve the payment of . counsel fees and. an a(fidavit of indigency completed by the client or their defense co·unsel on forms prescribed by the State Public Defender. All forms must be completely filled out

CRITICAL

Applies to

Expense reimbursement submission

Expenses exceeding $5 must be accompanied by a receipt or an affidavit from assigned counsel.

Expenses exceeding $5.00 must be accompanied by a receipt or by affidavit of assigned counsel.

WARNING

Applies to

Reply

A reply filed after the ten-day period may contain only a general denial.

A reply filed after the ten (10) day period will be permitted to contain only a general denial.

WARNING

Applies to

Title indicia

If the plaintiff fails to provide the required title indicia, any party may have it prepared and filed with the Clerk.

If the plaintiff shall fail to comply with the foregoing requirement, any party may cause such · indicia of title to· be prepared and filed with the Clerk.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Default judgment

When an accounting or damages determination is necessary, a hearing date should be obtained from the Assignment Commissioner and noted on the entry of default.

If it is necessary to take an accounting or determine the amount of damages, a hearing date should be obtained from the Assignment Commissioner and noted on entry . of default

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 11, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Indicia of title

If the plaintiff or another party fails to supply the indicia of title within 30 days after court notice, the action may be dismissed without prejudice.

if. the plaintiff and/or other party (ies) shall fail to supply such indicia of title within thirty (30) days after having been notified by the Court to do so , the cause may be dismissed as for want of prosecution, but without prejudice to a future action based upon the same subject matter.

WARNING

Applies to

Videotape testimony certification

Counsel must have the Notary mark objection points on the videotape using a connected date-time generator, number objections consecutively, and attach the record to the certification filed with the Clerk.

At the time o:f recording it will be the responsibility of counsel to instruct the Notary Public before whom the testimony is taken to note by the use. o:f a date-time generator device connected with the tape the point on the videotape where objections are made. Tl:ie Notary will then· number the objections consecutively and attach this record to the certification when :filed with the Clerk.

WARNING

Applies to

Stipulation or waiver

Stipulations and waivers must either be voiced on the videotape or made in writing and filed with it.

C. Stipulations and waivers shall be voiced on the tape i tsel:f or be made in writing a..".ld :filed with the tape.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

When a pleading is not filed within the rule day provided by Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure or within any further extension of time granted by the Court, leave to file such pleading shall not be granted unless the pleading is submitted with a request for leave to file the pleading instanter.

We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?

Such indicia of title shall be prepared by a competent abstractor or attorney-at-law,

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Title indicia ?

and shall be extended to a date not more than thirty ( 30) days next preceding the commencement of the action.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Order of sale

No order of sale shall be issued by the Clerk to the Sheriff unless there is filed with the Clerk an abstract, statement of title, et cetera, as set forth in Paragraph 1 of.this Rule, extended ·to within ten (10) days of the issuance of the order of sale. Such abstract, statement of title, et cetera, will accompany the order of sale when it is issued to the Sheriff.

Summary: Before an order of sale issues, a current abstract or statement of title must be filed with the Clerk and accompany the order sent to the Sheriff.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Motion to withdraw ?

In any action be:fore this Court in which an attorney has entered an appearance, and, thereafter desires to withdraw, the· attorney shall request the Court's approval o:f such withdrawal by motion.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Indicia of title

If the plaintiff shall fail to comply with the foregoing requirement, any party may cause such indicia of title to be prepared and filed with the Clerk.

We could not confirm this summary. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Videotape testimony ?

A statement shall be.attached to the cover o:f the videotape when filed, indicating the name of the case, docket number, name of wi tpess and length o:f testimony.