Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Filing Rules

Civil pleadings must designate the attorney who will try the case as the trial attorney.

A continuance request must be accompanied by a proposed judgment entry.

A witness list should give each witness’s correctly spelled name and current residence or business address, if known.

One-half (½) of the Board of Arbitrator's fees in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) shall be paid by plaintiff(s), and one-half (½) of the Board of Arbitrator's fees in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) shall be paid by defendant(s). The arbitrators' fees shall be deposited with the Chair or sole arbitrator at least fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled arbitration. IF A PARTY FAILS TO TIMELY DEPOSIT ARBITRATION FEES THE CHAIR, AFTER NOTICE, MAY CANCEL THE ARBITRATION. UPON CANCELLATION OF THE ARBITRATION THE CHAIR SHALL NOTIFY THE COURT. FAILURE TO DEPOSIT ARBITRATION FEES MAY RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION OF AN APPROPRIATE SANCTION INCLUDING DEFAULT JUDGMENT, DISMISSAL OF CLAIMS, AND THE G.C.R. - PG. 42 AWARDING OF LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES TO ADVERSELY AFFECTED PARTIES.

The jury-service notice and questionnaire must be delivered by ordinary mail.

Provide opposing counsel with a copy of each exhibit before trial.

Electronically transmitted documents may be submitted at any time, but a document submitted after 11:59:59 p.m. is considered received the following calendar day.

The court does not accept documents sent by facsimile or e-mail.

Electronically filed documents should follow the formatting rules for paper pleadings, motions, and documents.

Mark exhibits before trial or hearing, using numerical sequence for plaintiff’s exhibits and alphabetical sequence for defendant’s exhibits.

The trial court has discretion to continue a scheduled trial or hearing for good cause.

Continuance motions must be written and accompanied by a proposed judgment entry; the guidelines recommend stating whether opposing counsel was consulted and require specified attachments for scheduling conflicts and matters in other courts.

Continuance motions must be written; they should state whether opposing counsel was consulted, and scheduling-conflict evidence or an out-of-court hearing notice must be attached when applicable.

Criminal Pre-Trials must be held with the prosecutor’s office, and the court will not participate in plea negotiations.

The Court asks counsel to raise concerns about or questions regarding a guideline before trial.

The information in the Family Law Sensitive Information Sheet is not publicly available.

Have four copies of the witness list available before trial for the Judge, Bailiff, Court Reporter, and opposing counsel.