Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Electronic Filing Rules

Applies to

Affidavit or notarized document

An affidavit or other notarized document lacking the specified digital signature or electronic notarization must be signed and notarized on paper, scanned afterward, and e-filed as a PDF.

Documents requiring an original signature, such as an affidavit, or other notarized documents that do NOT contain digitally applied original, flattened signatures and/or a properly applied electronic notary shall be scanned after the signature and notarization are applied to the paper document and shall be e-Filed as a “.pdf”

All counsel of record must register for an e-Filing account to file, receive, review, and retrieve case documents.

All counsel of record shall register with the Court's e-Filing system to file, receive, review, and retrieve copies of e-Filed pleadings, orders, and other documents in the case.

Each law firm must register an e-Filing account and establish user accounts for every attorney who intends to file with the Court.

A firm shall register an e-Filing account for the entirety of the firm set up use accounts for each attorney that intends to file with the Court.

An unregistered in-person pro se filer must register through the online portal, after which the filer must submit documents through that portal.

Pro se parties filing in person who are not already registered users shall be referred to the online e-Filing Portal to register for a Self-Represented Account. Once the filer becomes a registered user, his/her documents shall be submitted through the e-Filing Portal.

A registered individual must use the confidential electronic identifier assigned by the Court to file documents.

The Court's e-File system shall assign an individual who has registered pursuant to Subsection (A) of this Rule a confidential and unique electronic identifier that shall be used to file pleadings, orders, and other documents in the case.

Each registered individual is responsible for securing and using their assigned electronic identifier.

Each person to whom a unique identifier has been assigned shall be responsible for the security and use of such identifier.

Applies to

Indictment

Criminal-case indictments must be filed through the Court's e-File system and served under the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Indictments in criminal cases shall be filed through the Court's e-File system in compliance with these Rules and shall be served on defendants according to the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Applies to

Document

Documents requiring filing under seal or in camera, and the listed case filings, may not be submitted through the e-File System.

The following documents may not be filed through the e-File System: (1) Any document required to be filed under seal or in camera. (2) Complaints in Appropriations Cases. (3) Motions for temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions or other immediate relief. (4) Complaints filed pursuant to R.C. 2903.214 for Civil Stalking Protection Orders or Civil Sexually Oriented Offender Protection Orders. (5) All documents related to Judgment Lien Cases, Certificates of Judgment, Garnishments, Writs of Possession, Foreign Sheriff Deposits and Petitions for Court Ordered Certificates of Title.

Applies to

Certificate of qualification for employment petition

An individual seeking a Certificate of Qualification for Employment must file the petition electronically through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections process.

Pursuant to R.C. 2953.25, any individual seeking a Certificate of Qualification for Employment from the Lucas County Common Pleas Court, General Division, must file the petition electronically through the process provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC).

An e-filed document is presumed authorized by the party assigned the filing identifier unless that party disproves the presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

All e-Filed documents shall be deemed to be made with the authorization of the party who is assigned the specific unique electronic identifier, unless the party proves to the satisfaction of the Court, by clear and convincing evidence, that the contrary is demonstrated.

Documents of ten pages or fewer may be filed by fax under the stated rule using fax number 419-213-4291.

The Clerk of Courts shall maintain an independent telephone line and facsimile machine to allow the filing of documents no longer than ten pages in length with the court by following this rule. The number of the fax machine is 419-213-4291.

A document filed after the original complaint and not requiring an Appendix A security deposit may be filed by facsimile.

Filing documents subsequent to an original complaint and not requiring a security deposit as set forth in Appendix A may be filed by facsimile with the Clerk of Courts.

Documents filed electronically, or paper documents scanned and uploaded by the Clerk, constitute the Official Court Record and have the same force and effect as traditionally filed records.

Documents filed through the e-File System or documents filed in paper format that have been scanned and uploaded to the e-File system by the Clerk constitute the Official Court Record. These records have the same force and effect as those filed by traditional means.

Paper documents may be destroyed or returned to the filing party after electronic conversion and storage.

Pursuant to the Ohio Rules of Superintendence, paper documents may be destroyed or returned to the party after being converted and stored electronically.

The e-Filing System serves as the Clerk's agent for electronic filing, receipt, service, and retrieval of electronic documents.

The e-Filing System is hereby appointed the agent of the Clerk for purposes of electronic filing, receipt, service and retrieval of electronic documents.