Mercer County Court of Common Pleas, Ohio Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICAL

Registered e-filers agree to file electronically and must serve the parties and Court in accordance with Ohio Civil Rule 5.

By registering as an e-filer, the attorney or party agrees to file documents electronically and shall serve parties to a case and the Court in accordance with Ohio Civil Rule 5.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Document requiring filing deposit or fee

A document requiring a filing deposit or fee to achieve valid filing status must be filed in the same manner as other e-filed documents.

Any document requiring payment of a filing deposit for fee to the Clerk in order to achieve valid filing status shall be filed in the same manner as any other e-Filed document.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Service instructions

Service instructions must be filed electronically when the specified initiating pleading or pleading adding a party is electronically filed.

Upon electronically filing the original complaint, third party complaint, or any pleading that adds a new party, the filing party shall also file instructions for service electronically.

CRITICAL

Persons filing with the Clerk or Court must register as e-filers, use their assigned electronic identifier, and create an account with the Clerk-designated online payment agent.

Persons filing documents with the Clerk or the Court must become registered e-filers. Registered e-filers will receive a confidential and unique electronic identifier that shall be used to file, serve, receive, review, and retrieve e-filed pleadings, orders, and other documents in the case. The e-filer is required to create an account with an on-line payment agent determined by the Clerk of Courts.

CRITICAL

The Court does not accept filings transmitted by facsimile or e-mail.

The Court does not accept documents transmitted by facsimile or e-mail.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Clerk issued subpoena

Subpoenas to be issued by the Clerk must be filed in paper form with the Clerk.

Subpoenas which are to be issued by the Clerk shall be filed in paper form with the Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits attachments or other documents not comprehensibly viewable in pdf

Exhibits, attachments, and other documents that cannot be viewed comprehensibly in PDF must be filed in physical form with the court.

Exhibits, attachments, or other documents that may not be comprehensibly viewed in a pdf shall be filed in their physical form with the Court.

CRITICAL

E-filers must submit compliant documents, which may be rejected and not filed if they do not comply.

It is solely the e-filer’s obligation to submit only documents which fully comply with court rules, policies, procedures, and practices. Documents that do not fully comply may be rejected, not docketed, and not filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Case initiating document

The listed case-initiation documents must be filed electronically, with the process-server appointment order required when service will be by process server.

When e-filing a complaint or other document initiating a case or adding a party, the filer must: • Electronically file a case designation sheet. • Electronically file separate instructions for service, including the names and addresses of those to be served. • Electronically file the complaint, third party complaint, or other initiating document. • Electronically file a current copy of the order appointing the individual process server if the document is to be served by a process server.

CRITICAL

Facsimile filings are not accepted unless the Clerk of the Court gives prior approval.

Facsimile filings will no longer be accepted without prior approval from the Clerk of this Court.

WARNING

The Court notifies registered e-filers which case types it accepts for e-filing; e-filing is not available for every case type.

Then Court will notify registered e-filers of case types accepted for e-filing. E-filing will not be permitted for all case types.

INFO

Any filing may be e-filed with the Clerk at any time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Any filing may be e-filed with the Clerk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

INFO

Unregistered pro se parties may file paper documents with the Clerk in person, by U.S. Mail, or through the Clerk’s Public Access Terminal.

Pro se parties who are not registered users of the Court’s e-File system may file documents in paper form with the Clerk in person, by U.S. Mail, or by using the Clerk’s Public Access Terminal.