Portage County Court of Common Pleas, Ohio Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Fee applications must be made in writing.

Fee applications must be made in writing

CRITICAL

Computer-generated forms must preserve the prescribed wording, formatting, and blank lines without alteration.

All computer generated forms must be prepared and filed with the exact wording and formatting, including the retention of all blank lines whether filled-in or remaining blank, as they appear in the prescribed forms. No alterations are permitted.

CRITICAL

When an electronically produced ticket is issued at the scene, the officer must provide the juvenile traffic offender a paper copy.

If an electronically produced ticket is issued at the scene of an alleged offense, the issuing officer shall provide the alleged juvenile traffic offender with a paper copy of the ticket as required by Ohio Traffic Rule 3(E).

CRITICAL

Motions must be printed single-sided; double-sided motions will be rejected.

Motions are to be printed on one side of the paper only. Double-sided motions will be rejected for filing.

CRITICAL

Court filings must be one-sided, on 8.5-by-11-inch paper, and without backing, except previously prepared and signed original wills and attachments, which must be filed in their unaltered original format.

All documents presented to the Court for filing must be printed on only one side of the paper and only on 8.5 by 11-inch size paper with no backing. The only exception is for original wills and other attachments that were prepared and signed previously that must be filed in their original format without alteration.

CRITICAL

Original documents submitted for filing must not be stapled.

Original documents submitted for filing must not be stapled, so as to not interfere with the Court’s document imaging process.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits

Plaintiff exhibits must be marked numerically and defendant exhibits alphabetically.

Plaintiffs exhibits will be marked numerically and Defendant's exhibits will be marked alphabetically.

CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Deposition transcripts must be filed in hard format with the Clerk of Courts.

(4) Deposition transcripts. All deposition transcripts must be filed in the hard format with the Clerk of Courts, pursuant to the local rules.

CRITICAL

Applicants for assigned counsel must submit an application in letter form on official or office letterhead.

Each individual requesting to serve as assigned counsel shall submit an application in letter form, on official/office letterhead, that sets forth the level of appointment they are seeking, i.e. appointment for unruly offenses; delinquency offenses (misdemeanor and/or felony); dependent, neglect, abuse cases; adult cases; appeals; and/or judicial by-pass cases.

CRITICAL

Signatures must be legible, with the signer's name typed or clearly printed directly below.

All signatures must be legible and must have the name of the person signing typed or clearly printed directly below the signature.

CRITICAL

A GAL report must comply with the format in Appendix F.

(H) A GAL report shall comply with the format set forth in Appendix F.

CRITICAL

Forms presented for filing must comply with Rule 52 of the Rules of Superintendence.

All forms presented to our Court for filing must comply with all specifications and requirements in Rule 52 of the Rules of Superintendence.

CRITICAL

A “/s/” signature may not be used on a document submitted to the Court.

The use of “/s/” as a signature on any document submitted to the Court is prohibited.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Account

Each account must use the Ohio Supreme Court prescribed forms and include all information required by those forms.

Each account must be on the Ohio Supreme Court prescribed forms and must contain all information those forms require.

CRITICAL

Filed documents must contain original signatures, except for fax and email filings under Local Rule 57.4.

The Court will only file documents containing original signatures, with the exception of fax filings and email filings under Local Rule 57.4.

CRITICAL

An electronically produced ticket must conform in all substantive respects to the Ohio Uniform Traffic Ticket.

The electronically produced ticket shall conform in all substantive respects to the Ohio Uniform Traffic Ticket.

CRITICAL

Only an original will may be deposited with the Court for safekeeping.

Only the original of a will may be deposited with the Court for safekeeping.

CRITICAL

After consolidation, pleadings must be filed only in the lowest-numbered case and use only that case’s caption; nonconforming pleadings may be rejected.

After the consolidation of cases, pleadings shall only be filed in the lowest numbered case and shall only have the lowest case caption. The Clerk of Courts may reject any pleadings not in conformity with this rule.

CRITICAL

Documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

(D) Document Format. Documents must be submitted in either Microsoft Word or PDF format.

CRITICAL

Documents filed with the Court must be typed manually or by computer, except previously prepared attachments or exhibits that must be submitted in original form.

All documents filed in this Court must be typed manually or by computer. The only exception is for documents that are submitted as attachments or exhibits that were previously prepared and that must be submitted in their original form.

CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Depositions must be bound and filed in hard copy.

Depositions shall be bound and filed in hard copy for filing.

CRITICAL

Except for headings, filing text must be between 10 and 12 points.

Except for headings, the font size must not be smaller than 10 pt. or larger than 12 pt.

CRITICAL

Forms and other documents must be printed single-sided on 8.5-by-11-inch paper without backing, except previously prepared and signed original wills and attachments, which must be filed in original format without alteration.

All forms and other documents presented to the Court for filing must be printed on only one side of the paper and only on 8.5 by 11 inch size paper with no backing. The only exception is for original wills and other attachments that were prepared and signed previously that must be filed in their original format without alteration.

CRITICAL

Pleadings, motions, and memoranda must be legible, printed or typed on letter-size paper, securely bound, and paginated; specified case information and, in certain Portage County real-property actions, parcel numbers must also appear.

Every pleading, motion, and memorandum filed must be legibly typed or printed on 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper, be securely bound and paginated, and have typed or printed the case name, the case number, and the name of the judge. If the action is for foreclosure or is otherwise an action requesting the sale of real property located in Portage County, Ohio and the Portage County Treasurer or the Portage County Auditor is a party to the action, each pleading, motion, and memorandum must list in the case caption beneath the trial judge's name each of the Portage County permanent parcel numbers of the real property or real properties that are the subject of the action.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury instructions

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions must be in Microsoft Word format, must be available electronically if the Court requests, and may not consist of photocopies of Ohio Jury Instructions.

The proposed jury instructions shall be in Microsoft Word format and be available in electronic version if requested by the Court. Photocopies of Ohio Jury Instructions shall not be accepted.

CRITICAL

Requests for permission to broadcast, televise, record, or photograph courtroom proceedings must be in writing.

Requests for permission for the broadcasting, televising, recording or taking of photographs in the courtroom shall be in writing

CRITICAL

Irregular-sized documents smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches must be securely taped to plain white 8.5-by-11-inch paper.

Irregular sized documents, such as green return receipt cards and other documents that are smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches must be securely attached to plain white 8.5 by 11-inch paper using clear tape.

WARNING

Filers may submit up to two additional sets of documents for time-stamping; any further sets will be returned unstamped.

You can submit up to two additional sets of documents for time-stamping. Additional sets beyond two will be returned to you unstamped.

WARNING

The asset disclosure must be made on a form provided by the court.

Any Defendant found guilty of a criminal offense in this court shall, on a form provided by this court, disclose assets of every kind for the purpose of assisting the trial judge, the Adult Probation Department, and the Sheriff, in the collection of the fines and com1 costs assessed in that case.

WARNING

A GAL application must be in letter form and on official or office letterhead.

In order for an individual to be considered to serve as a Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”), each person is required to submit an application, in letter form, on official/office letterhead, that sets forth their request, along with proof of successful completion of the training requirements as set forth in this Rule and Rule 48 of the Ohio Rules of Superintendence.

WARNING

Hearing participants may not use any recording device in the courtroom without the Court’s express permission.

No parties, witnesses or other participants in a court hearing may use a recording device of any type in the courtroom without express permission granted by the Court.

WARNING

Additional filing sets submitted for file-stamping or service should be stapled.

Additional filing sets submitted for file-stamping or service should be stapled.

WARNING

Contact information must use a street mailing address; a post office box is insufficient when certified-mail or personal service is required, attorneys may use their business address, and other persons must provide their residence address.

The mailing address must be a street mailing address. Post office box numbers are not sufficient in case service is required by certified mail or personal service. The mailing address of an attorney may be the attorney’s business office address. The mailing address of all other persons must be their personal residence address.

WARNING

No more than three irregular documents should be taped to one page.

No more than three irregular documents should be taped to the same page.

WARNING

The jury-service summons notice must be set forth in a single document.

The notice summoning a person to jury service will be set forth in a single document

WARNING

Pleadings, motions, and memoranda must be direct and concise and omit counsel’s personal opinions; a pleading with inappropriate narrative may be stricken.

All pleadings, motions and memoranda shall be direct, concise and be without personal opinions of counsel. Any pleading may be stricken by the Court if inappropriate narrative is included therein.

WARNING

A party or attorney whose address changes after appearing or being served must notify the Court and other parties in writing within seven days.

Any party or Attorney whose address changes once the party or Attorney enters an appearance or is served, shall notify, in writing, the Court and all other parties and counsel of the new address within seven (7) days of the change. The written notification shall be docketed in the case by the clerk and all parties shall serve that party or Attorney at the new address docketed.

WARNING

Remember to not staple the original documents you submit for filing. Staples hamper the Court’s ability to efficiently microfilm documents and to scan documents to place images on the Court’s online document management system.

Remember to not staple the original documents you submit for filing. Staples hamper the Court’s ability to efficiently microfilm documents and to scan documents to place images on the Court’s online document management system.

WARNING

Preparers using third-party software must check the Court’s website to ensure they use the most recent prescribed forms.

If using third party software for form preparation, it is the preparer’s responsibility to check the Court’s website to assure that the most recent version of Supreme Court’s or this Court’s prescribed local forms are being used.

INFO

The Court advises filers to use the most recent version of each form because forms change periodically.

Please be sure you are using the most recent version of the form, as they change periodically.

INFO

Unless the Court orders otherwise, counsel should not attach copies of cited cases or statutes.

Unless otherwise ordered, counsel should not attach copies of any cases or statutes cited.

INFO

No local forms are prescribed for continuance motions or entries in litigation matters.

There are no prescribed local forms for continuance motions and entries in litigation matters.

INFO

The Court provides the recording on a read-only compact disk or similar digital storage device.

The Court will provide a copy of its digital recording on a read-only compact disk or similar digital storage device within five Court Days after receiving the request.