Richland County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Document Format Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Depositions and transcripts, exhibits, sealed documents, cognovits, and civil-stalking filings are exceptions to the original-and-one-copy filing rule, and depositions and transcripts must be bound when filed.

Exceptions include depositions and transcripts (which must be bound when filing), exhibits, sealed documents, cognovits, and civil stalking.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Each pleading must reserve a blank area at least 2½ inches by 2½ inches along the top edge of its first page for the Clerk's filing stamp.

Along the top edge of the first page of each pleading filed with the Clerk, a party shall provide a blank space at least 2½ inches by 2½ inches in which the Clerk may place the filing stamp.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Format

PDF

The specified signed original documents must use the PDF file format.

(B) **Original signatures.** All original documents that are not e-filed or documents requiring an original signature, such as an affidavit or other notarized documents, shall be e-filed as a .pdf.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

All pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents must comply with the formatting requirements of Rule 10.

All pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents shall be formatted in accordance with Rule 10.

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The first page of every pleading must contain a blank area at least 2½ inches by 2½ inches along its top edge for the Clerk's filing stamp.

10.01 Space for file-stamp. Along the top edge of the first page of each pleading filed with the Clerk, a party shall provide a blank space at least 2½ inches by 2½ inches in which the Clerk may place the filing stamp.

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All pleadings and written attachments must be printed one-sided on standard 8½-inch by 11-inch paper.

In accordance with Civ.R. 10, all pleadings and written attachments filed with the Court shall be on 8½ inch x 11inch paper printed on one side only.

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Each pleading must be securely fastened, and easily dislodged fasteners such as spring clips, paper clips, and rubber bands are prohibited.

Each pleading shall be separately fastened together. Spring clips, paper clips, rubber bands, and similar easily dislodged fasteners are not acceptable.

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Format

PDF

Documents requiring an original signature must use the PDF file format when e-filed.

(B) **Original signatures.** All original documents that are not e-filed or documents requiring an original signature, such as an affidavit or other notarized documents, shall be e-filed as a .pdf.

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Attorneys must include their Supreme Court-issued attorney or pro hac vice registration number on every document filed with the court.

(D) **Attorney or Pro Hac Vice registration number.** An attorney shall include the attorney or pro hac vice registration number issued by the Supreme Court on all documents filed with the Court.

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All pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents must follow the formatting requirements in Rule 10.

All pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents shall be formatted in accordance with Rule 10.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

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Filed documents may not contain external links to other documents or the CMS unless those materials are incorporated into the filing.

A filed document shall not contain links to other documents or references to the CMS, unless they are incorporated into the filed documents. External links are prohibited.

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Format

DOCX

A proposed order or entry must be submitted in Word format and identify the specific motion to which it applies.

A proposed order or proposed entry shall be submitted in Word format and reference the specific motion to which it applies.

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Every electronically filed document must be signed in compliance with Rule 10.7.

E-filed documents shall be signed in accordance with Rule 10.7.

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Filing parties must omit social security numbers and personal identifiers from filed documents in accordance with Rule 10.5.

Filing parties shall omit social security numbers and personal identifiers in accordance with Rule 10.5.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Pleadings and written attachments must use 8½-by-11-inch paper printed on one side only.

All pleadings and written attachments filed with the Court shall be on 8½ inch x 11 inch paper printed on one side only.

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The pages of motions and briefs must be numbered.

The pages of motions and briefs shall be numbered.

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Applies to

Proposed judgment entry

The proposed judgment entry must not be stapled to the motion.

The proposed judgment entry should not be stapled to the motion.

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A motion for default judgment must be in writing.

Motions for Default Judgment shall be in writing

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Exhibits must be marked before trial, with plaintiffs using numbers and defendants using letters.

1. Mark exhibits in advance of trial, plaintiffs using numbers and defendants using letters.

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For a folded exhibit larger than 8.5 by 11 inches, counsel must provide a copy no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches for the appellate record; the original will be returned after trial.

4. For all photographs, charts, or other exhibits larger than 8-1/2"x11" folded, provide a photo or other copy no larger than 8-1/2"x11" to keep for the appellate record. The original, large exhibit will be returned to counsel at the end of the trial.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Each pleading must be securely fastened separately; easily dislodged fasteners are prohibited, related pleadings should not be stapled together, and nonconforming documents may be rejected.

Each pleading shall be separately fastened together. Spring clips, paper clips, rubber bands, and similar easily dislodged fasteners are not acceptable. Related pleadings (for example, a motion, an affidavit, and a proposed judgment entry) should not be stapled together. The Clerk may reject documents for filing that do not conform to this rule.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Filed documents may not contain external links or CMS references unless those materials are incorporated into the filed document.

A filed document shall not contain links to other documents or references to the CMS, unless they are incorporated into the filed documents. External links are prohibited.

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The pages of motions and briefs must be numbered.

The pages of motions and briefs shall be numbered.

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Depositions and transcripts must be bound when filed; depositions, transcripts, exhibits, sealed documents, cognovits, and civil stalking are exceptions to the original-and-copy filing requirement.

Exceptions include depositions and transcripts (which must be bound when filing), exhibits, sealed documents, cognovits, and civil stalking.

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The proposed judgment entry should not be stapled to the motion.

The proposed judgment entry should not be stapled to the motion.

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A Confidential Mediation Statement must be typewritten and double-spaced.

Confidential Mediation Statements shall not to exceed five (5) double-spaced, typewritten pages setting forth the following: 1) a statement of the essential facts of this case underlying the claims and defenses currently asserted by the parties; 2) a statement of all disputed procedural, substantive and evidentiary issues; and 3) a statement of the current status of settlement negotiations, including without limitation, the offers and the responses.

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The copy of proposed jury instructions and interrogatories emailed to the court must be a word-processing copy.

Counsel shall also email a word copy of proposed jury instructions and interrogatories to the Court

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For an oversized photograph, chart, or exhibit, a reduced copy no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches must be provided for the appellate record.

For all photographs, charts, or other exhibits larger than 8-1/2"x11" folded, provide a photo or other copy no larger than 8-1/2"x11" to keep for the appellate record.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

The Confidential Mediation Statement must be typewritten and use double spacing.

EACH PARTY is required to prepare and deliver to the Mediation Department prior to the scheduled mediation date, a Confidential Mediation Statement not to exceed five (5) double-spaced, typewritten pages

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Format

PDF

Except as provided in Subsection (d) of this Rule, all e-filed documents, pleadings, and papers shall be filed with the Clerk in pdf.

Summary: All electronically filed documents, pleadings, and papers generally must be submitted to the Clerk in PDF format, subject to the proposed-order exception.

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**Format.** The correct format for an attorney's conformed signature is as follows:

Summary: An attorney's conformed signature must follow the format specified in the local rule.

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Format

PDF

Except as provided in Subsection (d) of this Rule, all e-filed documents, pleadings, and papers shall be filed with the Clerk in pdf.

Summary: Electronic documents, pleadings, and papers generally must be submitted to the Clerk in PDF format, subject to the proposed-order exception.

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Applies to

BMV conviction report ?

The report shall be in the format as prescribed by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Summary: The BMV conviction report must follow the format prescribed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.