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

CRITICAL

Garnishments are added to the case types exempt from e-filing.

The Court adds the following specific case types to the list of exemptions from e-filing: # **5. Garnishments**

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil case filings

Effective September 1, 2020, all civil cases and subsequent filings must be filed electronically unless exempt under Rule 11.11.

Effective September 1, 202 0, ALL CIVIL CASE TYPES unless subject to express exemption pursuant to Rule 11.11 herein are required to be filed in the e-filing system. This applies to all newly filed civil cases as well as any subsequent filings in civil cases previously filed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Registered Users must submit e-filings through the CMS E-Filing System; filings by fax, email, or other means are not accepted.

The Clerk only accepts e-filing documents from Registered Users through the E-Filing System in the CMS. E-filing does NOT include facsimile transmissions and the Clerk will NOT accept facsimile transmissions for filing. Also, E-filing does NOT include e-mail or other electronic means of communication and the Clerk will NOT accept any electronic documents submitted through any means other than via the CMS and the E-Filing System for Registered Users.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Initiating document

Initiating documents and documents adding a party in e-filing cases must be filed through the E-Filing system, while summons service must comply with the applicable Civil Rules.

Initial comp laints, re-filed complaints, third party compla ints, and other documents initiating a case or adding a new party in thee-filing case type are filed using the E-Filing system, however, service of summons must still be completed pursuant to the applicable Civil Rules.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Temporary restraining order request

Requests for temporary restraining orders must be filed through the e-filing system.

Requests for Temporary Restraining Orders: Requests for Temporary Restraining Orders are required to be filed via the e-filing system.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Cognovit note complaint

Complaints on cognovit notes must be filed through the e-filing system.

Cognovit Notes: Complaints on Cognovit Notes are required to be filed via the e-filing system.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil Stalking Protection Orders; Certificates of Qualification for Employment; Requests to File as an Indigent; Complaints for Certificate of Title; Garnishments

The listed civil case types are exempt from e-filing and must be filed on paper.

A. The following specific civil case types shall be exempted from e-filing and shall be filed in paper form: 1. Civil Stalking Protection Orders 2. Certificates of Qualification for Employment 3. Requests to File as an Indigent 4. Complaints for Certificate of Title 5. Garnishments

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to file documents under seal

A motion requesting that documents be filed under seal must be filed electronically.

A motion requesting documents to be filed under seal shall be electronically filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Documents to be filed under seal

Documents to be filed under seal must be submitted on paper to the Bailiff of the assigned Judge.

However, the documents to be filed under seal shall be in paper form and delivered to the Bailiff of the assigned Judge.

CRITICAL

Users must register with the Clerk before using the e-filing system.

All users must register with the Trumbull County Clerk of Court in order to utilize the e-filing system.

WARNING

Applies to

Pleading

Pleadings in case types identified as e-file cases must comply with Local Rule 11; other case types are subject to this paper-pleading rule.

This rule shall apply to all case types except those identified in Local Rule 11: E-Filing. If a case type is specifically identified as an e-file case type, then all pleadings must be in accordance with Local Rule 11.

WARNING

The Clerk accepts e-filings only for case types identified in these rules.

The Clerk shall only accept e-filing for specific case types referenced herein.

WARNING

Self-represented litigants should make every effort to e-file subsequent filings, but the Clerk will continue filing for them if they cannot access the system remotely or on-site.

The self-represented litigant should make every effort to file any subsequent filings via the e-filing system either via a remote connection or via the Court's public access terminals. In the rare instance a self-represented litigant is unable to access the e-filing system remotely or on-site, the Clerk will continue to file the subsequent filings as indicated above.

WARNING

The Court's public access terminals are reserved strictly for e-filing.

These publ ic access terminals shall be strictly reserved for e-filing purposes only.

WARNING

A person who brings a paper filing in person for an active e-filing case will be directed to a public access terminal and given registration assistance.

If a party, attorney or any other filer presents a hard-copy paper document in person to the Clerk's office for filing in an active e-filing case type, the Clerk's office will direct the person to the public access terminal and provide registration assistance.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026INFO

The Clerk must scan and upload a self-represented litigant’s filing into the e-filing system as submitted.

The Clerk shall then scan and upload the filing into the e-filing system as submitted by the self-represented litigant.

INFO

Documents accepted by the Clerk for e-filing constitute the Court's official record.

Documents which are accepted by the Clerk for e-filing are the official record of the Court.

INFO

Electronically filed hearing notices, schedules, orders, decisions, judgments, and other documents are the official Court record.

The Court's electronically filed hearing notices, schedules, orders, decisions, judgments and other documents are the official Court record.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Pleading

NO PAPER PLEADINGS WILL BE ACCEPTED unless expressly permitted by these rules.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Anyone who wishes to file a document or pleading in an e-filed case type must register to become a Registered User.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Self-Represented litigants who are incarcerated shall submit any documents to be filed in paper format to the Clerk's Office.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

No other person (other than the defendant him/herself) shall be permitted to electronically file on the defendant's behalf. This does not preclude an attorney from e-filing on the defendants behalf.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

In the event of a Systemic Error, the Clerk shall accept paper documents for filing for the duration of the Systemic Error.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

The Court will not keep paper copies of these documents.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

In the event the Clerk receives, via mail, documents to be filed from a self-represented litigant, the Clerk will register the party as a Registered User in the e-filing system.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

The digital signature of a judge or magistrate has the same force and effect as a handwritten signature on a paper document.