McLennan County District Courts Electronic Filing Rules
45 rules from official source documents
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions. This page is scoped to McLennan County District Courts; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
- Applies to
- Verified notarized or sworn document
Documents requiring verification, notarization, acknowledgment, sworn status, or oath may be filed electronically only as scanned images.
A document that is required to be verified, notarized, acknowledged, sworn to, or made under oath may be electronically filed only as a scanned image.
- Applies to
- Document with opposing party signatures
Documents requiring opposing-party signatures may be filed electronically only as scanned images.
A document that requires the signatures of opposing parties (such as a Rule 11 agreement) may be electronically filed only as a scanned image.
- Applies to
- Document
A filer filing or serving a document must maintain valid accounts with both an EFSP and TexasOnline.
A filer filing or serving a document must have a valid account with an EFSP and with TexasOnline
- Applies to
- Document
Electronic documents are transmitted through an EFSP and TexasOnline to the district clerk rather filed directly with the clerk.
Filers do not electronically file documents directly with the district clerk. Rather, filers indirectly file a document with the district clerk by electronically transmitting the document to an electronic filing service provider (EFSP) which then electronically transmits the document to TexasOnline which then electronically transmits the document to the district clerk.
Each registered filer must use their confidential unique electronic identifier when filing electronically, and that use constitutes a digital signature.
(a) Upon completion of the initial registration procedures, each filer will be issued a confidential and unique electronic identifier. Each filer must use his or her identifier in order to electronically file documents. Use of the identifier to electronically file documents constitutes a “digital signature” on the particular document.
An electronic filer's digital signature authorizes payment of document filing fees.
(c) A digital signature on an electronically-filed document is deemed to constitute a signature by the filer for the purpose of authorizing the payment of document filing fees.
- Applies to
- Electronically transmitted document
The EFSP must transmit the document, required format information, timing data, and payment information to TexasOnline, which must return a dated and timed receipt acknowledgment.
On receipt of a filer's document, the filer's EFSP must send the document to Texas Online in the required electronic file format along with an indication of the time the filer sent the document to the EFSP and the filer's payment information. TexasOnline will electronically transmit to the filer an "acknowledgment" that the document has been received by TexasOnline. The acknowledgment will note the date and time that the electronically-transmitted document was received by TexasOnline.
- Applies to
- Electronically transmitted document
TexasOnline must transmit filings to the district clerk and warn the EFSP when a document is improperly formatted.
Upon receiving a document from a filer's EFSP, TexasOnline shall electronically transmit the document to the district clerk. If the document was not properly formatted, Texas Online will transmit a warning to the filer's EFSP.
Documents that may traditionally be filed with the district clerk generally may be filed electronically, except for the listed sealed, restricted, in camera, subpoena-related, bond, citation, and return documents.
A document that can be filed in a traditional manner with the district clerk may be electronically filed with the exception of the following documents: i) citations or writs bearing the seal of the court; ii) returns of citation; iii) bonds; iv) subpoenas; v) proof ofservice ofsubpoenas; vi) documents to be presented to a court in camera, solely for the purpose of obtaining a ruling on the discoverability ofsuch documents; vii) documents sealed pursuant to TEX. R. CIV. P. 76a; and ===== PAGE 6 ===== viii) documents to which access is otherwise restricted by law or court order, including a document filed in a proceeding under Chapter 33, Family Code.
Filers must follow TexasOnline's registration procedures, available on its website, to register for electronic filing.
To become registered to electronically file documents, filers must follow registration procedures outlined by TexasOnline. The procedure can be accessed from TexasOnline's website at ''www.texasonline.com."
Electronic filers must transmit documents through an EFSP and TexasOnline rather than filing directly with the district clerk.
Filers do not electronically file documents directly with the district clerk. Rather, filers indirectly file a document with the district clerk by electronically transmitting the document to an electronic filing service provider (EFSP) which then electronically transmits the document to TexasOnline which then electronically transmits the document to the district clerk.
A filer filing or serving a document must maintain valid accounts with both an EFSP and TexasOnline.
A filer filing or serving a document must have a valid account with an EFSP and with TexasOnline
The clerk must accept an electronically submitted document if it is not misdirected and complies with all filing requirements.
The district clerk shall accept the document for filing provided that the document is not misdirected and complies with all filing requirements.
After receiving a document, the EFSP must transmit it to TexasOnline in the required electronic format with the submission time and payment information.
(c}On receipt ofa filer's document, the filer's EFSP must send the document to Texas Online in the required electronic file format along with an indication of the time the filer sent the document to the EFSP and the filer's payment information.
TexasOnline must electronically transmit filed documents to the district clerk and warn the EFSP when a document is improperly formatted.
(d) Upon receiving a document from a filer's EFSP, TexasOnline shall electronically transmit the document to the district clerk. If the document was not properly formatted, Texas Online will transmit a warning to the filer's EFSP.
- Applies to
- Order
Orders for the court's consideration generally should be electronically filed with the District Clerk, subject to three stated exceptions.
Other than pro se cases, expunction proceedings, or cases in which counsel tenders an original order during a hearing in open court, any order for the Court’s consideration should be e-filed with the District Clerk. Such orders will be forwarded to the Court by the District Clerk’s office.
McLennan County has been subject to mandated electronic filing since July 1, 2014.
The Supreme Court promulgated rules for the new statewide e-Filing system, and McLennan County fell under mandated eFiling on July 1, 2014.
- Applies to
- Response or reply
Emailing a response or reply to the Court Administrator does not replace e-filing it with the Clerk.
Please note, email is not a substitute for e-filing with the Clerk.
- Applies to
- Proposed order
An order for the court's consideration must be e-filed as a proposed order or presented to the court administrator before submission to the judge.
Any order for the court’s consideration must be e-filed as a proposed order or be presented to the court administrator prior to submission to the Judge.
- Applies to
- Document
Documents that may traditionally be filed with the district clerk generally may be filed electronically, subject to listed exceptions.
A document that can be filed in a traditional manner with the district clerk may be electronically filed with the exception of the following documents:
- Applies to
- Motion to seal
A motion to seal a document and any response to that motion may be filed electronically.
A motion to have a document sealed, as well as any response to such a motion, may be electronically filed.
- Applies to
- Affidavit or other paper
An affidavit or other paper described in Rule 3.4(a) or (b) that accompanies an electronically filed document may be scanned and filed electronically with the underlying document.
Any affidavit or other paper described in Rule 3.4(a) or (b) that is to be attached to an electronically-filed document may be scanned and electronically filed along with the underlying document.
- Applies to
- Scanned image document
The court may require a filer who submitted a scanned image to file the document traditionally with the district clerk.
Where a filer has electronically filed a scanned image under this rule, a court may require the filer to properly file the document in a traditional manner with the district clerk.
- Applies to
- Document
A filer generally may include only one document in an electronic transmission to TexasOnline.
Except as provided by subsection (b) below, a filer may include only one document in an electronic transmission to TexasOnline.
- Applies to
- Court order
After electronically signing an order, the judge must electronically forward it to the district clerk, who may treat the electronic order as its official copy.
Upon electronically signing an order, the judge shall electronically forward the order to the district clerk who may treat the electronic order as the official copy of the order.
A motion to seal a document and the response to that motion may be filed electronically.
A motion to have a document sealed, as well as any response to such a motion, may be electronically filed.
- Applies to
- Attachment
An affidavit or other Rule 3.4(a) or (b) paper attached to an electronically filed document may be scanned and filed with that document.
Any affidavit or other paper described in Rule 3.4(a) or (b) that is to be attached to an electronically-filed document may be scanned and electronically filed along with the underlying document.
The court may require a filer who submitted a scanned image electronically to refile the document traditionally with the district clerk.
Where a filer has electronically filed a scanned image under this rule, a court may require the filer to properly file the document in a traditional manner with the district clerk.
- Applies to
- Cases for judge reference
Cases submitted for the judge’s reference may be emailed to the Court Administrator instead of e-filed with the Clerk, but must be emailed at least four hours before the hearing.
Cases for the judge’s reference need not be e-filed with the Clerk but should be emailed to the Court Administrator at least four hours before the hearing to allow consideration.
Electronic filing and service are generally optional, but a district court may order them for a particular case upon a party's motion and a showing of good cause when the documents are permitted to be electronically filed under Rule 3.3.
(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) below, the electronic filing and serving of court documents is wholly optional. (b) Upon the motion of a party and for good cause shown, a district court may order the parties in a particular case to electronically file and serve court documents that are permitted to be electronically filed under Rule 3.3.
- Applies to
- Document
A filer may electronically transmit a document with another document attached to it.
A filer may electronically transmit a document to TexasOnline that includes another document as an attachment (e.g., a motion to which is attached a brief in support of the motion).
- Applies to
- Case documents
A case file may contain both electronically filed and traditionally filed documents.
The district clerk's file for a particular case may contain a combination of electronically-filed documents and traditionally-filed documents.
- Applies to
- Court order
A judge is permitted to electronically sign an order with a digitized signature.
A judge may electronically sign an order by applying his or her digitized signature to the order.
- Applies to
- Court order
Judges are not required to use electronic signatures on orders.
Judges are not required to electronically sign orders.
- Applies to
- Court order
The district clerk may print an electronic order and treat the printed version as the official copy.
Alternatively, the district clerk may print the electronic order and treat the printed order as the official copy of the order.
- Applies to
- Court order
The district clerk is permitted to electronically scan a traditional court order.
The district clerk may electronically scan a traditional court order.
- Applies to
- Court order
An electronically scanned traditional order may serve as the official court-order copy.
The scanned court order may then serve as the official copy of the court order.
- Applies to
- Court order
The district clerk is not required to scan traditional orders electronically to create official electronic court orders.
The district clerk is not required to electronically scan traditional court orders in order to create official electronic court orders.
- Applies to
- Court order
Electronic scanning of traditional court orders is discretionary with the district clerk.
Electronic scanning of traditional court orders is at the option of the district clerk.
Electronic filing and service of court documents are optional unless a court orders otherwise under subsection (b).
(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) below, the electronic filing and servtng of court documents is wholly optional.
Upon a party's motion showing good cause, a district court may order the parties in a particular case to electronically file and serve documents permitted under Rule 3.3.
(b) Upon the motion of a party and for good cause shown, a district court may order the parties in a particular case to electronically file and serve court documents that are permitted to be electronically filed under Rule 3.3.
Electronic transmission through an EFSP to TexasOnline is available 24 hours a day, every day, except during brief scheduled maintenance periods.
(a) A filer may electronically transmit a document through an EFSP to TexasOnline 24 hours per day each and every day ofthe year, except during briefperiods of state approved scheduled maintenance which will usually occur in the early hours ofSunday morning.
A case file may contain both electronically filed and traditionally filed documents.
The district clerk's file for a particular case may contain a combination of electronically-filed documents and traditionally-filed documents.
The statewide e-filing system is provided by Tyler Technologies and is called eFile Texas.
The State of Texas through the Office of Court Administration has changed the vendor for e-Filing to Tyler Technologies. The new e-Filing system is called eFile Texas.
Documents already e-filed and accepted by the Clerk need not be refiled.
Documents which have been e-filed and accepted need not be refiled with the Clerk.
Is electronic filing required in McLennan County District Courts?
McLennan County District Courts: Electronic filing is permitted for the covered filings. Documents requiring verification, notarization, acknowledgment, sworn status, or oath may be filed electronically only as scanned images.
Judge Edward (Alan) A. Bennett: Electronic filing is permitted for the covered filings. Documents that may traditionally be filed with the district clerk generally may be filed electronically, except for the listed sealed, restricted, in camera, subpoena-related, bond, citation, and return documents.
Judge Peter K. Rusek: Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. McLennan County has been subject to mandated electronic filing since July 1, 2014.
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