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

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

When two captioned documents are submitted together, only the document named in the docket entry is considered filed.

If two captioned documents are included in the same e-Filing, the docket entry assigned to the filing will determine which document is filed. The document not named in the docket entry will not be considered filed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

When the E-Filing Portal has a technical failure, filers may use paper filing or the Clerk's Email Filing process to meet filing deadlines.

ii. When the E-Filing Portal is subject to a technical failure, filers may file documents in paper format or via the Clerk’s Email Filing process to comply with jurisdictional and non- jurisdictional deadlines.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

The Clerk’s Office shall accept documents delivered by email for filing.

Effective May 1, 2019, the Clerk of Courts shall accept documents delivered to the Clerk’s Office by electronic mail (email).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Email filing acceptance is limited to licensed Ohio attorneys who have already appeared in the case.

The Clerk of Courts is only required to accept documents delivered by email for filing from licensed, Ohio attorneys who have already entered an appearance in the case.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Deposition transcript

Every deposition transcript intended for use at trial must first be submitted electronically to and filed by the Clerk of Courts.

(A) DEPOSITIONS. For every deposition to be used at trial, a transcript must first be filed with the Clerk of Courts. The transcript shall be submitted to the Clerk of Courts in electronic format, who shall docket and file the transcript pursuant to Local Rule 4.03(G).

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Cqe petition

Every applicant must first complete the ODRC electronic Petition online through www.drccqe.com to request a CQE.

To request a CQE, all applicants must first complete the electronic Petition available online through the ODRC at www.drccqe.com.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Court notice

An attorney must register with the Clerk's Office before using e-filing if the attorney is not registered for the Public Access site.

If you are not registered as an attorney for the Public Access site, you will have to register with the Clerk’s Office before utilizing e-Filing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Criminal filing

Criminal filings may be submitted through the court's e-Filing Portal, except for documents that must be filed under seal.

(2) All criminal filings, except those listed below, may be e-Filed using the Court’s e-Filing Portal: (a) Documents to be filed under seal.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Civil and criminal case documents

Electronic filing is currently permitted for pleadings, motions, briefs, memoranda, transcripts, orders, and other documents in civil and criminal cases, subject to limited exceptions.

With implementa�on of e-Filing for all current and future civil and criminal cases, all pleadings, mo�ons, briefs, memoranda of law, deposi�on transcripts, transcripts of proceedings, orders and other documents submited in all civil and criminal cases (cases with a CV or CR case number) may be submited electronically through the e-Filing Portal, with limited excep�ons.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

The court’s e-filing portal currently accepts new civil cases and documents filed in civil and criminal cases.

Currently, only new civil cases and documents filed within civil and criminal cases may be filed using the Court’s e-Filings Portal.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

An attorney must register with the Clerk’s Office before using e-filing if not already registered for Public Access.

If you are not registered as an atorney for the Public Access site, you will have to register with the Clerk’s Office before u�lizing e-Filing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Court notice

Documents in civil and criminal cases with CV or CR case numbers may be submitted electronically through the e-Filing Portal, subject to limited exceptions.

With implementation of e-Filing for all current and future civil and criminal cases, all pleadings, motions, briefs, memoranda of law, deposition transcripts, transcripts of proceedings, orders and other documents submitted in all civil and criminal cases (cases with a CV or CR case number) may be submitted electronically through the e-Filing Portal, with limited exceptions.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Court notice

The Court's e-Filing Portal is currently available for new civil cases and documents filed in civil and criminal cases.

Currently, only new civil cases and documents filed within civil and criminal cases may be filed using the Court’s e-Filings Portal.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Unrepresented parties may use the e-Filing system from secure public access terminals provided by the Clerk of Courts.

(a) Unrepresented parties may utilize the e-Filing system. The Clerk of Courts will provide secure public access terminals from which unrepresented filers will be permitted to use the Court’s e-Filing system and electronically file documents.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

E-filing under Local Rule 4 is preferred for criminal cases.

For criminal cases as of September 7, 2021, e-Filing under Local Rule 4 is preferred.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Applies to

Dismissal entry

A dismissal entry endorsed by all parties may be submitted to the assigned trial judge by e-filing, email, mail, or hand delivery.

Any dismissal entry endorsed by all parties shall be submitted to the assigned trial judge. This may be accomplished by submitting the document to the Clerk of Courts via e-Filing, email filing, by mailing to document to the assigned trial judge, or by hand delivery.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Applies to

Search warrant return

Search warrant returns and related papers must be filed with the Common Pleas Clerk unless ordered otherwise, and officers may email the documents for filing in PDF format to the designated Clerk of Court email address.

(1) All search warrant returns executed by a judge of the Common Pleas Court shall be filed with the Common Pleas Clerk of Court, unless ordered otherwise. (2) Pursuant to CrimR. 41(E), the law enforcement officer shall attach to the warrant a copy of the return, inventory, and all other papers in connection therewith and shall file them with the Clerk of Courts. (3) The law enforcement officer can email the documents for filing in PDF format to the Clerk of Court at criminalfilings@warrencountyohio.gov.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

The Clerk of Court permits electronic filings in accordance with Local Rules 4.04 and 4.05, with instructions available on the Clerk’s website and in the Local Rules appendix.

The Clerk of Courts accepts filings electronically in accordance with Local Rules 4.04 & 4.05. Instructions are on the Clerk’s website and in the appendix of the Local Rules.

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(b) Unrepresented filers who do not utilize the e-Filing system must file all documents by mail, commercial carrier service, or personal delivery to the Clerk’s Office.

Summary: An unrepresented filer who does not use e-filing must file all documents by mail, commercial carrier, or personal delivery to the Clerk's Office.

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Only one captioned document may be filed per e-Filing. This provision does not preclude the inclusion of attachments to a motion, brief, or other filed document in the same e-Filing.

Summary: Each e-filing may contain only one captioned document, although attachments to a motion, brief, or other filing may be included in the same submission.

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No paper hardcopies shall be delivered to the Clerk of Courts for documents delivered via email.

Summary: Paper hardcopies may not be delivered for documents submitted by email.

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Original complaints, answers, and any document requiring a filing fee may not be delivered to the Clerk of Courts for filing via email.

Summary: Original complaints, answers, and documents requiring a filing fee may not be filed by email.

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No documents seeking to be filed under seal may be delivered for filing under this rule.

Summary: Documents seeking to be filed under seal may not be submitted under the email-filing rule.

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E-FILING PROCEDURE FOR NEW CIVIL CASES

Summary: New civil cases are initiated through the court's Benchmark e-filing process.

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E-FILING PROCEDURE FOR EXISTING CASES

Summary: Documents in existing cases are submitted through the court's Benchmark e-filing process.

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Criminal cases

Applies to

Appointed counsel fee form ?

All fee forms, when completed, are to be emailed to AtorneyMEACF@warrencountyohio.gov or brought to the Common Pleas Court building and dropped off at the Informa�on desk within 30 days of the sentencing or final disposi�on.

Summary: Completed fee forms must be emailed to the specified address or delivered to the Information Desk within 30 days after sentencing or final disposition.

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For documents that have been electronically filed or documents filed in paper format that have been scanned and uploaded to the E-Filing Portal, the electronic version constitutes the official court record.

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E-Filing does not include facsimile or email.

Summary: Facsimile and email transmissions do not count as e-filing.

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Documents submitted via the e-File Portal should not also be emailed or provided via hard copy to the Court or the Clerk of Courts.

Summary: Documents submitted through the e-file portal should not also be emailed or delivered in hard copy to the court or clerk.

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The Clerk of Courts currently accepts filings for civil, criminal and appellate cases by electronic transmission

Summary: The Clerk of Courts accepts electronic filings in civil, criminal, and appellate cases.

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(1) All attorneys are encouraged to use the court’s e-Filing system.

Summary: Attorneys are encouraged, but not required, to use the court's e-Filing system.