DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

(A) Requirements for Documents Filed Electronically (1) Document Type and Format. A document submitted electronically to the court must be in the form of a file in Portable Document Format (PDF) directly converted to PDF rather than scanned (if possible), and not exceeding the maximum size allowed by the EFS. A document that exceeds the size limit must be broken down and submitted 45 as separate files that individually do not exceed the maximum size. Separate files under this section must include in the “Filing Description” field for each submission a description that clearly identifies the part of the document that the PDF file represents. (2) Documents Must be Submitted Separately. Except as provided in subdivision (A)(2)(a) of this Rule, all documents must be submitted individually as separate files with the same submission, unless the submission uses a court-approved form that indicates otherwise. For each separate document submitted, the detailed caption title and PDF file title must be substantially identical. (a) Motions to revoke criminal bail and all attachments filed in criminal and juvenile cases must be submitted as one document. (3) Consolidated Cases. When a court consolidates two or more cases for purposes of court events, including hearings, but retains separate docket numbers, a filer submitting a document that is applicable to all of those cases must electronically file and serve the document in each case, using appropriate case docket numbers. (4) Additional Technical Format Requirements. All electronic documents shall be self-contained and must not contain live links to external papers or websites. (B) Documents or Materials Not Filed in Electronic Format (1) Materials that are required to be filed with the court and that cannot be converted or scanned into PDF format, such as videotapes, radiographs, and other items that are not intelligible when scanned, may be filed conventionally. The filer shall file a Notice of Conventional Filing that shall be docketed into the EFS to denote that a conventional filing has been made and that the material is being held in the clerk’s office. The filer shall serve the materials conventionally, if required. (2) Documents or materials that must be filed conventionally are: (a) Documents submitted or filed for purposes of in camera review by the court; 46 (b) A record or image that is barred from electronic transmission or storage by law, including sexually explicit images of a minor; (c) Any filing that is not a case-initiating filing and is being filed before the case has been initiated in the CMS; (d) Any reports, evaluations, and related documents filed by State Forensic Services; and (e) Anything else required to be filed conventionally by law or court order. filed (C) Certified Documents. Certified documents may be electronically. When filing a certified document electronically, the filer shall comply with Rule 37(H). (D) Trial and Hearing Exhibits. Trial and hearing exhibits and illustrative aids that are not filed electronically as attachments to a pleading shall not be part of the electronic case file, but shall be received, held, and retained by the court until all opportunities for appeal have been exhausted and as required by law or court order. Advisory Note – January 2026 The size limit for document submissions can be found on the Judicial Branch’s EFS website and is currently 54.1 MB. Rule 34(A)(2) is amended to remove the requirement that each submission include a filing description. It is also amended to create an exception that indicates that motions to revoke bail and attachments must be submitted as one document to enhance efficiency in filing and court review. Rule 34(B)(2) is amended to require that filings that are not case-initiating filings and are being filed before the case has been initiated in the CMS must be filed conventionally. Proposed orders are removed from the list of documents that must be filed conventionally because they are sometimes attached to the filing. In certain circumstances, proposed order must be filed pursuant to Order Regarding Proposed Orders by Email, Me. Admin. Order 47 JB-22-01. It is also amended to add that reports, evaluations, and related documents filed by State Forensic Services must be filed conventionally. Advisory Note – December 2020 Rule 34(B)(2)(c) is amended to clarify that all proposed orders are required to be filed conventionally. Rule 34(B)(2)(d) is amended to clarify that anything required to be filed conventionally by law must be filed conventionally. Advisory Note [August 2020] Rule 34(A)(2) requires that each electronic document be filed as a separate electronic file. However, separate electronic documents may be filed within the same submission. For example, a filer initiating a parental rights and responsibilities case would file the complaint and child support affidavit as separate documents within the same submission. When a large document is submitted in separate files, each submission should be identified with a description in the “Comments To Court” field such as, for example, “Motion for Summary Judgment, part 1 of 2”.