(a) Filing — When Required. All papers after the petition required to be served upon a party and filed with the court shall be filed either before service or within five days thereafter.
Rule 43.02.Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers.
Part I · Rule 43: Service and Filing of Pleadings and Papers · Last amended January 1, 2017 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule sets the deadline for filing papers that must be served, defines what it means to file with the court, and authorizes local rules permitting filing by fax or email with the same effect as an original document.
Full Text of Rule 43.02
(b) Filing With the Court — Defined. The filing of pleadings and other papers with the court as required by Rules 41 through 101 shall be made by filing them with the clerk of the court, except that a judge may permit the papers to be filed with the judge, who shall note thereon the filing date and forthwith transmit them to the office of the clerk.
(c) Filing With the Court — Electronic Transmission. By local court rule that is consistent with Rule 103, a court, in cooperation with the office of the clerk of the court, may authorize the filing by electronic transmission of such motions, applications, orders, judgments, warrants, pleadings and the like as may be deemed desirable. For purposes of the rule, electronic transmission shall mean facsimile transmission or e-mail. If filing by electronic transmission is authorized by local rule, any pleading or other filing shall have the same effect as the filing of an original document, even though it may be required to be verified or submitted by affidavit. A facsimile or electronic signature shall have the same effect as an original signature. The person filing a pleading or other filing by electronic transmission shall retain the signed filing and make it available upon order of the Court.
Amendment History
Adopted April 23, 1996, eff. Jan. 1, 1997. Revised March 14, 2002, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Revised June 17, 2004, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Amended June 28, 2016, eff. Jan 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 43.02 pairs with Rule 43.01’s service requirements by addressing filing. Subsection (a) requires that any paper filed after the petition, and required to be served on a party, be filed either before it is served or within five days afterward. Subsection (b) defines filing with the court as filing with the clerk, though a judge may accept a paper directly, note the filing date on it, and forward it promptly to the clerk’s office.
Subsection (c) opens the door to electronic filing. A local court rule, consistent with Rule 103, can authorize filing by fax or email for motions, applications, orders, judgments, warrants, pleadings, and similar documents. Where that local authorization exists, an electronically transmitted filing has the same effect as an original document, even one that would otherwise need to be verified or supported by affidavit, and a fax or electronic signature carries the same weight as an original signature. The person making the electronic filing has to keep the signed original and produce it if the court orders it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after service does a paper have to be filed with the court?
Papers after the petition that must be served on a party have to be filed either before service or within five days after service.
What counts as “filing” under this rule?
Filing means filing with the clerk of the court, though a judge may accept a paper directly, mark the filing date on it, and send it on to the clerk’s office.
Can I file a pleading by fax or email in Missouri courts?
Only if a local court rule, consistent with Rule 103, authorizes electronic transmission filing for the type of document involved.
Does an electronically filed document need to be followed by a paper original?
The rule gives an authorized electronic filing the same effect as an original, including for documents that would otherwise need verification or an affidavit, but the filer must keep the signed original and produce it if the court orders it.
Does a fax or electronic signature count the same as a handwritten one for filing purposes?
Yes. Where electronic transmission filing is authorized by local rule, a fax or electronic signature has the same effect as an original signature.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: when to file after servicefiling with the clerk missourielectronic filing local rulefax or email filing courtdeadline to file pleading