(a) Electronic Filing. Except as otherwise specifically provided, this Court and the court of appeals require most documents to be electronically filed. Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27 govern the electronic filing of documents and apply if there is a conflict with any other rule. When filing a document in an appellate court, Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27 should be reviewed as well as the local rules of the court in which the document is to be filed. If a document is filed electronically, no paper copies are required to be filed except as provided by local court rule.
Rule 81.005.Filing in and Notice from Appellant Courts.
Part I · Rule 81: Appeals · Last amended January 1, 2017 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 81.005 makes electronic filing the default for documents filed in the Missouri Supreme Court and the court of appeals, allows paper filing only for parties who qualify as ineligible to e-file, and sets how the court gives notice of case activity to each type of filer.
Full Text of Rule 81.005
(b) Paper Filing. Those who are ineligible to file documents electronically shall comply with all provisions of Rules 81 to 84 except the documents shall be filed in paper form with the clerk’s office and shall comply with Rule 81.21 as to format.
(c) Notice. Any notice from the court shall be made to the registered users through the electronic filing system and to all others as provided in Rule 43.01.
Amendment History
Adopted May 30, 2012, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Amended May 19, 2016, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 81.005 sets the baseline for how documents move in and out of Missouri's appellate courts. Electronic filing is the default. Anyone who registers with the court's e-filing system files documents that way unless a specific rule says otherwise, and the system generates the record the court and the other parties will use. Because the filing itself lives in the system, no paper copies need to follow it into the clerk's office unless a local court rule says so.
Not everyone can file electronically. Self-represented litigants without the needed technology, and others who qualify as ineligible, still have to comply with every provision in Rules 81 through 84 — the same deadlines, the same content requirements — but they file on paper with the clerk's office and follow the paper-format rules spelled out in Rule 81.21, covering paper size, binding, and margins.
Notice works the same way. Once a filing reaches the system, registered users get notice through the electronic filing system itself. Anyone who is not a registered user gets notice the way Rule 43.01 requires. The rule does not change what has to be filed or when — it only sets the mechanics of getting documents to the court and getting word back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to e-file my appeal documents in Missouri?
Yes, if you are eligible. Rule 81.005 makes electronic filing the default method for nearly every document filed with the Missouri Supreme Court or the court of appeals.
What if I can't file electronically?
You still have to comply with every provision of Rules 81 through 84, but you file in paper form with the clerk's office and follow the formatting rules in Rule 81.21.
Do I need to send paper copies if I e-file?
No, not unless a local court rule requires it. An electronically filed document does not need a paper backup.
How will I know what's happening in my appeal?
If you are a registered user of the electronic filing system, notice comes through that system. If you are not, notice follows Rule 43.01.
Which rule governs the mechanics of e-filing?
Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27 control the mechanics of electronic filing and should be reviewed along with the local rules of the court where the document will be filed.
Does Rule 81.005 apply to both the Supreme Court and the court of appeals?
Yes, it applies to filings in this Court and the court of appeals alike.
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: electronic filing appeal missourie-file appellate documentspaper filing exception appealappellate court noticeefiling default rule