Rule 1.1.Definitions

Last amended July 1, 2023 · Last verified July 1, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1.1 defines five words the Civil Rules use over and over — appear, attendance, open court, personally, and remote presence — so a reference to someone’s presence means the same thing whether that person shows up in the courtroom or joins by live two-way video and audio.

Full Text of Rule 1.1

Text sizeJump to: (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

As used in these rules:

A “Appear,” “appearance,” or “in person” mean the physical or remote presence of an individual.

B “Attendance” means the physical or remote presence of an individual.

C “Open court” includes a court proceeding open to the public in person or by remote access to the live proceeding.

D “Personally” means the physical or remote presence of an individual except as provided by Civ.R. 4.1 through 4.5 and Civ.R. 45.

E “Remote presence” means the presence of a person who is using live two-way video and audio technology.

Amendment History

Effective Date: July 1, 2023

Plain-English Summary

Added in 2023 as courts leaned more on remote hearings, Rule 1.1 supplies a shared vocabulary for the rest of the Civil Rules. Without it, every rule that mentions a party’s or witness’s presence would need its own explanation of whether that covers a video appearance.

“Appear,” “appearance,” and “in person” all mean the physical or remote presence of an individual, and “attendance” carries the same meaning. “Open court” covers a proceeding the public can watch in the courtroom or by remote access. “Remote presence” means joining through live two-way video and audio technology, not a phone call or a written filing.

“Personally” also reaches physical or remote presence, but with a carve-out: the rules governing certain methods of service (Rule 4.1 through 4.5) and subpoenas (Rule 45) keep their own, narrower meaning of personal delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rule 1.1 give me a right to appear at a hearing by video?

No. It only defines terms used elsewhere in the rules. Whether you may appear remotely depends on the specific rule, the type of proceeding, and the court’s own practice.

What counts as “remote presence” under the rules?

Being present through live two-way video and audio technology — a real-time video and audio connection, not a recorded statement or a phone-only call.

Why does “personally” work differently for service of process?

Because Rule 4.1 through 4.5 and Rule 45 already define what counts as personal service or a personal subpoena delivery, and Rule 1.1 preserves those specific meanings rather than overriding them with the broader remote-presence definition.

Source & verification. The rule text, Effective Date, Amended dates, and Staff Notes are reproduced verbatim from the official Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure (Ohio R. Civ. P. 1.1). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio (Ohio Constitution, Art. IV, § 5(B)). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: definitionsremote presenceappearance by video