Rule 21.060.Files of the Court

Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026

In one sentenceUTCR 21.060 states when an electronic filing is complete, makes the accepted electronic document the court's record, lets the court convert paper filings into electronic form and later destroy the paper, and fixes what the register of actions shows as the filing date.

Full Text of Rule 21.060

Text sizeJump to: (1) (2) (3)

(1) Electronic Filing

(a) The electronic filing of a document is accomplished when a filer submits a document electronically to the court, the electronic filing system receives the document, and the court accepts the document for filing.

(b) When the court accepts the electronic document for filing, the electronic document constitutes the court’s record of the document.

(2) Converting a Conventional Filing into an Electronic Format. The court may digitize, microfilm, record, scan, or otherwise reproduce a document that is filed conventionally into an electronic record, document, or image. The court subsequently may destroy a document that is filed conventionally in accordance with the protocols established by the State Court Administrator under ORS 8.125(11) and ORS 7.124.

(3) Register of Actions. The following apply whether or not a document is electronically filed with the court:

(a) For the purpose of ORS 7.020(1) and (2), the date that a document was filed displays in the date column of the register of actions for the case in the court’s electronic case management system.

(b) For the purpose of ORS 7.020(2), entry occurs on the date an event is created in the register of actions.

End

Plain-English Summary

Submitting a document is not filing it. The filer submits the document electronically, the electronic filing system receives it, and the court accepts it for filing — and only then has a filing occurred. Miss a step and there is none. Once the court accepts the document, that electronic document is the court's record of it, not an image standing in for some other official version.

Paper does not stay paper. The court may digitize, microfilm, record, scan, or otherwise reproduce a conventionally filed document into an electronic record, document, or image, and may then destroy the paper under the protocols the State Court Administrator establishes under ORS 8.125(11) and ORS 7.124. A party who files on paper should not count on the court holding that paper indefinitely.

The register of actions settles dates, and this part applies whether or not the document was filed electronically. For ORS 7.020(1) and (2), the filing date is the date shown in the date column of the register of actions for the case in the court's electronic case management system. For ORS 7.020(2), entry occurs on the date the event is created in the register. When a deadline turns on when something was filed or entered, the register is the place to look.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is an electronic filing complete in Oregon circuit court?

When the filer has submitted the document electronically, the electronic filing system has received it, and the court has accepted it for filing. Submission alone is not filing.

Timing is a separate question: under UTCR 21.080, acceptance carries the filing date back to when the system received the document.

Is the electronic version the official court record?

Yes. When the court accepts an electronic document for filing, that electronic document constitutes the court's record of the document.

Can the court destroy my paper filing after scanning it?

Yes. The court may reproduce a conventionally filed document into an electronic record, document, or image, and may then destroy the paper in accordance with the protocols the State Court Administrator establishes under ORS 8.125(11) and ORS 7.124.

Where do I find the official filing date for a document?

In the date column of the register of actions for that case in the court's electronic case management system. That is the date the rule points to for purposes of ORS 7.020(1) and (2).

Does the conversion rule apply to documents that were filed electronically?

No. Conversion and destruction address documents that were filed conventionally — the court is turning paper into an electronic record. The register of actions provisions, by contrast, apply whether or not a document was filed electronically.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR 21.060). Prescribed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court (UTCR 1.020). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 12, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: when is an efiling complete oregonelectronic document court record oregonregister of actions filing datecourt may destroy a document after scanningors 7.020 date of entry