Rule 21.100.Electronic Service

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

In one sentenceUTCR 21.100 makes a filer who appears electronically consent to electronic service, requires the filer to enter service contacts in the system, treats the system's notification email as service, and names the documents that must still be served another way.

Full Text of Rule 21.100

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(1) Consent to Electronic Service and Withdrawal of Consent

(a) A filer who electronically appears in the action by filing a document through the electronic filing system that the court has accepted is deemed to consent to accept electronic service of any document filed by any other registered filer in an action, except for any document that requires service under ORCP 7 or that requires personal service.

(b) A filer who is dismissed as a party from the action or withdraws as the attorney of record in the action may withdraw consent to electronic service by removing the filer’s contact information as provided in subsection (2)(a) of this rule.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a filer may withdraw consent to electronic service only upon court approval based on good cause shown.

(2) Contact Information

(a) At the time of preparing the filer’s first electronic filing in the action, a filer described in section (1) of this rule must enter in the electronic filing system the name and service email address of the filer, designated as a service contact on behalf of an identified party in the action. If the filer withdraws consent to electronic service under subsection (1)(b) or (1)(c) of this rule, then the filer must remove the filer’s name and service email address as a designated service contact for a party.

(b) A filer described in subsection (1)(a) of this rule may enter in the electronic filing system, as an other service contact in the action:

(i) An alternative email address for the filer; and

(ii) The name and email address of any additional person whom the filer wishes to receive electronic notification of documents electronically served in the action, as defined in UTCR 21.010(7). If an attorney enters a client’s name and contact information as an other service contact under this subsection, then the attorney is deemed to have consented for purposes of Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 to delivery to the client of documents electronically served by other filers in the action.

(c) A filer is responsible for updating any contact information for any person whom the filer has entered in the electronic filing system as either a service contact for a party or as an other service contact in an action.

(d) A filer may seek court approval to remove a person entered by another filer as an other service contact in an action if the person does not qualify as an other service contact under UTCR 21.010(7).

(3) Selecting Service Contacts and Other Service Contacts. When preparing an electronic filing submission with electronic service, a filer is responsible for selecting:

(a) The appropriate service contacts in the action, for the purpose of accomplishing electronic service as required by law of any document being electronically filed; and

(b) The appropriate other service contacts in the action, if any, for the purpose of delivering an electronic copy of any document being electronically filed.

(4) Court Notification and Transmission Constituting Service. When the court accepts an electronic document for filing under UTCR 21.060(1)(a), the electronic filing system sends an email to the email address of each person whom the filer selected as a service contact or other service contact under section (3) of this rule. The email contains a hyperlink to access the document or documents that have been filed electronically. Transmission of the email by the electronic filing system to the selected service contacts in the action constitutes service.

(5) Completion and Time of Electronic Service. Electronic service is complete when the electronic filing system sends the email to the selected service contacts in the action.

(6) Service Other than by Electronic Means. The filing party is responsible for accomplishing service in any manner permitted by the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure and for filing a proof of service with the court for the following documents:

(a) A document required to be filed conventionally under this chapter;

(b) A document that cannot be served electronically on a party who appeared in the action; and

End

Plain-English Summary

Consent arrives with the first filing and is hard to undo. A filer who appears in an action by filing a document through the system that the court accepts is deemed to consent to electronic service of any document any other registered filer files in that action. Two categories stay outside: documents requiring service under ORCP 7, and documents requiring personal service. A filer who is dismissed as a party or withdraws as attorney of record may withdraw consent by removing their contact information. Everyone else needs court approval based on good cause shown.

Contact information is the filer's responsibility. When preparing the first electronic filing in an action, the filer enters a name and service email address designated as a service contact on behalf of an identified party. The filer may also add other service contacts — an alternative email address for the filer, and the name and email address of anyone else the filer wants to receive notification of documents served in the action. An attorney who enters a client as an other service contact is deemed to have consented, for purposes of the professional conduct rule on communicating with a represented person, to other filers' served documents reaching that client. The filer who enters someone keeps that information current, and a filer may ask the court to remove a person another filer listed who does not qualify as an other service contact.

Service happens by email. When preparing a submission with electronic service, the filer selects the right service contacts to accomplish service required by law, and the right other service contacts to deliver a copy. When the court accepts the document for filing, the system emails everyone selected a notice containing a hyperlink to the filed documents. Transmission of that email to the selected service contacts constitutes service, and service is complete when the system sends it — not when anyone opens it. Selecting the wrong contacts, or none, means service did not happen.

Some documents fall outside the system. The filing party remains responsible for serving in a manner the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure permit, and for filing proof of service, for three things: a document this chapter requires to be filed conventionally, a document that cannot be served electronically on a party who has appeared, and a document subject to a protective order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does eFiling a document mean I consented to electronic service?

Yes. A filer who appears in an action by filing a document through the electronic filing system that the court accepts is deemed to consent to accept electronic service of any document filed by any other registered filer in that action.

Documents that require service under ORCP 7, and documents requiring personal service, are excluded from that consent.

When is electronic service complete in Oregon?

When the electronic filing system sends the email to the selected service contacts in the action. Completion does not wait for anyone to open the message or click the hyperlink it contains.

Can I withdraw my consent to electronic service?

Only in narrow circumstances on your own. A filer dismissed as a party, or withdrawing as attorney of record, may withdraw consent by removing their name and service email address as a designated service contact for the party.

Any other filer may withdraw consent only with court approval based on good cause shown.

Should I add my client as an other service contact?

You may. An other service contact is a person the filer wants to receive email notification of documents served in the action — co-counsel, an administrator, staff, or another person with a legitimate connection to the case.

Weigh the consequence first: an attorney who enters a client as an other service contact is deemed to have consented, for purposes of the professional conduct rule on contact with a represented person, to other filers' served documents being delivered to that client.

Which documents cannot be served through the eFiling system?

The filing party has to serve, in a manner the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure permit, and file proof of service, for a document this chapter requires to be filed conventionally, a document that cannot be served electronically on a party who appeared, and a document subject to a protective order.

Documents requiring service under ORCP 7 and documents requiring personal service are also outside the consent this rule creates.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR 21.100). 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: oregon electronic service consentservice contact efiling oregonwhen is electronic service complete oregonwithdraw consent to electronic serviceproof of service electronic filing oregonother service contact client