Rule 21.140.Mandatory Electronic Filing
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 21.140
Plain-English Summary
Electronic filing is mandatory for active licensees of the Oregon State Bar. Two exceptions take a document out of the requirement: it is a document UTCR 21.070(3) requires to be filed conventionally, or the filer holds a waiver. The duty this rule creates runs to bar licensees, not to everyone who uses the system.
Waivers come in two shapes. A petition covers all cases in a specific judicial district for a specific period of time. A motion covers one existing case. Either must explain good cause for the waiver, and a separate petition goes to each judicial district where the licensee wants relief. The waiver petition or motion is itself on the conventional filing list in UTCR 21.070.
A granted waiver carries follow-through. With a petition granted, the licensee files a copy of the court's order in each case the waiver covers, and puts the words "Exempt from eFiling per Waiver Granted [DATE]" in the caption of every document filed conventionally while the waiver lasts. With a motion granted, that caption language goes on every document filed conventionally in that case.
The rule closes with an outage allowance and an enforcement list. If the system is continuously unavailable for more than 24 hours, a licensee may file conventionally until the end of the first full business day after the day the system becomes available again. And if a licensee files on paper with no waiver and no outage, court staff may, to the extent the presiding judge's policy allows, direct the filer to the court's kiosk to complete the filing electronically, refuse to accept the document, return it unfiled, or refer the filing to a judge for consideration of sanctions under UTCR 1.090.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Oregon lawyers have to eFile?
Yes. An active licensee of the Oregon State Bar must file using the electronic filing system instead of conventional filing, unless the document is one UTCR 21.070(3) requires to be filed conventionally or the filer has obtained a waiver.
How do I get a waiver from mandatory eFiling?
File either a petition for waiver covering all cases in a specific judicial district for a specific period of time, or a motion for waiver in one existing case. Either one must explain good cause. A separate petition is required for each judicial district where you want relief.
The petition or motion itself is filed conventionally, since UTCR 21.070 puts it on the paper list.
What do I have to do after a waiver is granted?
If the court grants a petition, file a copy of the court's order in each case the waiver covers, and include the words "Exempt from eFiling per Waiver Granted [DATE]" in the caption of every document you file conventionally while the waiver runs.
If the court grants a motion, include that same caption language on every document you file conventionally in that case.
What happens if I file on paper without a waiver?
Court staff may respond, to the extent the presiding judge's policy allows, by directing you to the court's kiosk to complete the filing electronically, refusing to accept the document for filing, returning it to you as unfiled, or referring the filing to a judge for consideration of sanctions under UTCR 1.090.
What if the eFiling system goes down for a long stretch?
If the system is continuously unavailable for more than 24 hours, an active bar licensee may file documents conventionally until the end of the first full business day after the day the system becomes available.
For a shorter outage or a failed transmission, the relation-back provisions in UTCR 21.080 are the route.