Document Requirements
This page covers file format rules, size limits, document types, and special document handling in Cott E-Filing.
File Format
All uploaded documents must be in PDF format. The system validates the MIME type on upload and rejects non-PDF files.
Word documents (.docx), images (.jpg, .png), and scanned TIFFs must be converted to PDF before uploading. Most word processors and scanners have a "Save as PDF" or "Export to PDF" option.
Size Limits
Per file
25 MB
Per envelope (total filing)
35 MB
If a single document exceeds 25 MB, reduce its size before uploading. Common approaches:
Re-scan at a lower resolution (150-200 DPI is sufficient for most court documents)
Use a PDF compression tool to reduce file size
Split large documents into multiple parts
If the total of all documents in your filing exceeds 35 MB, consider splitting your filing into multiple submissions or compressing individual files.
Document Types
Each document you upload must be assigned a document type that matches the kind of filing you are making. The available document types depend on the case type you selected in the first step of the wizard.
Common document types include:
Petition / Complaint
Answer / Response
Motion
Memorandum
Order (proposed)
Exhibit
Affidavit / Declaration
Subpoena
Notice
Judgment
Stipulation
Court administrators configure which document types are available for each case type. If you do not see the document type you need, contact the court.
Lead Document
Every filing must have exactly one lead document. The lead document is the primary document in your filing -- the one that drives the docket entry. For example:
In a new case filing, the lead document is typically the Petition or Complaint
In a motion filing, the lead document is the Motion itself
Supporting exhibits, memoranda, and affidavits are non-lead documents
Mark your lead document using the Lead toggle in the document upload step. The lead document appears first in the clerk's review and is used to generate the primary docket entry.
Page Count
The system automatically detects and records the page count for each uploaded PDF. Page counts are used for:
Per-page fee calculation -- Some fee schedules charge by the page
Clerk review -- Clerks can see how many pages each document contains
Docket entries -- Page counts are recorded in the CMS
You do not need to manually enter page counts. The system reads them from the PDF.
Sealed Documents
If a document contains sensitive information that should not be publicly accessible, mark it as Sealed during upload. Sealed documents:
Are stored with restricted access
Are flagged in the clerk's review interface
Are recorded in the CMS with a sealed indicator
Are not included in public docket searches
Marking a document as sealed does not automatically grant a sealing order. The court must approve the sealing. Check your court's local rules for sealing requirements.
Redacted Documents
If a document contains personally identifiable information (PII) that must be removed before it becomes part of the public record, mark it as Redacted during upload and upload the redacted version.
Clerks also have redaction tools available during review:
PII detection -- The system can scan a PDF for common PII patterns (Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses)
Manual redaction -- Clerks can draw redaction rectangles over sensitive areas in the document viewer
Redacted versions are stored separately from the original, and the redacted path is tracked in the filing record.
Summary Checklist
Before submitting your filing, verify:
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