Electronic Filing

SOAH has implemented use of the eFile Texas technology platform approved by the Texas Supreme Court for the electronic filing and service of documents in general docket cases.

With the adoption of eFile Texas, the electronic filing and service of pleadings and other documents for general docket administrative proceedings at SOAH generally conforms to e-filing practices used by the judicial court system.

Filers should familiarize themselves with the administrative rules and technical requirements associated with use of the eFile Texas platform, and take appropriate steps to prepare documents for electronic filing in conformance with filing standards established by the Judicial Committee on Information Technology and SOAH’s Rules of Procedure.

If you already use an existing electronic filing services provider that is approved by the Texas Supreme Court, then you may use that provider to file and serve documents in general docket proceedings by selecting SOAH from the list of available courts.

Filers without an electronic filing service provider will need to register for an account to electronically file documents at SOAH. The official state-provided filing service is efile.txcourts.gov, and is available for use at no cost. A list of other providers approved by the Texas Supreme Court, including many free options, is available on the eFileTexas.gov

Attorney and Agency Filers

Attorneys and referring agency filers must submit all case filings electronically by use of eFile Texas or another electronic filing service provider approved for use by the Texas Supreme Court.

Parties may obtain more information about eFile Texas by visiting SOAH E-Services.

Guidelines for Electronic Filing

To view SOAH’s Rules of Procedure regarding the filing and service of documents, including requirements relating to electronic filing, click links below:

Service Contact Information. Attorneys and referring agency filers are responsible for the entry and verification of complete and accurate service contact information for the parties in the electronic filing manager, including the entry and verification of the mailing address, phone number, and email address of each party.

Service contact information must be sufficiently complete and accurate to allow SOAH and the parties to electronically serve documents through eFile Texas.

Failure to enter and verify service contact information within eFile Texas may result in SOAH’s rejection of filed documents, and may result in a failure to comply with legal requirements for service of process.

Designation of Lead counsel. The information entered into eFile Texas must include the designation of lead counsel and lead counsel’s state bar identification number if the party will be represented by counsel.

Document Formatting. A document filed electronically must:

• be legible and in text-searchable portable document format (PDF);
• be directly converted to PDF rather than scanned, to the extent possible;
• not be locked;
• include the email address of the party or attorney responsible for the filing of the document;
• include the SOAH docket number and the name of the case in which it is filed, if not attached to a pleading or document that already contains this information; and
• comply with other applicable technology standards of the Judicial Committee on Information Technology.

Document Titles and Use of Proper Filing Codes. Documents submitted for filing through eFile Texas must be properly titled or described in the electronic filing manager in a manner that permits SOAH and the parties to reasonably ascertain its contents, including through use of the correct filing code for the type of document.

Separate Submissions. Different document types cannot be combined into a single PDF for submission. For example:

• If the document submitted for filing is an exhibit, it must be properly identified as an exhibit and submitted separately from motions, pleadings or other filings, unless the exhibit is attached as a necessary supporting document to a pleading.
• A party may not combine motions requesting different types of relief or action into a single filing, but must submit each motion separately.

Document Security. All documents submitted for filing shall be designated as “Non-Confidential” or “Confidential” within eFile Texas or the party’s electronic filing manager at the time of submission. Failure to correctly submit confidential documents as “confidential” may result in SOAH’s rejection of filed documents, and may result in the record being publicly-accessible through the  court records portal. 

Please refer to SOAH Rule §155.103 (Confidential Information) and SOAH’s Guide to Confidential Cases and Information.

Format of Exhibits.  Exhibits should be numbered sequentially, and multipage documents shall be paginated or Bates stamped. If multiple exhibits are combined into a single PDF for submission, then the document must be bookmarked to allow the judge and parties to locate each exhibit within the record.

Requirements for All Filers

Exhibit Submission and Filing. Exhibits are subject to the orders of the judge, SOAH’s Rules of Procedure, and the Chief Administrative Law Judge’s General Order Relating to the Prehearing Submission of Exhibits for General Docket Hearings.

Filings by Self-Represented Litigants

Filing Methods. Self-represented litigants (unrepresented parties or pro se litigants) are strongly encouraged to file documents electronically. However, they may also file documents by mail, fax, or hand-delivery to the appropriate State Office of Administrative Hearings office location. For more information for self-represented parties, use the following documents and pages: 

General Hearings Guide for Self-Represented Litigants 

Email Service for Self-Represented Litigants 

Helpful Links

Filings for Mediations

Please reference Mediation for additional guidance on filing documents in mediations.

For Assistance. Visit SOAH E-Services or contact the SOAH Chief Clerk’s Office at (512) 475-4993 for more information.