July 14, 2022 - Due to SOAH’s transition to a new Administrative Case Tracking System, the SOAH Chief Clerk’s Office is experiencing technical difficulties with the interface between SOAH and eFile Texas. These issues are currently impacting the following:
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Email notification of accepted filings - When the SOAH Chief Clerk’s Office accepts an electronic filing, the eFile Texas system is supposed to automatically return a confirmation email to the filing party; these automatic notifications are not working properly at this time.
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This does not mean that filings are not being accepted by SOAH. Most filings are processed by the SOAH Chief Clerk’s Office within one business day. Until this issue is resolved, if you require a file stamped copy of the accepted filing, you may still obtain one by clicking the document link contained in your initial eFile Texas filing notification email within one business day after filing. File-stamped copies of public case records are also available through re:SearchTX at no cost.
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SOAH's ability to receive electronic filings is not impacted and parties should continue to electronically file pleadings and other documents through eFile Texas.
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Service contacts for some cases - Service contact information within eFile Texas for a large number of SOAH cases created before May 26 was lost by the state’s eFile Texas system during the transition to ACTS. Tyler Technologies/eFile Texas, is working to restore service contact information from back-up data. Until service contacts are fully-restored, filing parties must re-enter and verify service contact information if necessary to electronically serve parties as required by SOAH’s Rules of Procedure.
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Access to confidential case records through re:SearchTX - Access rights to view and download confidential documents through re:SearchTX is determined by the person’s role in eFile Texas as either a filing party, lead counsel, or a person associated with lead counsel’s firm profile. For cases created after May 26, the ACTS system is not correctly exchanging data with eFile Texas to allow authorized access to confidential filings through re:SearchTX. SOAH’s vendor is working with Tyler Technologies/eFile Texas to resolve the issue.
- This does not affect a party’s ability to file or receive electronic service of confidential case records, and confidential filings remain secure from unauthorized access. Only the ability of authorized parties to access confidential filings through re:SearchTX is impacted.
- Duplicate case entries in re:SearchTX - For some cases created prior to May 26, you may find two entries for the same case in re:SearchTX, as in the example below:
It appears that one electronic docket includes case records filed prior to May 26, and the other includes records filed after May 26. SOAH has alerted Tyler Technologies/re:SearchTX of the duplicates and they are working to correct the issue by merging the case records into one electronic dataset for each docket.
We apologize for the inconvenience associated with these technical difficulties, and we appreciate your courtesy and patience as we continue to transition from SOAH’s legacy systems to a modern court management system.
*Please be reminded that SOAH’s Rules of Procedure include provisions addressing technical difficulties and system errors, including a requirement for filers to exercise requisite standards of conduct and proper decorum towards SOAH judges and staff when resolving electronic filing and service issues.
Please contact the Chief Clerk's Office at 512.475.4993 if you require additional assistance.