Supreme Court

General Filing Requirements

Rule 9 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure provides instructions for all documents filed with the Texas Supreme Court. In addition, if you are filing a petition for review, be sure to read and follow the requirements of Rule 53 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Rule 53.2 explains what the required contents are for a petition for review. If you are filing an original proceeding, such as a petition for writ of mandamus or writ of habeas corpus, you should read and follow the requirements of Rule 52 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Rule 52.3 explains what the necessary contents and form are for a petition filed in an original proceeding. Failure to follow the requirements of Rule 9, Rule 52, or Rule 53 may result in the Court striking your filing for failure to comply with the rules.

Electronic Filing

All attorneys are required to file all documents with the Court through the eFileTexas.gov electronic filing system. To use the electronic filing system you must first choose an electronic filing service provider and register. Please choose an electronic filing service provider and register today!

Through the eFileTexas.gov filing system, you can electronically file documents, pay your fees, and serve opposing counsel. No paper copies are required when electronically filing.

For more information about creating electronic briefs, please see the following helpful links:

• Electronic Filing Rules for the Supreme Court of Texas
• Guide to Creating Electronic Appellate Briefs 2014 (Adobe Acrobat 8, 9, X)
• Guide to Creating Electronic Appellate Briefs 2019 (Adobe Acrobat Pro DC)
• Step-by-Step video instructions for using Adobe Acrobat to create an electronic brief
• E-brief Formatting, an interview with Chief Justice Hecht
• E-brief Formatting, an interview with Justice Boyd

Paper Filings

If you are not an attorney, you may file using the traditional paper filing method. An original copy is required for all paper filings with the Texas Supreme Court. The original should be unbound. Filings must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee (Filing Fee Table).

Paper filings must comply with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure (PDF), available from the Texas Judicial Branch Rules & Standards page.

Fees

For a list of the filing fees that apply, see Supreme Court Filing Fees.

Common Questions for Filing Requirements

When filing electronically, how many paper copies do I need to file?

No paper copies are required when electronically filing.

I am not an attorney and plan to file on paper. How many paper copies do I need to file?

If you are filing with the Supreme Court of Texas, you will need to file the original copy. The original should be unbound.

How can I get a copy of a case/record?

The Clerk's Office will not copy, fax or e-mail cases to individuals. If you would like a copy of a case, filing or record you will need to come in person, or send a runner to the Clerk's office. The briefs are not allowed to leave the building. Copies are made in the State Law Library located down the hall from the Clerk's Office. Capitol Complex Map

What font size do I have to use?

Rule 9.4(e) governs the font type and size that must be used in documents filed in all Texas appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Texas. If you are using a computer, the font size must be no smaller than 14 point font and footnotes may be no smaller than 12 point font. The rule does not require that you use any particular font, although common fonts used are Times New Roman, Georgia, and Courier. If you are using a typewriter, the typeface may be no smaller than standard 10-character-per-inch (cpi) nonproportionally spaced Courier typeface. See Rule 9.4(e).

Do you accept fax filings?

No. Fax filings are not accepted and will not be docketed. In an emergency, the Clerk's Office may accept an advance copy of a motion for emergency relief or other filing by e-mail, but your document will not be officially "filed' until you file the document through eFileTexas.gov or, if you are not an attorney, file through the traditional paper filing method. In the event that you need emergency relief, please contact the Clerk's Office at (512) 463-1312 before sending any filings by e-mail.

I am in another city, but the mailbox rules does not apply and my filing deadline is today. What should I do?

We recommend that you use eFileTexas.gov electronic filing system. If you cannot e-file for some reason,there are numerous copy, courier, and lawyer assistance companies in Austin. We cannot recommend or endorse any particular company, but you can find them by using an internet search engine or by contacting a local attorney that may be familiar with these companies.

How do I file a verified copy of the posted Notice of Motion to Seal Court Record with the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Texas under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 76A?

The Court requires Notices of Rule 76A Motions to Seal Court Records to be electronically filed via an electronic filing service provider. Please file the notice as a new case with the case number "76A" and as the "Letter/Notice" filing type. You must complete the party information using the "Petitioner and "Respondent" party fields. No filing fee is required.

How do I file a sealed exhibit or record with the Supreme Court?

Documents filed under seal or subject to a motion to seal may not be electronically filed. In order to file a document under seal in the Supreme Court, regardless of whether it has already been sealed by a lower court, you must electronically file a motion to seal. You may include in the appendix any trial court order sealing the document(s) and any notice filed with the Supreme Court upon moving to seal per T.R.C.P. 76(a)(3).

Follow the instructions below for submitting your sealed documents.

If the sealed exhibit is being filed as part of an unsealed appendix or record:

Please indicate the title of the sealed exhibit in the bookmarks and exhibit cover page, and include the notation "Filed under Seal." The unsealed appendix or record will still be filed via the electronic filing service provider, and the sealed exhibit will be mailed separately. Please place the sealed exhibit(s) in an envelope (separate envelopes if multiple exhibits), with a label on the envelope indicating the case number, case style, and the title of the sealed document. Along with one paper copy of each sealed document, please mail an electronic copy of each exhibit filed under seal on a thumb drive or CD.

If a record is being filed separately under seal:

Please mail the sealed record to the Court in an envelope (place multiple volumes in separate envelopes) with a label on the envelope indicating the case number, cast style, title of the sealed document, and a notation that the document is filed under seal. Along with one paper copy of each volume of a sealed record, please mail a bookmarked electronic copy on a thumb drive or CD.