eFileTexas PDF format requirements
eFileTexas is Texas's mandatory e-filing system, operated by Tyler Technologies (Odyssey), for state district courts, county courts at law, justice courts, and many other Texas courts. Technical requirements are governed by the Texas Supreme Court's electronic filing standards and Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Key technical requirements: PDFs must be text-searchable. Individual document size is limited to 25 MB in most configurations. US Letter page size is standard. No encryption. The system does not accept password-protected files.
Texas courts also require exhibits to be filed as attachments to the principal document filing, each as a separate PDF. This means a large exhibit set submitted as one document would exceed the 25 MB limit — split exhibits are both procedurally correct and technically necessary.
eFileTexas also requires that PDFs not contain embedded audio, video, or executable scripts. Standard document PDFs from Word or Acrobat do not contain these, but PDFs with embedded multimedia should be stripped of those elements before filing.
PrepFile's E-Filing Checker set to a 25 MB threshold covers the primary technical checks for eFileTexas. Always verify against the current eFileTexas training materials and your court's standing orders.
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Texas e-filing pre-flight
- Run PrepFile's E-Filing Checker with a 25 MB size limit.
- Confirm text-searchable, Letter size, no encryption, no form fields.
- If over 25 MB, split exhibits into separate PDFs and file as attachments.
- File each exhibit as a separate attachment in eFileTexas, not consolidated into one PDF.
- Review the eFileTexas training guide at efiletexas.gov for current system requirements.
Questions
Does eFileTexas require PDF/A?
Not explicitly. Standard text-searchable PDFs are accepted. Focus on the searchability, size, and format requirements.
What about pro se filers in Texas?
Pro se filers in most Texas courts are not required to e-file, though they may choose to. Check your specific court's local rules for pro se exemptions or requirements.
Can I upload a combined pleading + exhibits as one PDF?
Procedurally, exhibits should be filed as separate attachments. Technically, a combined PDF could work if under 25 MB and properly paginated, but check your court's standing orders — many Texas courts require separate exhibit documents.