Tex. R. eFiling Just. Ct. 2.1

As amended through November 19, 2024

Rule 2.1 - Specific Terms

The following definitions apply to these rules:

(a) "Civil cases" means all cases filed in small claims court and all non-criminal cases filed in the justice courts. The term does not include matters handled by a justice of the peace acting as a magistrate.

(b) "Convenience fee" is a fee charged in connection with electronic filing that is in addition to regular filing fees. A convenience fee charged by the justice of the peace court will be considered as a court cost.

(c) "Digital signature" means a confidential and unique electronic identifier issued to a filer upon registration with TexasOnline. See Rule 4.2.

(d) "Digitized signature" means a graphic image of a handwritten signature.

(e) "Document" means a pleading, plea, motion, application, request, exhibit, brief, memorandum oflaw, paper, or other instrument in paper form or electronic form. The term does not include court orders.

(f) "Electronic filing" is a process by which a filer files a court document with the justice of the peace court by means ofan online computer transmission ofthe document in electronic form. For purposes ofthese rules, the process does not include the filing offaxed documents described as the "electronic filing ofdocuments" in Tex. Gov't Code §51.801.

(g) "Electronic filing service provider" (EFSP) means a business entity that provides electronic filing services and support to its customers (filers) . An attorney or law firm may act as an EFSP.

(h) "Electronic order" means a computerized, non-paper court order that a justice of the peace signs by applying his or her digitized signature to the order.

(i) "Electronic service" is a method of serving a document upon a party in a case by electronically transmitting the document to that party's e-mail address.

(j) "Electronically file" means to file a document by means of electronic filing.

(k) "Electronically serve" means to serve a document by means ofelectronic service.

(l) "Filer" means a person who files a document, including an attorney.

(m) "Justice ofthe peace court" means a justice court or a small claims court, as defined by chapters 27 and 28 ofthe Texas Government Code and Texas Constitution Article V, § 19.

(n) "Paper court order" means a court order that is generated and signed on paper.

(o) "Paper filing " and "filing in paper format" describe a process by which a filer files a paper document with a justice ofthe peace court.

(P) "Participatingjusticeofthe peace court"means ajustice ofthe peacecourt that has set up a TexasOnline account to accept electronically filed documents and has notified the county clerk and the county commissioner's court ofthe court's participating status.

(q) "Party" means a person or entity appearing in any case or proceeding.

(r) "Registered e-mail address" means an e-mail address a filer has registered with TexasOnline for the transmission or receipt of electronically filed documents.

(s) "Regular filing fees" are those filing fees charged in connection with paper filing.

(t) "Rules" are the Statewide Rules Concerning the Electronic Filing and Service of Documents in Participating Justice ofthe Peace Courts.

Tex. R. eFiling Just. Ct. 2.1

Effective January 1, 2008.