Ohio Court Exhibit Requirements
Master Ohio exhibit requirements under Civ.R. 26(B)(3) for Common Pleas Courts, county e-filing systems, and Commercial Docket procedures across the Buckeye State.
Key Deadline: Initial disclosures within 28 days after planning conference. Ohio uses PX-1/DX-1 prefix marking for plaintiff/defendant exhibits.
Quick Reference
Updated 2025-01-15County systems
Varies by county
PX-1, PX-2...
DX-1, DX-2...
28 days after planning
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Civ.R. 26(B)(3) - Initial disclosures within 28 days after planning conference. Must include copies or descriptions of relevant documents.
Expert Disclosure
Civ.R. 26(B)(7) - Expert disclosures 90 days before trial. Rebuttal expert disclosures within 30 days.
E-Filing
County-specific systems - 88 counties with varying requirements. Cuyahoga County limits to 8½ x 11 inches.
Deadlines
28 days for initial disclosures after planning.90 days before trial for expert disclosures.
Ohio Exhibit Marking Convention
PX/DX Prefix System
Ohio courts use a prefix-based marking system that clearly identifies which party offered each exhibit:
Plaintiff Exhibits
PX-1, PX-2, PX-3...
Defendant Exhibits
DX-1, DX-2, DX-3...
Joint Exhibits
JX-1, JX-2, JX-3...
File Format
- PDF format required for e-filing
- Size limits vary (10-25 MB typical)
- Searchable PDFs preferred
- No security restrictions
Binder Requirements
- Exhibits pre-marked before trial
- Organized in binders by party
- Tab dividers for each exhibit
- Index at front of each binder
Ohio Disclosure Timeline
Civ.R. 26 Discovery Timeline
Initial Disclosures (Civ.R. 26(B)(3))
After planning conference - copies or descriptions of relevant documents
Expert Disclosures (Civ.R. 26(B)(7))
Before trial - includes expert opinions and supporting exhibits
Rebuttal Expert Disclosures
After initial expert disclosure - opposing expert materials
Union County 20+ Exhibit Notice
Special notice required when offering more than 20 exhibits
Major Ohio Courts
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas (Cleveland)
Largest court in Ohio with Commercial Docket for complex business litigation. E-filing required for most civil matters.
Important: All exhibits must be 8½ x 11 inches for permanent record. Reduce oversized documents as needed.
Franklin County Common Pleas (Columbus)
Second largest court serving the state capital. Commercial Docket available for complex business disputes.
Important: Pre-marking required. Exhibits must be organized in binders with index and tab dividers.
Hamilton County Common Pleas (Cincinnati)
Major court in southwestern Ohio with Commercial Docket. Significant civil caseload with established exhibit procedures.
Important: Uses PX for plaintiffs, DX for defendants, JX for joint exhibits. Verify local procedures for exchange deadlines.
Summit County Common Pleas (Akron)
Significant civil caseload in northeastern Ohio. Standard exhibit procedures per case management orders. Check local rules for specific requirements.
Ohio Commercial Docket
Eight Counties with Commercial Dockets
Ohio has established Commercial Dockets in eight counties for complex business disputes. These dockets may have specific exhibit procedures in standing orders.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with Ohio Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours manually with PX/DX prefixes
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time for manual exhibit preparation
OH Compliance
PX/DX/JX format, searchable PDFs, proper sizing for any county
Common Ohio Rejection Reasons
Oversized Documents in Cuyahoga County
Documents exceeding 8½ x 11 inches rejected. Reduce or fold oversized exhibits.
Missing 28-Day Initial Disclosure
Civ.R. 26(B)(3) requires disclosure within 28 days of planning conference.
Exhibits Not Pre-Marked
Franklin County and others require exhibits pre-marked with PX/DX numbers in binders.
Wrong County E-Filing System
Ohio's 88 counties use different systems. Verify your county's specific portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ohio Civ.R. 26(B)(3) require for exhibits?
Civ.R. 26(B)(3) requires initial disclosures within 28 days after the case management planning conference. This includes copies or descriptions of all documents that support your claims or defenses.
What is the PX/DX marking system?
Ohio uses prefix-based exhibit marking: PX-1, PX-2 for plaintiff exhibits; DX-1, DX-2 for defendant exhibits; JX-1, JX-2 for joint exhibits agreed upon by all parties.
Why does Cuyahoga County have size restrictions?
Cuyahoga County requires all exhibits to be 8½ x 11 inches for permanent court records. Oversized documents must be reduced or folded. This ensures consistent archival storage.
What are Commercial Docket exhibit requirements?
Ohio's eight Commercial Docket courts may have specific exhibit procedures in standing orders. Check your docket's local rules for pre-marking, binder, and electronic submission requirements.
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