Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure - Supreme Court

RULE 11. Signing of Pleadings, Motions, or Other Documents
Every pleading, motion, or other document of a party represented by an attorney shall be
signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's individual name, whose address,
attorney registration number, telephone number, facsimile number, if any, and business e-mail
address, if any, shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign the
pleading, motion, or other document and state the party's address. A party who is not represented
by an attorney may further state a facsimile number or e-mail address for service by electronic
means under Civ.R. 5(B)(2)(f). Except when otherwise specifically provided by these rules,
pleadings, as defined by Civ.R. 7(A), need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The
signature of an attorney or pro se party constitutes a certificate by the attorney or party that the
attorney or party has read the document; that to the best of the attorney's or party's knowledge,
information, and belief there is good ground to support it; and that it is not interposed for delay.
If a document is not signed or is signed with intent to defeat the purpose of this rule, it may be
stricken as sham and false and the action may proceed as though the document had not been
served. For a willful violation of this rule, an attorney or pro se party, upon motion of a party or
upon the court's own motion, may be subjected to appropriate action, including an award to the
opposing party of expenses and reasonable attorney fees incurred in bringing any motion under
this rule. Similar action may be taken if scandalous or indecent matter is inserted.
[Effective: July 1, 1970; amended effective July 1, 1994, July 1, 1995; July 1, 2001; July 1,
2012.]
Staff Note (July 1, 2012 Amendment)
Rule 11 has been amended to permit a party who is not represented by an attorney to designate a
facsimile number or e-mail address for purposes of service by electronic means.
The amendment also highlights that the term “pleading” as used in the Ohio Rules of Civil
Procedure refers to the six specific documents listed in Civ.R. 7(A), and does not refer to other documents
filed or served in the action.
Staff Note (July 1, 2001 Amendment)
Civil Rule 11 Signing of Pleadings, Motions, or Other Documents
The amendments to this rule were part of a group of amendments that were submitted by the
Ohio Courts Digital Signatures Task Force to establish minimum standards for the use of information
systems, electronic signatures, and electronic filing. The substantive amendment to this rule was the
addition of the requirement that an attorney’s telefax number and e-mail address, if any, be on all
documents. Also, “document” was substituted for “paper” in the title and in two places in the text, for
consistency with other Rules of Civil Procedure.
As part of this electronic filing and signature project, the following rules were amended effective
July 1, 2001: Civil Rules 5, 11, and 73; Criminal Rule 12; Juvenile Rule 8; and Appellate Rules 13 and 18.
In addition, Rule 26 of the Rules of Superintendence for Courts of Ohio was amended and Rule of
Superintendence 27 was added to complement the rules of procedure. Superintendence Rule 27
establishes a process by which minimum standards for information technology are promulgated, and