Ind. Elkhart Cnty. Local Rule LR20-TR77-201

201.1. Paper Filing

In that only non-represented litigants may file paper documents with the Clerk, those documents should

be flat and unfolded. Documents shall have no covers or backs.

201.2. Filing with the Clerk

Regarding paper and electronically filed pleadings, hereinafter referred to as “all pleadings,” pleadings

shall be filed with the Clerk, not directly with the Court, unless otherwise required by the Indiana Rules of

Court.

201.3. Format of Pleadings

All pleadings, motions, and other documents shall be prepared in accordance with the applicable

provisions of the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, the Rules of Access to Court Records and any other

applicable rules of court or administrative rules. For uniformity and convenience, the following

requirements shall also be observed:

201.3.1. Paper when Allowed.

Pleadings, motions, and other documents shall be either legibly printed or typewritten on white opaque

paper so that it is readable. The paper should be eight and one-half inches (8 ½”) in width and eleven

inches (11”) in length as required by Administrative Rule 11 and of such strength to withstand being

electronically scanned. Any copies, when required, be on white paper of sufficient strength and durability.

201.3.2. Style, Margins, Spacing, and Font on Paper and Electronic Documents

Printing shall be on one side of the paper.

Margins shall be at least one inch (1”). If typewritten, the lines shall be double spaced except for

quotations, which shall be indented and single-spaced. Type face shall be twelve (12) font size or larger

within the body of the document and ten (10) font size or larger in the footnotes. The font type must be

legible and script type shall not be used. Italicized type may be used for quotations, references, or case

citations.

201.3.3. Caption

Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the Court, the title of the action and the

case number. If a special judge has been assigned to the case, the pleading should also identify the special

judge.

201.3.4. Title

All pleadings or motions shall only include one issue. Motions that make multiple requests are not

allowed in that the electronic filing system automatically generates the chronological case summary entry.

Only one entry is possible for each pleading.

201.3.5. Format and Layout

A judicial officer may designate forms and layout for pleadings and motions to promote clarity, efficiency,

and judicial economy, and to ensure compatibility and appropriate interface with the Odyssey case

management systems. Pleadings not conforming to the designated form or layout may be stricken by the

Court pursuant to Trial Rule 88.

201.3.6. Signature, Verification, and Other Requirements

Parties and their counsel are required to comply with the verification requirements of Trial Rule 11, and

either the moving party or the party’s attorney of record shall sign, as allowed by Trial Rule 86, all

pleadings and motions before filing with the Clerk of the Court. Every motion, petition, or other pleading

filed with the Clerk shall contain the name, organization, physical address, telephone number, and

electronic address of the filing party or an attorney for that party. The Clerk shall not accept any motion,

petition, notice or other pleading for filing from an unrepresented litigant unless the unrepresented

litigant’s current address, phone number and electronic address appears on the pleading, and an opposing

party may serve notices and responses on an unrepresented litigant at any address the party has provided

on a pleading.

201.3.7. Restricted Access

Where a motion, petition, or other pleading is excluded from public access under the Rules to Access to

Public Record, the parties and their counsel are required to comply with the filing requirements of Trial

Rule 5(G).

201.4. Forms

201.4.1. Chronological Case Summary

The Chronological Case Summary (CCS) entry is electronically generated utilizing the proper text code.

201.4.2. Hearing Dates and Date Lines

Hearing dates for filings requiring Court action shall be obtained from the Court Clerk or Court Staff as

directed by each Judicial Officer and incorporated in the CCS entry at the time the motion or other

pleading is filed. If no date is obtained prior to the filing, there should be a date and time blank line. All

date lines that are left blank should be in the format “Date: (blank line)_______________________ and

not: “(blank line) ____ date of (blank line) ___________” this allows the Court and Clerk to utilize the

automated date stamp available in the Odyssey Case Management System.

201.4.3. Proposed Forms of Order

Proposed forms of order are required for all Motions or other pleadings when there is a request for the

court to act in some manner.