Rule 14.01 - Mandatory and Voluntary E-File and E-Service(a)Definitions. For purposes of the General Rules of Practice, unless otherwise indicated, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) "Confidential document" (which may include "Confidential 1" and "Confidential 2," etc., as available and defined by the E-Filing System document security classifications) means a document that will not be accessible to the public, but will be accessible to court staff and, where applicable, to certain governmental entities as authorized by law, court rule, or court order.(2) "Conventionally" means, with respect to the filing or serving of documents or other materials, the filing or serving of documents or other materials through any means other than through the E-Filing System in accordance with Rule 14.(3) "Court Integration Services" means computer systems that allow direct computer-system-to-computer-system integrations to facilitate the electronic exchange of documents and data between the court's electronic case management system and a government agency's electronic information system. Government agencies may register for Court Integration Services under the process established by the state court administrator.(4) "Designated Provider" means the electronic filing service provider designated by the state court administrator.(5) "Designated e-mail address" shall have the meaning set forth in rule 14.02(a).(6) "E-Filing System" means the Designated Provider's Internet-accessible electronic filing and service system.(7) "Electronic means" means transmission using computers or similar means of transmitting documents electronically, including facsimile transmission.(8) "Registered User" means a person registered with the Designated Provider and authorized to file and serve documents electronically through the E-Filing System under these rules. (9) "Sealed document" means a document that will not be accessible to the public but will be accessible to court staff with only the highest security level clearance.(10) "Select Users" means the following appearing or submitting documents in a case: (ii) Government agency (including a sheriff); and (11) "Self-represented litigant" means an individual, other than a licensed attorney, who represents himself or herself in any case or proceeding before the court.(b)Scope and Effective Date of Mandatory and Voluntary E-File and E-Service.(1)Cases Subject to Mandatory E-Filing and E-. Effective July 1, 2015, unless otherwise required or authorized by these rules, other rules of court, or an order of the court, Select Users in any case in the Second Judicial District, Fourth Judicial District, and in the districts or portions thereof designated by the state court administrator, shall file all documents electronically with the court through the E-Filing System and shall serve documents electronically through the E-Filing System as required under Rule 14.03(d) of these rules. Effective July 1, 2016, unless otherwise required or authorized by these rules, other rules of court, or an order of the court, Select Users in any case throughout the State of Minnesota shall file all documents electronically with the court through the E-Filing System and shall serve documents electronically through the E-Filing System as required under Rule 14.03(d) of these rules.
(2) Prohibited E-Filing. The following documents may not be filed electronically: (i)Wills deposited for safekeeping under Minn. Stat. § 524.2-515 or original wills filed in probate cases under Rule 403(e) (provided that this shall not prohibit e-filing of a copy of an original will in probate cases); and(ii) All documents in parental notification bypass proceedings under Minn. Stat. § 144.343.(3)Request for Exception to Mandatory E-File and E-Service Requirement. A Select User required to file and serve electronically under this rule, may request to be excused from mandatory e-filing and e-service in a particular case by motion to the Chief Judge of the judicial district or his or her designee. An opt-out request may be granted for good cause shown. If an opt-out request is granted, court personnel shall scan all documents filed conventionally into the court's computer system and charge the filing party a $25 scanning fee for each 50 pages, or part thereof, of the filing.(4)Voluntary E-File and E-Serve. Effective July 1, 2015 and ending July 1, 2016, Select Users designated by the state court administrator may, upon registering with the Designated Provider, electronically file documents with the court in the locations and cases designated by the State Court Administrator. In any designated case in which the designated and registered Select User has electronically filed a document with the district court, any other Select User designated by the state court administrator, may also electronically file documents in the case after registering with the Designated Provider. Registered Select Users shall also electronically serve documents on other Select Users in such cases as required under Rule 14.03(d) of these rules.(5) Self-Represented Litigants Voluntary and Mandatory E-File and EServe. (i) Election to Use E-Filing System. Unless otherwise required or authorized by these rules, other rules of court, or an order of the court, in any county where electronic filing and service is authorized, a self-represented litigant may elect to use the E-Filing System to electronically file and serve. But unless otherwise ordered by the presiding judge or judicial officer, a self-represented litigant is not required to do so. Once a self-represented litigant has elected or has been ordered to use the E-Filing System for filing and service and has become a Registered User, that individual must thereafter electronically file and serve all documents in that case unless otherwise required or authorized by these rules or the court, and shall be subject to all applicable requirements and obligations imposed upon Registered Users as set forth in these rules.(ii) Excuse and Prohibition. A self-represented litigant who has elected to use the E-Filing System may be excused from the requirement to electronically file and serve only upon motion to the court and for good cause shown. If the court becomes aware of any misuse of the E-Filing System by a self-represented litigant or deems it appropriate in the exercise of discretion, considering the need for the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action, the court may, without prior notice, revoke the self-represented litigant's right to use the E-Filing System in the case and require the individual to file and serve all documents conventionally. Self-represented litigants are excused from using the E-Filing System while under any court-imposed restriction of access to use of the internet.(iii) Case Initiating Documents. Statutes or court rules may require that certain case-initiating documents be served by conventional means. See, e.g., Rule 5.02(b) of the rules of civil procedure (original complaint in civil cases).(iv) Other Electronic Filing and Service Options. When authorized by order of the Supreme Court, self-represented litigants may use an alternative electronic filing system designated in such order. See, e.g., Order Authorizing E Filing/E-Service Pilot Project for Self-Represented Petitioners, No. ADM10- 8011, (Minn. filed June 24, 2013) (applicable to orders for protection and harassment restraining order proceedings in counties designated by the state court administrator; commonly referred to as the My Court MN portal).(6)Non-Party Participants.(i) Election to Use E-Filing System. In any county where electronic filing and service is authorized, individuals who are not Select Users or self-represented litigants (e.g., special masters, bonds persons, examiners, potential intervenors, etc.) but who need to submit documents to the court for filing may elect to use the E-Filing System and become a Registered User but unless otherwise ordered by the presiding judge or judicial officer shall not be required to do so. Any individual or entity authorized to use the E-Filing System pursuant to this paragraph, who becomes a Registered User and transmits documents for filing or service through the E-Filing System shall be subject to all applicable requirements and obligations imposed upon Registered Users as set forth in these rules, and that individual must thereafter electronically file and serve all documents in that case unless otherwise required or authorized by these rules or the court.(ii) Misuse. If the court becomes aware of any misuse of the E-Filing System by a non-party participant or deems it appropriate in the exercise of discretion, considering the need for the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action, the court may, without prior notice, revoke the non-party participant's right to use the E-Filing System in the case and require the individual to file and serve all documents conventionally.(7)Court Integration Services. Government agencies, as authorized by the state court administrator, shall be allowed to electronically file documents, electronically transmit data to the court, and electronically receive documents and data from the court, via Court Integration Services.(8)Guardians and Conservators. This rule applies to guardians and conservators appointed by the court. Conservator annual accounts and inventories, guardian annual personal wellbeing reports, corresponding affidavits of service, and any other account or report designated by the state court administrator, must be electronically filed with the court using a computer application designated by the state court administrator; provided that non-attorney guardians may continue to file guardian annual well-being reports and corresponding affidavits of service conventionally with leave of the court for good cause shown. Directions for reporting and designations shall be posted on the judicial branch website (www.mncourts.gov).(c)Relief from Operation of this Rule.(1)Technical Errors; Relief for Sending Party. Upon motion and a showing that electronic filing or electronic service of a document was not completed because of: (1) an error in the transmission of the document to the E-File System;(2) a failure of the E-Filing System to process the document when received; or(3) other technical problems experienced by the sending party or E-Filing System, the court may enter an order permitting the document to be deemed filed or served on the date and time it was first attempted to be transmitted electronically. If appropriate, the court may adjust the schedule for responding to these documents or the court's hearing.(2) Technical Errors; Relief for Other Parties. Upon motion and a showing that an electronically served document was unavailable to or not received by a party served, the court may enter an order extending the time for responding to that document.Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 14.01
Amended effective 7/1/2016; amended effective 9/1/2018; amended effective 11/22/2023; amended effective 4/15/2024.Advisory Committee Comment-2023 Amendments
Rule 14.01(b)(2) is modified in 2023 to avoid rejection of filings when a copy of an original will is e-filed.
Rule 14.01(b)(8) is modified in 2023 to recognize implementation of the MyMNGuardian System to collect guardian annual personal well-being reports and corresponding affidavits of service. Detailed information on the system is posted by the state court administrator on the main state court website (www.mncourts.gov).