PDF requirements for e-filing in the District of Columbia courts (eFile)

What the court requires

The limit is 25 MB per document and 35 MB for everything in one filing (envelope). District of Columbia courts accept electronic filings through Tyler Technologies' eFile system. A document over 25 MB must be split into parts, and if all the documents together are over 35 MB, file them in more than one envelope. Individual courts can set different limits, so check your court's local rules.

Common reasons filings are rejected

• A document is over 25 MB.
• The envelope (all documents together) is over 35 MB.
• The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions.
• The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions, so the court's system can't open it.

Questions about the D.C. courts's PDF rules

What is the maximum PDF file size for the D.C. courts?

25 MB per PDF. All files in one filing together may not exceed 35 MB.

What should I do if my PDF is too large for the D.C. courts?

Split it into consecutive parts that are each under 25 MB, never cutting a page in half, and file the first part as the main document and the rest as attachments named in order (for example "Exhibit A, Part 2 of 3"). For scanned documents, re-scanning in black and white at 300 dpi often shrinks the file enough to avoid splitting. Docket Prime can split the file for you in your browser.

Does the D.C. courts require text-searchable PDFs?

It is recommended. Documents saved directly from a word processor are searchable and much smaller than scans; for paper documents, OCR adds searchable text.

What page size does the D.C. courts accept?

Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) is expected. Legal-size or A4 pages may print badly or be refused, so resize them to letter.