Texas eFileTexas — How to File a Document
Client Guide • Texas Courts

How to E-File a Document in an Existing Texas Court Case

This guide starts after you already have an eFileTexas account. It shows you where to click, what area of the screen to look at, how to find your case, upload a document, handle service and fees, review the filing, and confirm that the clerk accepted it.

Best for Filing a document in a case that already has a case number
Portal used Texas State-Provided EFSP
Key rule Submitted does not mean Accepted
Workflow checked against Texas eFileTexas resources and current State-Provided portal information on August 29, 2026.
Open State-Provided eFileTexas Open eFileTexas.gov

Before You Start: Make Sure This Is the Right Guide

Use this guide if...

Your lawsuit/case already exists and you already have a court case number.

Examples: filing an agreement, motion, response, notice, exhibit, proposed order, or other document into a pending case.

Do not use “existing case” if...

You are trying to start a brand-new lawsuit or case and no case number exists yet.

From the dashboard you would instead choose Start Filing → Start a New Case(wording may vary slightly). Starting a new case requires additional case-type and party information.

This guide explains the filing system, not what you should legally file. If you are unsure which document, filing code, court, deadline, service method, or fee applies, contact the court clerk for procedural information or obtain legal advice.

Have these items ready

  • Your eFileTexas email/login and password
  • Your exact court case number
  • The county and court where the case is pending
  • The document you intend to file, preferably saved as a PDF
  • Any supporting documents or exhibits that belong with the filing
  • A payment method if a court fee applies, or the appropriate fee-waiver information if applicable
  • Enough time to review the filing before pressing Submit

The Whole Process at a Glance

Sign In → Start Filing → File into Existing Case → Find Case → Parties → Filings → Service → Fees → Summary → Submit → Check Filing History

Step-by-Step Filing Instructions

Part 1 — Get Into the Correct Case
1

Sign in to the State-Provided eFileTexas portal

Open the State-Provided portal at efiletx.tylertech.cloud and enter the email/login and password you used when you registered.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the landing/sign-in page, look in the main sign-in area in the center of the page for the login fields and the Sign In button.
Email safety: eFileTexas says legitimate system notifications originate from no-reply@efilingmail.tylertech.cloud. If an email seems suspicious, go directly to the portal instead of using the email link.
2

Choose “Start Filing”

After signing in, go to the filing dashboard and choose Start Filing.

WHERE TO LOOK: Look on your main dashboard/home screen for the large filing-start option labeled Start Filing. It is the option used to begin a new electronic filing envelope.

An “envelope” is the eFileTexas term for the electronic package containing the filing information and documents you send to the court.

3

Choose “File into Existing Case”

The system will ask whether you are starting a case or filing something in a case that already exists. Choose File into Existing Case.

WHERE TO LOOK: After clicking Start Filing, look in the main choice area on the next screen. Select the option specifically referring to a case that already exists.
4

Select the correct “Location”

In the Location field, choose the court/location where your existing case is filed.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the case-search screen, look near the top of the search form for a field labeled Location. Click the field and search or scroll for the correct county/court.
Do not guess the court. A county may have several possible locations, such as District Clerk, County Clerk, criminal locations, or Justice of the Peace courts. Use the court shown on your case documents.
5

Enter your case number and search

Enter the court's case number into the Case Number field, then select Search.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the same case-search screen, look below or beside Location for the field labeled Case Number. After typing the number, look for the Search button near the search fields.
Tip: Use the case number exactly as the court uses it. If the system cannot find it, first re-check the selected Location and the number before trying other formats.
6

Confirm that the search result is YOUR case

Before filing anything, check the case number, party names, and other displayed case information.

WHERE TO LOOK: Search results appear in the results area below the search form. Read the case information in the result row/card before using its action menu.
Stop if the case does not match. Do not upload documents into a case merely because the number looks similar.
7

Open the “Actions” menu and choose “File Into Case”

Once you have confirmed the correct result, open its Actions menu and select File Into Case.

WHERE TO LOOK: Look at the top-right area of the matching case result for a drop-down labeled Actions. Open it, then choose File Into Case.
Part 2 — Review the Case and Add Your Filing
8

Review the Case information

Because this is an existing case, the court's case information should already be populated. Review it rather than re-creating the case.

WHERE TO LOOK: You should now be in a multi-step filing workflow. The case information appears in the main body of the screen. Navigation to the next section is generally at the bottom-right.

When the information looks correct, choose Parties or Next.

9

Review the Parties page

The parties already associated with the court case should normally appear here.

WHERE TO LOOK: Look in the main center portion of the Parties screen for the names already pulled from the case. When finished reviewing, look at the bottom-right corner for Filings or Next.
Do not casually change party information. If something about the case parties looks wrong or incomplete and you are unsure what the filing requires, contact the clerk or obtain legal guidance.
10

On the Filings page, click “+ Add Filing”

This is where you create the actual filing entry and attach the document you want the court to receive.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the Filings page, look in the main filing area for a blue button labeled + Add Filing.
11

Choose the filing type: eFile, eServe, or eFile and Serve

The system may ask what you want to do with the filing. One available option is eFile and Serve, which sends the filing to the court and uses eService for selected service contacts.

WHERE TO LOOK: After clicking + Add Filing, look near the top of the filing-entry screen for the filing/service choice or instructions.
Important: Electronic service is a legal service method, not simply an extra email copy. Whether eService is appropriate or sufficient depends on the rules and circumstances of your case. eFileTexas states that filers remain responsible for serving other parties as required by applicable court rules.
12

Choose the Filing Code that best matches your document

In the filing information, select the Filing Code or filing type that best matches what you are submitting.

WHERE TO LOOK: Inside the Filing Information portion of the Add Filing screen, look for the filing-type/code drop-down. The choices are provided by the court and can vary by court.
If you do not see the exact wording you expected: Texas eFileTexas instructs filers in existing cases to choose the filing type in the drop-down that best matches the filing. If you cannot determine which code is appropriate, contact the court clerk for procedural help.
13

Upload your document as the Lead Document

Use the upload control in the filing information area to select the PDF/document you intend to file.

WHERE TO LOOK: Stay in the Filing Information section and look for the document upload area, typically identified as the Lead Document or primary document for the filing.

Before uploading, open your file yourself and confirm:

  • It is the correct document for this case
  • All intended pages are present
  • The text is readable
  • The document is signed if a signature is required
  • The case number and caption are correct
  • No unrelated private document was accidentally included
14

Add attachments only if they belong with this filing

If the filing has supporting documents or exhibits that should accompany it, use the attachment area to add them and provide any required description.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the same Add Filing / Filing Information screen, look below or near the Lead Document area for Attachments or an option to add another document.
Do not use attachments as a catch-all. A separate document may require a separate filing entry and filing code. If you are unsure, check the court's filing procedures.
15

Save the filing entry and move to Service

After the document and filing information are complete, save the filing entry.

WHERE TO LOOK: Look at the bottom-right area of the filing screen for Save. After saving, continue using Service or Next at the bottom-right.
Part 3 — Service and Fees
16

Review the Service page carefully

The Service screen controls electronic-service information associated with this envelope.

WHERE TO LOOK: At the top of the Service page, look for an Add drop-down. The current workflow includes an Add Me choice for adding yourself as a service contact when appropriate.

If using Add Me, the next screen may ask for Associated Parties. Select your name/party association, then save.

WHERE TO LOOK NEXT: In the Add Me screen, look for the Associated Parties field in the main form. After selecting the appropriate entry, look at the bottom-right for Save.
Do not assume adding yourself serves the other side. Confirm the required method of service for the other parties in your case.
17

Move from Service to Fees

After reviewing/saving the service information, continue to the Fees section.

WHERE TO LOOK: Back on the main Service page, look at the bottom-right corner for Fees or Next.
18

Complete the Fees page

The system will display fee/payment choices for the envelope. Select the appropriate payment account and filer information.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the Fees screen, look in the main form for the Payment Account and Filer Type fields. If you are representing yourself, a filer-type choice may be labeled Pro Se Filer.
If... What to look for
A court fee is due Select an appropriate payment account that you have added to your eFileTexas account.
You are properly using a fee waiver The workflow can include an Add Payment Account option with Waiver as the payment-account type. A waiver does not automatically mean the court has legally granted a fee waiver; follow the court/rules applicable to your situation.
No filing fee is due The screen may still require fee-related selections before you can continue.
Costs: The State-Provided EFSP has no basic provider usage fee, but court filing fees may apply and electronic payments can have a convenience/processing fee.

When the fee information is complete, continue to the final review.

WHERE TO LOOK: Look at the bottom-right corner for Summary or Next.
Part 4 — Review and Submit
19

STOP and review the Summary page

The Summary page is your last practical opportunity to catch mistakes before sending the envelope.

WHERE TO LOOK: Review the information shown throughout the main Summary page. Work from top to bottom before looking for the Submit button.

Confirm all of these:

  • The Location/court is correct
  • The case number is correct
  • The party names match your case
  • The filing code makes sense for the document
  • The correct PDF is attached as the lead document
  • Any attachments are correct
  • The service choices are what you intended
  • The payment/waiver selection is correct
  • The amount shown is what you expected
Open the uploaded document one more time if the system allows it. A correctly named file can still contain the wrong document.
20

Click “Submit”

When you have completed the review, submit the envelope to the court.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the Summary page, look at the bottom-right corner for the Submit button.
Save the confirmation. Record or save the envelope number and any on-screen confirmation you receive.

You Are NOT Finished When You Click Submit

eFileTexas sends your electronic envelope to the court clerk. The clerk then reviews it. Texas describes the process as: filer submits → EFSP delivers → clerk accepts or returns the submission.

Status What it means What to do
Submitted The envelope was sent into the system. Keep your confirmation and continue monitoring.
Accepted The clerk accepted the filing. Save the electronic file-stamped/timestamped copy.
Returned / Rejected for Correction The clerk did not accept the filing as submitted. Read the return reason carefully. Correct what is required and re-file as appropriate.
Submission Failed The filing did not successfully transmit. Check Filing History. The State-Provided portal advises that a failed envelope may be copied and resubmitted.

How to Check Your Filing Status

A

Return to your eFileTexas dashboard

Sign in to the State-Provided portal if you have signed out.

WHERE TO LOOK: On the main dashboard/home screen, look for Filing History or an option to view your filing history.
B

Find the envelope you just submitted

Use the case number, envelope number, filing date, or displayed case information to identify the correct filing.

WHERE TO LOOK: In the Filing History results/list, locate the row/card matching your case and filing.
C

Look for the actual status

Confirm whether the clerk has accepted or returned the filing. Do not assume that absence of an email means nothing happened.

WHERE TO LOOK: Look within the matching Filing History entry for the envelope/filing Status and any available details or file-stamped document.
The current State-Provided portal specifically advises users who are not receiving notifications to review Filing History to confirm their filing status.

If the Filing Is Returned

A returned filing is not the same as an accepted filing. Read the clerk's stated reason before doing anything else.

  1. Open the returned filing in Filing History.
  2. Read the clerk's return/rejection comments.
  3. Determine whether the issue is technical/procedural or whether you need legal guidance.
  4. Correct only what is appropriate to correct.
  5. Resubmit using the system's available copy/resubmit workflow if appropriate.
Deadlines matter. If a filing was returned close to a legal deadline, do not assume the return automatically extends that deadline. Seek appropriate guidance if timing could affect your rights.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake How to prevent it
Choosing the wrong court/location Match the Location to the court shown on your existing case paperwork.
Filing into the wrong case Compare the case number and party names before choosing Actions → File Into Case.
Uploading the wrong PDF Open the PDF before upload and again during final review if possible.
Choosing a filing code at random Use the best matching court-provided code; contact the clerk when you cannot identify the proper procedural selection.
Assuming e-filing automatically serves everyone Review the Service section and applicable service requirements separately.
Assuming “Submitted” means “Filed/Accepted” Check Filing History for the clerk's actual status.
Failing to save the accepted copy Download/save the file-stamped or timestamped copy after acceptance.

Need Technical Help?

For the State-Provided eFileTexas service, current Texas support information lists:

  • Phone: 855-839-3453
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Central
  • Email: support@eFileTexas.gov
  • Live Chat: Available through State-Provided EFSP support resources
Technical support vs. legal advice: eFileTexas support can help with the website and system. The court clerk can generally provide procedural information. Neither should be expected to tell you what legal position to take or what you should file.

Official / Reference Resources

Educational / procedural information only. This document is intended to help a client navigate the Texas electronic filing interface. It does not provide legal advice, choose a filing for the client, determine the correct filing code or service method, calculate a deadline, determine whether a fee waiver applies, or guarantee that a court will accept a filing. Portal labels and court-specific requirements can change.