Electronic Filing Guidelines

Welcome to the Rhode Island Judiciary’s (Judiciary) electronic filing system (EFS) home page. All courts have mandatory use of the EFS except for District Court criminal.

Electronic Filing​​

Article X of the Supreme Court Rules Governing Electronic Filing (a copy of which can be found under "Quick Links") contains the global rules for the EFS. Pursuant to Article X, electronic filing shall be mandatory for all parties except for self-represented litigants, incarcerated individuals, or where a waiver is granted in accordance with Article X, Rule 3(c). Self-represented litigants may electronically file documents in accordance with Article X, Rule 3(b) but are not required to do so.

The Rhode Island Judiciary Rules of Practice Governing Public Access to Electronic Case Information (Public Access Rules), a copy of which can be found under "Quick Links", are intended to address access to electronic case information that is filed in the EFS. The Public Access Rules seek to harmonize the Judiciary’s obligation to make case information available and accessible while also protecting the privacy of personal and/or otherwise confidential information filed with the courts throughout the Judiciary. The Public Access Rules apply to all documents filed in the EFS.

To file a case, please click on “File and Serve” under "Quick Links". You will be directed to the Judiciary’s EFS, Rhode Island Odyssey File and Serve (File and Serve), a product of Tyler Technologies.

Electronic Filing System (EFS)

Access to the EFS is available 24/7 on the Internet by registered users of the EFS. Documents filed electronically are held for thirty (30) days in Odyssey File and Serve and are then purged. Once purged from Odyssey File and Serve, the documents are only accessible through courthouse or remote access.

Information and Help

The Judiciary has developed the Rhode Island Judiciary User Guide for Electronic Filing to aid Registered Users in navigating the EFS. Tyler Technologies has also developed several user guides which can be found on the home page of File and Serve. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please click on “Help Information” under “Quick Links.”​​