eFileTexas PDF Requirements: Searchable, 300 DPI, No Passwords

Filings through eFileTexas have to meet the Judicial Committee on Information Technology's Technology Standards. The core document rules in version 7.0 (released November 2021, the version posted on efiletexas.gov when we checked in September 2026) are: text-searchable PDF, 8.5 x 11 pages rotated correctly, scans at 300 DPI, no passwords, encryption or embedded media, one document per PDF, and file names of up to 50 alphanumeric characters with no special characters.

Clerks can return a filing that doesn't comply. This guide covers each rule and a practical way to meet it, especially for self-represented filers working from paper.

The rules in the Technology Standards

Section 3.1 of the standards says:

• Format: an e-filed document must be a text-searchable PDF, using fonts specified in the PDF specification, on an 8.5 x 11 page size, with the content rotated correctly.
• Source: when possible, create the PDF directly from the original software (for example, "Save as PDF" in your word processor) instead of printing and scanning.
• Scans: a scanned document must have a resolution of 300 DPI and should preferably be made searchable with OCR.
• Security: no security or feature restrictions, which includes password protection and encryption. No embedded video, audio or programming.
• Structure: no PDF packages or PDFs embedded inside another PDF. Each document must be a single PDF. An appellate court may require several PDFs to be combined into one with bookmarks.
• File names: only alphanumeric characters from the Latin1_General character set, no special characters, and 50 characters at most.

The standards' list of return reasons repeats these points ("Incorrect Formatting": rotation, text-searchable, 300 DPI, 8.5 x 11). It also includes "PDF Documents Combined" (several lead documents in one PDF), "Illegible/Unreadable" and "Sensitive Data" (unredacted identifiers such as driver's license, Social Security, passport and bank account numbers).

What about file size?

The statewide standard quoted above doesn't set a single size number. The Harris County District Clerk's e-filing FAQ says the envelope size is limited to 35 MB, and that a 10-page PDF should average under 1 MB. Other counties may publish their own guidance, so check your clerk's website. In practice, black-and-white 300 DPI scans of text pages stay small. Large files usually come from color scans or photos of paper.

Step by step for a scanned filing

1. Scan at 300 DPI. Set your scanner to 300 DPI, Letter size (8.5 x 11). For ordinary text pages, black and white or grayscale is enough. If you only have a phone, you can use it, but a flatbed or office scanner set to 300 DPI is the most reliable way to meet the stated resolution.
2. Fix rotation. Every page must be upright. If a page came out sideways, turn it with the rotate tool before the next steps.
3. Make it searchable. Run the PDF through OCR PDF with English selected. It adds an invisible text layer on each page, so the PDF looks the same but the text can be searched and selected. It skips pages that already have text. Accuracy depends on scan quality, which is another reason to scan at 300 DPI.
4. Redact sensitive data. Before filing, black out identifiers the rules say to remove. Redact PDF lets you draw boxes over them. Pages with boxes are turned into images at 200 DPI with the boxes painted black, so the hidden text is truly removed, not just covered. Because those pages lose their text layer, run OCR PDF again afterwards so the whole document stays searchable.
5. Remove passwords. If a PDF you received is protected and you have the right to use it, Unlock PDF removes the password once you type it. It doesn't guess passwords.
6. Split combined documents. If one scan contains two lead documents (for example, a petition and a separate motion), use Split PDF with page ranges so each lead document becomes its own PDF.
7. Rename the files. Use letters and numbers only, and keep names under 50 characters, for example PetitionForDivorce.pdf or MotionForContinuance2026.pdf.

All of these tools run in your browser, so your filings stay on your device.

Documents you type yourself

If you write the document in Word or another word processor, export it straight to PDF from that program. The standards prefer this, and the result is already text-searchable, correctly sized and small. Scanning a printout of your own typed document only makes it bigger and less clean.

Common reasons for returns

• Scanned but not searchable. A plain scan is just pictures of pages. Run OCR.
• Sideways or upside-down pages. Especially exhibits scanned in landscape.
• Several lead documents in one PDF. Only the lead document gets the file mark, so file each one separately.
• Unredacted identifiers. Social Security numbers, account numbers and minors' details.
• File names with symbols. Characters like #, &, (, ) or accented letters go against the standard.
• Protected PDFs. Bank or agency downloads often carry restrictions.

If your filing is returned

Read the return reason and fix only that point. The Harris County FAQ notes that filings returned for correction and resubmitted within 72 hours keep the original file date in that court. Check your own court's rules for the timeline that applies to you.

Checklist

• 8.5 x 11 pages, all upright.
• Scans at 300 DPI, with OCR applied.
• Sensitive data redacted, then OCR applied again.
• No passwords or restrictions.
• One lead document per PDF, with a short alphanumeric file name.