Courts / New York State courts

New York State courts e-filing PDF requirements

Check your PDF against this court's e-filing rules before you file. Rules checked October 2026 from the sources below.

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Smith_Declaration_with_Exhibits.pdf

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Requirements at a glance

File sizeNYSCEF's requirements page doesn't state a size limit.
Text-searchableRequired
NYSCEF Requirements: documents made from word processing files must be text-searchable
PDF/ARequired
NYSCEF Requirements: documents must conform to PDF/A
Not allowedPasswords or security settings, JavaScript, Files embedded inside the PDF, Audio, video or 3D content, Comments and highlights, Layers

Also worth knowing

Questions

What is the maximum PDF file size for New York State courts?
NYSCEF's requirements page doesn't state a size limit.
Do PDFs have to be text-searchable?
Yes. Source: NYSCEF Requirements: documents made from word processing files must be text-searchable. Scanned pages need OCR before filing; see how to make a PDF text-searchable.
Is PDF/A required?
Yes. Source: NYSCEF Requirements: documents must conform to PDF/A. See how to save a PDF as PDF/A.
Can I file a password-protected PDF?
No. Source: NYSCEF Requirements: no password protection or encryption. See how to remove PDF security.

Sources

Fix common problems

Make a PDF text-searchableRun OCR on scanned pages so the court accepts them.Save a PDF as PDF/AThe archival format New York requires and Florida recommends.Flatten a PDF for filingRemove form fields, comments, layers, scripts and attachments.Shrink a PDF under the size limitCompress scans or split the file to fit the court's cap.Remove PDF passwords and securityCourts reject locked or restricted PDFs.Resize pages to 8½ × 11Fix A4, legal-size and odd pages.