When is a document considered filed?

A document is considered filed when the clerk receives and accepts it. This is the pivotal moment that validates the filing process in a legal context. When a document is physically handed over to the clerk, it must be accepted for it to be officially recognized as filed. This acceptance is crucial because it ensures that the court has received the document and it is now part of the court's records.

The date stamped by the clerk serves as an official record of when the document was accepted, but filing is contingent upon the clerk's acceptance. Thus, while the stamp may indicate the timeline, the act of accepting the document is the definitive moment of filing. The acknowledgment from the judge is irrelevant to the actual filing process, as it pertains more to reviewing the content of the document rather than acknowledging its receipt. Similarly, the mere act of submission does not confirm that the document is filed until the clerk processes it. Therefore, the acceptance by the clerk is the key moment that marks the filing of the document.