Santa Cruz Superior Court Electronic Filing Rules

Applies to

Evidence

Attorneys must electronically file evidentiary exhibits as a single PDF with a cover sheet and item index.

Evidence shall be efiled as a single PDF document with a cover sheet and index identifying the items.

Applies to

Evidence

A self-represented litigant may electronically file or submit evidence at the counter, but the submission must include a cover sheet and identify the manner in which a copy was provided to the other party.

Self-Represented Litigants: Evidence may be efiled or submitted over the counter and must include a cover sheet and a statement that a copy of the evidence was provided to the other party including how it was provided.

Electronic documents must be submitted through the Court's electronic service providers accessed through the identified court websites.

Electronically filled of documents shall occur through the Court’s electronic service provider(s) which is available on the Court’s website at www.santacruzcourt.org or www.efileca.com.

A party filing one document in multiple cases must electronically file it separately in every case.

Any party seeking to file a single document into multiple cases must e-file that document into each case. The clerk’s office will not place a document from one case into another on behalf of the party. It is the responsibility of the party to file separately for each case.

Applies to

Court reporter transcript

Court reporter transcripts must be electronically filed in every case type.

Court reporter transcripts for all case types must be electronically filed.

Applies to

Administrative record

The preparing party must electronically lodge one searchable and readable administrative-record copy that complies with California Rule of Court 3.2207.

In accordance with California Rule of Court 3.2206 the party preparing the administrative record must lodge one copy of the record in an electronic format that is both searchable and readable and complies with California Rule of Court 3.2207.

Applies to

Urgent hearing calendar request

The requesting party must electronically file every request to place an urgent matter on calendar with the clerk, even if a judge signs the order first.

All such requests shall be e-filed with the clerk’s office by the requesting party even when a judge signs the order before it is e-filed.

Electronic filing is required in the listed case types, with criminal and juvenile justice filing limited to subsequent filings.

Electronic filing is required for civil, family, probate, LPS, appellate, criminal (subsequent filings only), juvenile justice (subsequent filings only), and dependency case types.

Applies to

Court reporter transcript

Court reporter transcripts must be electronically filed in every case type.

Court reporter transcripts for all case types must be electronically filed.

Documents must be electronically filed through the electronic service provider identified on the Court's website.

Electronic filling of documents shall occur through the Court’s electronic service provider(s) which is available on the Court’s website at www.santacruzcourt.org or www.efileca.com.

Exhibits in a format unsuitable for electronic filing must be submitted in the courtroom, and the submitting party must provide the equipment needed to view or present them.

Exhibits in a format that is not appropriate for electronic filing (i.e. CD/DVD/USB Drive) shall be submitted in the courtroom only. The submitting party shall be responsible for providing the necessary equipment to view/present the exhibits.

A party filing one document in multiple cases must electronically file it separately in each case because the clerk will not transfer or place the filing for the party.

Any party seeking to file a single document into multiple cases must e-file that document into each case. The clerk’s office will not place a document from one case into another on behalf of the party. It is the responsibility of the party to file separately for each case.

Applies to

Criminal trial document

Criminal trial documents for cases assigned to the Master Calendar must be filed electronically by noon on the day of the Master Calendar.

For cases that are sent to the Master Calendar, criminal trial documents must be electronically filed no later than 12 p.m. the day of the Master Calendar.

Applies to

Administrative record

The party preparing an administrative record must lodge one searchable, readable electronic copy complying with California Rule of Court 3.2207.

In accordance with California Rule of Court 3.2206 the party preparing the administrative record must lodge one copy of the record in an electronic format that is both searchable and readable and complies with California Rule of Court 3.2207.

Applies to

Order to calendar

The requesting party must e-file every urgent calendar request with the clerk's office, including a request previously signed by a judge.

All such requests shall be e-filed with the clerk’s office by the requesting party even when a judge signs the order before it is e-filed.

A party may seek a court-ordered electronic-filing exemption by ex parte application for undue hardship, significant prejudice, or other good cause.

Documents ordered by the Court as exempt from electronic filing. A party may seek a court ordered exemption by ex parte application for reason of undue hardship, significant prejudice or other good cause.

Applies to

Sealed document

Documents provisionally lodged under seal are exempt from mandatory electronic filing.

Documents lodged with the Court provisionally under seal pursuant to California Rule of Court 2.551.

Documents are exempt from mandatory electronic filing when the court so orders, and a party may request an exemption by ex parte application for undue hardship, significant prejudice, or other good cause.

Documents ordered by the Court as exempt from electronic filing. A party may seek a court ordered exemption by ex parte application for reason of undue hardship, significant prejudice or other good cause.

Documents provisionally lodged under seal are exempt from mandatory electronic filing.

Documents lodged with the Court provisionally under seal pursuant to California Rule of Court 2.551.

Applies to

Filing

Electronic filings may be submitted 24 hours per day under California Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6.

Electronic Filings can be filed 24 hours per CCP 1010.6

Electronic filing is optional but encouraged for documents filed by self-represented parties.

Documents presented for filing by a self-represented party. Although electronic filing is not mandatory for self-represented parties, they are encouraged to electronically file documents.

Electronic filing is encouraged rather than required for specified documents subject to jurisdictional time limits.

Documents with jurisdictional time limits, including notices of appeal, motions for new trial, motions for JNOV, motions to quash service for personal jurisdiction, and petitions for writs. Although not required, electronic filing of these documents is encouraged.

Originals, subpoenaed documents, criminal bail bonds, and wills or codicils are exempt from mandatory electronic filing.

Original documents required for a proceeding, subpoenaed documents, criminal bail bonds, and wills and codicils (for filing or safekeeping).

Applies to

Third party report

Documents and reports from third-party providers or experts may be electronically filed at the provider's or expert's discretion unless a court order requires filing.

Documents and/or reports provided to the Court from third-party service providers or experts. These documents and reports may be e-filed at the discretion of the provider or expert unless otherwise ordered to e-file.

Applies to

Motions in limine

Motions in limine may be electronically filed as a single document.

In limine motions may be electronically filed as one document.

Ex parte paperwork may be submitted in person by a self-represented person or electronically through efile.

Submission may be in person (if self represented) or by efile.

Applies to

Supervised visitation report

Professional visitation reports may be filed in person or electronically at the provider’s discretion or when requested by a party, attorney, or judge.

The reports should be filed in-person or e- filed at their discretion or when requested by parties, i.e., parents, attorney, the judge.

Electronic filing is optional but encouraged for documents filed by self-represented parties.

Documents presented for filing by a self-represented party. Although electronic filing is not mandatory for self-represented parties, they are encouraged to electronically file documents.

Electronic filing is encouraged but not required for documents subject to jurisdictional time limits, including the listed appellate, post-trial, jurisdiction-quashing, and writ documents.

Documents with jurisdictional time limits, including notices of appeal, motions for new trial, motions for JNOV, motions to quash service for personal jurisdiction, and petitions for writs. Although not required, electronic filing of these documents is encouraged.

Original proceeding documents, subpoenaed documents, criminal bail bonds, and wills or codicils are exempt from mandatory electronic filing.

Original documents required for a proceeding, subpoenaed documents, criminal bail bonds, and wills and codicils (for filing or safekeeping).

Documents and reports supplied by third-party service providers or experts may be electronically filed at the provider's or expert's discretion unless the court orders electronic filing.

Documents and/or reports provided to the Court from third-party service providers or experts. These documents and reports may be e-filed at the discretion of the provider or expert unless otherwise ordered to e-file.

Applies to

In limine motion

Criminal-case in limine motions may be e-filed separately instead of being combined.

Notwithstanding Rule 5.1.06 in limine motions for criminal cases may be combined in a single Portal Document Format (PDF) (subject to file size limitations) or e-file separately.

Applies to

In limine motion

Electronic filing of in limine motions is permitted, including filing them together as one document.

In limine motions may be electronically filed as one document.

Applies to

Ex parte paperwork

Ex parte paperwork may be submitted in person by a self-represented party or electronically through efile.

Submission may be in person (if self represented) or by efile.

Applies to

Order

An order meeting the stated tentative-ruling conditions may be submitted immediately for courtroom execution or e-filed without obtaining approval from other parties.

The order may be immediately submitted to the Court for execution in the courtroom or submitted for e-filing without obtaining approval of other parties.

Applies to

Ex parte request

Electronically filed ex parte papers and the court date are returned electronically, and a party abandoning the motion must follow the normal procedures to remove the matter from the calendar.

Your ex parte papers and court date will be returned electronically. If you decide you do not want to go forward on your ex parte motion, normal procedures should be followed to take a matter off calendar.