California Judicial Branch - Statewide Rules and Forms Electronic Filing Rules

Electronic filers must provide all information required by the court for case processing.

Source text: Furnish information the court requires for case processing.

Courts may adopt local rules to require electronic filing of documents in civil actions via the court or approved electronic filing service providers, subject to statutory and rule conditions.

Source text: A court may require parties by local rule to electronically file documents in civil actions directly with the court, or directly with the court and through one or more approved electronic filing service providers, or through more than one approved electronic filing service provider, subject to the conditions in Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, the rules in this chapter, and the following conditions:

Self-represented parties are exempt from all mandatory electronic filing and service requirements adopted under this rule.

Source text: Self-represented parties or other self-represented persons are exempt from any mandatory electronic filing and service requirements adopted by courts under this rule and Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6.

In civil cases with both represented and self-represented parties, self-represented parties must file and serve documents by non-electronic means unless they affirmatively agree otherwise.

Source text: In civil cases involving both represented and self-represented parties or other persons, represented parties or other persons may be required to file and serve documents electronically; however, in these cases, each self-represented party or other person is to file, serve, and be served with documents by non-electronic means unless the self-represented party or other person affirmatively agrees otherwise.

Parties required to file and serve documents electronically must be excused if they show undue hardship or significant prejudice, with a process to apply for relief and use conventional filing.

Source text: A party or other person that is required to file and serve documents electronically must be excused from the requirements if the party or other person shows undue hardship or significant prejudice. A court requiring the electronic filing and service of documents must have a process for parties or other persons, including represented parties or other represented persons, to apply for relief and a procedure for parties or other persons excused from filing documents electronically to file them by conventional means.

Courts may order all parties in class, consolidated, coordinated, or rule 3.403 complex actions to file all documents electronically if permissive e-filing rules are adopted and no undue hardship results.

Source text: (1) If a court has adopted local rules for permissive electronic filing, then the court may, on the motion of any party or on its own motion, provided that the order would not cause undue hardship or significant prejudice to any party, order all parties in any class action, a consolidated action, a group of actions, a coordinated action, or an action that is complex under rule 3.403 to file all documents electronically.

EFSPs or in-house e-filing systems must accept filings from other EFSPs if compatible when the court contracts with an EFSP or has an in-house system.

Source text: (4) If the court contracts with an electronic service provider or the court has an in-house system, the provider or system must accept filing from other electronic filing service providers to the extent the provider or system is compatible with them.

EFSPs must promptly transmit e-filings, fees, and e-service consent to court directly or via EFM.

Source text: (1) An electronic filing service provider must promptly transmit any electronic filing, any applicable filing fee, and any applicable acceptance of consent to receive electronic service to the court directly or through the court's electronic filing manager.

EFMs must promptly transmit e-filings, fees, and e-service consent to court.

Source text: (2) An electronic filing manager must promptly transmit an electronic filing, any applicable filing fee, and any applicable acceptance of consent to receive electronic service to the court.

EFSPs must promptly send filers confirmation of receipt of transmitted documents.

Source text: (1) An electronic filing service provider must promptly send to an electronic filer its confirmation of the receipt of any document that the filer has transmitted to the provider for filing with the court.

EFSP confirmations must be sent to filer's e-service address with date/time per rule 2.259(a).

Source text: (2) The electronic filing service provider must send its confirmation to the filer's electronic service address and must indicate the date and time of receipt, in accordance with rule 2.259(a).

Court must promptly send filing confirmation or rejection notice to EFSP and filer per rule 2.259.

Source text: (3) After reviewing the documents, the court must promptly transmit to the electronic filing service provider and the electronic filer the court's confirmation of filing or notice of rejection of filing, in accordance with rule 2.259.

EFSPs may not require credit/debit/bank info to create filer accounts.

Source text: (1) An electronic filing service provider may not require a filer to provide a credit card, debit card, or bank account information to create an account with the electronic filing service provider.

Electronic filers must comply with court requirements to ensure e-filing integrity and protect sensitive personal information.

Source text: Each electronic filer must comply with any court requirements designed to ensure the integrity of electronic filing and to protect sensitive personal information.

Electronic filers must take reasonable steps to ensure filings do not contain harmful code or viruses that could damage the e-filing system or other users.

Source text: Take all reasonable steps to ensure that the filing does not contain computer code, including viruses, that might be harmful to the court's electronic filing system and to other users of that system.

Electronic filers using an EFSP must provide their electronic service address to the EFSP and immediately notify of any changes.

Source text: If the electronic filer uses an electronic filing service provider, provide the electronic filing service provider with the electronic address at which the filer is to be sent all documents and immediately notify the electronic filing service provider of any change in that address.

Electronic signatures for non-filer declarants under penalty of perjury must meet verification, control, and data integrity requirements.

Source text: If the declarant is not the electronic filer, the electronic signature must be unique to the declarant, capable of verification, under the sole control of the declarant, and linked to data in such a manner that if the data are changed, the electronic signature is invalidated;

Documents not requiring signature under penalty of perjury are deemed signed by the electronic filer when e-filed.

Source text: If a document does not require a signature under penalty of perjury, the document is deemed signed by person who filed it electronically.

Electronic signatures of opposing parties on stipulations must meet uniqueness, verification, control, and data linking requirements.

Source text: The opposing party or other person has signed the document using an electronic signature and that electronic signature is unique to the person using it, capable of verification, under the sole control of the person using it, and linked to data in such a manner that if the data are changed, the electronic signature is invalidated.

Moving and supporting papers must be filed per CCP 1005 and applicable electronic filing rules unless otherwise ordered or provided by law.

Source text: Unless otherwise ordered or specifically provided by law, all moving and supporting papers must be served and filed in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 1005 and, when applicable, the statutes and rules providing for electronic filing and service.

Electronically submitted proposed orders require PDF version with EFS-020 cover sheet filed electronically, plus editable word format sent to court with copy to all parties.

Source text: If a proposed order is submitted to the court electronically in a case in which the parties are electronically filing documents under rules 2.250-2.261, two versions of the proposed order must be submitted: (1) A version of the proposed order must be attached to a completed Proposed Order (Cover Sheet) (form EFS-020), and the combined document in Portable Document Format (PDF) must be filed electronically; and (2) A version of the proposed order in an editable word-processing format must also be sent electronically to the court, with a copy of the e-mail and proposed order also being sent to all parties in the action.

Electronic filing and service rules for contested civil proceedings apply equally to contested probate proceedings.

Source text: The provisions of Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and rules 2.250–2.261 of the California Rules of Court concerning filing and service by electronic means apply to contested proceedings under the Probate Code and the Probate Rules to the same extent as they apply to other contested civil proceedings in each superior court in this state.

E-filing of forms is permitted only if the court allows it; paper filing is also available.

Source text: You can then print and file or e-file if your court allows.

Paper filing is permitted when a party cannot feasibly convert a document to electronic form.

Source text: When it is not feasible for a party or other person to convert a document to electronic form by scanning, imaging, or another means, a court may allow that party or other person to file the document in paper form.

Courts must allow electronic filing of fee waiver applications in proceedings where e-filing is accepted.

Source text: The court must permit electronic filing of an application for waiver of court fees and costs in any proceeding in which the court accepts electronic filings.

Courts may require filers to transmit documents to EFSP if the court contracts with an EFSP.

Source text: (2) If the court contracts with an electronic filing service provider, it may require electronic filers to transmit the documents to the provider.

Courts may adopt local rules to permit electronic filing of documents in any case type, subject to specified statutory and rule conditions.

Source text: A court may permit parties by local rule to file documents electronically in any types of cases, subject to the conditions in Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, Penal Code section 690.5, and the rules in this chapter.

Courts may combine mandatory electronic filing orders with mandatory electronic service orders under rule 2.252(d).

Source text: (2) A court may combine an order for mandatory electronic filing with an order for mandatory electronic service as provided in rule 2.252(d).

Court orders for electronic filing may allow resubmission of paper documents in electronic form and deem filing confirmation as service if the document is electronically available.

Source text: (5) The court's order may also provide that: (A) Documents previously filed in paper form may be resubmitted in electronic form; and (B) When the court sends confirmation of filing to all parties, receipt of the confirmation constitutes service of the filing if the filed document is available electronically.

Court contracts with EFSPs may allow EFSPs to make reasonable requirements for e-filing system use.

Source text: (B) Allow the provider to make other reasonable requirements for use of the electronic filing system.

Judicial signatures on documents may be electronic as permitted by law.

Source text: If a document requires a signature by a court or a judicial officer, the document may be electronically signed in any manner permitted by law.

Local child support agencies may maintain electronic copies of signed pleadings and destroy paper originals under Government Code section 68152(a).

Source text: Notwithstanding (A)-(C), local child support agencies may maintain original, signed pleadings by way of an electronic copy in the statewide automated child support system and must maintain them only for the period of time stated in Government Code section 68152(a). If the local child support agency maintains an electronic copy of the original, signed pleading in the statewide automated child support system, it may destroy the paper original.

Digital signatures are not required on electronically filed documents.

Source text: A party or other person is not required to use a digital signature on an electronically filed document.

Rules in this chapter must be construed to authorize and permit electronic filing to the extent feasible.

Source text: The rules in this chapter must be construed to authorize and permit filing and service by electronic means to the extent feasible.

Courts may authorize electronic filing of documents in actions and proceedings under specified statutes and rules.

Source text: A court may provide for electronic filing of documents in actions and proceedings as provided under Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, Penal Code section 690.5, and the rules in this chapter.

Courts may provide for electronic filing directly, through approved EFSPs, or a combination of both.

Source text: Except as otherwise provided by law, a court may provide for the electronic filing of documents directly with the court, indirectly through one or more approved electronic filing service providers, or through a combination of direct and indirect means.

Courts may electronically file any notice, order, minute order, judgment, or other court-prepared document.

Source text: The court may electronically file any notice, order, minute order, judgment, or other document prepared by the court.

Proposed orders may be filed electronically in accordance with rule 3.1312.

Source text: Proposed orders may be filed and submitted electronically as provided in rule 3.1312.