California Rules of Court Electronic Filing Rules

In e-filing cases, proposed orders must be submitted in two versions: a PDF with the EFS-020 cover sheet filed electronically, and an editable word-processing version emailed to the court and 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 filers must comply with court requirements that ensure the integrity of electronic filing and protect sensitive personal information.

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

Electronic filers must furnish the information the court requires for case processing.

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

Electronic filers must take reasonable steps to keep filings free of computer code, including viruses, that could harm the court's e-filing system or its 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.

Papers filed electronically in the trial courts must comply with the form and format requirements set out in rule 2.256(b).

Source text: Papers that are submitted or filed electronically must meet the requirements in rule 2.256(b).

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.

Electronic filing service providers and electronic filing managers must promptly transmit filings, applicable fees, and consent-to-electronic-service acknowledgments to the court directly or through the court's electronic filing manager.

Source text: 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. 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.

A court that contracts with an electronic filing service provider may require electronic filers to transmit their documents to that provider for filing.

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

The court's contracted electronic filing system or in-house system must accept filings submitted through other compatible electronic filing service providers.

Source text: 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.

The rules in this chapter are construed to authorize and permit electronic filing and service 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 implement e-filing through direct filing, approved electronic filing service providers, or a combination of both.

Source text: Except as otherwise provided by law, a court in the Code of Civil Procedure 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 authorize electronic filing of documents in proceedings under the specified statutes and chapter 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 accept paper filings 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.

In original-document cases, filers may e-file a copy if the original is filed within 10 calendar days.

Source text: In a proceeding that requires the filing of an original document, an electronic filer may file an electronic copy of a document if the original document is then filed with the court within 10 calendar days.

Courts must accept electronic filing of fee waiver applications whenever they accept e-filings.

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.

The court may e-file documents it prepares, including notices, orders, minute orders, and judgments.

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

Proposed orders may be e-filed in accordance with rule 3.1312.

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