St. Joseph County Superior Court, Indiana Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written appearance

An attorney entering an appearance or a defendant appearing pro se must file a written appearance electronically in accordance with Indiana Trial Rule 3.1.

An attorney entering an appearance on behalf of any party, or defendant appearing “Pro-se” shall file a written appearance electronically as provided by and in accordance with Rule 3.1 of the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings

Electronic filing of pleadings by computerized or facsimile transmission is prohibited unless authorized by LR 701 et seq.

Unless otherwise authorized by LR 701 et seq., electronic filing of pleadings by computerized or facsimile transmission is not permitted.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Reports of appraisers masters and commissioners

Reports of appraisers, masters, and commissioners must be filed electronically with the Court.

Reports of appraisers, masters, and commissioners shall be electronically filed with the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Signed dvcsrrp plea

A signed DVCSRRP plea must be e-filed before transfer can occur.

Transfer will occur only after a signed DVCSRRP plea has been e-filed.

CRITICAL

Probate Court notice requirements must comply with the Local Rules for Electronic Filing.

Notice requirements in the Probate Court must also comply with the Local Rules for Electronic Filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

All documents

Probate Court documents must be filed electronically in QUEST, except for documents specifically exempted by the court; old cases need not convert until activity occurs.

These rules apply to all new cases filed with the Probate Court and all old cases already filed with the Probate Court. Old cases will not be required to convert to the computer system until some activity occurs in the case. As of January 1, 2006, all documents (other than those specifically excepted by the Probate Court) shall be filed electronically in all cases. The Probate Court is utilizing a computer case management system known as “QUEST.” A filing in QUEST or a QUEST filing is a filing in the Probate Court’s computer system.

CRITICAL

All Probate Court filings must comply with the Local Rules for Electronic Filing.

All filings in the Probate Court must comply with the Local Rules for Electronic Filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Signed veterans court plea

After successful assessment and acceptance to the Veteran’s Court Program, a signed Veteran’s Court plea must be e-filed before the cause is transferred.

Upon successful completion of the assessment process as determined by the Veteran’s Court team, acceptance to the Veteran’s Court Program, and the e-filing of a signed Veteran’s Court plea, the cause shall be transferred to the Superior Court judge assigned to Veteran’s Court and given that judge’s cause number designation.

CRITICAL

A person must have a password and user identification granting access to QUEST to create a new case.

To create a new case in the court computer system (QUEST), a person must have a password and user identification granting access to the system.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Signed drug court plea

After successful assessment and acceptance to the Drug Court Program, a signed Drug Court plea must be e-filed before the cause is transferred.

Upon successful completion of the assessment process as determined by the Drug Court team, acceptance to the Drug Court Program, and the e-filing of a signed Drug Court plea, the cause shall be transferred to the Superior Court judge assigned to Drug Court and given that judge’s cause number designation.

CRITICAL

Accessing Probate Court files electronically through QUEST requires a unique username and password, issued after the requester executes a user agreement.

In order to access Probate Court files electronically on the QUEST case management system, a person must obtain a unique username and password. Prior to being assigned a username and password, the requesting individual must execute a user agreement with the Probate Court. Upon receipt of the signed user agreement, the QUEST system administrator will issue a unique user identification and password.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

A person must complete and file an appearance form before electronically filing a pleading in QUEST; access follows acceptance and is removed when an attorney withdraws.

To electronically file a pleading in QUEST, one must first complete an appearance form and file it with the clerk. Upon accepting the appearance form filing, the Clerk will make that case accessible for the filing of pleadings by the person who has made the appearance. Whenever an attorney withdraws his appearance in a case, his accessibility to that case for the filing of pleadings will be removed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Paper pleading

Some documents, such as inheritance tax returns, are required to be filed in paper format. When necessary, such documents may be filed with the Clerk for transmittal to the Court.

Some documents, such as inheritance tax returns, are required to be filed in paper format. When necessary, such documents may be filed with the Clerk for transmittal to the Court.

WARNING

Applies to

Chronological case summary entry

CCS entries must not be filed because the electronic filing system generates them.

Chronological Case Summary (CCS) entries shall not be filed. All CCS entries are generated by the electronic filing system.

WARNING

An attorney must not knowingly allow anyone other than an employee of the attorney’s law firm to use the attorney’s username and password.

No attorney shall knowingly permit or cause to permit his username and password to be utilized by anyone other than an employee of his law firm.

WARNING

Documents may be filed electronically while the Clerk’s office is open to receive filings or at other times designated by the Clerk and publicly posted.

A document may be filed through an E-filing system at any time that the Clerk’s office is open to receive the filing or at such other times as may be designated by the Clerk and posted publicly.

WARNING

Each user is responsible for their password, and no one may knowingly use or cause another to use someone else’s password without permission or contrary to the rules.

Each person is responsible for the use of his password. No person shall knowingly utilize or cause another person to utilize the password of another without permission of the holder of the password or in violation of these rules.

INFO

Applies to

Signed notice

A person may, but is not required to, notify the Court by signing the Notice and mailing or delivering it to the appropriate Court address shown on the Summons.

You may, but are not required to, notify the Court by signing this Notice where indicated and mailing or delivering it to the appropriate Court at either 101 S. Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601 or 219 Lincolnway West, Mishawaka, IN 46544, as indicated on the Summons.

INFO

The Court will provide assistance or instruction to electronic filing system users and make provisions to ensure access for disabled or self-represented parties or litigants.

The Court will provide assistance and/or instruction to individuals utilizing the electronic filing system. Provisions will be made to ensure access to the system by disabled or self-represented parties or litigants.