St. Louis County Circuit Court Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICAL

Applies to

Original petition or motion to modify prior decree

Original petitions and motions to modify prior decrees in domestic relations cases must be electronically filed and processed as new cases for assignment.

All original petitions and motions to modify prior decrees in domestic relations cases shall be electronically filed and processed as new cases for assignment purposes.

CRITICAL

Attorneys practicing in the court must comply with the cited rules concerning electronic filing.

All attorneys who practice in this court must comply with the Supreme Court Rules, Local Rules and Supreme Court Operating Rule 27 concerning electronic filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition for trial de novo or review

A petition for trial de novo or review from a Department of Revenue decision must be filed electronically with the Circuit Clerk.

A petition for trial de novo or review from the decision of the Department of Revenue shall be electronically filed with the Circuit Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition or claim

A petition or claim may not be initiated by fax to the clerk or court and must comply with Rule 4.8.

A petition or claim cannot be initiated by facsimile transmittal to the clerk or court and must comply with Rule 4.8.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Deposition cost certificate

A person seeking to tax deposition costs must electronically file a certificate with specified information before the case is submitted.

Any person desiring to have depositions taxed as costs shall electronically file in the court file, prior to the submission of the case, a certificate showing the caption of the case, the name of the deponent, the date the deposition was taken, an itemized statement of the various charges made by the notary taking the same, the name and address of the person having custody of the original deposition and whether the charges have been paid.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Probate petition motion application or pleading

Petitions, motions, applications, and pleadings in matters before the Probate Division must be filed electronically, subject to the exceptions in Local Rules 72.2 and 72.3.

All petitions, motions, applications and pleadings in matters before the Probate Division or any Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of the Probate Division shall be filed electronically except as provided in Local Rule 72.2 and 72.3.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibit to pleading

An exhibit to a pleading must be electronically filed and become part of the pleading in the filing system.

Any exhibit to a pleading shall be electronically filed and become part of the pleading in the filing system.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Search warrant application

Search-warrant applications made after regular business hours, on weekends, or on court holidays must be submitted electronically, except that non-electronic requests and issuance are permitted in exigent circumstances or during an electronic-system malfunction.

All applications for the issuance of a search warrant after regular business hours, on weekends, and on court holidays, shall be submitted to the court electronically pursuant to the policies and procedures established by the court. An application for a search warrant may be requested and issued by non-electronic means in exigent circumstances, and in those instances when there is a malfunction of the electronic system.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

A party requesting an order as an informal matter must electronically file a proposed order before presenting the matter to the Judge.

A party requesting an order presented to the Court as an informal matter shall electronically file a proposed order to the Court before the matter is presented to the Judge.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Extension request

An extension request to correct deficiencies must be filed electronically.

A request for additional time to submit corrections shall be in writing and must be electronically filed. The request shall identify the reason for the continuance and shall provide a date, no more than thirty days from the division’s deadline, for filing the corrections.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Subsequent pleading motion or matter

All subsequent pleadings, motions, matters, and entries of appearance must be electronically filed.

All subsequent pleadings, motions and matters, including entries of appearance shall be electronically filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Death certificate

A copy of the death certificate must be electronically filed in proceedings under chapters 473 and/or 474 RSMo.

In all proceedings filed pursuant to chapters 473 and/or 474 RSMo , a copy of the death certificate shall be electronically filed with the court.

CRITICAL

Electronic filings must be sent through the system established by the Office of State Court Administrator; sending a document directly by another email system does not constitute filing.

All documents which are electronically e-filed must be sent through the electronic system set up by the office of State Court Administrator. No documents sent directly to a Judge or Commissioner or clerk by another e-mail system shall be deemed filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Inventory or bond extension request

A request for additional time to file an inventory or bond must be electronically filed.

A request for additional time to file an inventory or bond shall be in writing and must be electronically filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Criminal complaint information indictment or amendment

Criminal complaints, informations, indictments, and amendments must be filed electronically with the Circuit Clerk.

All complaints, informations, or indictments including amendments shall be filed electronically in the office of the Circuit Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Income and expense and property statements

Income and Expense and Property Statements must be electronically filed with the court.

Income and Expense and Property Statements shall be completed, under oath on the form approved by the court and available from the Office of the Circuit Clerk, typed in substantially the same format, and shall be electronically filed with the court and served on the other parties as provided herein.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Small claims pleading or motion

Attorneys must electronically file pleadings and motions in small claims cases.

Any attorney shall electronically file any pleading or motion in a small claims case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Probate matter

Probate matters must be filed under Supreme Court Rules 103 and 27, subject to exceptions stated in the rule.

(A) Except as otherwise provided herein, all probate matters shall be filed in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 103 and Supreme Court Operating Rule 27.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Facsimile transmitted document

The clerk must scan fax-transmitted pleadings or documents into the electronic system after the judge signs, if a signature is required.

Any pleading or document by facsimile transmittal shall be scanned into the electronic system by the clerk after signature of the Judge, if required.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Juvenile case

Cases within the stated categories of juvenile-court jurisdiction must be filed electronically.

All cases involving adoptions, transfers of custody of juveniles, termination of parental rights, status offenses, abuse and neglect, certifications, traffic for age appropriate juveniles, child orders of protection filed by the juvenile officer and delinquency of a child or other matter in the jurisdiction of the juvenile court shall be filed electronically.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial statements

The respondent must electronically file financial statements within 60 days of service or entry of appearance, whichever occurs first.

Respondent shall electronically file financial statements within sixty (60) days of service or entry of appearance, whichever is earlier.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Inventory return

The executing officer must file the inventory return electronically or file its original with the Circuit Clerk of St. Louis County.

The officer who executes the search warrant shall file the inventory return electronically, or shall file the original Inventory Return, with the Circuit Clerk of St. Louis County.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Amended pleading

When leave to amend is granted, the party or attorney must submit the amendment electronically for filing.

Whenever leave is granted to amend a pleading, the party or attorney shall submit the amendment electronically for filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Extension request

An extension request to file a settlement or statement of account must be e-filed.

A written request for additional time to file a settlement or statement of account must be e-filed detailing the reason for the continuance along with a suggested due date of not more than 30 days per request.

CRITICAL

Self-represented parties must file all original pleadings and documents with the probate division clerk, except licensed Missouri attorneys subject to the electronic filing rules.

(C) Self-Represented Parties. Self-represented parties, except those who are attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Missouri and subject to the Missouri Electronic Filing System rules, shall file all original pleadings and documents with the clerk of the probate division.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Settlement reports and verifications

Reports for the specified settlement types, statements of account, and required verifications of accounts must be filed electronically.

In accordance with Supreme Court Rule 103 and Court Operating Rule 27, all reports in lieu/interim/annual and final type settlements including statement of accounts, along with required verification of accounts shall be filed electronically.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certificate of dissolution of marriage

The petitioner's attorney must electronically file the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage when filing the dissolution petition, using the clerk-provided form.

At the time of filing a petition for dissolution of marriage, the attorney for the petitioner shall electronically file a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage on a form to be provided by the clerk, as required by law.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Birth certificate

A copy of a minor child’s birth certificate must be electronically filed in proceedings regarding that child.

In all proceedings regarding a minor child, a copy of the child’s birth certificate shall be electronically filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for appointment of process server

A request to appoint a process server other than the Sheriff must use the court’s electronic form available on its website.

Requests for appointment of a person other than the Sheriff to serve process shall be made on a “Request for Appointment of Process Server” electronic form, which may be found on the Court’s Web Site, http://www.stlouisco.com. (LawandPublicSafety/Circuit/Forms).

CRITICAL

During trial or a hearing, courtroom filings must be submitted to the division clerk, who scans them into the electronic system after the judge signs if a signature is required.

Any pleading or document filed in the courtroom shall be submitted to the division clerk for filing during trial or hearing. The pleading or document shall be scanned into the electronic system by the clerk after signature of the Judge, if required.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Original wills codicils commissions

Original wills, codicils, and commissions must be physically filed with the probate division after electronic submission, and the pleadings cannot be completed until the originals are filed.

The original of the following documents shall be filed physically with the probate division after it is electronically submitted. Your pleadings cannot be completed until said originals are filed with the court: 1. Original wills and original codicils. Upon electronic filing, the will or codicil will be conditionally accepted. Final acceptance of a will or codicil will not occur until the original has been filed physically in the probate division; 2. Original commissions.

CRITICAL

Attorneys practicing in the court must complete the online registration form to request access to the electronic filing system.

All attorneys who practice in this court shall be required to become registered users by completing the online registration form to request access to the electronic filing system maintained by the Office of State Courts Administrator pursuant to Court Operating Rule 27.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Attachments including exhibits

Attachments and exhibits that are part of a filing must be electronically filed at the same time as the filing.

Attachments, including exhibits, that are part of any filing shall be filed electronically at the same time.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proper documents

A party seeking to include deposition or special process server fees as costs must electronically file the required documents.

Any party seeking to have deposition fees or special process server fees included as costs shall electronically file the proper documents as required by these Rules.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Financial statements

The petitioner or movant must electronically file financial statements with the first pleading.

Petitioner/Movant shall electronically file financial statements with their first pleading and shall serve them on the other parties at the same time as the first pleading.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Small claims case

Small claims cases must be filed on the appropriate form with the designated Circuit Clerk’s office and scanned into the electronic system or filed electronically.

All small claims cases shall be filed on the appropriate form in the designated office of the Circuit Clerk and shall be scanned into the electronic system or filed electronically.

CRITICAL

The attorney must electronically file the return of service with the Circuit Clerk.

the attorney shall file the return electronically to the Circuit Clerk.

CRITICAL

This Division shall be always open for purposes of receiving faxes, electronic entries of appearance and motions.

This Division shall be always open for purposes of receiving faxes, electronic entries of appearance and motions.

CRITICAL

After a case is designated for electronic filing, paper filings are not accepted unless allowed by Rule 4.8 or court order; other paper filings are returned and are not deemed filed.

Once the case type has been designated for electronic filing, no paper in that case file shall be accepted unless provided by Rule 4.8 or order of the court. All paper not covered by Rule 4.8 or order of the court shall be returned by the clerk to the filing party and shall not be deemed filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil petition motion or other document

Petitions, motions, and other documents in civil cases must be filed electronically with the Circuit Clerk’s office.

All petitions, motions and other documents in civil cases shall be filed electronically with the Circuit Clerk’s office.

CRITICAL

Attorneys attempting to file documents must be registered users of the electronic filing system.

All attorneys who attempt to file a document with the court shall be a registered user of the electronic filing system established by the Office of State Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Vouchers

Vouchers must ordinarily be attached to the settlement and filed electronically; for a settlement with more than 75 vouchers, the filing party may file them in paper form with the probate court’s auditing department.

All vouchers shall be filed as an attachment to the settlement and shall be the official record of the court. Such vouchers must be numbered and submitted as one electronic file in consecutive order consistent with the listing of disbursements on the settlement. In the event a settlement shall contain more than seventy-five (75) vouchers, the filing party may file such vouchers in paper form with the auditing department of the probate court.

WARNING

A self-represented person may fax a later pleading or other document, except the original petition or claim, if it is no more than 10 pages and no cost or filing fee is required under Rule 43.02c.

A self-represented person may subsequently file a pleading or other document with the court, other than the original petition or claim, by facsimile transmittal provided that the pleading or document is ten (10) pages or less in length and provided further that there is no cost or filing fee required for the filing pursuant to Rule 43.02c.

WARNING

Applies to

Deposition copy

A copy of the deposition must not be filed with the Court.

A copy of the deposition shall not be filed with the Court.

WARNING

Paper filings remain allowed in small claims cases, cases under Chapter 455, cases filed by self-represented litigants, and for documents prepared in a courtroom during a hearing or trial.

An exception to the electronic filing rule is that paper documents shall continue to be allowed to be filed in small claims cases, cases filed under Chapter 455, in any cases by a self- represented litigants, for any documents prepared within a courtroom during a hearing or trial

WARNING

Applies to

Search warrant application and supporting affidavit

Search warrant applications and supporting affidavits may be filed, and warrants may be issued, by facsimile or electronic means; the rule also permits interactive-video oaths and electronic or facsimile signatures.

Any verified application and affidavits in support thereof for a search warrant may be filed by, and any search warrant may be issued by, facsimile transmission or other electronic means. The oath or affirmation may be administered by the Judge using interactive video technology. A verified application for search warrant and affidavit in support thereof filed by facsimile transmission or other electronic means shall have the same effect as the filing of an original document. A search warrant issued by facsimile transmission or other electronic means shall have the same effect as the filing of an original document. An oath or affirmation administered using interactive video technology shall have the same effect as if the oath or affirmation was administered in person by the Judge. The affiant police officer and prosecuting attorney may sign the application and affidavit by electronic means or facsimile signature, and the judge may sign the search warrant by facsimile and/or electronic signature.

INFO

Applies to

Warrant recall request

A request for warrant recall may be submitted by fax.

Requests for warrant recall may be submitted by fax.