Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Guardianship report

Reports may be filed electronically through the Guardianship Tracking System or on forms available from the Clerk of the Orphans' Court.

File a report at least once within the first 12 months of appointment and at least annually thereafter electronically through the Guardianship Tracking System or on forms available in the Clerk of the Orphans' Court office

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Transcript and associated documents

Transcripts and associated documents must be scanned and transmitted digitally to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts instead of sent as physical paper.

The transcript and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Transcript and associated documents

The transcript and associated documents must be scanned and transmitted digitally to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts instead of transmitted as physical paper.

The transcript and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Inventory and appraisement

The inventory and appraisement may be filed electronically through the Guardianship Tracking System or in paper form through the Register of Wills office.

(Electronically through the Guardianship Tracking System, or in paper form through the Register of Wills office, along with the appropriate filing fee.)

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Transcript and associated documents

The transcript and associated documents must be scanned and transmitted to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts in digital format instead of as physical paper.

Electronic Transmission. The transcript and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal papers

A party who switches to PACFile participation must immediately stop paper filing of eligible written legal papers.

If a party files a ''Notice of Non-Participation in PACFile'' and thereafter elects to participate in PACFile by establishing a PACFile account pursuant to subdivision (b) of this Rule, the party shall immediately cease filing written legal papers, where not excluded under this rule, and service shall be made upon the party electronically.

CRITICAL

A defendant who established a PACFile account while unrepresented may not use that account while represented by counsel.

In the event an attorney enters an appearance for a defendant who was previously unrepresented and said defendant established a PACFile account while unrepresented, said defendant shall no longer be permitted to utilize their PACFile account while represented by counsel, as defined under Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(D).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal papers

Legal papers requiring service on parties not automatically served through PACFile must be filed with the Clerk of Courts.

In instances where legal papers must be served upon parties not automatically served via PACFile, those legal papers must be filed with the Clerk of Courts and include a complete distribution legend listing the names of all parties required to be served with a paper copy.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal papers

The Clerk of Courts must accept legal papers submitted in paper format when paper filing is required or permitted.

Any legal paper submitted for filing to the Clerk of Courts in a paper format, whether required or permitted under this rule, shall be accepted by the Clerk of Courts in that format.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Confidential information form

The AOPC Confidential Information Form must not be filed electronically through PACFile.

The Confidential Information Form shall not be filed electronically in PACFile

CRITICAL

Attorneys and self-represented parties filing electronically must establish a PACFile account through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal.

Attorneys or self-represented parties who file legal papers electronically must establish a PACFile account using the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal.

WARNING

Applies to

Legal papers

PACFile may be used by designated participants for legal papers, except for the listed categories of excluded filings.

Any party identified as an electronic filing participant by Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(D) may utilize PACFile for legal papers including pleadings or other submissions to the court, including motions, answers, notices, or other documents, of which filing is required or permitted, including orders, copies of exhibits, and attachments, except the following: 1. exhibits offered into evidence, whether or not admitted, in a court proceeding pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 5104(c), 2. all documents prohibited by Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(C) in the definition of ''legal papers,'' 3. applications for search warrants, 4. applications for arrest warrants, 5. any grand jury materials, except the indicting grand jury indictment or the investigating grand jury presentment, 6. submissions filed ex parte as authorized by law, 7. submissions filed or authorized to be filed under seal including but not limited to the AOPC Confidential Information Form submitted pursuant to the Public Access Policy, 8. confidential documents including but not limited to drug and alcohol assessments and reports, mental health evaluations and reports, and medical records, 9. Wiretap Act submissions related to cell phone, tracker, and internet petitions, 10. Notice of Appeals, 11. motions for the appointment of new counsel, 12. any matter requiring the assignment of a Miscellaneous Docket number including but not limited to expungements filed pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 490 or petitions for modification of bail in matters still pending in the Magisterial District Court, 13. initial filings for Summary Appeals, and 14. third party filings and amicus briefs or other third party filings.

WARNING

Electronic filing is optional in Franklin County, and parties who decline or are unable to use PACFile may file and serve papers in physical paper format.

Electronic filing is permissive within Franklin County. 1. Any party who declines to participate in the PACFile system, or who is unable to electronically file or accept service of legal papers filed electronically, shall be permitted to file and serve legal papers in a physical paper format consistent with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure 576 and 576.1.

INFOCivil cases

A legal paper requiring judicial signature or action may be filed, delivered, or mailed to the Prothonotary.

A legal paper requiring the signature of, or action by a Judge may be filed, delivered or mailed to the Prothonotary as in Pa. R.C.P. 205.1.