Court of Common Pleas of Indiana County, Pennsylvania Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICALCivil cases

Only individuals, not entities such as law firms or corporations, may be registered users.

All registered users must be individuals and not entities, including but not limited to law firms, agencies, corporations, or government entities.

CRITICALCivil cases

Registered users must update their address or other contact information in the CountySuite Portal within ten days of a change.

Registered users shall change their address or other contact information with the CountySuite Portal within ten (10) days of any change.

CRITICALCivil cases

Electronic filers must register with the CountySuite Portal according to its User Manual.

Electronic filers must register with CountySuite Portal in accordance with the CountySuite Portal User Manual.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal paper

Electronic filing and service of legal papers through PACFile are permitted in Indiana County criminal cases under this rule.

(1) The electronic filing of legal papers and the electronic service of such papers through the PACFile system with the Indiana County Clerk of Courts for criminal cases in the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas is permitted under the terms described in this Local Rule.

CRITICAL

PACFile is the exclusive system for electronic filing.

(2) The exclusive system for electronic filing is the PACFile system, developed and administered by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts and located on Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System Web Portal at http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/PACFile.aspx.

CRITICAL

A legal paper complying with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure may not be refused based on a local electronic-filing rule, procedure, or practice.

No legal paper that complies with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure shall be refused for filing by the Clerk of Courts or the electronic filing system based upon a requirement of a local rule or local administrative procedure or practice pertaining to the electronic filing of legal papers.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Legal paper

Once accepted, the electronic document is the official record; electronic filers need not submit paper copies unless the document exceeds 30 pages or the Court specifically requires them.

When the legal paper is accepted by the Prothonotary, the electronic document is the official record. An electronic filer is not required to file any paper copies unless the document exceeds thirty (30) pages or is specifically required by the Court.

CRITICAL

An attorney must establish a PACFile account using the procedures established by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to participate.

In order to participate in the PACFile system, an attorney shall establish an account in the PACFile system by procedures established by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

CRITICALCivil cases

Once electronic filing is implemented on a date set by Administrative Order, electronic filing is permitted in civil cases except for the listed categories, which the President Judge may further expand or restrict by Administrative Order.

(1) Upon implementation of an electronic filing system, beginning on a date set by Administrative Order of the President Judge, the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas shall permit the electronic filing of legal papers in all civil cases, except: - a. All filings pertaining to Domestic Relations Section matters; - b. All filings in cases brought pursuant to either the Protection From Abuse Act and Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act; - c. A petition requesting a name change; - d. A motion for involuntary transfer of vehicle ownership; - e. An appeal from a driver's license suspension; and, - f. An appeal from a decision of a Magisterial District Judge. - (2) The President Judge may further expand or restrict the categories of cases subject to this Local Rule by Administrative Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal paper

Legal papers submitted electronically must be filed through PACFile at the Unified Judicial System web portal in accordance with the applicable rules and portal instructions.

When a legal paper is to be electronically filed, it shall be submitted to the PACFile system at the Unified Judicial System web portal at http://uisportal.pacourts.us, in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1, this Rule, and any filing instructions as may be otherwise provided at the web portal site.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Prothonotary must maintain a hard copy of filed documents unless the President Judge removes that requirement by Administrative Order.

The Prothonotary shall maintain a hard copy of the document filed; this requirement may be removed by Administrative Order of the President Judge.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Prothonotary's docket and EFS are available online, and access requires additional registration or login.

(1) Access to the Prothonotary's docket and EFS is available on the internet at www.indianacountypa.gov./departments/prothonotary-clerk-of-courts/. Additional registration/login is required for access.

INFO

Attorneys and defendants participating in PACFile may file legal papers electronically or in physical paper format.

Any attorney or defendant participating in the PACFile system is permitted to file a legal paper either in an electronic or in a physical paper format.

INFO

Legal papers may be submitted to the Clerk of Courts in physical paper format, which the Clerk must accept.

Any legal paper submitted for filing to the Clerk of Courts in a physical paper format shall be accepted by the Clerk of Courts in that format and shall be retained by the Clerk of Courts as may be required by applicable rules of court and record retention policies.

INFO

Attorneys and defendants proceeding without counsel may file legal papers electronically under the Local Rule.

All attorneys and defendants proceeding without counsel shall be permitted to file legal papers electronically in accordance with this Local Rule.

INFO

A defendant proceeding without counsel may use PACFile through the authorization process established by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

A defendant who is proceeding without counsel shall be permitted to utilize the PACFile system through an authorization process established by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.