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

CRITICALCriminal cases

The electronic filing of motions and other legal papers in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas – Criminal Division is authorized as specifically provided in this rule. Parties shall electronically file documents using the PacFile electronic filing system developed by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts. The application of general rules of court and court policies that implement the rules, shall continue to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing.

The electronic filing of motions and other legal papers in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas – Criminal Division is authorized as specifically provided in this rule. Parties shall electronically file documents using the PacFile electronic filing system developed by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts. The application of general rules of court and court policies that implement the rules, shall continue to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits and custody of exhibits forms

Clerk of Courts Office requires all exhibits and custody of exhibits forms be brought to their office for filing.

Clerk of Courts Office requires all exhibits and custody of exhibits forms be brought to their office for filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Sol certification and supporting documentation

The SOL certification and supporting documentation must be filed electronically through the Prothonotary’s online portal or another program it uses for e-filing.

The “Statue of Limitations and Documentation of Debt Certification” and all supporting documentation must be filed electronically through the Lancaster County Prothonotary Online Portal or any other such program as utilized by the Lancaster County Prothonotary for the electronic filing of documents.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Demonstrative exhibit

Plaintiff must electronically file a demonstrative exhibit showing the final balance and applicable category totals within 30 days of the Order.

In addition, within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order, Plaintiff shall e-file a demonstrative exhibit which outlines the final statement balance and lists by category, as applicable, the total dollar amounts contained within the supporting documentation e-filed for any: (1) purchases, (2) balance transfers, (3) cash advances, and (4) deferred interest accrual charges.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Legal papers

The “legal papers” which shall be filed electronically shall encompass all written motions, written answers and any notices or documents for which filing is required or permitted, including orders, exhibits and attachments, except for the following: 1. Legal papers filed or authorized to be filed under seal; 2. Applications for a search warrant; 3. Applications for an arrest warrant; 4. Grand jury materials; 5. Subpoenas;

The “legal papers” which shall be filed electronically shall encompass all written motions, written answers and any notices or documents for which filing is required or permitted, including orders, exhibits and attachments, except for the following: 1. Legal papers filed or authorized to be filed under seal; 2. Applications for a search warrant; 3. Applications for an arrest warrant; 4. Grand jury materials; 5. Subpoenas;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Statute of limitations and documentation of debt certification

Plaintiff must electronically file the certification in the attached form, together with supporting documentation, within 30 days of the Order.

Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order, Plaintiff shall electronically file (“e-file”) with the Court, along with supporting documentation 1, the Statute of Limitations and Documentation of Debt Certification in the form attached hereto.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

The plaintiff must file the complaint electronically through the Prothonotary Online Portal or another electronic filing program used by the Prothonotary.

The Plaintiff files the complaint electronically through the Lancaster County Prothonotary Online Portal or any other such program that may be utilized by the Lancaster County Prothonotary for the electronic filing of documents;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits and custody of exhibits forms

Prothonotary Office requires all exhibits and custody of exhibits forms be electronically filed.

Prothonotary Office requires all exhibits and custody of exhibits forms be electronically filed.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Attorneys must establish a PacFile account; parties proceeding without counsel need not establish an account or file legal papers electronically.

C. All attorneys shall establish a PacFile account using the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. Parties who are proceeding without counsel are not required to establish a PacFile account and are not required to file legal papers using the electronic PacFile system.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

Plaintiffs must electronically file consumer credit card debt collection complaints and pay any additional e-filing fees implemented by the Prothonotary.

Plaintiffs are required to electronically file complaints for consumer credit card debt collection actions and are subject to additional e-filing fees as may be implemented by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

An electronically filed complaint must be submitted through Teleosoft or another electronic filing program used by the Lancaster County Prothonotary.

E. Electronic Filing: Any electronically filed complaint shall be submitted as follows: 1. The Plaintiff shall file the complaint electronically through Teleosoft, or any other such program as utilized by the Lancaster County Prothonotary for the electronic filing of documents:

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for findings of fact and conclusions of law

In non-jury cases, submit requests for findings of fact and conclusions of law electronically in MS Word format to the specified chambers email address.

In non-jury cases, requests for findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be submitted in electronic form in MS Word format to Judge_Brown_Chambers@lancastercountypacourt.gov.

CRITICAL

Anyone intending to e-file must register with the Teleosoft CountySuite Portal and follow its user manual.

Any person intending to use E-File must register with Teleosoft CountySuite Portal. All use of the CountySuite Portal shall be in accordance with the CountySuite Portal user manual.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Statute of limitations and documentation of debt certification and supporting documentation

The CMO must direct the plaintiff to electronically file the specified certification and supporting debt documentation within 30 days of the CMO’s date.

Direct the plaintiff to electronically file with the Court, within 30 days of the date of the CMO, the “Statute of Limitations And Documentation of Debt Certification” form, identified in paragraph 6 below, along with supporting documentation (“DOCS”) of the alleged debt (i.e., credit card statements, original credit card application, credit card agreements, bill of sale, account transfer or assignment, etc.);

WARNING

Only individuals may be registered users; law firms, agencies, corporations, and other groups may not register as users.

All registered users shall be individuals, not law firms, agencies, corporations or other groups.

WARNING

Applies to

Documents containing third party signatures

Documents bearing third-party signatures may be e-filed if the filing party indicates that the original signatures are maintained in paper form.

Documents containing signatures of third-parties (i.e., unopposed motions, affidavits, stipulations, etc.) may also be filed electronically by indicating in the original signatures are maintained by the filing party in paper format.

INFO

Counsel are encouraged, but not required, to sign up for CountySuite Online and report signup at the pretrial conference; filing documents through the system is not required, and signup enables emailed orders.

Both parties’ counsel are encouraged to sign up for CountySuite Online used by the Lancaster County Prothonotary as an electronic filing system and advise the Court if they have done so at the pretrial conference. The parties are not required to file any documents through CountySuite Online. However, by signing up they will receive orders from the Court via email. There is no cost for the parties to sign up for or receive notifications through CountySuite Online. Failure to sign up for CountySuite Online will result in a delay in the parties receiving court orders.

INFO

Civil and Family Actions may be filed electronically.

All Civil Actions (including Family Actions) filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County may be filed by E-Filing.

INFO

Applies to

Residential mortgage foreclosure complaint

On or after March 21, 2022, residential mortgage foreclosure complaints may be filed on paper or electronically.

C. On or after March 21, 2022, complaints filed for residential mortgage foreclosure actions may be paper filed or filed electronically.