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

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of exhibit attachment

A Notice of Exhibit Attachment referencing the exhibit must be filed on the C-Track Portal.

A Notice of Exhibit Attachment shall be filed on the C-Track E-Filing Portal referencing such an exhibit

CRITICALCriminal cases

Use of the current or subsequently authorized electronic filing system is mandatory as of January 1, 2022, subject to the legal-paper categories identified in Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(C).

Pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(B)(2) and this local rule, use of the current electronic filing system, or any subsequent electronic filing system authorized by the Court, is mandatory as of January 1, 2022 and legal papers permitted and excluded from electronic filing are as defined in Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(C).

CRITICAL

Electronic filers, including counsel and self-represented litigants, must register through the designated C-Track E-Filing Portal to access it.

(i) The designated website for electronic filing is the Monroe County, Pennsylvania C-Track E-Filing Portal, which can be found by clicking on the “e-File” link on the Court’s website (http://www.monroepacourts.us/). (ii) All electronic filers, including counsel and self-represented litigants, must register with the C-Track E-Filing Portal by clicking on the “Register as an E- Filer” link at the bottom of the C-Track E-Filing Portal website in order to access the C-Track E-Filing Portal.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Required attachment or exhibit

Required attachments and exhibits must be filed electronically at the same time as the legal paper.

Attachments, including exhibits, that are a required part of any filing, shall be filed electronically at the same time as the legal paper.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Sealed filing

Filings requested to be made under seal must be submitted on paper to the Prothonotary’s Office, not through the C-Track E-Filing Portal.

Filings requested to be made under seal shall be submitted in a paper format to the Prothonotary’s Office rather than through the C-Track E-Filing Portal.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Transcript and associated documents

(1) The transcript of proceedings and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

(1) The transcript of proceedings and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

CRITICALCriminal cases

PACFile is the exclusive system for electronic filing.

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: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/

CRITICAL

Applies to

Required attachment

Required attachments and exhibits must be e-filed with the legal paper, unless they exceed portal standards or cannot be filed electronically, in which case they must be filed as the Court orders.

Attachments, including exhibits, that are a required part of any filing, shall be filed electronically at the same time as the legal paper. (i) An attachment or exhibit that exceeds the technical standards for the Court Pro E-Filing Portal or is unable to be electronically filed must be filed as ordered by the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Transcript and associated documents

The transcript and associated documents must be scanned and transmitted digitally to the clerk instead of transmitted as physical papers.

The transcript of proceedings before the issuing authority and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Confidential document

A filer submitting a document requiring confidential or other security must indicate that security through the C-Track Portal prompts when filing.

When an electronic filer files a document that should be marked “confidential” or otherwise secured, the filer shall indicate such required security at the time of their filing submission through the prompts on the C-Track E-Filing Portal.

CRITICAL

Portal users must follow the portal user manual, the local rule, and all instructions on the portal website.

Use of the Court Pro E-Filing Portal shall be in accordance with the Court Pro E-Filing Portal user manual (which can be found by clicking on the “e-File” link on the Court’s website), this local rule, and all instructions contained on the Court Pro E-Filing Portal website.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The Clerk of Courts must accept paper legal papers, retain them as required, convert them to PDF and add them to the electronic system, then return the paper copy to the filer unless the papers are excluded from electronic filing.

Any legal paper submitted for filing to the Clerk of Courts in a paper (or “hard- copy”) format, whether required or permitted under this rule, 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. The Clerk of Courts shall convert such hard-copy legal paper to pdf, add it to the electronic system, and return the paper copy to the filer, except those legal papers excluded from electronic filing pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(C).

CRITICAL

All electronic filers, including counsel and self-represented litigants, must register with the Court Pro E-Filing Portal.

All electronic filers, including counsel and self-represented litigants, must register with the Court Pro E-Filing Portal by clicking on the “Register as new user” link at the bottom of the Court Pro E-Filing Portal sign-in page.

CRITICAL

An electronic filer need not file paper copies unless the Court specifically requires them.

An electronic filer is not required to file any paper copies unless specifically required by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Non reportable initial filing

Electronic filing applies to non-reportable initial filings for agreements, judgments, liens, municipal liens, and writs.

Electronic filing also applies to the following types of non- reportable initial filings: a. Agreement b. Judgment c. Lien d. Municipal Lien e. Writ

CRITICALCriminal cases

The Clerk of Courts must maintain an electronic file, and must also maintain a correspondingly numbered paper file for filings excluded from electronic filing.

The Clerk of Courts shall maintain an electronic file only, except for filings expressly excluded in Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(C) defining “legal paper.” For such filings, the Clerk of Courts shall maintain a paper file numbered in accordance with the electronic file for the same case.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Original document

Original documents may not be faxed to the prothonotary's office without prior leave of court.

No original documents shall be faxed to the prothonotary's office without prior leave of court.

CRITICAL

The designated electronic filing portal is the Monroe County Court Pro E-Filing Portal, accessible through the Court website.

The designated website for electronic filing is the Monroe County, Pennsylvania Court Pro E-Filing Portal, which can be found by clicking on the “e-File” link on the Court’s website (http://www.monroepacourts.us/).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal papers

(i) The m a n d a t o r y electronic filing of legal papers with the Monroe County Prothonotary for the Court of Common Pleas, 43rd Judicial District, is authorized in accordance with Pa.R.Civ.Pro. Nos. 205.4 and 239.9, and this rule. The applicable general rules of court and court policies that implement the rules shall continue to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing. (ii) Case Types. 1. Electronic filing applies to any legal papers filed in any of the following types of actions: a. Tort b. Mass Tort c. Professional Liability d. Contract e. Real Property f. Custody g. Divorce

(i) The m a n d a t o r y electronic filing of legal papers with the Monroe County Prothonotary for the Court of Common Pleas, 43rd Judicial District, is authorized in accordance with Pa.R.Civ.Pro. Nos. 205.4 and 239.9, and this rule. The applicable general rules of court and court policies that implement the rules shall continue to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing. (ii) Case Types. 1. Electronic filing applies to any legal papers filed in any of the following types of actions: a. Tort b. Mass Tort c. Professional Liability d. Contract e. Real Property f. Custody g. Divorce

CRITICAL

An attachment or exhibit that cannot be electronically filed or exceeds Portal technical standards must be filed as the Court orders.

An attachment or exhibit that exceeds the technical standards for the C-Track E-Filing Portal or is unable to be electronically filed must be filed as ordered by the court.

CRITICAL

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

(iv) Registered users shall be individuals, and not law firms, agencies, corporations, or other groups.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Transcript and associated documents

The transcript and associated documents must be scanned and transmitted digitally to the clerk instead of transmitted as physical papers.

The transcript and any associated documents shall be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.

WARNINGCriminal cases

A party unable to e-file, accept electronic service, or access PACFile is permitted to file legal papers in physical paper format.

Any party who is unable to electronically file or accept service of legal papers which were filed electronically, or who is otherwise unable to access the PACFile system, shall be permitted to file legal papers in a physical paper format

WARNING

Portal accounts must be registered to individuals, not firms, agencies, corporations, or other groups.

Registered users shall be individuals, and not law firms, agencies, corporations, or other groups.

WARNING

Applies to

Confidential filing

Confidential filings may be submitted electronically in a manner that preserves confidentiality, including through the C-Track E-Filing Portal with access limited to authorized personnel.

Confidential filings may be submitted for electronic filing in a manner that maintains confidentiality under applicable law. Confidential data may be collected on the C- Track E-Filing Portal and may be viewed by authorized personnel while being protected from public view.

WARNING

Registering as a C-Track user constitutes consent to participate in electronic filing and to accept electronic service of portal-filed documents other than original process in civil proceedings that permit e-filing.

Establishment as a registered user of the C-Track E-Filing Portal constitutes consent to participate in electronic filing, including acceptance of service electronically of any document, other than original process, filed on the C- Track E-Filing Portal in any type of civil proceeding that permits electronic filing.

WARNING

Use of the C-Track E-Filing Portal must comply with its user manual, the local rule, and all portal instructions.

(iii) Use of the C-Track E-Filing Portal shall be in accordance with the C-Track E- Filing Portal user manual (which can be found by clicking on the “e-File” link on the Court’s website), this local rule, and all instructions contained on the C-Track E-Filing Portal website.

INFOCriminal cases

Electronic filing is permitted under the rule, but applicable court rules and policies continue to govern filings regardless of filing method.

The electronic filing of legal papers in the Court of Common Pleas, 43rd Judicial District, is authorized in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1 and this rule. The applicable general rules of court and court policies that implement the rules shall continue to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing.

INFO

Applies to

Civil and family court cover sheets

Civil and Family Court Cover Sheets are not required in the C-Track E-Filing Portal, which collects the required data for transmission to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

(h) Civil Cover Sheets Not Required. Civil and Family Court Cover Sheets are not required in the C-Track E-Filing Portal. All required data will be collected through the C-Track E-Filing Portal for transmission to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts as required by Pa.R.Civ.Pro. 205.5.

INFO

Applies to

Legal papers

Electronic filing of legal papers with the Monroe County Clerk of Orphan’s Court is permitted, while applicable general court rules and policies continue to apply regardless of filing method.

The permissive electronic filing of legal papers with the Monroe County Clerk of Orphan’s Court for the Court of Common Pleas, 43rd Judicial District, is authorized in accordance with Pa.R.O.C.P. 4.7, and this rule. The applicable general rules of court and court policies that implement the rules shall continue to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing.