Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pleadings

All complaints, petitions, motions, mandatory filings, and other pleadings must be filed as an original plus four copies with the Clerk of Family Court.

the original and four copies of all complaints, petitions, motions, mandatory filings, and all other pleadings and documents in the nature of pleadings.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Pro se parties must establish an account with Username, Password, PIN, and email and be authorized to access their cases.

Parties who are proceeding without counsel must also establish an account, apply for a Username, Password and Personal Identification Number ("PIN''), supply an email address and be authorized to access their cases through the Criminal Electronic Filing System.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for approval settlement minor

For minor-settlement petitions in cases already initiated in the Trial Division, the petition must be filed electronically with the Office of Judicial Records, Civil (the former Prothonotary).

(1) For cases in which a civil action has been initiated in the Trial Division, Petitions for Approval of Settlements shall be electronically filed with the Office of Judicial Records, Civil (formerly the ''Prothonotary'').

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Stipulation

Stipulations not requiring judicial approval must be filed with the Office of Judicial Records.

Stipulations not requiring judicial approval shall be filed with the Office of Judicial Records.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Remote access to legal papers is limited to attorneys of record and pro se parties.

(h)(3) Legal papers shall only be made available remotely to attorneys of record and pro se parties. A party who is represented by counsel shall not have remote access to any legal papers filed in connection with the party's case. Access to the official case file and legal papers, as required or provided by law and applicable Public Access policies, is available in Rooms 200 and 310 at the Criminal Justice Center.

WARNING

Applies to

Transcript

Completed transcripts must be filed in the Court Reporting System, made available to the presiding judge, and delivered to the requestor upon payment of any balance owed.

When the transcript has been completed, it shall be filed in the Court Reporting System (“CRS”), shall be made available to the judge presiding over the matter, and shall be delivered to the requestor upon the payment of any balance owed.

WARNINGCivil cases

Counsel and self-represented parties must apply for an e-filing username and password before filing.

To obtain access to the Orphans' Court Electronic Filing System, counsel or a party not represented by counsel ("filing party") shall apply for a Username and Password at the Court's website.

WARNING

The court’s electronic filing system is currently unavailable while the application is being relaunched.

The E-Filing System is Not available at this time We appreciate your patience as we continue to work on relaunching our electronic filing application.

WARNINGCriminal cases

The court will accept paper-format filings, convert them to PDF (except sealed papers), and treat the PDF version as the original for all purposes.

Any legal paper submitted for filing to the Office of Judicial Records in a paper (or “hard-copy’’) format shall be accepted by the Office of Judicial Records in that format and shall be retained by the Office of Judicial Records as may be required by applicable rules of court and record retention policies. The Office of Judicial Records shall convert such hard-copy legal paper, other than any legal paper filed under seal, to pdf. Once converted to pdf, the pdf version of the legal paper shall be deemed to be, and shall be treated as, the original legal paper and may be used by the parties and the court for all purposes, including court hearings and trials, in the Municipal Court and the Court of Common Pleas.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Applies to

Legal paper

Paper-format filings are accepted and converted to PDF, which becomes the original.

(d) Legal Papers Filed in a Paper Format. Any legal paper submitted for filing to the clerk of courts in a paper (or “hard-copy’’) format beginning on April 1, 2013 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, other than any legal paper filed under seal, to pdf. Once converted to pdf, the pdf version of the legal paper shall be deemed to be, and shall be treated as, the original legal paper and may be used by the parties and the court for all purposes, including court hearings and trials, in the Municipal Court and the Court of Common Pleas.

WARNING

Counsel and unrepresented parties must apply for and receive a User Name, Password, and Identification Number to access the Electronic Filing System.

(ii) Access to the Website. To obtain access to the Electronic Filing System, counsel and any unrepresented party must apply for and receive a User Name, Password, and Personal Identification Number (“PIN”).

WARNING

Counsel and unrepresented parties must apply for and receive a User Name and Password from FSX to obtain access.

To obtain access to FSX, counsel and unrepresented parties must apply for and receive a User Name and Password from FSX.

WARNINGCivil cases

Counsel and unrepresented parties must apply for and receive a User Name, Password, and PIN to access the Electronic Filing System.

To obtain access to the Electronic Filing System, counsel and any unrepresented party must apply for and receive a User Name, Password, and Personal Identification Number ("PIN").

WARNING

Counsel and unrepresented parties must obtain a User Name, Password, and PIN to access the Electronic Filing System.

To obtain access to the Electronic Filing System, counsel and unrepresented parties must apply for and receive a User Name, Password, and Personal Identification Number (“PIN”).

WARNING

Electronic filing using the issued User Name, Password, and PIN constitutes the party's signature on electronic documents.

(1) Signatures on Pleadings, Verifications, Documents and Other Legal Papers. The electronic filing of legal papers utilizing the issued User Name, Password and PIN issued as provided by this rule and Pa.R.C.P. No. 205.4, constitutes the party’s signature on electronic documents as provided by Pa.R.C.P. No. 1023.1

INFO

Applies to

General court regulation

As required by Pa. R.C.P. No. 239, the original General Court Regulation shall be filed with the Prothonotary in a Docket maintained for General Court Regulations issued by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, and copies shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Civil Procedure Rules Committee. Copies of the Order shall also be submitted to Legal Communications, Ltd., The Legal Intelligencer, Jenkins Memorial Law Library, and the law library for the First Judicial District.

As required by Pa. R.C.P. No. 239, the original General Court Regulation shall be filed with the Prothonotary in a Docket maintained for General Court Regulations issued by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, and copies shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Civil Procedure Rules Committee. Copies of the Order shall also be submitted to Legal Communications, Ltd., The Legal Intelligencer, Jenkins Memorial Law Library, and the law library for the First Judicial District.

INFO

Applies to

Legal paper

Commencing November 2, 2026, parties may electronically file Child Support, Spousal Support, and Alimony Pendente Lite legal papers with the Domestic Relations Section through the File and ServeXpress Application (FSX).

Commencing at 8:00 A.M. on November 2, 2026, parties may electronically file all Child Support, Spousal Support, and Alimony Pendente Lite “legal papers,” as defined by Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(a)(2) except as provided below, with the Domestic Relations Section (“DRS”) through the File and ServeXpress Application (“FSX”) and as more specifically provided in Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 205.4 and Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4.2.

INFO

Applies to

Support complaint

Support-related complaints may be filed in-person or electronically with the domestic relations section.

Complaints for child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente lite may be filed with the domestic relations section either in-person or electronically.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Legal papers and exhibits

The Clerk will not keep hard copies of e-filed legal papers or exhibits.

(c) The Clerk shall not maintain a hard copy of any legal paper or exhibit filed electronically under this Rule.

INFOCriminal cases

Electronically filed papers and paper-format copies become the record on appeal.

(e) Record on Appeal. Electronically filed legal papers, and copies of legal papers filed in a paper format as provided in subsection (d), shall become the record on appeal.

INFOCriminal cases

Clerk provides training and assistance for electronic filing.

(h)(4) The clerk of courts shall provide training and assistance to all parties as may be necessary to electronically file legal papers as provided in this rule.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Account

The auditor may be required to electronically file the account and to participate in such further proceedings as the Court may direct.

The auditor may be required to electronically file the account and to participate in such further proceedings as the Court may direct.

INFOCriminal cases

Clerk provides computer terminals for public access to legal papers.

(h)(5) The clerk of courts shall provide sufficient computer terminals at such locations as may be determined from time to time to allow parties and the public to access legal papers as provided by this rule and as authorized by applicable Public Access policies.

INFO

Attorney filings that need no prior judicial action may be delivered or mailed to the court administrator without personal appearance.

Any filing with the Court, by an attorney admitted to practice in the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not requiring the signature of, or action by a judge prior to filing may be delivered or mailed to the Municipal Court Administrator or other appropriate officer designated by the court administrator, accompanied by the filing fee and if mailed, shall contain a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The party’s attorney need not appear personally and present such paper to the officer.

INFO

The Clerk of Family Court shall maintain a hard copy of any legal paper or exhibit, notice, or order filed or maintained electronically under this rule.

As permitted by Rule 205.4(f)(2), the Clerk of Family Court shall maintain a hard copy of any legal paper or exhibit, notice, or order filed or maintained electronically under this rule.

INFOCriminal cases

Electronically filed legal papers are retained electronically; no hard copy is required.

retained by the clerk of courts in an electronic format. Neither the clerk of courts nor the court is required to maintain a hard copy of any legal paper filed electronically as provided in this rule.

INFO

Legal papers or exhibits submitted in hard-copy are converted to PDF by the Office of Judicial Records and the hard copy is returned to the filing party for retention.

As authorized by Pa.R.C.P. No. 205.4 (b)(1), in the event any legal paper or exhibit is submitted to the Office of Judicial Records in a hard-copy format, the Office of Judicial Records shall convert and maintain such legal paper or exhibit to a portable document format, and the Office of Judicial Records shall return the hard-copy legal paper or exhibit to the filing party for retention as required by Pa.R.C.P. No. 205.4(b)(5).

INFOCriminal cases

The e-filing pilot program ends April 1, 2014, subject to modification.

(j) Duration of Pilot Program. Unless otherwise provided, the Pilot Program established by this rule shall end on April 1, 2014. The terms of the Pilot Program may be modified from time to time by the issuance of a local rule adopted pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 105.

INFO

Neither the Court nor the Office of Judicial Records is required to keep hard copies of e-filed documents.

Neither the Court nor the Office of Judicial Records are required to maintain a hard copy of any legal paper or exhibit, notice, or order filed or maintained electronically under this rule.

INFOCriminal cases

This rule controls over Pa.R.Crim.P. in case of conflict.

(i) As provided in subsection (a), the procedures contained in this rule control in the event a provision herein conflicts with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. In all other respects, the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure apply.

INFO

Legal papers filed electronically with the DRS shall be filed through FSX, accessible through the First Judicial System of Pennsylvania website or another designated website.

Legal papers filed with the DRS electronically shall be filed through FSX, which shall be accessible through the website of the First Judicial System of Pennsylvania, https://www.courts.phila.gov/, or at such other website as may be designated from time to time.

CRITICALCivil cases

For accounts of guardians of the estates of incapacitated persons, counsel must electronically file additional papers at the time of the account, though the remainder of the list is not fully set out in this extracted portion.

(6) Accounts of Guardians of the Estate of the Incapacitated Persons. In addition to the papers required by Rule 2.4B(1), at the time of the filing of an account of a guardian of the estate of an "latterated person wishing his electronic record:

CRITICALCivil cases

Appeals to appellate courts from orders on Petitions for Review of certification orders issued by Mental Health Review Officers cannot be e-filed and must be filed in paper format.

(B) Notwithstanding subsection (A), the same may be true of the petition, and appeals to appellate courts filed from orders issued by the Court pursuant to Petitions for Review of certification orders issued by Mental Health Review Officers cannot be filed electronically, but must be filed with the Office of Judicial Records in a paper format.

CRITICALCivil cases

For minor settlement petitions filed before any civil action is initiated and no docket number exists, the petition must be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division.

(1) For cases in which a civil action has not been initiated in the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for which no civil docket number has been assigned, Petitions for Approval of Settlement shall be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for approval of settlement

Petitions for approval of settlements in wrongful death or survival actions must be electronically filed with the Office of Judicial Records, Civil, when the lawsuit was commenced in the Trial Division.

Petitions for Approval of Settlements in Wrongful Death or Survival Actions shall be electronically and tried with the Office of Judicial Records, Civil (formerly the Prothonotary) if the action was commenced in the Trial Division.

CRITICALCivil cases

For accounts of personal representatives, counsel must additionally electronically file a copy of the original letters with proof of advertisement and a certified copy of the inventory, will, and codicils.

(2) Accounts to article of Conclusions Standards. In addition to the papers required by Rule 2.4B(1), at the time of the filing of an account of a personal representative, counsel shall electronically file: (a) a copy of the original letters, together with proof of advertisement thereof; and (b) a copy of the inventory and of the will and codicils, certified with the signature of accountant or lawyer to be true and correct.