Basic eFiling FAQ's

Electronic filing of court documents occurs through an electronic filing service provider (EFSP). The user creates an account and the eFiling system manages the flow of the documents and fees to and from the court. The filer will submit the documents to the EFSP for submission to the court. The court will accept or reject the documents. The documents are returned to the EFSP for return to the filer through the EFSP’s electronic filing portal.

Registration as an electronic filer is required to establish an account for your electronically filed documents. Your account will allow you to check the status of your electronically filed documents and will provide a path for the court to return your documents to you.

Yes. The Judicial Council has mandated that all courts accepting electronically filed documents use independent EFSPs. Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 1010.6(e) the court may not accept electronic filings directly. You can choose any approved EFSP listed on the court’s website.

Any document electronically received by the court between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day shall be deemed filed on that court day.  Any document that is received electronically on a non-court day shall be deemed filed on the next court day. (Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 subd. (b)(3); Cal. Rules of Court, rules 2.252 and 2.253.

• Adoption
• Declare Free
  •  With or without an Adoption Petition
• Civil
• Civil Harassment Petitions
  •  Including: Civil Harassment, Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse, Workplace Violence
• Civil Petitions
  •  Including: Name Change and/or Gender Change, Minor’s Claim, or other In the Matter of Petitions
• Family
• Probate
• Small Claims

No.  eFiling is currently not mandated for any case type.

Yes. The eFiling system adheres to state and federal security regulations and meets Payment Card Industry Security Standards to protect filer and transaction information.

Yes. You may choose any EFSP. You may change to a different service provider at any time. Selecting and using an EFSP is similar to using an “attorney service” for filings, except the types of filings processed are electronic.

Yes, self-represented parties are eligible to use the site for eFiling. However, it is not mandatory they do so.

The first point of contact for any question should be your EFSP. If the question cannot be resolved with the EFSP, you may contact the clerk’s office at 559-730-5000 option 4

Documents should be filed as you would have at the clerk window. For instance a document that would have been stapled together at filing should be filed as one lead document. Another way to think about it as anything that needs its own file stamp should be filed separately, as a lead document that gets its own separate event code. Multiple documents can be filed together in one envelope but each document to be filed needs its own event code.

35 megabits for the whole envelope and 25 megabits for a single document. There have been a few initial problems here that have all been resolved by calling the EFSP. If the document is truly too big, and the EFSP cannot resolve, the document can be electronically filed in separate batches but please call the court to let us know that this is going to happen first so we can monitor and filings are not rejected in error.

PDF, however some EFSPs allow you to file as a Word document because they then turn it into a PDF for you.

Yes, pursuant to California Rule of Court 3.1110(f), a document filed electronically with exhibits must include electronic bookmarks with links to the first page of each exhibit and a bookmark title that identifies the exhibit number or letter and briefly describes the exhibit.

Yes, pursuant to California Rule of Court 2.256(b)(3), a document filed electronically must be text searchable.

For assistance you can contact the filer support number for the electronic service provider you are using.

Yes. Judicial Council forms are fillable and can be uploaded for eFiling.

Yes. Forms completed using third party software can be eFiled as an uploaded PDF. Documents submitted via eFiling must be text searchable.

No. Retention of original signed documents is governed by California Rules of Court, rule 2.257 and Code of Civil Procedure Section 1010.6.

Yes. The Trial Court Records Manual recommends 300 DPI resolution. DPI refers to the output resolution of the scanner when a document is scanned. This only applies if you’re scanning and attaching any document(s).

No. Documents should not be password protected and will be rejected if the content cannot be viewed.

A Filing Document Name refers to the type of filing (e.g. answer, demurrer, motion, etc.) and is used by the EFSP to properly designate the document(s) upon submission. Using the correct Filing Document Name is extremely important as it determines the appropriate fee and court workflow. The court has made every effort to develop a comprehensive list of document names that closely match the type of document(s) that may be submitted.

If you are unable to identify the document you are filing in the list of document names, you must use the name of the document that most closely describes your filing. If you are unsure about the document name(s), please check that the filing fee(s) are correct before submitting your document(s). There is a “comments” field if you need to include any additional explanation for the filing staff.

If multiple documents are filed in one submission, the lead document is the one that is most important. For example, if you were filing a motion with a supporting declaration and a proof of service, the motion would be the lead document. It is important to properly identify the lead document as this will affect the priority and timing for processing by the court and ensures that the document is directed to the appropriate location or court personnel.

Submissions cannot be cancelled after they have been completed in the EFSP. Please double check your documents and any data entry prior to completing your submission.

Contact the clerk’s office at 559-730-5000 option 4 as soon as possible.

The following documents are exempt from eFiling:

• Any Order with an original judicial officer’s signature;
• Copy Request;
• Exhibits to be lodged for Hearings or Trials;
• Original will and codicil;
• Administrative Records;

• Family Law Request for Entry of Default;

• Family Law Notice of Entry of Judgment;

• Any paper document ordered by the court to be filed in a clerk’s office;

• Any documents for Child Support cases that begin with the prefix VFS;

Yes. You can use your personal computer to submit filings through an EFSP. You will use the internet to select the EFSP and submit your documents for filing. You will upload the document as an attachment. For instructions, refer to your EFSP’s website.

Use the Form TCSC CIV-004 to request a refund. Requests may be efiled or submitted in person at the filing window or via U.S. Mail to the location where the case is assigned. The request will be reviewed by the Court. Fees for efiled documents will be refunded to the EFSP pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 411.20 and Government Code Section 6159.

Refunds will be processed for the following reasons:

• Fees were inappropriately charged by the Court.

• Fees were inappropriately charged due to Court system errors.

• Fees were inappropriately charged to a party after a fee waiver has been granted.

• Fees were inappropriately charged to an agency that is exempt per GC 6103.

• Fees that are ordered refunded by the judicial officer.

If the refund is being requested for an efiled transaction, the refund will be returned to the entity that made the payment for the efiled document (typically the EFSP) to comply with GC 6159.

Denied means the request was not deemed to be a valid reason for a refund and will not be processed. Rejected means that the Request for Refund form was not thoroughly completed and was missing information or the information was incorrect and needs to be returned for completeness or correction.