Skip to main content.

Electronic Filing (E-Filing) Information

Effective July 1, 2021 The San Francisco Superior Court expanded its mandatory e-filing program. Please see the news release issued 06/28/2021.

If you have a Court related e-filing inquiry please contact the E-filing Unit through email:

The following cases are NOT subject to mandatory electronic filing and must be initiated in conventional form. All other Civil case types must be initiated electronically. Pursuant to California Rules of Court 2.253 self represented parties are not subject to mandatory electronic filing. 

  • Small Claims
  • Name/Gender Change
  • Civil Harassment (INITIAL FILING ONLY); all subsequent filings must be electronically filed *
  • False Claims Act
  • Probate Conservatorships and Guardianships
  • Judgments related to Sister State, Confession, Labor and Summary
  • Unlawful Detainers (INITIAL FILING and SUMMONS ONLY); all subsequent filings must be electronically filed *
  • Actions for Recovery of Covid Rental Debt: Residential. (INITIAL FILING ONLY); all subsequent filings must be electronically filed *

* For more information regarding exceptions for specific document types refer to Superior Court Local Rule 2.11(D) and the Courts E-FIling Special Instructions under miscellaneous.

As of December 8, 2014, the Superior Court of California County of San Francisco required mandatory electronic filing and service pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, California Rules of Court 2.253(b)(2) and San Francisco Superior Court Local Rule 2.11. On May 15, 2018, the San Francisco Superior Court eliminated the Court-run e-filing portal to e-file documents with the Court. Effective July 1, 2020 subsequent filings for Unlawful Detainers are required to be filed electronically. On January 4, 2021 the San Francisco Superior Court expanded mandatory electronic filing to include new complaints in general civil cases as well family law dissolution cases.

Pursuant to California Rules of Court 2.253(b)(4) , represented parties may apply to be excused from filling and serving documents electronically, if it is shown to cause undue hardship or significant prejudice. In each case a represented party must file an Ex Parte Application for relief from the requirements of mandatory e-filing to be heard in department 206, or in the Court of the assigned judge (refer to San Francisco Superior Court Local rules for times and dates of ex parte hearings). The applicant must give notice of the ex parte application to all other parties in the case, and must be present at the hearing. The application must be accompanied with a declaration signed under penalty of perjury specifying the undue hardship, or significant prejudice of filing and serving documents electronically, and proposed order. The applicant must notify all other parties of the Courts' ruling. If the application is granted, the represented party may file and serve documents conventionally.

The Court has several vendors that may be used for e-filing. Please see a comprehensive list of court approved e-filing vendors.

Additional Information

Abestos Cases must be be filed through File and ServeXpress

File and ServeXpress

After a case has been deemed complex by court order, all filings must be submitted through File and ServeXpress.

File and ServeXpress

  • For Documents in Civil cases that are excluded from the requirements of E-filing, see San Francisco Superior Court Local Rule 2.11(D)
  • For Documents in Probate Trust cast that are excluded from the requirements of E-filing, see San Francisco Superior Court Local Rule 14.59(C);
  • Self-Represented parties and non-parties are excluded from the requirements of E-filing, but are encourage to voluntarily submit their documents electronically;
  • Small Claims Cases are excluded from the requirements of E-filing.

Pursuant to California Rule of Court 2.253(b)(4), represented parties may apply to be excused from filing and serving documents electronically, if it is shown to be undue hardship or significant prejudice.

In each case, a represented party must file an Ex Parte Application for Relief from the Requirements of Mandatory E-Filing to be heard in Department 206 or in the Court of the assigned judge (refer to San Francisco Superior Court Local Rules for time and dates for Exparte hearings). The applicant must give notice of the ExParte Application to all other parties in the case and the applicant must be present at the hearing. The application must be accompanied by a declaration, under penalty of perjury, setting forth with specificity the undue hardship or significant prejudice of filing and serving subsequent documents electronically and a proposed order. The applicant must notify all other parties of the Court’s ruling. If the application is granted, the represented party may file and serve documents by conventional means.

Was this helpful?

Yes No
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Was this helpful?