E-Filing FAQs
Initiating filings for all General Civil case types except: Small Claims, Civil Harassment, Name/Gender petitions, Probate Conservatorships and Guardianships, and Unlawful Detainers.
Subsequent filings for all General Civil case types, including: Asbestos, Probate Estate cases, Probate Trust cases, Complex Litigation cases and Unlawful Detainers.
Small Claims, Initiating Unlawful Detainers, Civil Harassment, Name/Gender petitions, Probate Conservatorships and Guardianships, Judgments related to Sister State, Confession, Labor, and Summary cases are not subject to the mandate
Applications for waiver of court fees and costs are accepted electronically in cases that are electronically filed. Per CRC 2.252 (f) The court must permit electronic filing of an application for waiver of court fees and costs in any proceeding in which the court accepts electronic filings.
No. Currently the only Probate cases designated for electronic filing are Trust and Decedent Estate cases. See LRSF 2.11. In addition, refer to LRSF 14.60 for the exceptions and additions specific to Probate.
Yes, Initial filings for all General Civil case types except: Civil Harassment, Name/Gender petitions, and Unlawful Detainers.
Pursuant to CCP 1010.6 (b)(3), any document received electronically 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. (Effective date: 1/1/18)
No Asbestos, Complex litigation and Probate Trust and Decedent's cases must be e-filed through File & ServeXpress.
No, in Civil cases, they are encouraged to do so, but e-filing is not mandatory for self-represented litigants or non-parties. In Probate Trust cases, once a self-represented litigant chooses to e-file, such chosen filing method must be used exclusively in that case [see LRSF 14.100(B)].
E-filing rules are contained in San Francisco Superior Court local rule 2.11.
Yes, pending cases under this mandate will be required to e-file subsequent filings.
Documents issued by the Court, Summons for Unlawful Detainer Cases, Orders of Examination, Writs, Abstracts, Bonds, and DMV Certifications, must be submitted conventionally in paper form. (see San Francisco Local Rule 2.10R).
No.
For questions about available vendors and how to e-file in the San Francisco Superior Court, visit the Court Approved Vendor List.
In Civil cases, courtesy copies are required under LRSF 2.7(B):
Users must submit one courtesy paper copy of all filed documents requiring Court review, action, or signature directly to the assigned Judge's department. These courtesy copies must be delivered to the Court not later than 1:30 p.m. of the day following electronic filing, except all papers related to motions brought on shortened time must be delivered to the Judge's department as early as practicable but at least before the time set for hearing. All courtesy copies must append the relevant vendor's transaction receipt.
In Probate Trust cases, courtesy copies are required under LRSF 14.93(G):
Courtesy copies for the Probate Department must be endorsed filed, Copies must include the hearing date in the caption of the document and should be directed to the attention of specific staff members to the extent known, i.e., Director, Assistant Director, assigned Examiner, or assigned Investigator.
The convenience fee will be $2.25 per transaction. You may submit more than one filing per transaction, provided it is the SAME case. The service fee is $10.80.
The Court has selected six vendors that will provide e-filing services and has no plans to expand the list at this time.