Nov. 5, 2014 – Attorneys must now update and maintain addresses through Wisconsin eCourts, a web-based system for conducting business with the courts. Attorneys who e-file court documents, for instance, must make address changes through their eCourts account, which is also used to report continuing legal education credits electronically.
Attorneys can no longer contact the clerks of court to update address information, according to Ann Newman of the Dane County Clerk of Courts Office. Address change notifications must be done online.
Even attorneys who don’t use the eCourts system currently should create an eCourts account and update their addresses if they want to receive court communications, including notices or other mailings.
In March, the eCourts account system was enhanced, providing improved account features and new tools for attorneys who use the eCourts system. As part of the upgrade, attorneys are responsible for updating addresses through an eCourts account.
E-filing, which allows lawyers to file court documents online, might soon be mandatory in Wisconsin (see “Mandatory E-filing May Be Coming Soon to the Courts Near You” and “Mandatory E-Filing: Proposal Mandates Electronic Court Filings in Wisconsin”).
Thus, lawyers and their staff should become familiar with the eCourts filing system, if they have not already. For guidance on how to start e-filing with the courts, read “E-filing in Four Easy Steps,” which was published last month in Wisconsin Lawyer.
Note: Updating addresses through eCourts does not update addresses on file with the State Bar of Wisconsin. State Bar members must still maintain and update current addresses with the State Bar under Supreme Court Rule 10.03.
Updating Your Address
The eCourts account system provides a mailing address section where attorneys can update and maintain their mailing addresses with the circuit courts. One address can be added for all courts or addresses can be specific to an individual county.
Attorneys must use this new feature for all address changes with the circuit courts and should not contact the clerk of circuit court office to make changes.
Update your address and other account information by following the “update account information” at the eCourts login screen (https://logon.wicourts.gov). Attorneys who don’t have an eCourts account must create one to update addresses.
New Delegation Tool for Electronically Filed Circuit Court Cases
The circuit court e-filing site now includes a feature for attorneys to delegate access to paralegals, legal secretaries, and other support staff with access to their electronically filed cases. There are two types of delegation: 1) prepare and view; and 2) case view.
Granting delegation rights to an individual will allow that user to: 1) create filings and documents to be routed to you for signature and submission; 2) view case documents; and 3) receive email notifications from the court for all of your e-filed cases.
To use this new delegation feature, paralegals, legal secretaries, and other staff must create an eCourts account. To grant these rights, follow the delegation link in the right-side navigation of the circuit court e-filing site after logging in. If you have any questions regarding these features, please contact web.admin@wicourts.gov.
