Things to Know About the New E-filing Rule

• E-filing is required for lawyers and for agents filing 10 or more small-claims actions in a county per year. Self-represented litigants are allowed to e-file but are not required to do so.

• Documents e-filed by 11:59 p.m. on the day they are due are considered filed that day. Non e-filing parties may file by fax until 11:59 p.m. Local fax rules restricting the number of pages still apply.

• Parties must submit copies of documents, not originals, even when filing on paper.

• The small-claims summons and complaint may be verified without a notary.

• Lawyers may authorize staff members to submit pleadings to the e-filing system on the lawyer’s behalf and to apply the lawyer’s electronic signature. The lawyer is responsible for all documents e-filed by staff members.