home»online_services»e-filing
E-Filing in Juvenile Dependency, Adoptions, and Juvenile Delinquency Cases begins July 1, 2021
Starting July 1, 2021, parties in Adoption and Juvenile Dependency cases may E-File documents.
Parties in Juvenile Delinquency matters may E-file all subsequent documents, following the initial complaint.
Mandatory E-Filing in Criminal, Civil and Small Claims. San Mateo Superior Court Requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Civil, Complex Civil and Small Claims Cases. In Criminal cases, all attorneys, all Justice Partners including law enforcement agencies and bail bond companies must Electronically File all subsequent documents after the initial complaint beginning June 1, 2020.
Mandatory E-Filing in Family Law and Probate. San Mateo Superior Court requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Family Law and Probate cases as of January 21, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 1010.6(b) of the Code of Civil Procedure, Rule 2.253(a) of the California Rules of Court, and San Mateo Superior Court Local Rule 2.1.5 all documents (other than the documents specified below) in Complex Civil actions may be filed electronically, and must be filed electronically upon issuance of a judicial order. All documents (other than the required hard copy documents specified below) in Small Claims actions (except for Parking Appeals) and Probate actions may be filed electronically.
Please note that exhibits to any electronically filed briefs, declarations or other documents must be electronically "bookmarked" as required by CRC Rule 3.1110(f)(4).
How to E-File
In order to start e-filing, the filer must select a service provider. An electronic filing service provider (EFSP) is an online service to help you file your documents, and acts as the intermediary between you and the Odyssey eFileCA system. Each EFSP offers a variety of additional services and you should evaluate which provider meets your filing needs. Once you pick the EFSP you would like to use for electronic filing, you will be able to go through their tutorial on how to do electronic filing.
List of Certified EFSPs with eFileCA
Currently, there are a number of EFSPs working to become certified with eFileCA and we expect the number of certified EFSPs to increase in the coming months. » List of Certified EFSPs with eFileCA
Document Standards
Documents to be electronically filed should be submitted in searchable PDF format, and searchable PDF/A is preferable. PDF/A is a format which excludes those PDF features that give rise to concerns about the ability to archive documents. Newer scanners allow users to directly create a PDF/A. Users with older scanners can use a conversion tool (such as Acrobat 9) to convert scanned documents to PDF/A.
Required Hard Copy Documents
Below is the list of documents that are NOT currently being accepted through e-filing. Please submit hard copies at the clerk's office.
Civil Complex: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Proposed Default Court Judgment Packet
- Ex Parte Motions and Oppositions thereto
- Abstract of Judgment
- Writ of Execution/Possession/Attachment
- Subpoena
- Administrative Records
General Civil: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Civil Restraining Orders
- Proposed Default Court Judgment Packet
- Ex Parte Motions and Oppositions thereto
- Abstract of Judgment
- Writ of Execution/Possession/Attachment
- Subpoena
- Administrative Records
Small Claims: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Any document that needs to be issued
- Abstracts of Judgment
- Wirt of Execution
- Subpoena
- Certificate of Facts -DL30
Probate: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Abstract of Judgment
- Affidavit re Real Property of Small Value
- Appeal Documents
- Bond
- Estate Planning Documents
- Wills and Codicils
- Writ
Family Law: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Abstract of Judgment
- Ex Parte's (Other than DVPA Restraining Order Filings)
- 170.6 Challenges (Must be E-Filed starting March 1, 2021)
- 170.1/3 Challenges
- Opposition to Commissioner pursuant to Local Rule 5.4
- Writ
Proposed Orders
Your Proposed Order should be e-filed with the pleading it relates to (e.g. stipulation or motion) in conformity with CRC Rule 3.1312(c).
For Complex Civil actions, you must also email an editable version of the Proposed Order in Word format (not PDF) to: complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org so that the judge can modify it prior to signing, if needed.
For Probate actions, you must also email an editable version of the Proposed Order in Word format (not PDF) to: probate@sanmateocourt.org so that the judge can modify it prior to signing, if needed.
For Small Claims actions ONLY, a proposed order in an editable word-processing format does NOT need to be submitted to the court under Section 3.1312(c)(2) of the California Rules of Court.
E-filing Schedule
Complex Civil
Effective June 1, 2020, the Complex Civil and Civil Departments entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Complex Civil and Civil legal documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined above.
Small Claims
Effective June 1, 2020, the Small Claims Department entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Small Claims documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined above.
Mandatory E-Filing in Criminal, Civil and Small Claims. San Mateo Superior Court Requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Civil, Complex Civil and Small Claims Cases. In Criminal cases, all attorneys, all Justice Partners including law enforcement agencies and bail bond companies must Electronically File all subsequent documents after the initial complaint beginning June 1, 2020.
Mandatory E-Filing in Family Law and Probate. San Mateo Superior Court requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Family Law and Probate cases as of January 21, 2020.
Probate
Effective January 21, 2020, the Court entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Probate legal documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined above.
Family Law
Effective January 21, 2020, the Court entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Family Law legal documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined above.