Superior Court of California

County of Tulare

About eFiling


What is e-Filing?

  • e-Filing provides for the electronic (PDF) version of the document as the original
  • Available solely for cases pending in the following general jurisdiction personal injury courtrooms:

Back to top

What are the goals?

  • Begin court and customer transition to electronic filing of documents and use of electronic records as the official court record
  • Prepare for new civil CMS launching this year (eCourt)
  • Shorter lines: Transition a measurable number of filers out of line to online
  • Demonstrate progress toward the electronic court
Back to top

How does it work?

  • Electronic (PDF) versions of documents will be submitted by the filing party through a web portal
  • Upon receiving electronic document(s), a “Notice of Receipt of Documents” will be sent to the email address provided by the user
  • This notice will contain the eFiling ID number and will confirm that the Court has received the document(s)
  • Provided the information supplied is complete and the fees paid are correct, the document(s) will be accepted by the Court and will be filed with the appropriate courthouse as if it had been filed in person
  • Upon the acceptance of the document, an email notifying the submitting party of such, along with an electronic conformed copy, will be sent
  • A notifying email will also be sent if the document is rejected
Back to top

How will I know that the court has received my document? How will I know when it has been accepted and filed or rejected by the court?

  • Upon receipt of a document submitted electronically, the e-Filing system will email the submitting party a “Notice of Receipt of Documents” to the email address provided. This notice will contain the eFiling ID number and will confirm that the Court has received the document(s)
  • Provided the information supplied is complete and the fees paid are correct, the court will file the document(s) with the appropriate courtroom as if filed in person.
  • Once filed, the e-Filing system will send an email notifying the submitting party of such, along with an electronic conformed copy.
  • The e-Filing system will also send a notifying email if the document is rejected.
Back to top

How can I check the status of my document?

To check the status of your document, please visit the e-Filing website, login and then click on “My Previous Filings.” Click on the “Filing Search” box, enter the corresponding case information and click “Search.” Along with other information, the website will display the status of the document. Back to top

When is my document considered filed?

Once Tl Superior Court staff have confirmed that the information is complete and the fees paid are correct, the court will accept the document. After it is accepted, the court will file the document as of the business day the court received it. Back to top

Which courtrooms use e-Filing?

If a case is determined to be complicated, transferred for trial, or transferred to a department other than the above for any other reason, you must discontinue use of the e-Filing system for that case. Back to top

What type of filings are not accepted?

Documents cannot be filed through e-Filing if any of the following are true:

  • Document involves an attorney-client fee dispute
  • Filing party is legally incompetent, a guardian ad litem or under conservatorship
  • Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001)
  • Request for Accommodations by Persons with Disabilities (MC-410)
  • Civil Deposit Slip (LACIV 083)
  • Documents in a case deemed complicated and transferred to an Independent Calendar Court
Back to top

Do I still need to make required redactions?

Yes. Parties and their attorneys are still required to redact documents pursuant to California Rule of Court 1.20 as if they are filing the documents in person. Failure to do so may result in the imposition of sanctions pursuant to California Rule of Court 2.30(b). Back to top

How long will it be before my document is processed?

As with documents filed in person, it is the goal of Tulare Superior Court to process documents submitted through the e-Filing system the same day that the court receives the document. Back to top

What happens if the court rejects my document? Will the court file it as of the original submission date if I resubmit it and the court accepts it?

If the court rejects a document, the e-Filing system will send a notifying email to the email address on file. Once you resubmit the document and the court accepts it, the court will file the document as of the business day that you resubmitted the accepted document. Back to top

I submitted a document requiring a signature by a judicial officer. Will I also receive a conformed copy of the signed document via email?

Once documents of this type are accepted, the e-Filing system will automatically email a copy of the “received” document prior to signature and ruling by the judicial officer. Court staff will print the received and unsigned order and forward it to the courtroom for determination by the judicial officer. Please check the case summary at http://www.Tulare.courts.ca.gov/ for entries regarding your document. After the judicial officer rules on the document and court staff processes it, you can obtain a copy from the clerk’s office. The document will be considered filed as of the date of the judicial officer’s signature. The court will not return a conformed copy of the document with the judge’s signature and any changes via email. Back to top

How much does it cost?

  • Applicable motion filing fee and/or first paper fee pursuant to the Tulare Superior Court fee schedule
  • $3.95 convenience fee paid to Journal Technologies (the third party vendor)
  • 2.75% of the filing and/or first paper fee paid to Journal Technologies, which will be waived if the filer has been pre-approved and utilizes the third party vendor's Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payment option
Back to top

What are payment profiles?

  • A payment profile allows you to securely store your credit card information on industry leading Authorize.Net servers.
  • Once a profile is created, every transaction on e-Filing using your credit card will be processed without ever requiring you to type in card information.
  • Creating a payment profile also means e-Filing never has to store, process or transmit your credit card data.
  • Attorney Service Companies and Law Firms may setup a single payment profile allowing their members to use "company cards" rather than requiring each member to create their own profile.
Back to top

My client is a government agency; do I still need to pay these fees?

The e-Filing system accepts filings from exempt government agencies (pursuant to Govt. Code §6103) for filing fees only. The $3.95 convenience fee applies. Back to top

When will the court file my document if I submit it after 4:30 p.m., on a court holiday, or on a weekend?

As with fax filing, a document that is received electronically by the Court after the close of business (4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) or on a weekend or court holiday is considered to be filed as of the next court day. Back to top

Do I still need to reserve a hearing date for my motion through the Court Reservation System (CRS)?

Parties with cases assigned to courtrooms utilizing e-Delivery must still reserve a date for law and motion hearings on the Court’s website via the Court Reservation System (CRS). For more information regarding CRS, please visit the Court’s website at www.tulare.courts.ca.gov/. Back to top

How can I participate?

Attorney Service Companies
Attorney service companies wishing to take part in the project can contact eFiling-support@journaltech.com

Law Firms
Law firms wishing to participate in the project can now register online by creating an account without contacting Journal Technologies.

Self-Represented
Self-Represented parties can now register online by creating an account without contacting Journal Technologies. Back to top

How do I get help?

Contact Journal Technologies with any issues that you may have via email or chat: eFiling-support@journaltech.com

Back to top

Is fax filing still available?

As of March 1, 2016, fax filing is no longer available for general jurisdiction personal injury cases eligible for e-Delivery. Fax filing availability and procedures remain as previously implemented for all other litigation types. Back to top

Can I still file my document at the filing window?

Yes. The Tulare Superior Court will still accept paper documents for filing at the filing window or via U.S. mail. The implementation of e-Filing does not supersede any statutes, rules, and/or policies and procedures related to the filing of documents in person or via mail. Back to top

Will Tulare Superior Court now be paperless?

The Tulare Superior Court is not paperless. e-Filing is a means for electronically submitting documents. Please note that you may still file paper documents in person. Back to top
Print This Page