1) A Username, Password and PIN are necessary to access the Electronic Filing System to file or view legal papers or pleadings to which a user is entitled. To apply for a Username, Password and PIN, go to the First Judicial District's Website at http://www.courts.phila.gov and click on the "On-Line Services" tab.

2) Court rules contain important provisions which govern Electronic Filing procedures. You must be familiar with the following rules:

	(a) For Civil Cases: Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 205.4 and Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4.
	(b) For Criminal Cases: Philadelphia Local Criminal Rule 576.
	(c) For Orphans' Court Cases: Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rule 1.3 and 4.7 and Philadelphia Orphans' Court Rule 4.7.A.

3) All legal papers, including exhibits, must be submitted in a pdf (portable document format) format and limited to 5 megabytes per legal paper. Please consult the User Manual for tips on how to save or convert a legal paper or exhibit to pdf format.

4) The filer must attach to all legal papers (whether filed electronically or in a paper format) a scanned copy of the signed affidavit or verification required by Pa.R.C.P.No. 1024, Pa.R.Crim.P. 575 and Pa.O.C.Rule 3.13, as well as any other legal paper that requires or contains multiple signatures.

5) Confidential Information. Ex parte filing of legal papers. Filing legal papers under seal. Philadelphia Local Criminal Rule 576 (f) contains important information concerning this topic. The filer shall include all confidential information listed in this rule in a Confidential Information Form which is not accessible by the public. Legal papers filed ex parte or under seal, as authorized by law, shall be filed in a hard-copy format only. The Clerk of Courts shall not accept for filing any legal papers submitted through the Criminal Electronic Filing System which are filed ex parte or under seal.

6) Service of Legal Papers.

	(a) Original Process: must be served by the filing party as required by rules of court.
	(b) Subsequent Pleadings: served as follows:
	(i) Civil Cases: As authorized by Pa.R.C.P. No. 205.4 the Electronic Filing System will serve the legal paper on all parties who have applied for and been given a Username, Password and PIN in connection with the specific case. The filing party must serve all other parties and/or counsel as required by rules of court (Pa.R.C.P. No. 440) and must file an Affidavit of Service or Proof of Service as required. (ii) Criminal Cases: As provided by Philadelphia Local Criminal Rule 576(b)(1), service of electronic filings on attorneys who have established an account and on parties without counsel who have been authorized will be made automatically by the Criminal Electronic Filing System. (iii) Orphans' Court Cases: As provided by Pa.O.C. Rule 4.7.(h), the Electronic Filing System will serve the legal paper on all parties who have applied for and been given a Username, Password and PIN in connection with the specific case. The filing party must serve all other parties and/or counsel as required by rules of court (Pa.O.C. Rule 5.1 et seq.) and must file an Affidavit of Service or Proof of Service as required.

7) Rules of court require that a signed hard copy of the electronically filed legal paper be maintained by the filing party (which must be produced within fourteen (14) days if requested by the court or any other party) as follows:

	(a) Civil Cases: for two (2) years after the later of: (i) the disposition of the case; (ii)the entry of an order resolving the issue raised by the legal paper; or (iii) the disposition by an appellate court of the issue raised by the legal paper.
	(b) Criminal Cases: The electronic filer shall maintain the original of a sworn or verified document contained in an electronic filing (e.g., affidavit) or contained within an electronic filing (e.g., verification), and shall make it available upon direction of the court or reasonable request of the signatory or opposing party.
	(c) Orphans'Court Cases: for five (5) years after the later of: (i) the disposition of the case; (ii) the entry of an order resolving the issue raised by the legal paper; or (iii) the disposition by an appellate court of the issue raised by the legal paper.

8) The filing date of an electronically filed legal paper shall be as follows:

	(a) Civil Cases: if the requisite payment has been received prior to or at the date and time of submission, and the legal paper is not rejected by the Clerk of Courts, the date and time of acceptance shall be the date and time of submission. If the payment is received after the date and time of submission, and the legal paper is not rejected by the Clerk of Courts the filing date and time of a legal paper shall be the date and time payment is received. If a legal paper is rejected, it is deemed as not having been filed.
	(b) Criminal Cases: if the requisite payment has been received prior to or at the date and time of submission, and the legal paper is not rejected by the Clerk of Courts, the date and time of acceptance shall be the date and time of submission. If the payment is received after the date and time of submission, and the legal paper is not rejected by the Clerk of Courts the filing date and time of a legal paper shall be the date and time payment is received. If a legal paper is rejected, as authorized by law, the Clerk of Courts shall inform the file whether the legal paper may be modified or a new legal paper must be submitted.
	(c) Orphans'Court Cases: if the requisite payment is received, and a legal paper is accepted for filing, the date and time of acceptance shall be the date and time of submission. If a legal paper is rejected, it is deemed as not having been filed.

9) Delayed availability of criminal legal papers: As authorized by Philadelphia Local Criminal Rule 576 (h)(2), the clerk of courts is authorized to delay the availability of legal papers to the general public in the courthouse for five (5) days after the legal paper is accepted for filing, to minimize any potential prejudice or harm to the parties or witnesses, and to enable the parties to seek a protective order when a legal paper is not filed as required by subsections (a)(2) and (f) of this rule.

10) Legal Papers Filed in a Paper Format on and after January 2, 2013. Any legal paper submitted for filing to the clerk of courts in a paper (or "hard-copy") format beginning on and after January 2, 2013 shall be converted to pdf. Once converted to pdf, the pdf version of the legal paper shall be deemed to be, and shall be treated as, the original legal paper and may be used by the parties and the court for all purposes, including court hearings and trials, in the Municipal Court and the Court of Common Pleas.

All information provided by the First Judicial District through this Internet service is provided "as is," with no warranties, express or implied, including the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall the First Judicial District be liable for any damages, of any nature whatsoever, arising out of the use of, or the inability to use, this Internet service. Any commercial use of data obtained through this site is strictly prohibited.

The user understands that legal papers filed through the First Judicial District's Court Electronic Filing System will be displayed to the general public and to counsel or parties to the case as may be provided by the Court from time to time. The user understands and acknowledges that in order to keep the information available through the Electronic Filing System private and confidential, the Username, Password and PIN necessary to access the Electronic Filing System must not be shared with any other person.