2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 2.253. Permissive electronic filing, mandatory electronic filing, and electronic filing by court order
(a) Permissive electronic filing by local rule
A court may permit parties by local rule to file documents electronically in any types of cases, subject to the conditions in Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, Penal Code section 690.5, and the rules in this chapter.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2022; adopted effective July 1, 2013; previously amended effective January 1, 2018.)
(b) Mandatory electronic filing by local rule
A court may require parties by local rule to electronically file documents in civil actions directly with the court, or directly with the court and through one or more approved electronic filing service providers, or through more than one approved electronic filing service provider, subject to the conditions in Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, the rules in this chapter, and the following conditions:
(1) The court must specify the types or categories of civil actions in which parties or other persons are required to file and serve documents electronically. The court may designate any of the following as eligible for mandatory electronic filing and service:
(A) All civil cases;
(B) All civil cases of a specific category, such as unlimited or limited civil cases;
(C) All civil cases of a specific case type, including but not limited to, contract, collections, personal injury, or employment;
(D) All civil cases assigned to a judge for all purposes;
(E) All civil cases assigned to a specific department, courtroom or courthouse;
(F) Any class actions, consolidated actions, or group of actions, coordinated actions, or actions that are complex under rule 3.403; or
(G) Any combination of the cases described in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive.
(2) Self-represented parties or other self-represented persons are exempt from any mandatory electronic filing and service requirements adopted by courts under this rule and Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6.
(3) In civil cases involving both represented and self-represented parties or other persons, represented parties or other persons may be required to file and serve documents electronically; however, in these cases, each self-represented party or other person is to file, serve, and be served with documents by non-electronic means unless the self-represented party or other person affirmatively agrees otherwise.
(4) A party or other person that is required to file and serve documents electronically must be excused from the requirements if the party or other person shows undue hardship or significant prejudice. A court requiring the electronic filing and service of documents must have a process for parties or other persons, including represented parties or other represented persons, to apply for relief and a procedure for parties or other persons excused from filing documents electronically to file them by conventional means.
(5) Any fees charged by the court or an electronic filing service provider shall be consistent with the fee provisions of Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6.
(6) The effective date of filing any document received electronically is prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6. This provision concerns only the effective date of filing. Any document that is received electronically must be processed and satisfy all other legal filing requirements to be filed as an official court record.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2023; adopted effective July 1, 2013; previously amended effective January 1, 2018.)
(c) Electronic filing by court order
(1) If a court has adopted local rules for permissive electronic filing, then the court may, on the motion of any party or on its own motion, provided that the order would not cause undue hardship or significant prejudice to any party, order all parties in any class action, a consolidated action, a group of actions, a coordinated action, or an action that is complex under rule 3.403 to file all documents electronically.
(2) A court may combine an order for mandatory electronic filing with an order for mandatory electronic service as provided in rule 2.252(d).
(3) If the court proposes to make any order under (1) on its own motion, the court must mail notice to any parties that have not consented to receive electronic service. The court may electronically serve the notice on any party that has consented to receive electronic service. Any party may serve and file an opposition within 10 days after notice is mailed or electronically served or such later time as the court may specify.
(4) If the court has previously ordered parties in a case to electronically file documents and a new party is added that the court determines should also be ordered to do so under (1), the court may follow the notice procedures under (2) or may order the party to electronically file documents and in its order state that the new party may object within 10 days after service of the order or by such later time as the court may specify.
(5) The court's order may also provide that:
(A) Documents previously filed in paper form may be resubmitted in electronic form; and
(B) When the court sends confirmation of filing to all parties, receipt of the confirmation constitutes service of the filing if the filed document is available electronically.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2018; adopted as subd (a) and part of subd (b); previously amended and relettered as subd (c) effective July 1, 2013; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, January 1, 2008, and January 1, 2011.)
Rule 2.253 amended effective January 1, 2023; adopted as rule 2053 effective January 1, 2003; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2008, January 1, 2011, July 1, 2013, January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2022.
Advisory Committee Comment
Subdivision (b)(1). This subdivision allows courts to institute mandatory electronic filing and service in any type of civil case for which the court determines that mandatory electronic filing is appropriate. The scope of this authorization is meant to be broad. It will enable courts to implement mandatory electronic filing in a flexible yet expansive manner. However, in initiating mandatory electronic filing, courts should take into account the fact that some civil case types may be easier and more cost-effective to implement at the outset while other types may require special procedures or other considerations (such as the need to preserve the confidentiality of filed records) that may make them less appropriate for inclusion in initial mandatory e-filing efforts.
Subdivision (b)(2). Although this rule exempts self-represented parties from any mandatory electronic filing and service requirements, these parties are encouraged to participate voluntarily in electronic filing and service. To the extent feasible, courts and other entities should assist self-represented parties to electronically file and serve documents.
Subdivision (c). Court-ordered electronic filing under this subdivision is not subject to the provisions in (b) and Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 requiring that, where mandatory electronic filing and service are established by local rule, the court and the parties must have access to more than one electronic filing service provider.