eIssuance

Electronic issuance of documents (“E-Issuance”) is currently available for clerk summonses, clerk defaults entered, clerk defaults not entered, clerk issued notice of action and clerk issued writs of garnishments which are filed by attorneys in all civil court divisions. 

• Summons Filed on New or Existing Civil Cases: Upon electronic submission and payment of the summons, the Clerk will electronically sign and seal the summonses. Once issued, the summons will be electronically returned to the email address of the filer. For Domestic Relations cases, please see Administrative Order 5.212-1/14 for further instructions regarding requirements for additions to the service packet. Attorneys are required to serve the Respondent a copy of Administrative Order 5.212-1/14 in the service packet.
• Clerk-Generated Summons: In small claims cases where a pre-trial date is set by the Clerk, the summons must be generated by the clerk. In these cases, you may pay for your summons through the portal. The Clerk will prepare and issue the summons. The summons will then be electronically returned to the e-mail address of the filer.
• Clerk Defaults: Upon electronic submission of a motion for Clerk’s default, the Clerk will produce the Clerk’s default or Clerk’s Notice of No Default Entered and electronically sign and seal. Once issued, the Clerk’s default will be electronically returned to the e-mail address of the filer.
• How to Re-Submit a New Summons for Issuance when the Issuance Fee is Already Paid: Occasionally, a customer files & pays for a summons but the Clerk cannot issue it for one reason or another. If a new summons needs to be issued and the $10 summons fee has already been paid, the filer should resubmit their summons through the ePortal using the “amended summons” code in the portal. This will allow the filer to eFile the new summons without assessing the $10.00 fee.
• Writs of Garnishment: Motions for Writs of garnishment must be e-filed with the proposed writ of garnishment and the Notice to Defendant of Right Against Garnishment of Wages, Money and Other Property, Claim of Exemption and Request for Hearing attached. Upon electronic submission of a motion for writ of garnishment and writ of garnishment with the Notice to Defendant of Rights and Claim of Exemption, the Clerk will electronically sign and seal the writ. You will be charged the $85.00 filing fee for issuance of a writ of garnishment via the e-filing portal. Once issued, the writ will be electronically returned to the email address of the filer.
• Writs of Continuing Garnishment: Motion for Continuing Writ of Garnishment must be e-filed and the filing fee of $85.00 must be paid through the e-filing portal. The proposed Continuing Writ of Garnishment must be sent directly to the judge for signature through the OLS system here: 15th Judicial Circuit Login.

More eTips

Docketing timeframe: In most circumstances, your filed documents will be posted to the docket within 3 business days from the date of filing. If you do not see your document and it has been more than 3 business days since filing, please review the document status in the ePortal.

Document recall/Request to Pend an eFiling: If you need to recall a document that was submitted through the ePortal we will attempt to pend back the document if it has not yet been docketed. Please email either: Civil E-Filing Help or Criminal E-Filing Help.

Do not eFile the following:

• Proposed Orders- these are uploaded to the court using their OLS portal here: 15th Judicial Circuit Login
• Cover letters
• Paper Copies- Do not file a paper copy of a document that has been eFiled. This creates a duplicate record in the case docket.
• “Original Documents” as described below.
  
  • For civil, this includes those documents that contain original signatures such as deeds, mortgages and wills.
  • For criminal, any paper document that is a judgment and sentence or required by statute or rule to be sworn to or notarized shall be filed and deposited with the clerk immediately thereafter.

File Date: The “file” date of an E-Filed document is the date and time the E-Filed document is received at the Portal.

Notice of Contest: When filing a notice of contest, indicate that it is an emergency by checking the emergency filing box on the ‘File Subsequent Document(s) into an existing case’ screen in the E-Filing Portal.