eFiling Overview

Harris County District Clerk

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Registering/Login• Choose a service provider

– http://www.efiletexas.gov/service-providers.htm - Service Provider Comparison Table

– Price Structure– Support Features including Webinars and Training Videos

• Sign up and select a Firm Administrator

• Register or setup each user – Self Register– Administrator's setup each user– Make sure to include the correct Bar Number when registering– Passwords are emailed to each filer

• Passwords are emailed to each Filer

• You must log in by using your e-mail address and password provided during the registration process.

• A payment account must be setup by the Firm Admin in order to file– Credit Card– Wavier

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Case Search

• Subsequent Filings – you must search on a existing case before filing a subsequent action.

• Search by Case Number

• Search by Party Name (Advanced Search – not for confidential cases)

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Start a Filing

• Existing Case – after searching on the case, click on the folder icon to file into the case.

• New Case –click on the “New Case” link next to searching a case.

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Start a Filing

• New Case –click on the “New Case” link next to searching a case.

• Coming Soon – JCIT Technology Standards v1.3 (Adopted March 21, 2014)

• http://www.courts.state.tx.us/jcit/standards/Technology%20Standards_v1.3.pdf

• Standardization of eFiling Category, Case Type, Filing Codes, and more

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Entering Parties

• Enter each party in the suit – an asterisk indicates a required field

• Click on “Add Party” to add more parties

• Make sure to select the Lead Attorney (from your Firm Admin setup)

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Entering Filing Details

• Select Filing Code – this is your filing action

• Enter your own filing description and enter any reference numbers if any – remember these fields are for your own use

• Select all optional services for this filing

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Entering Filing Details (con’t)

• Attach each document for this filing as separate attachments– Description field – enter the exact document title– Security field – select the appropriate document type for each document – Envelope size is limited to 35 meg

• Enter any filing comments to the clerk

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Entering Filing Details (con’t)

• Fees section show each fee charged for the filing

• Payment section– Select Payment Account– Filer Type

• Select Filing Attorney

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Summary

• Review Filing

• Submit

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Submitted Filings

• Envelope Number (reference number for the clerks)

• Filed Date - coming soon – new rules for weekend filings-rule 21(f)(5)(A)

• Status (Submitted, Under Review, Court Processing, Accepted, Rejected)

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Court Processing Filings

• Review Queue – status Court Processing– Filings which have errors from eFileTexas.gov

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Common Errors (con’t)

• Common Errors– Credit Card Failures – from eFileTexas.gov– Expired Credit Cards – from eFileTexas.gov

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Common Errors (con’t)

• Common Errors– Security Restrictions Errors – from eFileTexas.gov

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Common Errors

• Common Errors– Document Conversion Errors – from eFileTexas.gov

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Common Errors (con’t)

• Common Issues - Invalid Bar Numbers

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Court Rules Enhancements

• EfileTexas.gov Release 3.8– Schedule for production on August 16th, 2014

• Upcoming features include– Return for Correction

• Clerk returns the filing to the filer• Filer resubmits the revised filing in a new envelope

– Weekend filings• Filing received on Saturday/Sunday • Will receive filed date/timestamp of Monday 12:00 AM

– PDF Restrictions• eFileTexas.gov will reject filings where PDFs have a password

or unable to modify• Filings will not reach the clerk until the issue is corrected by

the filer

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Acceptance Process

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Upcoming Features - DCO

• Confidential Access to parties in a case - May 12th, 2014– Attorneys will need to setup their PIN– Search on the confidential case number and provide PIN

Issues with PIN DCSA@hcdistrictclerk.com

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Upcoming Features - DCO

• Electronic Signatures– Coming soon – Judges will be able to electronically sign

documents in court

• Electronic Docket Sheet– Coming on May 12th, 2014– View for Free– Purchase at 1.00 per page

• Images available on the website– Coming on May 12th, 2014– Images in Finalization available

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Helpful Links

• Supreme Court Mandate Rules – http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/miscdocket/13/13916500.pdf

• JCIT Technology Standards– Technology Standards v1.3 [pdf] (Adopted March 21, 2014)

• Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) Comparison Chart – http://www.efiletexas.gov/service-providers.htm

• Self-Service Support – knowledge base questions and answers– https://efile.txcourts.gov/selfservice/selfservice/

• FAQ’s– http://www.efiletexas.gov/faqs.htm

• Civil eFiling FAQ’s– http://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Common/Civil/EFileFAQ.aspx

• JCIT Electronic Filing Page– http://www.courts.state.tx.us/jcit/Efiling/EfilingHome.asp

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Questions?

Issues with eFilings or eService contact your eFiling Service Provider – Support Numbers are on this

website: http://www.efiletexas.gov/service-providers.htm

Inquiries for the District Clerk Court or Support Staff eFiling@hcdistrictclerk.com