We are receiving an increased number of questions about electronic filing as the Los Angeles Superior Court approaches their mandatory civil eFiling deadline on January 2, 2019.
Please be aware of the following:
1. The Los Angeles civil court is experiencing delays in processing eFilings due to their new system. Once the clerks become more familiar with the system and their software bugs are fixed we expect things to run more smoothly. Our eFiling portal is tested and stable but when the court implements changes without notice it can cause errors and downtime. We foresee this instability to continue until the court stabilizes their system.
Please continue to report system errors to our support team at fcsupport@firstlegal.com so we can work with the court to resolve them quickly. In some situations, it is feedback from our clients that is helping the court identify problems.
2. One change you might have already noticed in Los Angeles is the case numbering scheme. The court case numbers are different in the new system and include year, location and case type.
3. On January 1st, 2019, CRC 2.251 (B) will require express consent to accept electronic service. Until now, consent has been automatic once a party filed through an eFiling system. Various courts and eFiling providers will handle the notice differently but you should be on the lookout for the change. It may be in the form of a checkbox. Keep in mind, there is no way to proceed without consent and represented parties must accept electronic service in any case type subject to mandatory eFiling.
Keep an eye on your inbox for additional important messages from First Legal. We will provide periodic updates and notices as they become available.
First Legal is here to assist you with all of your eFiling needs. If you have any questions or would like to place an order, email eFiling@firstlegal.com or call us at 877.399.5562.
