FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We look forward to working with you, from beginning to end, or at any point in between. First Legal can connect with you anywhere in the litigation process, from File Thru Trial™.
Not automatically, but we will deliver courtesy copies upon request. Prices vary by location.
We have representatives available to handle your request on court work days until midnight. Call us at 877.399.5562 or send us an email at eFiling@firstlegal.com if you need any assistance after hours. If you know in advance that your documents will not be ready until after hours, please contact our staff to make arrangements in advance. It is always best to plan ahead.
Yes we do. We can either come to your office location for a live training or we can host a virtual meeting through a remote screen share solution such as Zoom Meeting.
Yes, when we eFile on your behalf, we will bookmark your documents in accordance with local rules.
Call us at 399.5562 or email us at eFiling@firstlegal.com for information on how we can assist you with large documents.
We can help, although an electronic signature is not required. For the requirements, see California Rules of Court, Rule 2.257 – it outlines the information you need for signatures on documents submitted electronically.
Yes, eService is an available option as you navigate through the eFiling Portal workflow.
If you are a current customer and already have a login for First Connect, you should be able to eFile your documents directly to the Court. To access the eFiling Portal, on the order entry page, after you enter your client matter number, you will be asked to select a “Service.” Select “eFile” and your court/division then select “Direct” or “On-Behalf.” Once you select that, hit next and it will direct you to the “eFiling Platform.”
- In order to get a user profile, there needs to be an account tied to that profile. If you are new and do not have an account, you can initiate registration online or email us at sales@firstlegal.com so that we can have a member of our Sales Team contact you to assist with the process.
This system is different from the ECF (Federal Court) System. However, if your Attorney plans to handle any eFiling, then a user profile is needed. Unlike the Federal System, attorneys are not required to establish user profiles for Superior Courts as long as they do not intend to eFile the documents.
When speed is a priority, you’ll want First Legal on your side. We will advance all necessary witness fees. We allow you to set an authorization limit with your account and we will contact you immediately if your order will incur charges greater than your limit. When your order is complete, we’ll send you a single, fully-itemized invoice.
If you need a specific organizational system, we’re happy to adhere to your guidelines. Just tell us how you would like your documents to be indexed, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Yes! We’re happy to provide your information on paper, electronically, or both.
eDiscovery is the digital aspect of identifying, collecting, and producing electronically stored information (ESI) in response to a request for production in a lawsuit or investigation. ESI includes but is not limited to emails, documents, presentations, databases, voicemail, audio and video files, social media, and websites. The processes and technologies around eDiscovery are often complex due to the sheer volume of electronic data produced and stored. Additionally, unlike hard-copy evidence, electronic documents are more dynamic and often contain metadata such as time-date stamps, author and recipient information, and file.
Security is one of the most important parts of eDiscovery, and there are many aspects to consider. First Legal Digital has strict standards for chain of custody, a highly secure data storage facility, up-to-date technology, reliable hiring procedures, and disaster recovery plans in case of emergency.
Transferring data between vendors for different EDRM stages is complicated, expensive, and less secure. Vendors that handle early case assessment, collection, filtering, processing, and review & production provide a bigger bang for your buck – and remove the risk associated with moving your data. First Legal offers an end to end eDiscovery solution.
First Connect is a comprehensive Online Ordering Solution and Website. This Content Management Solution, designed from the ground up, enables us to improve the general flow of information, whether you’re searching for a particular subject, looking for the most recent PDF/Fax Filing Rate Sheets, or placing your next Service of Process order. Coupled with the industry’s finest customer support team, First Connect isn’t simply a web address, it is real people working for you to ensure your complete satisfaction.
eFiling with the Orange County Superior Court is now available through First Connect. As we develop new connections with other courts, we will add these to the order selection window. If you have a filing with another court in CA, another state, or a Federal Filing, please email your documents to eFiling@firstlegal.com. You may also contact us at 800.889.0111.
If you select “Court Service” and would like to upload your documents to the order, please be sure to select “FAX/PDF Filing” as your type of service. If you select, ASAP, Rush, Regular or Special Filing, you will not get the option to upload your documents. Those are messenger service types which lets us know that you would prefer to have a messenger come to your office to pick up the documents to take to the Court to process. By selecting the “FAX/PDF Filing” service type you will receive the upload option once you select the County and Court. For “Messenger” and “Service of Process” requests, the option to upload will appear.
The list of available courts grows each month. First Legal has the capability to eFile in every available court. If you aren’t sure if a court requires eFiling, just email your documents to efiling@firstlegal.com and we’ll handle the rest. If a document can be eFiled, we’ll process it accordingly, and if not, we’ll print the document and deliver it to the court as a standard filing (also called a PDF/Fax Filing Service).
There are a few ways you can eFile with the Superior Courts. You may eFile directly with the court using our eFiling Portal or you can upload your documents via the same portal and we’ll eFile “On Your Behalf.” Of course, you can always email your documents to us at eFiling@firstlegal.com.
Communication is key, so we keep you involved from start to finish with order confirmation emails. Additionally, updates on your order can be found at any time through our client portal.
Service is our number one priority, so we’ll work around the clock to get your records as quickly as possible. Retrieval time can vary based on the type of records being requested. Authorization orders are always the best option for getting your documents on a tight deadline.
First Legal can acquire almost any record that you may need. We regularly obtain medical, billing, radiological, pathological, employment, payroll, and insurance records. We’ll also work with you to secure government records such as IRS, Social Security, and Military Service records.
When you work with First Legal, your requests won’t get lost in a jumble of email forwarding. You’re free to connect with management at any time and you’ll find that many of your needs can be met through the use of our online client platform.
Litigation support is the act of providing consulting and other services to corporations, law firms, and insurance companies with respect to current and potential litigation matters. The specific tasks performed depend on the needs of the client and could include everything from filing documents with the courts to performing investigative work and scheduling court reporters for depositions. These are just a few of the hundreds of ways legal support service companies serve their clients.
Of course! Whether you’ve worked with other companies before and want to experience the First Legal difference or this is your first foray into litigation support, we’re happy to work with you! Sometimes the hardest part of a project is determining what steps need to be taken so the work can begin. We’ll guide you when you’re unsure and help you select the services that best suit your needs.
First Legal is proud to offer services in Court & Process, Investigations, Digital, Records, and Depositions. To learn more about our individual services, please refer to the Our Services drop-down menu for more detailed descriptions. There’s almost no end to the ways that we can strengthen your case.
We’re standing by to help you 24/7. We know that the legal system never takes a day off, so we don’t either. You can contact us by phone, email, postal service, or through the live chat feature on our website. Typically, most of our clients utilize the live chat system for a fast response when they need it most!
The client must prepare the proof of eService. If you have questions about eService or the requirements for the proof of service, please review California Rules of Court Rule 2.251(j). This rule also references Code of Civil Procedure Section 1013(g) and 1010.6.
You can eFile on your fee waiver case through the First Connect Portal. Simply select “No” on the court fees tab. You must also have an approved or pending fee waiver order on file for the case.
We can handle your eFiling request as a third party. Simply email your documents to eFiling@firstlegal.com. We can also eFile on your behalf in Federal, Appeals, and other courts that only issue credentials to attorneys – just provide us with your attorney’s user information!
The biggest advantage is convenience and flexible scheduling. Save time by virtually meeting with the notary rather than traveling to meet in person. Remote notary also adds a layer of protection against identity theft by recording the transactions and validating identification documents making it practically tamper-proof.
A remote notarization is legally binding in all states, provided it was performed in accordance with the laws of the state where the notary is registered. States that have passed remote notarization laws include Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Remote online notarizations are accepted across the country due to a long-standing body of laws in each state that specifically provides for recognition and acceptance of out-of-state notarizations.
California law does not provide the authority for a California Notary Public to perform a remote online notarization. The personal appearance of the document signer is required before the notary public. However, California will accept a notarization performed remotely if done by a notary in a state where remote notarization is authorized. For example, Remote Online Notarization is authorized in Arizona. An Arizona notary can remotely notarize a document for a person who is physically located in California and that notarial act will be valid in California.
Virtually any document that can be notarized in person can be notarized remotely, with a few exceptions:
- Self-proving Wills and codicils.
- Non-Self Proving Wills and codicils to be used in states other than Florida or Nevada.
- Testamentary Trusts and any amendments to Trusts, and Inter-Vivos Trusts to be used in states other than Florida or Nevada.
- I-9 Forms.
- Certified true copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates, or court-issued documents.
- Documents intended for use outside the United States.
- Documents in which the notary is named or has a beneficial interest.
- Documents containing pictures of children.
Our software provider Notarize uses a patent-pending forensic analysis to verify government-issued photo IDs and passports. Take a picture of your government-issued ID, answer a few questions, and Notarize will confirm your identity in seconds.
Remote online notarization, also called webcam notarization, online notarization, or virtual notarization, is simply a notarization done using audio-visual technology versus the signer and the notary being physically in the same room.
The National Notary Association provides a video explaining the process in more detail here.
Yes, your remotely notarized documents can be electronically recorded in California. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder published a notice on this subject. The same guidelines described in this notice are being used in other California counties.
First Legal charges a flat-fee of $8.75 for Direct eFiling or $33.50 to eFile on your behalf via the court’s eFiling Portal. You are also responsible for any Advanced Fees imposed by the Court.
FROM OUR BLOG
SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT: JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENT CHANGE
Attention Santa Clara County Filers: Previous Department/Judge [...]
SAN BERNARDINO SUPERIOR COURT: PROBATE EFILING MAINTENANCE THIS WEEKEND
SAN BERNARDINO SUPERIOR COURT: PROBATE EFILING MAINTENANCE THIS WEEKEND San Bernardino Superior Court, Probate Dept. will be conducting maintenance to their eFiling system on, Saturday, March 25th, [...]
ODYSSEY EFILECA: UPCOMING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
ODYSSEY EFILECA: UPCOMING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE Tyler Odyssey (eFileCA) will be conducting maintenance to their eFiling system on Saturday, March 25th, from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM PST. [...]