Automated Services (ASP)

What is e-Filing?
e-Filing is the submission of an electronic image of a document to the court for filing. e-Filing is easy and allows you to file court documents over the Internet.

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What Does e-Filing Offer?
e-Filing allows attorneys, trustees, and others to file documents from their office, home or anywhere they have access to the Internet, 24 hours a day. When used in combination with e-CalWebPACER, it provides the following additional benefits:

• 24-hour access to filed documents over the Internet;
• Automatic email notice of case activity;
• The ability to download and print documents directly from the court system;
• Concurrent access to case files by multiple parties;
• Secure storage of documents (so files are not misplaced); and
• Potential reduction in postage and messenger service fees.

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What Do I Need to e-File?
You will need:

• A personal computer running a standard platform such as Windows or Macintosh;
• Word processing software;
• Internet access and a browser;
• Software to convert documents into PDF;
• Scanning hardware and software¹;
• Zip file creation software²; and
• A court issued username and password.

¹Scanning equipment is required to convert paper documents into electronic form.
²Zip creation software is required to electronically file batches of documents.
For a complete list o fthe equipment and software needed to electronically file documents,
please see the e-Filing system hardware and software requirements.

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How Does e-Filing Work?
The e-Filing system accepts documents submitted in portable document format (PDF). PDF retains the way a document looks, so the pages, fonts and other formatting are preserved. Filing a document electronically is easy. You simply:

• Create the document using word processing software or by scanning;
• Save the document in PDF format;
• Log onto the court's e-Filing system, using your court-issued username and password;
• Click the Single File Upload button, select a filing type, document type and subtype
and enter the required information to upload one group of documents at a time OR click the
Batch Upload button to upload a .zip file containing multiple PDF files.
• Locate the PDF file (single upload) or zip file (batch upload) saved on your system and click the Submit button to submit it to the court for filing; and
• Save or print 1) the confirmation of receipt sent immediately by the court confirming that the document was successfully uploaded, and
2) the notice of e-Filing sent by the court to electronic filers who have appeared in the case when the document is available on the Internet.

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Are There Fees for e-Filing?
There are no extra fees for filing documents over the Internet. Access to electronic documents and court data is available through the e-CalWebPACER system and requires separate registration. Attorneys and litigants registered for e-Filing receive one free copy of documents filed electronically in the cases in which they have appeared. Additional copies and documents are available for viewing or downloading at a cost of seven cents per page (maximum fee per document is $2.10).

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How are Documents Signed?
Pursuant to General Order 04-01, Filing, Signing, and Verifying Documents by Electronic Means, use of your court issued username and password to file a document is considered to be your signature. Procedures for signatures of parties other than the filer are also set forth in the general order.

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How are Fees Paid??
Electronic filers must authorize the court to charge fees for electronically filed documents to a credit card by submitting a completed Credit Card Authorization Form. This form must be completed by all electronic filers, except claims agents and creditors, before they will be issued an e-Filing system username and password. Using the information "on file," fees will be charged to the electronic filer's credit card whenever an electronically filed document that requires payment of a fee is processed by Clerk's Office staff. For each fee document charged to a credit, the amount charged and bank approval code will be shown in the notice of electronic filing sent when the document has been docketed and is available for viewing on the Internet.

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When does e-Filing Begin?
Effective November 3, 2003, all eligible documents may be filed, signed, and verified by electronic means using the e-Filing system.

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Are All Documents Eligible for e-Filing?
No. Documents to be filed under seal and documents filed by parties without legal representation are not eligible for e-Filing. The list of ineligible documents is posted on the Electronic Filing page of the court's Internet web site (www.caeb.uscourts.gov).

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Which Cases and Proceedings are Eligible for e-Filing?
All cases and proceedings are eligible for e-Filing. However, as described in the paragraph above, at this time not all documents are eligible for e-Filing.

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How Do I Register?
To register, complete an e-Filing system Registration Form and User Agreement and Credit Card Authorization Form and return it to the court. The forms are available on the Electronic Filing Resources page of the court's Internet web site and at the Bankruptcy Clerk's Office public counter.

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Is Training Required?
Yes. You or someone you have authorized to act on your behalf must attend an e-Filing system training session or request a waiver of the training requirement. Online sign-up sheets for training sessions may be accessed from the Electronic Filing page of the court's Internet web site.

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Where Can I Get More Information?
Visit the Electronic Filing page on the court's Internet web site at www.caeb.uscourts.gov to access the e-Filing User Guide. Specific questions may be directed to the help desk at helpdesk-caeb@caeb.uscourts.gov.

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