e-filing Frequently Asked Question

1. You must have a valid juris number and be enrolled in E-Services.

2. Along with Internet access, you should have a browser that supports the capabilities of Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher for Windows. Your browser must also support 128-bit encryption and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) version 2.0 protocol. You may click on Minimum Browser Requirements on the Judicial Branch website to see if your browser meets these requirements as well as to download an upgrade of your browser.

3. You must have PDF reader software (to view documents).

4. You may need PDF conversion software and/or scanner (to file documents). [Top]

Login

I forgot my password; how do I get my password?

If you have successfully logged in to E-Services with the initial password you received and changed that password, you may click on Problems? at the E-Services Login screen. Then click on Did you forget your password? Follow the system prompts, entering your juris number and date of birth (for individuals only) and respond correctly to the security question. Your password will be mailed to you within thirty minutes.

If you have not logged in to E-Services and changed your initial password, you will have to contact E-Services Support at (866) 765-4452 or EServices@jud.ct.gov to obtain that initial password by U.S. Mail. [Top]

Why is the computer indicating that my Juris number is invalid/inactive?

If the “invalid juris number” message appears as you attempt to login, you may have entered an incorrect number. Select Did you forget your juris number? Then enter your last name or firm name in order to view an alphabetical listing of names with juris numbers.

If the “inactive juris number” message appears, you should contact the Statewide Grievance Committee at (860) 568-5157 because there are a number of reasons why a juris number may have been inactivated in the Barmaster record of the Superior Court. [Top]

Should I login with my individual Juris number or my firm’s Juris number?

As a general rule, you would log in under the firm juris number in order to initiate cases or file documents so that any person working with the firm would be able to access the file, view the documents, and take action on behalf of the client at a later time. This practice in the e-filing world is consistent with the practice in the paper world where you would file a firm appearance signed by an individual attorney on behalf of the plaintiff or the defendant.

Regardless of the logged in juris number, your individual juris number must be used as your signature for e-filed documents. Your access to the documents that you signed, however, is determined by the logged in juris number at the time of filing. [Top]

When is the e-filing system available?

You may access the e-filing system from 6:30 AM through 4:00 AM. The hours between 4:00 AM and 6:30 AM are used for system maintenance and updating. The system may also be offline on the first and third Saturdays of the month between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

A document that is electronically received by the clerk’s office for filing after 5:00 PM on a day on which the clerk’s office is open or that is electronically received by the clerk’s office for filing at any time on a day on which the clerk’s office is closed shall be deemed filed on the next business day on which such office is open.

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Filing a New Case

What case types may be e-filed?

All of the following case types may be initiated electronically as of the dates noted in parentheses. Any exceptions are noted. Documents in the case types listed may be electronically filed in all of the following case types. When you initiate a case electronically, you are required to retain the original case initiation documents throughout the pendency of the action, including any appeal period and appellate process.

Beginning September 1, 2009, e-filing of all foreclosure matters will be mandatory for attorneys and firms without an exclusion from electronic services requirements.

Beginning December 5, 2009, e-filing of all other civil case types will be mandatory for attorneys and firms without an exclusion from electronic services requirements.

Eminent Domain (cases initiated on or after August 22, 2009)

Note: These Eminent Domain case types will not be initiated electronically, but all subsequent motions, pleadings or documents will be filed electronically.

E00 – State Highway Condemnation
E10 – Redevelopment Condemnation
E20 – Other State or Municipal Agencies
E30 – Public Utilities & Gas Transmission Companies
E90 – All other

Miscellaneous (cases initiated on or after August 22, 2009)

M00 – Injunction
M10 – Receivership
M20 – Mandamus
M40 – Arbitration
M50 – Declaratory Judgment
M63 – Bar Discipline
M66 – Bar Discipline – Reinstatement
M68 – Bar Discipline – Inactive Status
M90 – All other

Property (cases initiated on or after February 27, 2006)

P00 – Foreclosures
P10 – Partition
P20 – Quiet Title/Discharge of Mortgage or Lien
P90 – All other

Torts (Other than Vehicular):

T02 – Defective Premises- Private Snow or Ice (cases initiated on or after 7/1/04)
T03 – Defective Premises- Private Other (cases initiated on or after 7/1/04)
T11 – Defective Premises- Public Snow or Ice (cases initiated on or after 7/1/04)
T12 – Defective Premises- Public Other (cases initiated on or after 7/1/04)
T20 – Products Liability - Other than Vehicular (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T28 – Malpractice - Medical (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T29 – Malpractice - Legal (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T30 – Malpractice - All other (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T40 – Assault and Battery (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T50 – Defamation (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T61 – Animals - Dog (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T69 – Animals - Other (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T70 – False Arrest (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T71 – Fire Damage (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
T90 – All other (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)

Vehicular Torts:

V01 – Motor Vehicles* - Driver and/or Passenger(s) vs. Driver(s) (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V04 – Motor Vehicles* - Pedestrian vs. Driver (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V05 – Motor Vehicles* - Property Damage Only (cases initiated on or after 7/1/04)
V06 – Motor Vehicle* - Products Liability including Warranty (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V09 – Motor Vehicle* - All other (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V10 – Boats (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V20 – Airplanes (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V30 – Railroads (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V40 – Snowmobiles (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)
V90 – All other (cases initiated on or after 9/1/05)

* Motor Vehicles include cars, trucks, motorcycles and motor scooters

Wills, Estates and Trusts (cases initiated on or after August 22, 2009)

W00 – Probate Appeals
W10 – Construction of Wills and Trusts
W90 – All other

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How do I e-file a return of service?

A return of service is a document that will have to be scanned and converted to a PDF file if you choose to e-file it. If the return of service is e-filed, the attorney must retain the original paper document throughout the pendency of the action, including any appeal period and appellate process. Such a document may also be filed with the Clerk in paper format. If you choose to file it in the paper format, you must include the entire docket number, including the three-letter location code, on the return of service. [Top]

Why won’t the e-filing system accept my summons and complaint?

If the system rejects your documents, you should check to be certain that the documents are in PDF format and that they do not exceed the size limitations as set forth in the Technical Standards. [Top]

Does the e-filing Confirmation Screen mean that everything was submitted properly?

The confirmation screen indicates that the electronic entry has been successfully transmitted to the court. If you submitted a document that was upside down or that was incomplete in some way, for example, you would still receive a confirmation of filing. Therefore, it is important that you take the time to review all documents before you submit them. [Top]

Payment

What forms of payment are acceptable?

Payment by means of MasterCard and Visa is accepted. Payment by means of electronic check is now also available. [Top]

Can I file electronically and pay later at the clerk’s office or by mail?

No. When a document requires a fee, you must process the payment of that fee at the time of filing. Without the payment, your filing is not complete and will be purged when you log out or when the system refreshes itself at 4:00 AM. [Top]

Can I pay for multiple transactions at one time?

Yes. All electronic filings that require the payment of a fee may be placed in the “Shopping Cart” pending payment. Once you are ready to pay, you may click on “My Shopping Cart” and make your payment in one transaction. If you pay for multiple filings at the same time, only one confirmation number (transaction number) will be generated for the payment although each transaction will be listed individually on the Confirmation Screen. [Top]

What measures have been taken to secure my credit card information?

The Judicial Branch has adopted encrypted security and firewall protective measures to safeguard information transmitted through electronic transactions from loss, misuse or alteration from outside influences. The use of security software and a security certificate on the Judicial Branch web site establishes a direct Single Socket Layer (SSL) connection between the attorney’s or law firm’s computer and the Electronic Services section of the Branch. [Top]

Can I file a fee waiver electronically?

No. Fee waivers may not be electronically filed. In cases where there is a statutory fee exemption, state attorneys general may initiate cases electronically. [Top]

Case Inquiry

Who can access a case?

At this time, if an attorney/firm initiates a case or files an appearance in a case initiated on or after July 1, 2004, he/she will be able to access the electronic court file via the Internet to view items that have been electronically filed in that case. Eventually, the public will be able to review all non-sealed, e-filed matters at the public access computer terminals in each Judicial District courthouse. At the present time, public access to files is limited to viewing a list of the pleadings that have been filed. To view the actual document, the public as well as any attorney without an appearance in a file must access the paper file. [Top]

Where can I view the items that I submitted electronically?

An attorney may view the electronic court file from any PC with Internet access or from a public access e-filing PC located in the Judicial District courthouse. [Top]

Can several people from my firm view the case simultaneously?

Yes. One of the advantages of the e-filing system is that multiple parties in your office may access a case file at the same time while logged in under the same juris number. [Top]

How do I look up information on a case?

Once you have logged in to the e-filing system, you may find a case in one of three ways, listed on the blue menu bar. The first is by means of Select Case, which requires you to enter the docket number, including the location code. The second option is by means of List My Cases, where you would generate a list of the cases filed by the logged-in juris number. The third option is by means of Party Search, where you would enter the name or a portion of the name of any party to locate the case involving that person. Once you find the case, you may click on the docket number to view the case details. In accordance with the Federal Violence Against Women Act of 2005, cases for relief from physical abuse, foreign protective orders, and motions that would be likely to publicly reveal the identity or location of a protected party may not be displayed and may be available only at the courts. [Top]

Can I view all of my firm’s cases using my individual juris number?

No. If the cases were initiated under your firm’s juris number, you will not be able to access them if you are logged in under your individual juris number. Only an appearing juris number will have online access to viewing documents in e-filable cases. [Top]

Filing Motions/Pleadings/Documents

If the case was originally filed on paper, can subsequent filings be electronically submitted?

Yes. Regardless of how a case is initiated, if the case is eligible for e-filing at the time of its initiation, documents may be electronically filed in that case. The docket number will indicate whether you may electronically file documents in a case. Motions or documents may only be electronically filed in cases that have docket numbers beginning with a 5 or a 6, i.e., HHD CV 06 5000125 or FBT CV 06 6000024. [Top]

Can I file more than one motion in a case simultaneously?

No. In general, each motion must be treated as a separate transaction. Each filing will generate a confirmation screen that contains the date and time of the transaction as well as the date and time of filing. You may then return to the same case to file additional motions without logging out of the system.

The exception to this general rule is the filing of a multi-request document in connection with a foreclosure by sale. With a multi-request document, you may file a Motion for Acceptance of Committee Report, Motion to Award Committee Fees and Expenses, Motion to Award Appraisal Fees, and a Motion to Approve Sale and Deed in a single PDF document. You would have to file a separate PDF of the Proposed Committee Deed and a separate PDF of the Report of the Committee. [Top]

How soon may I e-file a motion or document on my newly e-filed case?

As of October 18, 2004, you may access a newly e-filed case immediately to e-file or view a document. You may also file a paper document on a newly e-filed case that same day at the courthouse during regular business hours. [Top]

When will I see what I filed electronically?

As of October 18, 2004, you see what you have filed electronically immediately after you file the document. Return to the Case Detail screen and click on the icon next to the document that you have just filed in order to view the entire document. You may also click on My e-filed Items on the blue menu bar to review the documents that you have filed in the last five days. For documents filed outside of that time frame, you may click on Document Inquiry. [Top]

How do I enter an appearance?

Once you have logged in to E-Services and arrived at the Civil e-filing homepage, you will need to locate the case in which you wish to file an appearance by means of Select Case, if you know the docket number of the case, or by means of Party Search, using the name of any of the parties to the action. Click on the docket number hyperlink which will take you to the Case Detail page. At that page, you will click on E-file An Appearance from the Select Desired Case Activity dropdown. Click GO and provide the required information. Since this is a system-populated form (a form created within the e-filing system), the system takes the information you enter in the system along with information that is already in the file and fills in the fields in the form. You will not need to create and attach a PDF document for this document. [Top]

What are system-populated forms?

There are six types of system-populated forms: appearances, reclaims, motions for continuance, withdrawals (except for withdrawals of appearance), certificates of closed pleading, and jury claims. These forms are created within the e-filing system, which takes information already in the file and fills in the majority of the fields in the form. [Top]

How do I submit an affidavit?

An affidavit may be filed in paper format with the appropriate Clerk’s office. Be sure to include the docket number of the case, including the three-letter location code, on the affidavit. If you wish to e-file the affidavit, you must scan in the fully executed original document and convert it to a PDF file. You may then file it as a document through the e-filing system. You must retain the original paper document in your file during the pendency of the action, any appeal period, and any applicable appellate process. [Top]

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