San Mateo Superior Court eFiling
San Mateo eFiling Updates
Mandatory E-Filing in Criminal, Civil and Small Claims. San Mateo Superior Court requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Civil, Complex Civil, and Small Claims cases, and in Criminal cases all subsequent documents after the initial complaint beginning June 1, 2020.
Mandatory E-Filing in Family Law and Probate. San Mateo Superior Court requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Family Law and Probate cases as of January 21, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 1010.6(b) of the Code of Civil Procedure, Rule 2.253(a) of the California Rules of Court, and San Mateo Superior Court Local Rule 2.1.5 all documents (other than the documents specified below) in Complex Civil actions may be filed electronically, and must be filed electronically upon issuance of a judicial order. All documents (other than the required hard copy documents specified below) in Small Claims actions (except for Parking Appeals) and Probate actions may be filed electronically.
Proposed Orders
Your Proposed Order should be e-filed with the pleading it relates to (e.g. stipulation or motion) in conformity with CRC Rule 3.1312(c).
For Complex Civil actions, you must also email an editable version of the Proposed Order in Word format (not PDF) to: complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org so that the judge can modify it prior to signing, if needed.
For Probate actions, you must also email an editable version of the Proposed Order in Word format (not PDF) to: probate@sanmateocourt.org so that the judge can modify it prior to signing, if needed.
For Small Claims actions ONLY, a proposed order in an editable word-processing format does NOT need to be submitted to the court under Section 3.1312(c)(2) of the California Rules of Court.
San Mateo Civil Division
Effective June 1, 2020, the Complex Civil and Civil Departments entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Complex Civil and Civil legal documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined below.
Civil Complex: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Stipulation and Proposed Order
- Orders After Hearing
- Proposed Judgment
- Ex Parte Motions and Oppositions thereto
- Abstract of Judgment
- Writ of Execution/Possession/Attachment
- Subpoena
- Administrative Records
- Mandatory Settlement Conference Statements
General Civil: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Civil Restraining Orders
- Stipulation and Proposed Order
- Orders After Hearing
- Proposed Judgment
- Ex Parte Motions and Oppositions thereto
- Abstract of Judgment
- Writ of Execution/Possession/Attachment
- Subpoena
- Appeal Documents, Notice of Appeal in Civil Unlimited Actions
- Administrative Records
- Mandatory Settlement Conference Statements
San Mateo Family Court
Effective January 21, 2020, the Court entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Family Law legal documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined below.
Family Law: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Abstract of Judgment
- Ex Parte's (Other than DVPA Restraining Order Filings)
- Peremptory Challenges
- Opposition to Commissioner pursuant to Local Rule 5.4
- Judgments
- Summary Dissolution case types
- Writ
San Mateo Probate Division
Effective January 21, 2020, the Court entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Probate legal documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined Below.
Probate: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Wills and Codicils
- Estate Planning Documents
- Letters of Conservatorship (Judicial Council form GC350)
- Letters of Guardianship (Judicial Council form GC250)
- Letters of Temporary Guardianship or Conservatorship (Judicial Council form GC150)
- Letters of Testamentary, of Administration with Will Annexed, of Administration or of Special Administration (Judicial Council form DE150)
- Ex Parte Applications or Petitions
- Writ
- Proposed Judgment
- Abstract of Judgment
- Appeal Documents
- Affidavit re Real Property of Small Value
- Request for Appointment of California Probate Referee **in paper format unless an Order for Probate has been filed
San Mateo Criminal Division
Mandatory E-Filing in Criminal, Civil and Small Claims. San Mateo Superior Court requires that all attorneys Electronically File into Civil, Complex Civil, and Small Claims cases, and in Criminal cases all subsequent documents after the initial complaint beginning June 1, 2020.
More Information Coming Soon...
San Mateo Small Claims Division
Effective June 1, 2020, the Small Claims Department entered the mandatory phase of electronic filing (e-filing) of Small Claims documents. All documents filed by counsel must be e-filed unless exempt as outlined below.
Small Claims: the following documents must still be filed/lodged in hard copy form:
- Any document that needs to be issued
- Abstracts of Judgment
- Wirt of Execution
- Subpoena
- Certificate of Facts -DL30
- All documents uploaded to be efiled should be submitted in searchable PDF format (PDF/A is Preferred)
- The court restricts the file size of any single document to a maximum of 25 MB and the total file size of all documents in a submission to a maximum of 35 MB.
- Electronic exhibits must meet the requirements in rule 2.256(b). Unless they are submitted by a self-represented party, electronic exhibits must include electronic bookmarks with links to the first page of each exhibit and with bookmark titles that identify the exhibit number or letter and briefly describe the exhibit.
- Please note that exhibits to any electronically filed briefs, declarations or other documents must be electronically "bookmarked" as required by CRC Rule 3.1110(f)(4)
