Attorney Case Opening Frequently Asked Questions

 

Must attorneys open their own case process electronically in CM/ECF?

• Yes.  Effective March 1, 2010, it will be mandatory for attorneys to file their new cases electronically in CM/ECF. 
• Pro se filers (including prisoners) are not permitted to file new cases electronically.

Can I open a case 24 hours a day?

• Yes.  An electronic document is considered filed when it is received by the court's CM/ECF system.  The filing deadline is 11:59 PM Pacific Time for the current date of filing.

What happens if I open a case in error?

• You will need to contact the Help Desk at (206) 370-8440 for assistance. 
• The Help Desk is available from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

How do I file a sealed case?

• Sealed cases can only be filed in person over the counter.

Can attorneys open their own criminal cases?

• No.  At this time, attorneys cannot open their own criminal cases.

How do I pay my filing fee?

• The filing fee can be paid by credit card, debit card or Automated Clearing House (ACH), also known as Bank Account Debit or Direct Debit.  ACH payments are like online checks; the funds are withdrawn from your bank account. 
• While posting your complaint or removal, the first of two Pay.gov screens will appear where you will enter your credit card, debit card, or account information for ACH.  

What do I do if Pay.gov is not working?  Can I submit my filing fee a different way?

• You can call the Help Desk at 206-370-8440 with your credit or debit card number.
• If your ACH payment does not go through, it is your responsibility to contact your financial institution withdrawing the funds.

How do I get a judge assigned to the case?

• The judge is assigned to your case by Clerk's Office staff after the case is opened. 
• You will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing of the judge assignment when the judge has been assigned to your case.

How do I determine if it is a Seattle or Tacoma jurisdiction?

• Seattle Division
  • Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom.

   

• Tacoma Division
• Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum.

 

•  For further information, see Local Rule 5(e).

Can cases still be filed over the counter or through mail and e-mail?

• No.  Only Pro se litigants (including prisoners) may file their cases over the counter or by way of mail or e-mail. 
• Attorneys must file electronically after March 1, 2010.

How do I get my summons issued?

• Download and save the summons form. Use this fillable form each time you post a summons to the court docket.
• Post each summons separately.

• Summon(es) will be issued by the court electronically the following day.  
• You will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) of the issued summons when the Clerk's Office enters it on the court's docket.  
• Use the NEF (Notice of Electronic Filing) hyperlink to retrieve the issued summons form to effect service of process.

What types of information do I need to redact?

In compliance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2, Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.1, and WAWD Local Rule CR 5.2, all filers must redact:

• Dates of Birth:  redact to the year of birth.
• Names of Minor Children:  redact to the initials.
• Social Security Numbers or Taxpayer Identification Numbers:  redact in their entirety.
• Financial Accounting Information: redact to the last four digits.
• Passport Numbers and Driver License Numbers:  redact in their entirety.
• Home addresses in criminal cases:  redact to the city and state.

 

What is the maximum allowable file size for PDF documents?

• PDF documents should be no more than 5 megabytes (MB). 
• This will allow for faster processing of filing and downloading documents. 

I forgot to enter a party!  How do I get my additional parties added?

• Call the Help Desk at (206)370-8440 for assistance.