Philadelphia Cnty. C.P. President Judge General Court Regulation In Re: Adoption ... 7

automatically serve all persons who have previously submitted electronic filings in the

same case, pursuant to Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4 and Pa.R.C.P. No. 205.4(g), but the

filing party must serve all others as required by rules of court. All legal papers filed in a

hard-copy format must be served by the filing party as required by rules of court.

Note: This rule is adopted as required by Pa.R.C.P. No. 239.9. Adopted November 15, 2007, effective

January 7, 2008; amended December 1, 2008, effective January 5, 2009. Amended XXXX, effective XXXX.

The provisions which govern the Electronic Filing of Mental Health Applications and Petitions are set forth

in Philadelphia Civil Rule 7109.1, which was adopted on November 16, 2001 and which became effective on

January 1, 2002.

Rule *205.4.1 Electronic Filing of Legal Papers in the Family Division.

(a)(1) Authorization of Electronic Filing. Commencing at 8:00 A.M. on November 2, 2026,

parties may electronically file all Divorce and Annulment “legal papers,” as defined by

Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(a)(2), with the Clerk of Family Court through the Philadelphia Courts

Electronic Filing System (“Electronic Filing System”), as more specifically provided in

Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 205.4 and Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4.1.

Note: the Electronic Filing System utilized by Philadelphia Family Court for divorce and annulment

filings is the same Electronic Filing System utilized by the Civil Trial, Municipal Civil Trial, and Orphans’

Divisions. See Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4.

Note: Complaints for Annulment/Divorce and Counterclaims that contain a count for custody will be

accepted for electronic filing. See Pa.R.Civ.P. 1920.32(a).

Note: a divorce complaint cannot include claims for child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente

lite. Instead, claims for child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente lite must be raised in the

domestic relations section by filing a complaint pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.4. Pa.R.Civ.P.

1920.31(a)(2). Complaints for child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente lite may be filed with

the domestic relations section either in-person or electronically. See Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4.2.

(a)(2) Agreements to Seal the Record. In the context of this rule, any legal paper filed

contemporaneously with a Motion and Agreement to Seal the Record may not be filed

electronically. All such legal papers must be submitted for filing to the Clerk of Court in

hard-copy format.

Explanatory Note: Redacted versions of all Family Court Divorce and Annulment dockets are accessible

to the public electronically unless the matter is sealed by court order. The docket of all Divorce/Annulment

cases, whether filed electronically or in-person, will therefore be available to the public immediately upon

the Clerk of Court’s acceptance of a Complaint in Divorce or Annulment. Until such time as necessary

protocols are adopted to permit the electronic filing of these excluded legal papers, legal papers submitted

contemporaneously with a Motion and Stipulation to Seal the Record must be filed in paper format so as

to limit potential harm to any party and to protect the confidentiality of information as provided by law.

(b)(1) Authorized Electronic Format of Legal Papers Electronically Filed. All legal papers

specified above shall be filed in a portable document format (“pdf”). As authorized by

Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(b)(1), in the event any legal paper specified above is submitted to the Clerk

of Family Court in a hard-copy format, the Clerk of Family Court shall convert, receive, and

maintain such legal paper or exhibit to a portable document format, and the Clerk of Family

Court shall return the hard-copy legal paper or exhibit to the filing party for retention as

required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(b)(5).

Note: Philadelphia Civil Rule 204.2 sets forth the formatting requirements of all legal papers, whether

filed electronically or submitted to the Clerk of Family Court in hard-copy, in order to accommodate the

filing/conversion of documents into an electronic format.

(c)(2) Website. Access to Website.

(i) Website. Legal papers filed electronically shall be filed through the Electronic

Filing System, which shall be accessible through the website of the First Judicial

System of Pennsylvania, https://www.courts.phila.gov, or at such other website as

may be designated from time to time.

(ii) Access to Website. To obtain access to the Electronic Filing System, counsel and

unrepresented parties must apply for and receive a User Name, Password, and

Personal Identification Number (“PIN”).

Note: counsel who have an existing EFS User Name, Password, and PIN do not need to apply

for and receive a new account to utilize the Electronic Filing System for Family Court electronic

filings.

(d) Payment of Filing Fees.

(1) The Office of Judicial Records will accept for payment of all applicable filing fees

as follows:

(i) electronically: with the following credit or debit cards at the time the legal

paper is electronically filed through the Electronic Filing System: American

Express, Discovery, MasterCard, and Visa;

(ii) by mail: certified check, cashier’s check, and money order;

(iii) in-person: cash, certified check, cashier’s check, money order, and the

following credit or debit cards: American Express, Discovery, MasterCard,

and Visa.

Note: checks and money orders must be made to the Office of Judicial Records (“OJR”).

(2) The Office of Judicial Records will not accept advance deposit on account of

future filing fees due to the difficulty in monitoring and accounting for such advance

deposits.

(3) The Office of Judicial Records shall not require the payment of a filing fee by any

party who has been granted a waiver or is represented by an attorney who is

providing free legal service to the party and has filed the Praecipe required by

Pa.R.Civ.P. 240(d) and Pa.R.J.A. 1990.

(4) Electronic Filing Fees and Costs. The Office of Judicial Records shall collect an

electronic filing fee for each legal paper filed as established by the Office of Judicial

Records with the approval of the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. All

fees collected pursuant to this rule shall be set aside by the Office of Judicial Records

and remitted monthly to the First Judicial District’s Procurement Unit. All such fees

and costs collected will be used for the implementation and maintenance of the

electronic filing system and additional development, enhancements, and training.

(f) Local Procedures. As authorized by Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(f), the following administrative

procedures are adopted:

(1) Signatures on Pleadings, Verifications, Documents, and Other Legal Papers. The

electronic filing of legal papers utilizing the User Name, Password, and PIN issued as

provided by this rule and Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4 constitutes the party’s signature on

electronic documents as provided by Pa.R.Civ.P. 1023.1 and, if the filing party is an

attorney, constitutes a certification of authorization to file it as provided in

Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.1 Additionally, the following provisions apply:

(i) Filing Party. The legal paper must include a signature block, the name of

the filer under whose User Name, Password, and PIN the legal paper is

submitted, preceded by a “/s/” and typed in the space where the signature

would otherwise appear.

(ii) Client Verifications and Documents executed by Clients or other persons.

The Verification required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 1024, 1930.1(b), and any other

applicable Rule of Civil Procedure, and the signature page(s) of any document

or legal paper executed by any party other than the filing party, must be

scanned and attached to the electronic filing in a portable document format at

the time the legal paper is submitted.

(iii) Documents requiring signatures of more than one party must be scanned

and attached to the electronic filing in a portable document format at the time

the legal paper is submitted.

Note: This subsection is designed to address issues which may arise regarding signatures on legal

papers and documents. A filer’s use of the User Name, Password and PIN issued through the

EFS is the filer’s “electronic signature.” However, legal papers often require that verifications

be executed by non-filers and deficiencies in content and execution could be subject to

preliminary objections. Moreover, many legal papers or documents require multiple signatures.

In order to avoid prejudicial delay, this section requires that the filing party scan such legal

papers, documents or signature pages and attach them to the electronic filing at the time of

submission.

(2) Upon receipt of the legal paper, the Clerk of Family Court shall provide the filing

party with an acknowledgment, which includes the date and time the legal paper was

received by the Electronic Filing System.

(3) After review of the legal paper, the Clerk of Family Court shall provide the filing

party with email notification, or notification on the Electronic Filing System, that the

legal paper has been accepted for filing (“filed”), or not accepted or refused for filing.

(4) If a legal paper is accepted, it shall be deemed to have been filed as of the date and

time it was received by the Electronic Filing System; provided, however, that if a legal

paper is submitted without the requisite fee, the legal paper shall be deemed to have

been accepted for filing as of the date payment is received. The Clerk of Family Court

is authorized to refuse for filing a legal paper submitted without the requisite

payment. If the pleading or legal paper is accepted for filing and original process is

not required, it will be electronically served as authorized by Pa.R.Civ.P.

205.4(g)(1)(ii) and service shall be effectuated as provided in Pa.R.Civ.P.

205.4(g)(2)(ii). If service of the pleading or legal paper must be made by original

process, the pleading or legal paper will not be electronically served, as provided by

Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(g)(1)(ii).

Note: As required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 204.5(c)(1), access to the Electronic Filing System shall be

available at all times, except for required maintenance. However, legal papers can only be

reviewed during normal court hours. Therefore, parties are cautioned to file required legal

papers in advance of any filing deadline to enable timely correction and re-submission in the

event a legal paper is not accepted or is refused for filing. The Clerk of Family Court may refuse

for filing any legal paper submitted without the required filing fees as provided by 42 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 1725(c)(2)(xix) or, at the Clerk of Family Court’s discretion, may authorize the filer to submit

the required fees within a stated time period after which the Clerk of Family Court may refuse

the legal paper for filing if payment is not received.

(5) If a legal paper is refused for filing, the Clerk of Family Court shall specify the

reason. Subject to the provisions of subsection Rule 205.4 (e)(1), a legal paper refused

for filing shall be deemed as not having been filed.

(6) As permitted by Rule 205.4(f)(2), the Clerk of Family Court shall maintain a hard

copy of any legal paper or exhibit, notice, or order filed or maintained electronically

under this rule.

Note: The Clerk of Court maintains a copy of the electronically filed legal paper. The electronic

filer maintains the original, signed hard copy pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(b)(4)-205.4(b)(5).

(7) If a legal paper is electronically filed and original process is not required, the

Electronic Filing System will automatically serve all persons who have previously

submitted electronic filings in the same case, pursuant to Philadelphia Civil Rule

205.4.1 and Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(g), but the filing party must serve all others as required

by rules of court. All legal papers filed in a hard-copy format must be served by the

filing party as required by rules of court.

Note: This rule is adopted as required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 239.9.

Rule *205.4.2. Electronic Filing of Legal Papers Filed in the Domestic Relations Section.

(a)(1) Authorization of Electronic Filing. Commencing at 8:00 A.M. on November 2, 2026,

parties may electronically file all Child Support, Spousal Support, and Alimony Pendente

Lite “legal papers,” as defined by Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(a)(2) except as provided below, with the

Domestic Relations Section (“DRS”) through the File and ServeXpress Application (“FSX”)

and as more specifically provided in Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 205.4 and

Philadelphia Civil Rule *205.4.2.

Note: As provided by Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.4(a), the DRS is the filing office for pleadings and documents for

child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente lite.

Note: FSX is not the same Electronic Filing System (“EFS”) utilized by Civil Trial, Municipal Trial,

Orphans’ Division, or Family Division.

(a)(2) Notices of Appeal, as defined by Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 102, and

Motions/Petition for Discovery pursuant to Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 4001 et

seq., may not be filed electronically.

(b)(1) Authorized Electronic Format of Legal Papers Electronically Filed. All legal papers

shall be filed in either a portable document format (“pdf”) or a Microsoft Word document

format.

(c)(2) Website. Access to the Website.

(i) Website. Legal papers filed with the DRS electronically shall be filed through FSX,

which shall be accessible through the website of the First Judicial System of

Pennsylvania, https://www.courts.phila.gov/, or at such other website as may be

designated from time to time.

(ii) Access to Website. To obtain access to FSX, counsel and unrepresented parties

must apply for and receive a User Name and Password from FSX.

Note: Account information, including a user’s Username and Password, is maintained by File &

ServeXpress. Users who require assistance with their FSX account should consult the FSX User Manual,

which is available on the Domestic Relations page of the website of the First Judicial System of

Pennsylvania, or at such other website as may be designated from time to time.

(d)(1) No Filing Fees. As provided by Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 1910.4(c) and

1910.4(d), the domestic relations section shall not require payment of a filing fee to

commence or modify an action and shall not impose additional fees of any kind in actions for

child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente lite.

(f) Local Procedures. As authorized by Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(f), the following administrative

procedures are adopted:

(1) Signatures on Pleadings, Verifications, Documents, and Other Legal Papers. The

electronic filing of legal papers utilizing the User Name and Password issued as

provided by this rule and Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4 constitutes the party’s signature on

electronic documents as provided by Pa.R.Civ.P. 1023.1 and, if the filing party is an

attorney, constitutes a certification of authorization to file it as provided in

Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.1 Additionally, the following provisions apply:

(i) Filing Party. The legal paper must include a signature block, the name of

the filer under whose User Name and Password the legal paper is submitted,

preceded by a “/s/” and typed in the space where the signature would otherwise

appear.

(ii) Client Verifications and Documents executed by Clients or other persons.

The Verification required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 1024, 1930.1(b), and any other

applicable Rule of Civil Procedure, and the signature page(s) of any document

or legal paper executed by any party other than the filing party, must be

scanned and attached to the electronic filing in a portable document format at

the time the legal paper is submitted.

(iii) Documents requiring signatures of more than one party must be scanned

and attached to the electronic filing in a portable document format at the time

the legal paper is submitted.

Note: This subsection is designed to address issues which may arise regarding signatures on legal papers

and documents. A filer’s use of the User Name and Password issued through FSX is the filer’s “electronic

signature.” However, legal papers often require that verifications be executed by non-filers and

deficiencies in content and execution could be subject to preliminary objections. Moreover, many legal

papers or documents require multiple signatures. In order to avoid prejudicial delay, this section requires

that the filing party scan such legal papers, documents or signature pages and attach them to the electronic

filing at the time of submission.

(2) Upon receipt of the legal paper, the DRS shall provide the filing party with an

acknowledgment, which includes the date and time the legal paper was received by

FSX.

(3) After review of the legal paper, the DRS shall provide the filing party with email

notification, or notification on FSX, that the legal paper has been accepted for filing

(“filed”) or not accepted or refused for filing.

(4) If a legal paper is accepted, it shall be deemed to have been filed as of the date and

time it was received by FSX.

Note: As required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 204.5(c)(1), access to FSX shall be available at all times, except

for required maintenance. However, legal papers can only be reviewed during normal court

hours. Therefore, parties are cautioned to file required legal papers in advance of any filing

deadline to enable timely correction and re-submission in the event a legal paper is not accepted

or is refused for filing.

(5) If a legal paper is refused for filing, the DRS shall specify the reason. Subject to

the provisions of Rule 205.4(e)(1), a legal paper refused for filing shall be deemed as

not having been filed.

(6) As permitted by Rule 205.4(f)(2), the DRS shall maintain a hard copy of any legal

paper or exhibit, notice, or order filed or maintained electronically under this rule.

Note: The DRS maintains a copy of the electronically filed legal paper. The electronic filer

maintains the original, signed hard copy pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(b)(4)-205.4(b)(5).

(7) No pleading or legal paper accepted for filing through FSX will be electronically

served. The filing party must serve all parties as required by rules of court.

Note: This rule is adopted as required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 239.9.