Pa. PACFile Help: Commonwealth: Initiate a Filing - Commonwealth

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Commonwealth Court

Initiate a Filing in the Commonwealth Court

PACFiling in the Commonwealth Court provides attorneys and pro se litigants an alternative means of submitting filings to one of the state's two intermediate Appellate Courts. This online application makes it possible to file on any open case or initiate a new action with the court.

PACFile uses a step-by-step wizard to guide attorneys and pro se participants through the creation process. This approach is intended to simplify the filing process and ensure that all the required case information is captured for the court.

The PACFile Wizard

The To Do List

Learn more about the wizard feature which tracks the progress of your filings.

Select Filing screen

Learn more about the tab that is used to establish the type of document being filed.

Select Cases screen

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New Cases - Learn more identifying the case that is being appealed to the Commonwealth Court.

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Existing Cases - Learn more about associating a filing to an existing Commonwealth Court case.

Participants tab

Learn more about the tab that is used to record the individuals and organizations participating on the case.

Counsel tab

Learn more about the tab that is used to record the attorneys for the case participants.

Filing Documents tab

Learn more about the process for adding electronic documents to a filing.

Service tab

Learn more about recording how document service was performed on a filing.

Verification tab

Check the accuracy of your filing before you submit it to the court.

Electronic Documents

Document Requirements

Learn more about the format, file type, and file size requirements for all documents submitted via PACFile.

Document Naming Standard

Learn more about the naming standard applied to all new documents associated to a PACFiling.

Common & Specialized Filings

Filing an Entry of Appearance

Learn more about how to submit an entry of appearance on a new or existing case.

Filing In Forma Pauperis (IFP)

Learn more about how to file as a IFP participant.

Corrected PACFilings

Learn more about how to resubmit a corrected version of a document that was previously filed electronically.

Filing Under Seal

Learn more about how to request that a content-sensitive document be limited to the individuals actively participating on a case.

Filing In Camera

Learn more about how to request that a content-sensitive document be limited to the court's eyes only.

For printable step-by-step assistance (with pictures), refer to the following:

How to Initiate a New Case (Commonwealth Court; State Agency filers only)

How to File on an Existing Case (Commonwealth Court)

How to File an Appearance on an Existing Case (Appellate Courts)

How to File an Amicus Brief on an Existing Case (Appellate Courts)

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