S.C. E-Filing Attorney Guide: ARG-13-Orders Proposed Orders Business Process

ARG-13: Orders/Proposed Orders Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

2025 © South Carolina Judicial Branch 11/2025 1

Reference Guide Contents:

 When to E-File Proposed Orders................................................................................................. 1

 Acceptable Document Formats.................................................................................................... 1

 When to Include the Electronic Order Coversheet.................................................................... 2

 Filing the Proposed Order............................................................................................................. 3

 Filing the Electronic Order Cover Sheet..................................................................................... 4

 Filing a Signed Order of Protection from Court Appearance................................................... 5

When to E-File Proposed Orders

Proposed orders created at the express request of a Judge should not be E-Filed. Instead, they should

be emailed to the requesting judge as a Word document attachment. This is because these orders do

not require a filing fee, and the E-Filing System will normally charge a filing fee for a proposed order.

Note that all Orders processed in E-Filing are referred to as Proposed Orders.

Acceptable Document Formats

Unlike other filings, proposed orders are ordinarily not filed as searchable PDF documents, but must be

submitted as Word documents. This allows the proposed order to be modified by a judge prior to

signing.

ARG-13: Orders/Proposed Orders Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

There are a few exceptions to the general rule that proposed orders must be submitted in Word.

Proposed Consent Orders that require the original signature of non-E-Filers, such as pro se parties or

law enforcement officers, cannot be filed as Word documents and must be scanned as image-based

PDFs.

In E-Filing there are three Proposed Orders that fall under this category:

 Proposed Order/Consent Order

 Proposed Order/Consent Order Fast Track Jury Trial & Appoint Special Officer

 Proposed Order/Forfeiture Consent Order

When these consent orders do not require the signature of non-E-Filers, such as a Proposed

Order/Consent Order signed only by counsel, they should be submitted as Word documents.

When to Include the Electronic Order Coversheet

When filing a Proposed Order without a corresponding motion, you must always include an electronic

order cover sheet. You do not have to create a document to file the cover sheet, as that portion of the

process is entirely electronic. If you neglect to include the electronic cover sheet, the E-filing System

will prevent the submission of your document when you reach the Review and Submit page.

When filing the proposed order along with a corresponding Motion, an electronic cover sheet should

not be included. When filing more than one Proposed Order simultaneously, a separate electronic

cover sheet or corresponding motion must be submitted for each Proposed Order; otherwise, the

submission may be rejected or partially rejected by the Clerk of Court.

When filing a Proposed Order to Restore for cases ended under Rule 40J, use the Action of

Order/Order to Restore Cover Sheet. Otherwise, use the Action of Order/Order Cover Sheet $25.

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ARG-13: Orders/Proposed Orders Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

Filing the Proposed Order

1. On the Add a Document screen, choose the Action Type of Order.

2. Using the Action dropdown, select the Proposed Order description, or the one that best

describes the proposed order you are filing.

3. Click Choose File to locate and select your proposed order which has been saved as a

Word document.

4. Click Add.

5. Using the On Behalf of dropdown, select the correct parties and click Add.

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ARG-13: Orders/Proposed Orders Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

Filing the Electronic Order Cover Sheet

1. Choose Action Type of Filing.

2. Using the Action dropdown, choose the appropriate order cover sheet (Order/Order Cover

Sheet $25.00, or Order/Order to Restore Cover Sheet).

3. Since no document is required, you will not have to click Choose File to locate a cover sheet.

That field is grayed out.

4. Click Add and you will be directed to the Proposed Order Information Form and Coversheet

screen.

5. Choose the appropriate radio button for PROPOSED ORDER.

6. Click Next.

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ARG-13: Orders/Proposed Orders Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

7. Using the On Behalf of dropdown, select the correct parties for each document and click Add.

8. When you have completed adding documents and each document specifies an On Behalf of,

click Next to continue to the Review and Submit page.

After reviewing and submitting your filing, you will be directed to the payment processing screens, since

fees will generally be associated with a Proposed Order.

You will receive a notification from the Clerk's office that the filing has been received. However, you will

not be notified of any action taken on your proposed order until it has been signed and accepted by the

court.

Filing a Signed Order of Protection from Court Appearance

Attorneys cannot file signed orders with the exception of an Order of Protection from Court

Appearance. You may have the judge traditionally sign the order and then upload it to all your cases

using the action Order/Signed Order/Protection from Court Appearance.

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