S.C. E-Filing Attorney Guide: ARG-14-File a Motion Business Process

ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

2025 © South Carolina Judicial Branch 11/2025 1

Reference Guide Contents:

 File a Standard Motion..................................................................................................... 1

 File a Motion Using a Generic Description....................................................................... 5

 File an Amended Motion.................................................................................................. 8

File a Standard Motion

The first part of this reference guide pertains to filing a motion using one of the standard descriptions

defined in the E-Filing System.

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

2. Using the Action dropdown, select one of the standard Motion descriptions, or the one that

best matches the motion you are filing.

3. Click Choose File to locate your saved Motion (.pdf) document.

4. Select the document and click Add. You will then be directed to the Motion Coversheet page.

ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

5. Click the Motion, Hearing Requested or Motion, No Hearing Requested radio button,

depending on the nature of your motion.

6. If you are not requesting a hearing, click Next and skip to step 9, below.

7. If you are requesting a hearing, enter the nature of your motion in the Nature of Motion field.

(This is particularly important if your motion varies somewhat from the motion description you

selected in step 2, above.)

8. Use the Hours and Minutes fields to indicate the length of the hearing being requested.

9. Click Next to return to the Add a Document page.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

10. Using the On Behalf of dropdown, select the parties on whose behalf you are filing and click

Add.

11. If you need to make a correction (e.g. — you chose "no hearing requested" and should have

selected "hearing requested") click the Edit Data icon to return to the Motion Coversheet page.

12. Click Next to proceed to Review and Submit your filing.

If you represent more than one party in a case, the simplest way to select who you

Note are filing On Behalf Of is to click All My Parties in this dropdown.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

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

fees will generally be associated with a Motion. There are, however, exceptions to this general rule,

and no motion fee, technology fee or processing fee will be charged under the following conditions:

 You are filing on behalf of an indigent client or clients.

 The motion you are filing is exempt from the usual fee (i.e. — Motion/Protection Court

Appearance).

13. If special circumstances warrant a waiver of fees, indicate the type of waiver being requested.

14. Enter an explanation in the Special Filing Instructions for the Clerk. (Optional)

Even if you are requesting a waiver, you must indicate the party on whose

Note behalf the waiver is being requested.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

File a Motion Using a Generic Description

This section of the reference guide pertains to filing a motion when one of the standard descriptions

available in E-filing is inadequate, or none pertain to the motion you are attempting to file. Generics

should always be used sparingly in E-filing, as use of a generic description when a standard description

is available may result in a delay in processing your motion, cause you to pay a filing fee that would not

otherwise be required, or result in the rejection of your filing.

1. Choose Action Type of Motion.

2. Using the Action dropdown, choose the description Motion/Other.

3. Click Choose File to locate your saved Motion (.pdf) document.

4. Click Add.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

5. Click the Motion, Hearing Requested or Motion, No Hearing Requested radio button,

depending on the nature of your motion.

6. If you are not requesting a hearing, click Next.

7. If you are requesting a hearing, enter the nature of your motion in the Nature of Motion field.

This is particularly important when you have selected the generic motion description.

8. Use the Hours and Minutes fields to indicate the length of the hearing being requested.

9. Click Next to return to the Add a Document page.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

10. Using the On Behalf of dropdown, select the parties on whose behalf you are filing and click

Add.

When reviewing your filing on the Review and Approve page, be sure to include

the nature of the motion in the Special Filing Instructions for the Clerk, particularly

if you did not request a hearing. It is best practice to include in the special

instructions a note to draw attention to the exact type of motion you are filing so

Note that it may be properly recorded by the Clerk of Court.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

File an Amended Motion

When filing an amended motion, the Action Type of Motion is not used. Most motions carry a fee, which

does not apply to a motion that has been previously filed and is now being amended.

1. Choose Action Type of Motion.

2. Using the Action dropdown, choose the description Motion/Alter or Amend.

3. Click Choose File to locate your saved amended Motion (.pdf) document. Click Add.

4. Choose the appropriate radio button for MOTION.

5. Click Next.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

6. Using the On Behalf of dropdown, select the parties on whose behalf you are filing and click

Add.

7. Click Next to review and submit your filing.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

8. Add a Client # (optional). This number is not used by the court but will assist you in tracking

your filings.

9. Select the Payment on behalf of case party. Payments must be made on behalf of one of the

case parties.

You must indicate the case party on whose behalf you are making the payment. If

you represent multiple plaintiffs, you can only choose one of the plaintiffs in this

Note field, even though you are filing on behalf of all of them. There is no legal effect

from this; it is simply required by the trial court case management system and

used by the clerk of court to record your payment.

10. Cover letters are no longer needed, if you need to communicate with the clerk you can utilize

the Special Filing Instructions for the Clerk text box.

11. Click Submit the Filing, and a message prompt opens.

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ARG-14: File a Motion Business Process

Attorney Reference Guide

12. Click OK to continue and open the first payment screen. If you click Cancel, the Review and

Approve Filing screen remains open. You can make changes as needed and click Submit the

Filing when you are ready to continue.

When reviewing your filing on the Review and Approve page, be sure to include

the nature of the amended motion in the Special Filing Instructions for the Clerk. It

is best practice to include in the special instructions a note that will allow the Clerk

to relate the original motion to your amended motion.

Note

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