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      Riverside Superior Court eFiling and eService Guide

       

      Table of Contents

      General Riverside County Superior Court Civil eFiling Information

      Riverside County Superior Court Website

      The Superior Court of California – County of Riverside Local Court Rules

       

      Permissive Case Types: Civil

      Court Deadline: 11:59 p.m.

       

      Please note: While the court’s deadline is 11:59 p.m. we strongly encourage you to submit your order at least 30 minutes in advance. This practice will help assure that unforeseen technical issues do not delay your eFiling until after the court’s deadline for that day has passed.

       

      Formatting Requirements: Every document that is eFiled must be in PDF format and documents must be text searchable. Judicial Council Forms saved to your computer and Word documents saved as PDF will remain text searchable.

      Courtesy Copies: Pursuant to General Order 2022-1, when any statute, rule of court, or court order permits documents to be filed two or fewer days before the hearing, and the document is filed electronically on the last permissible day, a courtesy copy of the document shall be sent to the departmental email address for the department in which the matter is set to be heard by 4:00 P.M. the same court day the document is filed. If the document is filed electronically after 4:00 P.M., the copy should be sent to the departmental email address or delivered to the courtroom by 8:30 A.M. the next court day.

       

      Rapid Legal can help you physically deliver a courtesy copy to a courthouse.
      Among the legal documents we deliver are:

      • Notice of Motion
      • Stipulation and Order
      • Request for Dismissal
      • Notice of Withdrawal
      • Ex Parte Application
      • Notice of Hearing

      Get more details about courtesy copy service

       

      Contact:
      Riverside Historic Courthouse (951) 777-3147
      Larson Justice Center, Indio, CA (760) 393-2617
      Palm Springs Courthouse (760) 393-2617
      Moreno Valley Courthouse  (951) 777-3147
      Blythe Courthouse (760) 393-2617

      Special Note: The Blythe Courthouse is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays only.

      Exempt Documents

      The following documents shall not be submitted electronically:

      • Any ex parte application that is filed concurrently with a new complaint
      • Bonds/Undertakings
      • Trial Documents under Local Rule 3401 / Trial and Evidentiary Hearing Exhibits
      • Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP)
      • Harassment pleadings requesting the minor’s information be confidential
      • Notices of Appeal and any subsequent appeals documents
      • Small Claims Notice of Appeal and Small Claims Notice of Appeal as to the Denial of the Motion to Vacate Judgment
      • Writ Returns
      • Subpoenaed Records / Administrative Records
      • Administrative Documents
      • Documents submitted conditionally under seal. The actual motion or application to file the document under seal shall be electronically filed. A courtesy copy of the electronically filed motion or application to submit documents conditionally under seal must be provided with the documents submitted conditionally under seal.
      • Documents attached to a Notice of Lodgment shall be lodged and/or served conventionally in paper form. The actual document entitled, “Notice of Lodgment,” shall be submitted electronically.

      Exemptions

      If you are an attorney who cannot use the eFiling system you may request an exemption from mandatory electronic filing using Judicial Council forms EFS-007 and EFS-008. Complete the forms then submit them for the court to review.

       

      Tech Tips for eFiling

      File size limitations for eFiling

      According to information published on the Court’s website, the court technically places no limit on file sizes.

      This is not to say, however, that there are no restrictions whatsoever on file sizes because the EFSP you have chosen to work with may have its own restrictions.

      When you prepare to file court documents electronically be sure to refer to your EFSP’s technical requirements for guidance. Additional information published on the Court’s website states that, as a general rule of thumb, 25 megabytes per document and 60 megabytes per eFiling transaction are good parameters to follow.

      For the most part, the Court adds, eFilings may be submitted through an EFSP without issues related to file size.

      PDFs must be searchable

      Every document that is eFiled must be in PDF format and documents must be text searchable. That last part is critical and worth repeating.

      PDFs must be text searchable

      Please also note that Judicial Council Forms saved to your computer and Word documents saved as PDFs will remain text searchable.

      A few quick tips

      In addition to formatting errors there are several other trouble spots that may delay your filing, one of which is incorrect data. Be sure to scrutinize the information you enter into the data fields when you eFile. Make certain the information is correct and matches the document (image) submitted.

      Likewise, be sure to select the correct payment type. You may find detailed fee information published in the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside Fee Schedule.

      Civil eFiling Webinar

      The Court’s Civil eFiling Webinar provides a video rundown of all the points you’ll need to know when you file electronically into Riverside Superior Court. Download this video or watch it online at your convenience.

      This informative video includes:

      • Overview of eFiling
      • Review of the General Order and Rules of Court
      • eFiling Information & Best Practices
      • Common Rejections
      • Court Reservation System (CRS)

      To save you time, the following time stamps denote sections that may be of special interest in this video:

      3:51 — eFilling and overview. This section explains the differences between eFiling and eSubmit and offers a step-by-step depiction of the eFiling workflow.

      11:51 — Technical requirements. Discussion about PDFs, bookmarks, hyperlinks, and text searchability.

      28:55 — Best practices for eFiling. Details about fees, fee waivers, filing document names, lead documents, and other useful information.

      35:40 — PDFs and file preparation. Tips for creating PDFs, guidance for file sizes, dimensions, and other file preparation advice.

      39:37 — Common rejections. The reasons electronic court filings are most often rejected.

      Local Rules

      Superior Court of California, County of Riverside

      It’s well known among legal professionals that local rules vary among California courts and. This variation most likely was the inspiration for the tongue-in-cheek expression, “If you’ve seen one court…you’ve seen one court.”

      But court rules do vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. And, with that in mind, this article shares several local rules that will be of interest to law firms whose staff members are filing into Riverside Superior Court. These local rules became effective January 1, 2022, and affect electronic filings for the Court’s civil cases.

      What provider can I use to submit my eFiling?

      Local rules for Riverside Superior Court state that the electronic filing of documents must be submitted “using electronic filing service providers,” also referred to as EFSPs.

      Rapid Legal is an authorized eFiling provider for Riverside Superior Court, as well as every California court that accepts electronic court filing. Rapid Legal offers a completely automated eFiling service as well as an assisted concierge service that offers the highest level of confidence for those who are new to eFiling or may be eFiling for the first time in Riverside Superior Court.

      Rapid Legal’s concierge experts help make your eFiling successful by assuring:

      • Documents are not corrupted or password-protected
      • Pages are correctly paginated
      • Summons matches the complaint
      • All mandated forms are attached
      • Exhibits are electronically bookmarked
      • Text is text-searchable
      • Visually inspect that font size and style are appropriate.

       

      Wondering Where to Begin?

      If you’re new to eFiling this guide was made just for you:
      The Complete Beginner’s Guide to eFiling in 2022 and Beyond

      Download your free copy

       

      Electronic Filings in Civil Cases (Rule 3118)

      Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, subdivision (d), in all limited and unlimited civil actions, including unlawful detainers, parties represented by counsel must file documents electronically.

      Electronic filing is available to but not required for self-represented litigants.

      In civil cases involving both represented and self-represented parties or other persons, parties or other persons who are represented must file documents electronically, but shall serve self represented parties or persons by non-electronic means unless the self-represented party or person affirmatively agrees otherwise.

      Fee Waiver
      If a party who has been granted a fee waiver files electronically, that party is exempt from the court fees associated with electronic filing.

      Excused from eFiling
      Any party or other person required to file documents electronically under this rule may be excused from this requirement by the department to which the case is assigned upon a showing of undue hardship or significant prejudice.

      Email address of counsel
      Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 2.111(1), all documents filed with the court shall list the email address of counsel, or of the self-represented party on the first page. For purposes of electronic service, this email address will be deemed to be the proper email address for service subject to the provisions set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, subdivision (d).

      Filings and timing
      Three things you should know.

      1. Any document received electronically by the court between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. shall be deemed to have been filed on that court day if accepted for filing.
      2. Any document received electronically on a non-court day is deemed to have been filed on the next court day if accepted for filing. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.253(b)(6); Code Civ. Proc. § 1010.6(b)(3).) For purposes of this rule, filing occurs at the time the document is received by the court and a confirmation of receipt is created. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.259(a)(1) & (c).
      3. This provision concerns only the method and effective date of filing; any document that is electronically filed must satisfy all other legal filing deadlines and requirements. This rule does not affect the timing requirements for any documents that must be filed by a set time on the due date. If a document is exempt from electronic filing, the original documents must be filed in the Clerk’s Office by the close of business on a court day.

      Local Forms
      The local forms for Civil cases are available on the Court’s website as downloadable PDFs. This page also includes the local forms for Probate and Family Law matters.

      Need to eFile into other courts?

      Rapid Legal provides electronic filing services to 100% of California courts that accept eFiling.

      See the current list of those courts on efiling page.

      FAQs for eFiling

      If you have questions about eFiling in Riverside Superior Court this list of 48 frequently asked questions (FAQ) was created by the Court to provide quick answers to some of the most common trouble spots.

      These FAQs may help you save time and reduce rejections on your electronic court filings, so you may want to bookmark this page on the Court’s website.

      For your convenience, we’ve edited and highlighted several of the questions from that list:

       

      Q. Is eSubmit still available?
      A. As of January 1, 2022, eSubmit is no longer available for unlimited civil, including complex, limited civil, unlawful detainers and small claims cases. eSubmit is still available for Family Law, Probate, Juvenile, Criminal and Traffic cases.

       

      Q. How does eFiling work?
      A. Electronic filing of court documents occurs through an electronic filing service provider (EFSP). The user creates an account through their selected EFSP and the eFiling system manages the flow of the documents and fees to and from the court. The filer will submit the documents to the EFSP for submission to the court.

      The court will accept or reject the documents. The documents are returned to the EFSP for return to the filer through the EFSP’s electronic filing portal.

       

      Q. Do I have to use an EFSP?
      A. Yes.

       

      Q. Can I change my EFSP after I have chosen and registered with one?
      A. Yes.

       

      Rapid Legal is a certified EFSP for Riverside Superior Court.

      Click to learn more.

       

      Q. If I file electronically, have I consented to electronic service on this case?
      A. The act of eFiling alone does not constitute consent to electronic service. Parties must provide either express or affirmative consent to electronic service. See California Rules of Court, Rule 2.251 for more information.

       

      Q. Will the court electronically serve other parties for me?
      A. No, the court will not electronically serve other parties on behalf of another party. Contact your EFSP for options.

       

      Need Process Serving … Anywhere in the U.S.?

      Rapid Legal can serve your documents using its nationwide network of process servers.

      Find out more!

       

      Q. What is a ‘lead document’?
      A. The term ‘lead document’ is any document in which a first paper fee is due. If multiple documents are filed in one submission, the lead document is the one that is most important.

      Still not sure what a lead document is? Use the eFiling Document Finder

       

      Q. Who can I speak with if I have a question about an electronic filing?
      A. The first point of contact should be your EFSP.

      See the complete and original list of frequently asked questions on the Court’s FAQ page.

       

      Worried About eFiling Rejections?

      These resources can help keep your work compliant and error-fee.

       

      Pack It Up and Go!

      It’s time to say goodbye to the paper chase and make the switch to eFiling in Riverside Superior Court.

      Once you begin this transition you’ll find that your firm can work faster, with greater accuracy, and less expense. And, Rapid Legal can help make that transition smooth. 

      Our deep experience as an EFSP with Riverside Superior Court means we can help fine-tune your work to meet the Court’s precise eFiling requirements while keeping your clients’ work running smoothly. Our expertise and responsive service can also help level up your:

      • Physical filing
      • Service of process
      • Document retrieval
      • Courtesy copy delivery
      • Secretary of state filings
      • County recordings

      Speak with one of our account executives today to find out how Rapid Legal can help you stay competitive and efficient in the changing legal landscape.

      Book a demo or create an account today.

      Information on this web page is current as of March 8, 2022. To get the most accurate and up-to-date information about eFiling in Riverside Superior Court, please consult the Court’s website.