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Understanding the eFile Website

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This article provides a general summary for using the eFile & Serve website. If you would like to find more detailed help articles for the eFiling process, click here.

The eFile & Serve website is used to send case filings — from initial submissions (like Complaints or Petitions) to subsequent filings (like Responses, Exhibits, and Motions) — in PDF format directly to the courts.

While our related website, the Guide & File system, can be used to generate new case filings via a step-by-step interview process, the eFile & Serve system is used to send already completed court documents and exhibits to the courts like an electronic "post office."

 

Please click one of the following options to get started.

 

 

What Type of Filer are You?

Need help? Please contact us using one of the methods below:

  • Call us at 1-800-297-5377 Monday to Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM Central Time.
  • Email us at support@odysseyfileandserve.zendesk.com.
  • Chat with us using the yellow Support button when logged into the eFile & Serve website.

 

Filer Without an Attorney

Click the links below to read important help articles.

 

Legal Professional

Click the links below to read important help articles.

 

Got Questions?

Questions the court can assist with: Technical Support can assist with:
What Filing Code do I use? How do I correct a rejected envelope?
What document or forms do I need to file? Finding a case number.
When is my court date?  How to check the status of your filings.
Why was my filing rejected? (Needing more information than the rejection reason in the system)  Adding a Service Contact email to a case. 
I need to make changes to the party information on my case.  How do I add more than one document to my filing?
What are the next steps in my case?  What are the Differences Between EFile Only, EFile and Serve, and Service Only?  
  How Do I Request/Pay for Service or Citations?
  Website errors, red boxes indicating an error.  

Rules and Procedure questions are directed to the court. Website-related functionality is to be directed to the Technical Support Team. Technical support can be contacted by clicking the dark blue "Help" button on the right side of the screen. A basic understanding of the website can be found by clicking here.

 

 

Getting Started

Have you already completed the document(s) you need to file and have them saved to your computer in PDF format and ready to submit online?

Our website does not have the court forms that you would need to complete; you may only upload your completed forms to submit them to the court here. The court location you are filing into should be able to supply you with that paperwork. If not, you may check the Guide & File version of our site to see if you can file your new case documents there using its step-by-step interview process. Otherwise, you must check the court’s website for their approved/required forms or contact the court you are filing into directly to obtain the forms you need to file.

Once you have obtained and completed the documents you must file and have saved them to your computer as PDF files, you can visit our site and submit it electronically on our efiling site:

Select your state, then click on the eFile & Serve option to be taken to your state's efiling website. Once there, you must register for a new account. For more information, please refer to the help articles below.

 

PLEASE NOTE: As Filer Support agents, we are not trained in legal terms nor are we trained in specific court rules and processes. We can only assist you with the functionality of the eFile & Serve software. If you have questions regarding what selections to make from the Category, Case Type, Filing Code, or other drop-down menus, we recommend reaching out to the filing clerks at the court location you are filing into for clarification.

 

 

Can I File Using the eFile & Serve Website?

If you can find your Court Location listed on our site, and if you can find the Case Type and Case Category you need (if starting a new case), or if you can find the Case Number of the case you need to file your case with the eFile & Serve website. (See below for more information on the eFiling process.)

For more information on whether you can file your case documents using our website, please contact the clerks at the court you wish to file into for confirmation.

 

 

The eFiling Process

In general, the efiling process is fairly straightforward: you must add a Payment Account to your efiling account first in order to efile, then you either select Start a New Case (if you are starting a new case) or File Into Existing Case (if you are filing into an existing case with an assigned case/cause/docket number) on the Filer Dashboard.

You will select the Court Location you are filing into, then either select a Case Type and Case Category if starting a new case, or you will search for your existing case via Case Number or Party Name (if available), then file into that case.

For more information on this process, please refer to the following help articles:

PLEASE NOTE: You cannot efile without having a valid Payment Account on file.

 

 

Filer Dashboard

  • MY FILING ACTIVITY
    • Pending - Envelopes that have been submitted or processing.
    • Accepted - Envelopes that have been accepted by the court and are filed.
    • Returned - Envelopes that have been returned from the court to be corrected.
    • Drafts - Envelopes that have not been submitted yet.
    • Served - Envelopes that have Service Only filings that have been delivered.
    • View All -  takes you to your entire filing history showing all statuses.

PLEASE NOTE: Filers may submit as many filings as necessary via the eFile & Serve website. Only the closure of a case or specific court rules may limit how many filings can be made into a case. Please speak with the filing clerks at the court location you are filing into for more information.

 

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Actions button

The orange Actions button is the main navigation menu, which can take you to different pages on the eFile & Serve website.

The important functions in this menu are outlined below:

 

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User Icon - (little person icon at the top right)

Shows the email that you are signed in under.

  • Manage Security - this is where you can change your password
  • Manage Notifications - choose what notifications you want to receive.
  • My Information - (Individual accounts only feature) this is where you can change your email.

 

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The eFiling Process Overview

Below is a general guide for the eFiling Process. For more detailed help articles such as starting a new case or filing into an existing case, click here.

Look for boxes or fields outlined in RED, this means they are required.

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Once all required fields are satisfied, all the red boxes will disappear and a BLUE Save Changes will activate on the right side of the screen.

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Case Information Section

  • Location: The county, parish or borough that the case will reside.
  • Category: The general type of case you are filing. Some examples are Civil, Family, and Probate.
    After you pick a Category, you will see a list of Case Types within that Category.
  • Case Type: The specific type of case you are filing. If you can't find the case type you need,
    change the Category (or Location) to see other available case types. If you don't know your case
    type, please contact the court.
     

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Party Information

You must enter the name of each party. If the party is a business or agency, check the box
"Party is a Business/Agency." All other fields are optional.

After you fill in the required fields for a party, click the Save Changes button. You will then be asked for the next required party. To add more parties, click the Add Another Party button near the top right of the Party Information section. Note: You may need to click on one of the existing parties to see this Add Another Party button load.

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Filings Section

What is a filing type?

There are three types of filings: EFile, EFile and Serve, and Serve.
Click here to learn about the difference between the types.

 

What is a Filing code?

The filing code identifies the specific type of filing that you are electronically submitting to the court.  (Example: motion, memorandum, affidavit, complaint, etc.). Click here for more details about the filing code.

Please Note: If you need advice in selecting a filing code or a list of filing codes, please contact the court that you are filing into.

 

What is a Filing Description?

The filing description field allows you to describe the lead document that you are filing.  If you select a general filing code.

 

What is the Client Reference Number?

The Client Reference Number is intended to help you associate a filing with your internal records.

For example, this can be the client name, number or purpose of the filing to help you reconcile the filing with your internal records. The Reference Number is often used to help you distinguish between your various e-filings.

Note: The Reference Number does not need to be a number.

 

What should I put in the Comments to the Court  section?

This section can be used to add extra comments to the court reviewer directly. Those comments are typically comments that are not on your documents.

 

What are Courtesy Copies?
You can enter email addresses in this field (separated by commas) that you want to receive a
copy of your filings if they are accepted by the court clerk. You will automatically get a copy of
your accepted filings at the email address you use for your username. Courtesy Copies are NOT
formal service to other parties and no not provide proper notice.

 

What is the required Lead Document?

This field appears after you select the Filing Code drop down box. This is the document that corresponds with the filing code. The document must be saved as a PDF file in order to successfully upload to the website.

If you need assistance with creating a PDF, click here.

 

What are Optional Services?
Some courts (such as Oregon) charge filing fees through the Optional Services field. You must
select the appropriate fee for the type of case and filing you are sending to the court. If you do
not, your filing may be rejected by the court for not paying the required fees.
Most courts use optional services for additional optional fees that you can choose to add on to
your filing. Some examples are service by a sheriff or constable, certified copies, or issuance of citations. If you need to add any optional services, click the Add Optional Services and Fees
button in the bottom right of the Filings section.

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Service Contacts

This section is unhidden if you selected EFileAndServe or Serve as the Filing Type (in the above
Filings section). Check the box next to the service contacts you want to serve electronically. 
You can add your email to be available for electronic service through the website. Add an email
by clicking the Actions button to the right of the party.

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Fees

You must select a Payment Account, even if the cost is $0.00.

  • Party Responsible for Fees: The party you are filing on behalf of.
  • Filing Attorney: This is optional. Attorney filers may select from the Firm Attorneys list.
  • Filer Type: If required, choose the option that matches your role or choose Not Applicable

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Some courts require a Submission Agreements box to be checked.

If you are e-filing, click on the Summary button at the bottom of the screen to review all of your
selections.

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Once you reach the Summary, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click Submit.

What happens after I click submit? Click here.

 

 

IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS DON'T MATCH WHAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN...

You may be using our up-to-date Cloud website. To access those instructions, click here.