Menu

When Paper Documents Are Required

Civil Local Rule 5.2 provides the court’s requirements for manual filings of paper documents or other physical items.

If you are an e-filer in a case, you should only manually file a document if it cannot be e-filed for some reason, such as the instances described below. If you must manually file an item, you are also responsible for serving opposing counsel and providing a Proof of Service (which you can then e-file).

The local rules no longer require provision of a “courtesy copy” or “chambers copy.” Please do not send in a courtesy copy of a filing unless required by a judge’s standing order or by direct request from the judge or Clerk’s Office.

When manually filing a document in an e-filing case, you should also e-file a Manual Filing Notification (MFN) in place of the physical document.  You should use the MFN as a cover page for the manually-filed document.

Example:

You plan to file a Motion to Dismiss with Exhibit A (a 50-page contract) and Exhibit B (a 900-page copy of a book). You will: (1) create a PDF copy of the Motion in MS Word or another word processing program; (2) scan the 50-page Exhibit A into a PDF file; and (3) create a MFN for Exhibit B, the 900-page book.

When you e-file, select Motion to Dismiss and tell the system you have attachments to the Motion. On the attachments page, you will e-file the Exhibit A PDF file (and call it “Exhibit A”), then submit the MFN PDF document in place of of the “real” 900-page Exhibit B.

In doing this, the docket will be accurate and complete. The only anomaly will be that instead of a 900-page book in Exhibit B, PACER users will see the MFN and know they need to come to the courthouse to access the physical document.

Please do not e-file the MFN as a “Notice” of any activity. The MFN is meant to be a place-holder (like an index card) for the real filing, not an event unto itself.

Creating a Manual Filing Notification

To create a Manual Filing Notification, copy the following text and insert it in your standard pleading template (check off any that apply):

Manual Filing Notification

Regarding: __(insert docket text or filing information here)_________________

This filing is in paper or physical form only, and is being maintained in the case file in the Clerk’s office. If you are a participant in this case, this filing will be served in hard-copy shortly. For information on retrieving this filing directly from the court, please see the court’s main web site at http://www.cand.uscourts.gov under Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

This filing was not e-filed for the following reason(s):

  1. Unable to Scan Documents
  2. Physical Object (please describe):
  3. Non-Graphic/Text Computer File (audio, video, etc.) on CD or other media
  4. Item Under Seal in Criminal Case
  5. Conformance with the Judicial Conference Privacy Policy (General Order 53)
  6. Other (please describe):
zzz