E-Filing

A hearing date will be printed on the copy of the document returned to you after acceptance.

For all cases relevant to an upcoming hearing date, please include the hearing date in the filing description box. Example: “HRG 4/2/21 DEPT 22” or “HRG 4/2/21 DEPT 18.” If your hearing date is within 24 hours or was ordered by the court to be filed today, or you have some other reason to contact the court about an urgent filing, please call the court, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, at 707-521-1050 or email efilingsupport@sonomacourt.org, so that we can expedite the processing of your documents. Please make sure that you have your e-Filing envelope number so that we can better assist you.

Ex Parte requests are accepted in the Family Law and Probate Division. Ex Parte requests as referenced in Local Rule 5.6 are not accepted in the Civil Division at this time.

Gun Violence Restraining Order Requests can be submitted in person at the Civil Clerk's Office, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, on regular business days.  Alternatively, the can be submitted electronically through e-File at:  http://www.odysseyefileca.com  or by using Guide & File which asks you a series of questions that automatically populate the forms for you to submit to the Court electronically at: https://california-efm.tylertech.cloud/SRL/SRL/Start?legalProcessKey=Petition_for_Gun_Violence_Restraining_Order

The filer will receive a response indicating the filing was rejected and providing reason(s).

Clerks will not file a rejected document. Therefore there is no effect on hearing dates.

Parties seeking information regarding e-Filing should first read these FAQs, 1010.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and rules 2.250-2.261 of the California Rules of Court. Otherwise, parties may submit questions to the court’s e-Filing questions voicemail at 707-521-1050

The court will return accepted and filed documents, to the filing parties through their EFSP.

Documents that require original signatures may be picked up at the respective clerk’s office or mailed at an additional cost.

These documents are e-Filed using the regular e-Filing process and should be submitted as a Proposed Order/Judgment.

If a case is ordered sealed by the court, it is not eligible for e-Filing. Because it is sealed, your Electronic Filing Service Provider will not have any information regarding your case. Please submit your documents at the appropriate courthouse if they are for a case that has been sealed by the court.

The answer above does not apply to Unlawful Detainer cases, which can be e-Filed.

Yes, courtesy copies of documents are required as outlined in Sonoma County Superior Court, Local Rules. Please submit any required courtesy copies directly to the department.

Yes, both Petition for Change of Name and Petition for Change of Gender (except “Safe at Home”) can be submitted electronically.

Letters and the corresponding orders may be submitted together with the petition or another respective filing.

Letters and the corresponding orders may be submitted together with the petition or another respective filing.

Yes. California Rules of Court, rule 2.253 subdivision (b)(4) provides, in pertinent part: “A party or other person that is required to file and serve documents electronically must be excused from the requirements if the party or other person shows undue hardship or significant prejudice.” If you believe that mandatory e-Filing will cause undue hardship or significant prejudice, you should fill out and file Judicial Council form EFS-007.

The court will mail the Notice of Assignment to the submitting party unless a blank Notice of Assignment is submitted in the e-Filing envelope. If a party includes a blank Notice of Assignment in the envelope, it will be returned to the submitting party through the e-Filing system. A blank Notice of Assignment is available on the court’s website under Local Forms.

When required, proposed orders in word processing format should be emailed directly to the department using the following email format: EFileProposedOrderDept#@sonomacourt.org --replace the # sign with the Department’s number. Please note the case number in the subject line of your email. If successful, you will receive an email confirming receipt. Note that this email is only for proposed orders in word processing format pursuant to Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1312(c)(2) and Local Rules 6.2.D and 18.26. All other emails sent to these addresses will not be read and will be deleted.

Regular court filing fees, an eFiling Service Provider’s fee, a credit card processing fee of 2.75% of the total payment, and an EFSP filing fee will be assessed. Each electronic filing service provider charges a fee for e-Filing. For more information on these fees, please contact your electronic filing service provider directly.

The standard California filing fee applies to the motion (usually $60 for the motion). Superior Court, County of Sonoma requires the additional fee of $30 be included with ANY law and motion filing to provide for court reporting services. Add the fee “Court Reporter ($30)” under “Optional Services.”

If you are applying for a fee waiver you must complete Judicial Council forms FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) and FW-003 (Order on Court Fees). Submit these forms in the same transaction as your filing(s) with the FW-001 (Request) as the lead or first document (PDF). Contact your EFSP for guidance on submitting multiple filings in one transaction. NOTE: If multiple parties are requesting to waive fees, a separate FW-001, (Request to Waive Court Fees) and, FW-003, (Order on Court Fees), are needed for each party, or court costs may still incur. This requirement includes married couples who are filing as separate parties.

You will not be charged court filing fees for documents submitted with a fee waiver. However, you may be ordered to repay amounts that were waived if the court finds you were not eligible for the fee waiver or if at any time the court modifies, terminates or withdraws the fee waiver.

The court will notify you if your fee waiver is denied. You have ten days after the clerk gives the notice to submit any fees due or request a hearing by submitting judicial council form FW-006 (Request for Hearing About Court Fee Waiver Order). If you fail to pay the fee or request a hearing, the filing(s) will be voided.

The court will not charge filing fees for documents submitted if a granted fee waiver is on file. Contact your EFSP regarding waived vendor fees. To expedite the process, please notate in the submitter’s comment box “granted fee waiver on file.”

No, EFSP fees are not court fees, contact your EFSP regarding waived vendor fees.

Yes, as EFSP fees are not court fees, parties will pay fees based on their selected EFSP.

Please consult with your EFSP.

Yes, all documents submitted for e-Filing must conform with California Rules of Court, rule 2.256 subdivision (b).

California Rules of Court, rule 2.257 outlines requirements for signatures on documents submitted electronically to the court. While digital signatures are not required, if you choose to utilize them for your filing, please contact your electronic filing service provider for reference materials on how to set up digital signatures.

When submitting documents for e-Filing, the first page of each document must comply with California Rules of Court, rule 2.111. Please note documents should not need to be divided due to their size, if you have a question about submitting a large filing, please contact your electronic filing service provider for assistance.

t is the responsibility of the party or their attorney to exclude or redact confidential identifiers identified in California Rules of Court, rule 1.201. The court clerk will not review each pleading or other paper for compliance.

The Submitter's Comment Box is a great tool that can be used to communicate to the clerk who will be processing this document. In this box, you can include the items that you or your attorney service would normally communicate to the clerk at the counter, such as alternate hearing dates for your motion or special handling instructions for your lodged or filed under seal documents.

Yes, all electronically filed law and motion documents must have exhibits tabbed. Electronic Tabbing is called bookmarking. Bookmarking of documents is extremely important as it aids legal research attorneys and judicial officers in their review of documents submitted electronically. For help with how to electronically bookmark documents, please contact your electronic filing service provider.

PDF files (or documents in a word processing format that will be converted to a PDF file can be uploaded.) For a complete listing, please contact your Electronic Filing Service Provider). If you choose to scan documents, we recommend scanning at a resolution of 300 dpi; this will allow you to maximize the number of pages per megabyte while maintaining readability.

Individual documents as large as 25 megabytes and a transaction up to 35 megabytes can be accepted. If you believe your document or transaction may exceed these limits, please contact the electronic filing service provider for assistance in optimizing your files and utilizing their File Transfer Protocol (FTP) for extremely large documents.

Civil:

• Records and cases under seal;
• Ex parte applications/documents that are required to be presented to the Assigned Judge pursuant to Local Rule 5.6;
• Bench Warrants;
• Subpoenaed documents;
• Labor Commissioner deposit of cash or check;
• Bonds; and
• Undertaking.

Probate:

• Affidavit re: Real Property of Small Value;
• Bonds;
• Financial Documents submitted by Private Professional Conservator;
• Subpoenaed documents;
• Undertakings; and
• Will/Codicils – originals for filing or safekeeping.

Family Law:

• Declaration for Default for Uncontested Judgment, Judgment, and Notice of Entry of Judgment