Circuit court eFiling - Using file prep

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Purpose: Paralegals, legal secretaries, and local government staff who have created their own eCourts accounts and have been granted file prep access by one or more attorneys can prepare new case filings and additional documents for existing cases on their attorney's behalf.

Applicable Users: Paralegals, legal secretaries, or local government staff

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Filing a new case

1. Visit the eFiling website at https://efiling.wicourts.gov/ and log in. For more information, see the article Logging into Wisconsin circuit court eFiling.
   
2. Select file new case from the main navigation or the [File a new case] button from the bottom menu.
   
3. Select the attorney you are preparing the new case filing for from the Preparing for dropdown menu, select the county you are filing in from the County dropdown menu, and the applicable class code or class description from the Class code dropdown menu. Then, select [Continue].
   
4. Select [Add party] to add parties to the case.
   Note: The yellow banner will tell you what parties are required for the selected class code.
   
5. Complete the New party window. Start by choosing a Party type, beginning with the filing party (e.g., Plaintiff, Petitioner). Select the [Add attorney] button to add the attorney you are creating the new case filing for. Additional questions display based on the class code and party type chosen. 
   
6. If the party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] and select the [Language] needed form the language dropdown.
7. Select [Save, and Add next party] to add additional parties to the case.
8. Select [Save] after entering the last party.
9. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select [Continue].
   
10. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload a filing document along with other associated documents to the case. Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are properly formatted. 
    Note: The yellow banner will tell you what filing document is required for the selected class code.
    
11. From the Document type dropdown menu, select the correct document type, and enter a descriptive title in the Document title text entry field. Then, select [Continue].
    
    Note: An accurate and descriptive title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here displays in the View documents list on the My cases page and is visible to the courts.
    1. If, after selecting the [Continue] button, the following red error message displays: “A filing document is required,” you might not have selected the correct type of document to initiate the case you are filing. The system looks at the Document type field to determine if the right document type is uploaded.
    2. Select a File name link to view an uploaded document and the Remove link to delete an uploaded document.
12. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. Select [Place in attorney’s ready to file].
    
    Note: The Notes to clerk text entry field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box displays to the clerk while they process your filing, but is deleted once your filing is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
13. A confirmation displays stating that the filing was sent to the attorney.
    
    Note: The attorney will not receive a notification from the eFiling system indicating that the filing has been placed in the Ready to File queue. It is recommended that you inform the attorney of the pending filing.

Filing on an existing case

1. As a paralegal, legal secretary, or local government staff member, you can view documents, view parties, and prepare documents for filing on the attorney’s existing cases by selecting file on existing case from the main navigation or the options under Filing. 
   
2. Select the county the case is filed in and enter the case number or party name. 
   Note: Cases can be searched by case number or party name. 
3. Once you have located the case, select either File another document, Pre-file hearing exhibit, or File amended complaint.
   
   Note: A paralegal, legal secretary, or local government staff member cannot opt in as an electronic party for the attorney, or docket or satisfy judgments on cases.
4. The File amended complaint link transitions you to the Amend filing page. Select the attorney you are preparing the amended complaint for and then, select [Continue].
   
5. On the Case information page, select [Continue] again.
6. If you need to edit address information for existing parties on the case, select the Edit link next to the applicable party. Select [Save] at the bottom of the party entry screen once you have finished editing the address information.
7. Select [Add party] to add additional parties to the case. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select [Save].
8. Select [Continue] once you have finished adding/editing party information.
   
9. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload your document(s). Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are properly formatted.
   
10. From the Document type dropdown menu, select the correct document type, and enter a descriptive title in the Document title text entry field. Select [Continue].
    
    Note: An accurate and descriptive title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here displays in the View documents list on the My cases page, and is visible to the courts.
11. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to view any of your uploaded documents. Select [Place in attorney’s ready to file].
    
    Note: Below the document links is a Notes to clerk text entry field. This field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box displays for the clerk while they process your filing. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
12. A message displays indicating the filing was sent to the attorney.
    

Additional functionality and features

• The In Progress page contains incomplete case filings or document filings for the user who is logged into the eFiling website. This page does not include any filings that the attorney started. From here, you can either select the Resume link on the filing to pick up where you left off, or select the Delete link to delete your draft.
  
• The Support page includes links for technical requirements/document specifications, user guides and video tutorials, frequently asked questions, and information on how to contact eFiling Support.
  
• A paralegal, legal secretary, or local government staff member can create their own templates to use for creating new case filings by selecting the dropdown by their name in the top-right corner of the main menu and selecting templates.
  

1. To create a new template, select [Create].
   
2. Enter a name for the template in the Template name field. Select the applicable county and class code. Enter the information for the side one party (i.e., a paralegal might enter information about a plaintiff their attorney frequently represents on a particular case type and class code.
   
3. Add an attorney to the party if needed, then select [Save].
4. On the Templates page, select the Create new case link under the Actions section to begin a new case filing using this template.