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Circuit court eFiling - Using full account access as a delegated filer

  • Updated

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

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

    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 Filing menu.
      Wisconsin Circuit court eFiling homepage with attention called to file new case link and button
    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].
      New filing screen with attention called to Preparing for selection dropdown, county and class code dropdown
    4. Select [Add party] to add parties to the case.
      Parties screen with attention called to Add party button
      Note: The yellow banner indicates 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). 
      New party entry screen with attention called to Party type dropdown
    6. Select [Add attorney] to add the attorney you are creating the new case filing for. Additional questions display based on the class code and party type chosen. 
      New party entry screen with attention called to Add attorney button
    7. If the party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] and select the [Language] needed from the language dropdown.
      New party entry screen with attention called to Is an interpreter needed? Yes/No prompt set to Yes and Language selection dropdown
    8. Select [Save, and Add next party] to add additional parties to the case.Save and add next party button
    9. Select [Save] after entering the last party.
    10. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select [Continue].
      Parties screen with attention called to Add party button, Edit links next to added parties and Continue button
    11. To ensure your documents are properly formatted, please see the following document requirements:
      • It is recommended to use .pdf format unless the content of the document will require editing by a court official.
      • Documents requiring the signature of a court official (circuit court judge, court commissioner, clerk of circuit court or register in probate) must  include a clank 3" top margin on page 1.
      • All documents must have a blank top margin of at least 1/2" on each page to leave room for a system-added header.
      • Documents must be less than 50 MB in size and standard letter or legal size.
      • So not include a signature block.
      • For mor details on technical requirements see the document requirements.
    12. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload a filing document along with other associated documents to the case. 
      Documents screen with attention called to Upload documents button
      Note: The yellow banner will tell you what filing document is required for the selected class code.
    13. 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].
      Documents screen with attention called to Document type dropdown menu, Document title text field and Continue button
      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 [Continue], the following red error message displays: “One of the following filing documents 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 the File name link to view an uploaded document and the Remove link to delete an uploaded document.
    14. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. Select [Continue].
      Review filing screen with attention called to uploaded document hyperlinks and Continue button
      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.

    Opting in as an electronic party

    As a paralegal, legal secretary, or local government staff member, you can opt in as an electronic party on behalf of an attorney and file a notice of appearance or retainer with the court.

    1. Select opt in from the main navigation on the eFiling website, or select the [Opt in] button from the Filing screen.
      Wisconsin Circuit court eFiling homepage with attention called to opt in link and button
    2. Select the attorney that you are filing for in the Opt in for field.
    3. Select the County from the dropdown.
    4. Enter the Case number and select the Party you are opting in for from the Party dropdown.
    5. Select the eMail  and Address from the dropdown fields.
    6. If you are not on record with the courts as representing a party on the case, upload your notice of retainer by selecting [Upload document]. Please note that there is not an official court form for a notice of retainer or notice of appearance.
      Do you need to file additional documents? yes/no prompt on Opt in screen and Continue button
    7. Select State Public Defender's Office, Court or No at the Are you appointed by the State Public Defender Office or the court? prompt.
      Are you appointed by the State Public Defender Office or the court? selection on Opt in screen and Are you opting in as a Wisconsin state or local government filer? yes/no prompt
    8. Follow step 4 onward from the Circuit court eFiling - Becoming an electronic party on an existing case (Opting in) as an attorney guide to upload additional documents, pay and complete the opt-in process.

    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 [File on existing case] button from the Filing menu.
      Wisconsin Circuit court eFiling homepage with attention called to file on existing case link and button
    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.
      Search for cases screen with attention called to Case number or Party name search options, County dropdown menu, case number field, and Actions column for case results, which includes File another document and File amended complaint links
    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].
      Amend filing screen with attention called to Preparing for dropdown menu and Continue button
    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.
      Parties screen with attention called to Add party button, Edit links next to added parties and Continue button
    9. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload your document(s). Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are properly formatted.
      Documents screen with attention called to file requirements list and Upload documents button
    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].
      Documents screen with attention called to Document type dropdown menu, Document title text field and Continue button
      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 [Continue].
      Review filing screen with attention called to uploaded document hyperlink and Continue button
      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.

    Additional functionality and features

    • The In Progress page contains incomplete case and document filings created by the logged in user. This page does not include any filings that the attorney who delegated access started. From here, select either Resume to pick up where you left off, or select Delete to delete your draft.
      In progress eFiling screen with attention called to Resume and Delete action links next to a filing
    • 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.
      eFiling Support page with links to resources
    • A paralegal, legal secretary, or local government staff member can view the delegation access they have by selecting the dropdown by their name in the top-right corner of the main menu and selecting delegations.
      eFiling user menu with attention called to delegations menu option
      A paralegal or legal secretary can view the attorney, the access type the attorney has delegated to them, and a description of what the access type allows them to do:
      Delegations screen displaying which attorney(s) have delegated access to the paralegal user
      A local government staff member can view the attorney, the government agency, and the case type(s) they have been delegated, in addition to the access type and a description of what the access type allows them to do:
      Delegations screen displaying which attorney(s) have delegated access to the local government staff user
      Note: Once a user has been delegated access by a corporation counsel attorney, they will have the same access to cases for all attorneys in corporation counsel. It would therefore be advisable to consult with fellow corporation counsel attorneys to determine what type of access users should receive.
    • 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.
      eFiling user menu with attention called to templates menu option
    1.  
      1. To create a new template, select [Create].
        Templates screen with attention called to create button
      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.
        Create template screen with attention called to Template name field, County dropdown menu, Class code dropdown, Party type dropdown and Person or Business/organization selection toggle
      3. Add an attorney to the party if needed, then select [Save].
      4. On the Templates page, select Create new case under the Actions section to begin a new case filing using this template.Templates screen with attention called to Create new case under Actions next to a saved template

    Support

    Contact the eFile support center if you have further questions. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for court holidays.

    Phone: 1-800-462-8843
    Online support form: https://www.wicourts.gov/ecourts/efilesupportform.htm
    Email: efilesupport@wicourts.gov

    Wisconsin Court Systems (Updated: )