Circuit court eFiling - eFiling a new case

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Purpose: eFiling with the circuit courts is fast, easy, and convenient. The step-by-step wizard on the eFiling website offers predefined options according to selections made during the filing process. Once you’ve completed the wizard, you can submit your filing to the courts and pay the applicable filing fees from your home or office. You can also monitor case activity in real-time, without the delays faced when paper filing. An eFiling a new case video is also available for review. 

Audience: eFilers

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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. After logging in, you are routed to the Wisconsin circuit court eFiling home page. Select file new case from the main navigation or the [File a new case] button on the bottom. 
   

3. Select the County you are filing in and the applicable Class code. Then, select [Continue].
   

4. Select [Add party] to add parties to the case.
   
   Note: The yellow banner(s) will tell you what party types are required on a case filing for the selected class codes. The text in the example banners above will vary when filing different case types and class codes.

5. Complete the New party window. Start by choosing a Party type, beginning with the filing party (e.g., petitioner for a CV case type). If the filing party is represented by an attorney, select [Add attorney] to associate the attorney with the party.
   

6. If the party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] and select the [Language] needed form the language dropdown.
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8. Select [Save, and Add next party] to add additional parties to the case.
   

9. When you have added all the parties to the case, please review them for accuracy. If the parties are correct select [Continue]. 
   

10. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload a filing document and other associated documents to the case. Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are correctly formatted.
    Note: The yellow banner will tell you what filing document is required for the selected class codes.
    Note: Documents must not be bundled. Most documents should be uploaded in .pdf format. However, if the document will be edited by a court official, (e.g., orders and proposed orders) you may submit them as either a .docx or .pdf file. 

    

11. From the Document type dropdown menu, select the correct document type. Enter a descriptive title in the Document title field. Select [Continue].
    
    If, after selecting [Continue], the red error message “A filing document is required” displays, you might not have chosen the correct type of document to initiate the type of case you are filing. The system looks at the Document type field to determine if the correct document type has been uploaded.
    Note: An accurate and descriptive title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here is displayed in the View documents list on the My cases page and is visible to the courts.

12. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. You can click on a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. Click [Previous] to make corrections as needed. When you are ready to proceed, select [Continue].
    
    Note: The Notes to Clerk text entry field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box is displayed to the clerk while they process your filing but is deleted once it is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
13. On the Ready to file page, select the checkbox next to the filing(s) you wish to submit or select the checkbox next to a county name to submit all filings in that county. Choose a Payment type, and select [File] or [File and Pay].
    
    Note: If you have set up a court debit account (CDA) with the circuit court you are filing in, you will have the option to choose a payment type. To learn how to set up a CDA, see the article Creating and managing a court debit account. You are responsible for ensuring that proper funds are available in the account when filing.

    A transaction fee will be applied to the total if you pay with a credit/debit card or eCheck via the US Bank ePayment website.

    If you are filing on behalf of a county agency, the $35 eFiling fee will be waived, and you will not need to select a payment type. Select [File] to submit the new case filing.

14. Select [Make payment with US Bank] on the Filings submitted page to proceed to the US Bank ePayment website and pay the associated filing fees.
    
    If fees were not assessed, the [Make payment with US Bank] button will display as [Return to main menu] instead.
    
    Note: Once you have advanced to this page, do not close your browser window or take a break. Selecting [File and pay] at the bottom of the previous page initiates a connection with the US Bank ePayment website that lasts for 10-15 minutes.
    If you wait longer than that to complete your payment or exit the system before the payment process is complete, you will need to select the $ payment needed link in the main navigation to make payment. You may need to wait 1-2 hours for the filing in need of payment to appear. Your filing will not be processed by the county until payment has been made. Filings will expire after 48 hours without payment.
    
    

    Note: US Bank is the vendor that processes circuit court credit card and electronic check transactions. You do not need a US Bank checking or savings account to pay for filings on the US Bank ePayment website. You can pay using a Visa card, MasterCard, or electronic check.

15. Once payment is received, the circuit court processes the new case. You will receive an email confirmation and the file-stamped document(s) will be visible on the My cases page of the eFiling website. The eFiling system generates an Electronic Filing Notice that must be printed and served traditionally along with other case-initiating documents.