Start here
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What you will need
- Your documents as PDF files, as one file or one file per document
- The county and court where you are filing
- The case number, if the case is already open
- The names of the lead parties
- Your billing code or client matter number, if your firm uses one
1 Click Place an Order
Log in to your account. On your dashboard, click Place an Order.
2 Choose Court Filing
In What would you like us to do?, select Court Filing.
3 Select the county
In Select County, choose the county where your documents will be filed. Type the first letters of the county to jump to it in the list.
4 Choose the filing type
Under Select Filing Type, choose Subsequent Filing if the case already has a case number, or Case Initiation to open a new case.
Under Serve after filing, choose Yes if you want us to serve the documents once they are filed. Serving is covered at the end of this guide. Click Next.
4A Filing in Los Angeles County?
Los Angeles County courts require electronic filing (eFiling) for civil limited and unlimited (non-complex) cases. When you file in Los Angeles County, a box asks whether you want to place an eFiling order instead.
Click Continue with an eFile Order (1) to switch to an eFiling order, or Continue with Court Filing Order (2) to go on with this order. See our eFiling guides for new and existing cases.
5 Enter the case information
For an existing case, type the Case Number. If the case is already in your account, choose it from the list and the Jurisdiction and Case Title fill in for you. For a case that is new to your account, press Enter. Then, in Jurisdiction, type the city where the court is located and choose the court from the list.
Click Next.
5A Add a courtesy copy, if you like
Next to Deliver Courtesy Copy?, check to Dept/Division to have us deliver a courtesy copy to the department or division, or to Alternate Location to deliver it somewhere else. For an alternate location, choose the court from the Court Jurisdiction list. A courtesy copy creates an additional order.
5B For a new case: choose the jurisdiction
For Case Initiation, the Case Number shows Not Assigned until the court opens the case. In Jurisdiction, type the city where the court is located, or the court’s name, and choose the court from the list. Click Next.
6 Add the case participants
Add the lead parties, such as the plaintiff and the defendant. You only need the lead parties. Parties already on the case are listed for you. Click Add Party(s), then choose the role, enter the name, and say whether the party is your lead client. Click Save.
Click Next.
7 Upload your documents
On the Documents tab, choose Upload to send files from your computer, Fax or Mail to send them to us separately, or Existing Documents to use documents already uploaded on this case.
To upload, start typing the Document Title and choose it from the list. Choose Starts with or Contains to change how the list is searched. If your title isn’t listed, type your own. Then click Upload from Computer and choose the PDF.
7A Or upload from Clio or NetDocuments
If your firm keeps its files in Clio or NetDocuments, you can attach the document from there instead of from your computer. Click the arrow next to Upload from Computer and choose Clio or NetDocuments. Sign in if asked, then pick the file.
For the full steps, see Using Clio with Direct Legal Support or Using NetDocuments with Direct Legal Support.
8 Choose how court fees are paid
Below your documents, under Court fees, choose Direct Legal Support is authorized to advance Court Fees, or Fees not required / do not pay Court Fees. If you chose Fax or Mail, also choose the total number of pages. Click Next.
9 Choose when it is filed and add instructions
On the Order Details tab, choose a service level under When would you like this filed? The price of each level is shown next to it. If your firm tracks orders by its own number, enter it in Internal Reference Number. It is optional.
The Fee Summary shows the filing service fee, any Payment Processing Fee and the order total. Add any Special Instructions for the court clerk, check Notifications (click + to add someone) and the Payment Method. When you are ready, click Submit.
10 Get your confirmation
A confirmation appears with your order number. Click Print Confirmation(s) to print the order confirmation or routing pages.
Serve the documents after filing
A Add the service address
If you chose to serve the documents after filing, the Serve Info tab opens. Click a party’s name to open the address fields.
In Enter Business Name or Address, start typing the address where the party should be served and choose it from the list (1). The address Type is filled in for you. Click the green + button to add it (2). Fill in the other fields, such as the hearing date and special instructions, if they apply. Repeat for each party you need served.
After you order
- Follow your filing under Pending Orders on your dashboard
- Find conformed copies under Closed Orders once the filing is complete
Good to know
Filing electronically? Choose eFiling instead of Court Filing in step 2. See our eFiling guides for new and existing cases.
Need it sooner than the times shown? Call us at (800) 675-5376 before you place the order.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Call our Litigation Division Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific, or email info@directlegal.com. Ready to order? Log in to the portal.
Prefer paper? Download this guide as a PDF to print or save. More guides: Client Portal Guides.