San Diego County Superior Court E-Filing
E-file with the San Diego County Superior Court through our secure portal, or send us your documents and we will e-file them for you. We advance the court fees and email you the file-stamped copy.
San Diego County e-filing
From $14.95
per filing
Required for attorneys in civil and probate
- Fees advancedon one invoice
- Stamped copysent by email
- Physical filingwhen a court requires it
- E-file 24/7 online
- File-stamped copy by email
- Fees advanced
- 65+ years in California
In San Diego County, since April 15, 2021, attorneys must e-file in limited, unlimited, and complex civil cases, including unlawful detainer, and in probate. Family law e-filing is optional for everyone, and small claims is not e-filed. Since 1961, Direct Legal Support has filed documents with California courts. We e-file in San Diego County for law firms, legal departments, and parties without an attorney, and our runners handle anything that has to be filed physically or delivered to a judge.
E-Filing at a Glance
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of San Diego |
|---|---|
| E-Filing | Required for attorneys in civil and probate |
| Court Rules | Local Rules 2.1.4 (civil), 4.3.2 (probate) and 5.1.10 (family law) |
| In Effect | Since April 15, 2021. |
| Self-Represented Parties | Encouraged in civil and probate. Optional in family law. |
| Court E-Filing System | Odyssey eFileCA |
| Court's E-Filing Page | www.sdcourt.ca.gov |
Court rules last checked October 2026. Courts update their e-filing rules often, so confirm details on the court's e-filing page or call us at (800) 675-5376.
Case Types E-Filed in San Diego County
Here is how San Diego County Superior Court handles each case type we e-file. "Required for attorneys" means represented parties must e-file. Self-represented parties can usually choose.
| Case Type | E-Filing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Civil | Required for attorneys | Limited and unlimited civil, including unlawful detainer, since April 15, 2021. |
| Complex Civil | Required for attorneys | Since April 15, 2021. |
| Small Claims | Physical filing | Small claims is not e-filed. We file it in person. |
| Family Law | Optional | Optional for all filers (Local Rule 5.1.10). |
| Probate | Required for attorneys | Since April 15, 2021. |
Domestic violence and gun violence restraining orders have their own electronic filing options on the court's website.
Need to file small claims papers in San Diego County? Our runners file it at the courthouse through our court filing service.
How E-Filing Works
Log In or Create an Account
Log in to your Direct Legal account, or create one for free.
Place a County E-Filing Order
Choose the court and case, then upload each document as a separate, text-searchable PDF.
The Court Reviews Your Filing
We transmit your filing and the court's fees to the court. Review times vary by court.
Get Your Stamped Copy
When the court accepts your filing, we email you a link to the file-stamped copy. If it is rejected, we email you the reason and the corrections needed.
Start an Order or call (800) 675-5376
Rather not use the portal? Email your documents to support@directlegal.com as separate PDFs with your account number, and we will e-file them for the Concierge fee.
Use Clio or NetDocuments? Pick your documents straight from the matter on the Documents tab, and get the court’s returned documents saved back. See our software integrations.
Documents That Can't Be E-Filed
The court's rules list these documents as filed physically or exempt from e-filing:
- Civil harassment, elder abuse, and workplace violence restraining order filings
- Documents filed or lodged under seal
- Trial exhibits
- Undertakings and surety bonds
- Original wills and codicils
- Settlement conference briefs (lodged only)
- Subpoenaed documents
- Many family law ex parte filings, judgments, and stipulated orders (see form D-305)
We can file any of these at the courthouse for you. See court filing rates for San Diego County.
Courtesy Copies in San Diego County
Yes, in civil. Local Rule 2.1.4 requires courtesy copies of e-filed ex parte papers in the department by noon the court day before the hearing, and form CIV-409 requires paper copies when a hearing is within two court days of e-filing. The civil e-filing page also asks for courtesy copies of oppositions, replies, and similar papers, marked with the envelope ID. In family law, courtesy copies are needed only if the court asks or the hearing is within two court days.
When a judge wants a printed copy, we print, assemble, and deliver it to the department. See courtesy copy rates for San Diego County courthouses.
Tips for E-Filing in San Diego County
- Documents e-filed after 11:59:59 p.m. or on a court holiday are filed the next court day.
- Reserve civil motion hearing dates online through the court's motion reservation system.
- Ask your e-filing provider for fee refunds. The court denies refund requests sent to it directly.
- E-file a Notice of Lodgment without the exhibits attached.
San Diego County Courthouses
When a document must be filed physically or a judge wants a courtesy copy, our runners go to the courthouse. We file and deliver at every San Diego County courthouse:
- Hall of Justice330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
- Kearny Mesa Courthouse8950 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92123
- Central Courthouse1100 Union St, San Diego, CA 92101
- East County Regional Center250 E Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020
- North County Regional Center325 S Melrose Dr., Vista, CA 92081
- South County Regional Center500 Third Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910
- Intertribal Court of Southern California - Valley Center49002 Golsh Road, Valley Center, CA 92082
- San Diego Juvenile Court2851 Meadow Lark Dr., San Diego, CA 92123
Look up rates for a specific courthouse: court filing, courtesy copy delivery, or document retrieval.
E-Filing Rates
| Service | Law Firms | Party without Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Court E-FilingYou submit through our online portal | $14.95 | $34.95 |
| Concierge E-FilingEmail us your documents and we submit them the same day when they reach us by 3:00 PM Pacific | $49.95 | $99.95 |
| Concierge E-Filing On DemandWe submit it as soon as possible, including after 3:00 PM, subject to availability | $99.95 | $199.95 |
| E-ServicePer party or person served electronically | $2.00 | $5.00 |
| San Diego County Courtesy Copy Delivery with E-FilingPrinted and delivered to the judge's department. Rates by courthouse | From $105 | From $175 |
| Support: Law Firms and Legal Departments | Available: Phone (800) 675-5376Available: Email support@ | |
| Support: Parties without an AttorneyPlease include your account number when you email us. | Available: Email support@ | |
Concierge e-filing requests that reach us by 3:00 PM Pacific with everything we need (your account number, each document as a separate PDF, and the correct format) are submitted the same day. If a filing has to go in right away, or your request arrives after 3:00 PM and must be filed that day, we can submit it as a Concierge E-Filing On Demand. On Demand filings are subject to availability.
Court statutory filing fees and EFM (electronic filing manager) fees of $2.25 to $10.00 are paid in addition to our fees. The court and EFM fees shown when you order are estimates. Our e-filing fee applies whether the court accepts or rejects the filing.
We advance the court's fees and bill them, with our fee, on one itemized invoice. If you pay by credit or debit card, our system places a pre-authorization on the card for our base fees. We accept credit cards, debit cards, and ACH (subject to approval). There is no fee to open an account.
E-Filing in Nearby Counties
See all 46 California courts we e-file in, with the case types each one accepts.
San Diego County E-Filing Questions
Is e-filing mandatory in San Diego County Superior Court?
Yes, for attorneys in civil and probate. Since April 15, 2021, attorneys must e-file in limited, unlimited, and complex civil cases, including unlawful detainer, and in probate. Family law e-filing is optional for everyone, and small claims is not e-filed.
Which case types can be e-filed in San Diego County?
San Diego County accepts e-filing in civil, complex civil, family law, and probate cases. Small claims cases are filed physically, and we file them in person.
What can't be e-filed in San Diego County?
The court's rules list documents that are filed physically or exempt from e-filing, including civil harassment, elder abuse, and workplace violence restraining order filings; documents filed or lodged under seal; trial exhibits; and undertakings and surety bonds. We can file those at the courthouse for you.
Do I need to deliver courtesy copies in San Diego County?
Yes, in civil. Local Rule 2.1.4 requires courtesy copies of e-filed ex parte papers in the department by noon the court day before the hearing, and form CIV-409 requires paper copies when a hearing is within two court days of e-filing. The civil e-filing page also asks for courtesy copies of oppositions, replies, and similar papers, marked with the envelope ID. In family law, courtesy copies are needed only if the court asks or the hearing is within two court days. We print and deliver courtesy copies to San Diego County courthouses starting at $105 for law firms.
How much does it cost to e-file in San Diego County?
Through our portal, e-filing is $14.95 per filing for law firms and legal departments, and Concierge e-filing, where we submit for you, is $49.95, or $99.95 for Concierge E-Filing On Demand, submitted as soon as possible. Parties without an attorney pay $34.95, $99.95, and $199.95. Court statutory filing fees and EFM (electronic filing manager) fees of $2.25 to $10.00 are extra, and the amounts shown when you order are estimates.
When is an e-filed document filed in San Diego County?
Under CCP 1010.6, a document the court receives electronically between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day is deemed filed that day if the court accepts it. Documents received on a weekend or court holiday are filed the next court day.
Need Something E-Filed in San Diego County?
Create a free account and submit your order in a few minutes. There are no setup fees. If you have a question first, call us or send a message.
Existing client? Log in to your portal