Santa Clara County Superior Court E-Filing
E-file with the Santa Clara 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.
Santa Clara County e-filing
From $14.95
per filing
Required for attorneys
- 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 Santa Clara County, attorney-represented parties must e-file in civil, complex, unlawful detainer, family law, and probate cases under General Rule 6. Small claims and criminal e-filing is optional. Self-represented parties are not required to e-file. Since 1961, Direct Legal Support has filed documents with California courts. We e-file in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara |
|---|---|
| E-Filing | Required for attorneys |
| Court Rules | Local General Rule 6 |
| In Effect | General Rule 6, as amended through 2024. |
| Self-Represented Parties | Not required. May consent to e-file on form CW-9024. |
| Court's E-Filing Page | santaclara.courts.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 Santa Clara County
Here is how Santa Clara 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. |
| Complex Civil | Required for attorneys | |
| Small Claims | Optional | |
| Family Law | Required for attorneys | Family judgments and defaults may be submitted physically. |
| Probate | Required for attorneys | Including probate ex parte petitions since September 17, 2021. |
Juvenile dependency is required for attorneys. Criminal e-filing is optional. Since January 1, 2026, counsel must e-file civil ex parte applications (Civil Rule 7(C)).
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:
- Bench warrants
- Deposits of cash or check
- Bonds and undertakings
- Wills and codicils
- Original orders signed by a judicial officer
- Trial exhibits
- Writs, abstracts, out-of-state commissions, and sister-state judgments
- Certificates of Facts Re Unsatisfied Judgment
We can file any of these at the courthouse for you. See court filing rates for Santa Clara County.
Courtesy Copies in Santa Clara County
Only when a judge asks, and then on paper. In the Civil Division, deliver them to Court Services with the department number on the front page. Trial documents need paper courtesy copies in the trial department by noon the Friday before trial (Civil Rule 9(C)).
When a judge wants a printed copy, we print, assemble, and deliver it to the department. See courtesy copy rates for Santa Clara County courthouses.
Tips for E-Filing in Santa Clara County
- Lodge proposed orders after a hearing as a PDF attached to form EFS-020 (Civil Rule 8(B)).
- Use searchable PDFs. Searchable PDF/A is preferred.
Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County courthouse:
- Downtown Superior Court (DTS)191 N First St., San Jose, CA 95113
- Hall of Justice (Criminal)190 W Hedding St, San Jose, CA 95110
- Palo Alto Courthouse270 Grant Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
- South County Morgan Hill Courthouse301 Diana Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
- Family Justice Center Courthouse201 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
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 |
| Santa Clara 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.
Santa Clara County E-Filing Questions
Is e-filing mandatory in Santa Clara County Superior Court?
Yes, for attorneys. Attorney-represented parties must e-file in civil, complex, unlawful detainer, family law, and probate cases under General Rule 6. Small claims and criminal e-filing is optional. Self-represented parties are not required to e-file.
Which case types can be e-filed in Santa Clara County?
Santa Clara County accepts e-filing in civil, complex civil, small claims, family law, and probate cases.
What can't be e-filed in Santa Clara County?
The court's rules list documents that are filed physically or exempt from e-filing, including bench warrants, deposits of cash or check, bonds and undertakings, and wills and codicils. We can file those at the courthouse for you.
Do I need to deliver courtesy copies in Santa Clara County?
Only when a judge asks, and then on paper. In the Civil Division, deliver them to Court Services with the department number on the front page. Trial documents need paper courtesy copies in the trial department by noon the Friday before trial (Civil Rule 9(C)). We print and deliver courtesy copies to Santa Clara County courthouses starting at $105 for law firms.
How much does it cost to e-file in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara 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