Kern County Superior Court E-Filing
E-file with the Kern 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.
Kern 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 Kern County, represented parties must e-file in civil, unlawful detainer, CEQA, civil writ, family law, and probate cases (Local Rule 1.10), and they can no longer file physically. Self-represented parties are encouraged to e-file but are not required to. Since 1961, Direct Legal Support has filed documents with California courts. We e-file in Kern 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 Kern |
|---|---|
| E-Filing | Required for attorneys |
| Court Rules | Local Rule 1.10 |
| In Effect | Rule in effect since 2012. New eCourt portal since October 6, 2025. |
| Self-Represented Parties | Encouraged, not required |
| Court E-Filing System | eCourt |
| Court's E-Filing Page | www.kern.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 Kern County
Here is how Kern 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, unlawful detainers, CEQA, and civil writ cases. |
| Complex Civil | Required for attorneys | |
| Small Claims | Accepted | The court allows small claims documents to be e-filed through an e-filing service provider. |
| Family Law | Required for attorneys | |
| Probate | Required for attorneys |
Appeals cannot be e-filed in any case type. E-filing was paused in August 2025 while the court moved to a new eCourt portal, and it resumed on October 6, 2025.
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:
- Appeals in all case types
- Probate wills and codicils
- Probate bonds
- Affidavits re real property of small value
We can file any of these at the courthouse for you. See court filing rates for Kern County.
Courtesy Copies in Kern County
The court's e-filing page and Local Rule 1.10 do not set a courtesy copy requirement. Follow any request from the assigned judge.
When a judge wants a printed copy, we print, assemble, and deliver it to the department. See courtesy copy rates for Kern County courthouses.
Tips for E-Filing in Kern County
- Documents filed between midnight and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day are filed that day (Local Rule 1.10).
- Filings must be text-searchable PDFs scanned at 300 dpi or more, with bookmarked exhibits. The maximum envelope size is 50 MB.
- Attorneys must give an electronic service address with their first filing and update it on form EFS-010 within seven days of a change.
Kern 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 Kern County courthouse:
- Shafter Branch325 Central Valley Hwy., Shafter, CA 93263
- Arvin/Lamont Branch12022 Main St., Lamont, CA 93241
- Metropolitan Division1415 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Metropolitan Division - Justice Building1215 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Delano/McFarland Branch1122 Jefferson St., Delano, CA 93215
- Mojave Branch1773 State Highway 58, Mojave, CA 93501
- Ridgecrest Branch132 E Coso Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555
- Juvenile Justice Center2100 College Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93305
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 |
| Kern 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.
Kern County E-Filing Questions
Is e-filing mandatory in Kern County Superior Court?
Yes, for attorneys. Represented parties must e-file in civil, unlawful detainer, CEQA, civil writ, family law, and probate cases (Local Rule 1.10), and they can no longer file physically. Self-represented parties are encouraged to e-file but are not required to.
Which case types can be e-filed in Kern County?
Kern County accepts e-filing in civil, complex civil, small claims, family law, and probate cases.
What can't be e-filed in Kern County?
The court's rules list documents that are filed physically or exempt from e-filing, including appeals in all case types, probate wills and codicils, probate bonds, and affidavits re real property of small value. We can file those at the courthouse for you.
Do I need to deliver courtesy copies in Kern County?
The court's e-filing page and Local Rule 1.10 do not set a courtesy copy requirement. Follow any request from the assigned judge. We print and deliver courtesy copies to Kern County courthouses starting at $105 for law firms.
How much does it cost to e-file in Kern 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 Kern 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 Kern 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