San Francisco County Superior Court E-Filing
E-file with the San Francisco 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 Francisco 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 San Francisco County, represented parties must e-file in civil and complex cases, family law dissolution cases (since January 4, 2021), and probate (estates and trusts since July 1, 2021, guardianships and conservatorships since July 1, 2024). Small claims is filed physically. Self-represented parties may e-file voluntarily. Since 1961, Direct Legal Support has filed documents with California courts. We e-file in San Francisco 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 Francisco |
|---|---|
| E-Filing | Required for attorneys |
| Court Rules | Local Rules 2.11 (e-filing) and 2.7(B) (courtesy copies) |
| In Effect | Civil since 2014. Family law and probate since 2021. |
| Self-Represented Parties | Not required, but may e-file |
| Court E-Filing System | File & ServeXpress |
| Court's E-Filing Page | sf.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 San Francisco County
Here is how San Francisco 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 | Since December 2014. Unlawful detainer, civil harassment, and name change cases start with a physical filing, and later filings are e-filed. |
| Complex Civil | Required for attorneys | |
| Small Claims | Physical filing | Small claims is filed physically. We file it in person. |
| Family Law | Required for attorneys | Dissolution cases since January 4, 2021. |
| Probate | Required for attorneys | Estates and trusts since July 1, 2021. Guardianships and conservatorships since July 1, 2024. |
CARE Court cases and misdemeanor appeals and writs are also e-filed. File & ServeXpress has been the court's e-filing manager since June 3, 2024.
Need to file small claims papers in San Francisco 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:
- Writs and abstracts
- Out-of-state commissions
- Certificates of Facts Re Unsatisfied Judgment
- Unlawful detainer summonses and claims of right to possession
- Undertakings, rent deposits, and bonds
- Orders of examination
- First papers in small claims, unlawful detainer, civil harassment, and name change cases
- Criminal motions
We can file any of these at the courthouse for you. See court filing rates for San Francisco County.
Courtesy Copies in San Francisco County
Yes. Local Rule 2.7(B) requires a paper courtesy copy of any filed document that needs court review, action, or signature. If you e-file 7 or more court days before the hearing, lodge the copy within 2 court days. If the hearing is fewer than 7 court days away, lodge it the same day. Include the e-filing transaction receipt.
When a judge wants a printed copy, we print, assemble, and deliver it to the department. See courtesy copy rates for San Francisco County courthouses.
Tips for E-Filing in San Francisco County
- Submit redacted and unredacted versions of a document in the same e-filing transaction.
- Scan documents at 300 dpi or higher.
- Fee waiver applications can be e-filed in e-filed cases.
San Francisco 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 Francisco County courthouse:
- Civic Center Courthouse400 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
- Hall of Justice (Criminal)850 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94103
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 Francisco 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. In San Francisco County, the court can also add fees that are not shown when you order. 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 Francisco County E-Filing Questions
Is e-filing mandatory in San Francisco County Superior Court?
Yes, for attorneys. Represented parties must e-file in civil and complex cases, family law dissolution cases (since January 4, 2021), and probate (estates and trusts since July 1, 2021, guardianships and conservatorships since July 1, 2024). Small claims is filed physically. Self-represented parties may e-file voluntarily.
Which case types can be e-filed in San Francisco County?
San Francisco 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 Francisco County?
The court's rules list documents that are filed physically or exempt from e-filing, including writs and abstracts, out-of-state commissions, certificates of Facts Re Unsatisfied Judgment, and unlawful detainer summonses and claims of right to possession. We can file those at the courthouse for you.
Do I need to deliver courtesy copies in San Francisco County?
Yes. Local Rule 2.7(B) requires a paper courtesy copy of any filed document that needs court review, action, or signature. If you e-file 7 or more court days before the hearing, lodge the copy within 2 court days. If the hearing is fewer than 7 court days away, lodge it the same day. Include the e-filing transaction receipt. We print and deliver courtesy copies to San Francisco County courthouses starting at $105 for law firms.
How much does it cost to e-file in San Francisco 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. The San Francisco County court can also add fees that are not shown when you order.
When is an e-filed document filed in San Francisco 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 Francisco 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