San Mateo County Superior Court E-Filing
E-file with the San Mateo 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 Mateo 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 Mateo County, represented parties have had to e-file in family law and probate since January 21, 2020, and in civil, complex, and small claims cases since June 1, 2020 (Local Rule 2.1.7). Self-represented parties are exempt but may e-file. Since 1961, Direct Legal Support has filed documents with California courts. We e-file in San Mateo 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 Mateo |
|---|---|
| E-Filing | Required for attorneys |
| Court Rules | Local Rules 2.1.7 and 2.1.8 |
| In Effect | Family law and probate since January 2020. Civil since June 2020. |
| Self-Represented Parties | Exempt, but may e-file |
| Court E-Filing System | Odyssey eFileCA |
| Court Fee | $3.50 e-filing manager fee per filing |
| Court's E-Filing Page | sanmateo.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 Mateo County
Here is how San Mateo 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 June 1, 2020, including unlawful detainer. |
| Complex Civil | Required for attorneys | Since June 1, 2020. |
| Small Claims | Accepted | Self-represented parties may e-file. |
| Family Law | Required for attorneys | Since January 21, 2020. |
| Probate | Required for attorneys | Since January 21, 2020. |
Juvenile dependency and adoption filings have been required for attorneys since January 1, 2022, and later filings in criminal cases since June 1, 2020.
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:
- Ex parte applications (except qualifying probate ex partes)
- Trial exhibits and administrative records
- Writs, abstracts, and subpoenas
- Bonds and undertakings
- Out-of-state commissions and judgments
- Probate wills, codicils, estate planning documents, letters, and death certificates
- Certificate of Fact form DL30
- Family law challenges for cause (CCP 170.1)
We can file any of these at the courthouse for you. See court filing rates for San Mateo County.
Courtesy Copies in San Mateo County
It depends on the department. There is no court-wide rule. Complex civil courtesy copies go to the complex civil judge by email or hard copy, and other departments, such as Department 20, post their own rules.
When a judge wants a printed copy, we print, assemble, and deliver it to the department. See courtesy copy rates for San Mateo County courthouses.
Tips for E-Filing in San Mateo County
- The court charges a $3.50 e-filing manager fee per filing, plus provider fees.
- The size limit is 100 MB per envelope and per document.
- If an original document is required, you can e-file a copy as long as the original is filed within 10 calendar days.
- E-filed documents may become visible to the press and public right away, so choose the correct filing code.
San Mateo 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 Mateo County courthouse:
- Southern Branch (Hall of Justice and Records)400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
- Central Branch800 N Humboldt St., San Mateo, CA 94401
- Northern Branch1050 Mission Rd, South San Francisco, CA 94080
- Juvenile Branch222 Paul Scannell Dr, San Mateo, CA 94402
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 Mateo 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 Mateo County, the court also charges a $3.50 e-filing manager fee per filing. 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 Mateo County E-Filing Questions
Is e-filing mandatory in San Mateo County Superior Court?
Yes, for attorneys. Represented parties have had to e-file in family law and probate since January 21, 2020, and in civil, complex, and small claims cases since June 1, 2020 (Local Rule 2.1.7). Self-represented parties are exempt but may e-file.
Which case types can be e-filed in San Mateo County?
San Mateo County accepts e-filing in civil, complex civil, small claims, family law, and probate cases.
What can't be e-filed in San Mateo County?
The court's rules list documents that are filed physically or exempt from e-filing, including ex parte applications (except qualifying probate ex partes); trial exhibits and administrative records; writs, abstracts, and subpoenas; and bonds and undertakings. We can file those at the courthouse for you.
Do I need to deliver courtesy copies in San Mateo County?
It depends on the department. There is no court-wide rule. Complex civil courtesy copies go to the complex civil judge by email or hard copy, and other departments, such as Department 20, post their own rules. We print and deliver courtesy copies to San Mateo County courthouses starting at $105 for law firms.
How much does it cost to e-file in San Mateo 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. In San Mateo County, the court also charges a $3.50 e-filing manager fee per filing.
When is an e-filed document filed in San Mateo 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 Mateo 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