Montgomery County, PA

 

The current e-filing initiative is designed to handle all permitted civil filings in the Montgomery County Civil Courts starting with initiation of suit by a Summons or a Complaint-Civil Action.

 

Initially, the system is permissive, not mandatory.  Pleadings and other legal papers can still be filed in the traditional manner by delivery to the Court House in Norristown.  E-Filing will permit all legal papers, including exhibits and attachments, to be filed via the County's website with no need for the physical delivery of hard copies to the Prothonotary’s Offices.  Huge savings of the litigant’s time and expenses are envisioned. 

 

The pilot program for electronic filing is intended to be all-encompassing as permitted by the current and proposed electronic filing rules promulgated by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  We continue to work closely with the Montgomery County Board of Judges and with the Montgomery County Bar Association’s Rules Committee to ultimately adopt local rules and to formalize a comprehensive e-filing program in the near future, open to all litigants.

 

We are currently conducting different testing phases. The results experienced by the attorneys involved have been positive, with hundreds of documents successfully filed, all in a paperless manner.  When legal documents are filed electronically, the filing party receives an electronic confirmation.  Additionally, the required service upon opposing parties, who are also participating in the e-filing pilot program will be made electronically and confirmed.  Filing fees will also be collected electronically.

 

It is envisioned that all current and historic civil court documents will be viewable via the internet in the near future.

 

All interested Pennsylvania attorneys are invited to participate in the Pilot Program.  The only requirement is that the attorney attends a short training session to be determined in the future in the Montgomery County’s Information and Technical Solutions Department. 

 

If interested in attending an upcoming training session, please contact Pat Parkinson pparkins@montcopa.org.