Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Electronic Filing Rules

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal papers

Electronic legal papers must be submitted through the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court’s Electronic Filing System, accessible through a link on the Clerk’s webpage.

All legal papers that are filed electronically shall be filed through the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court’s Electronic Filing System. General access to the Electronic Filing System shall be provided through a link found on the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court’s webpage at www.dauphincounty.org.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

Certain defined criminal legal papers must be filed electronically through PACFile, subject to the listed exceptions.

A. The Dauphin County Clerk of Courts Office and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) agreed upon an implementation plan for PACFile in Dauphin County for certain criminal filings. Legal papers shall be filed electronically using the PACFile electronic filing system pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1. Electronic filing is mandatory. B. Legal Papers Defined. “legal papers” shall include all written motions, written answers and any notices or documents for which filing is required or permitted, including orders, exhibits and attachments, except for the following: (1) Applications for search warrants. (2) Applications for arrest warrants. (3) Grand jury materials, except the indicting grand jury indictment or the investigating grand jury presentment. (4) Submissions filed ex parte as authorized by law. (5) Submissions filed or authorized to be filed under seal. (6) Notice of Appeals. (7) Any matter requiring the assignment of a Miscellaneous Docket (MD) number including but not limited to expungements filed pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 490 or petitions for modification of bail in matters still pending in the Magisterial District Judge Court. (8) Initial filings for Summary Appeals (SA).

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

Attorneys and self-represented parties filing electronically must establish a PACFile account through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal, and doing so constitutes consent to electronic filing and service.

C. Attorneys or self-represented parties who file legal papers electronically must establish a PACFile account using the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 576.1(D)(2), the establishment of a PACFile account constitutes consent to participate in electronic filing, including acceptance of service electronically of any document filed using PACFile.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Criminal cases

All filings must comply with the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.

F. All filings shall comply with the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING

Criminal cases

Attorneys and self-represented parties unable to participate in electronic filing may file and serve legal papers in physical paper format.

H. Service of Legal Papers. (a) Attorneys or self-represented parties who are unable to participate in electronic filing of documents are permitted to file and serve the legal papers in a physical paper format.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Applies to

Legal papers

Electronic filing of legal papers with the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court is permitted.

The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas permits the electronic filing of legal papers with the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court using their electronic filing system.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Applies to

Legal papers

Electronic legal papers generally include written motions, petitions, notices, documents, orders, exhibits, and attachments, subject to five enumerated exceptions.

“Legal papers” shall include all written motions, written petitions, and any notices or documents for which filing is required or permitted, including orders, exhibits, and attachments except for the following: (1) Petitions, exhibits, or related filings under Title 23, Part III (Termination and Adoption) (2) Petitions to Disinter (3) Petitions filed under Title 20, Chapter 57 (Presumed Decedents) (4) Formal Accounts (5) Minor’s Applications for Judicial Authorization of an Abortion

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Legal papers may be filed electronically through the Prothonotary's CountySuite Portal beginning on the date set by Administrative Order.

All legal papers may be filed electronically with the Prothonotary through its Electronic Filing System (EFS), CountySuite Portal, beginning on a date set by Administrative Order of the President Judge.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Electronic filing is electronic transmission of legal papers through the Prothonotary's system, excluding facsimile transmission and e-mail.

As used in this rule, electronic filing (e-filing) shall mean the electronic transmission of legal papers by means other than facsimile transmission or e-mail using the system made available by the Prothonotary.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required

Always ?

All petitions and motions shall be generated by the PFAD system and subsequently filed with the Prothonotary.

Summary: All Protection from Abuse petitions must be generated through PFAD and filed with the Prothonotary.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Transcript request ?

(B) (1) The Request for Transcript of a court proceeding shall be filed in the appropriate filing office (Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court and/or Domestic Relations).

Summary: A Request for Transcript must be filed in the appropriate filing office.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Electronic filers must register with CountySuite Portal in accordance with the CountySuite Portal User Manual.

Summary: Electronic filers must register with CountySuite Portal according to its user manual.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All registered users must be individuals and not entities, including but not limited to law firms, agencies, corporations, or government entities.

Summary: Only individual users may register; law firms, agencies, corporations, government entities, and other entities may not register.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Applies to

Certificate of readiness

(9) The Preliminary Objections are ready for assignment to a judge when all briefing requirements set forth in subparagraphs (3), (4) and (5) above have been met or the time permitted for the filing of briefs has elapsed. At that point, either party may file an original and one copy of a Certificate of Readiness with the Prothonotary.

Summary: Once all briefing requirements are met or the briefing periods have expired, either party may file an original and one copy of a Certificate of Readiness with the Prothonotary.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Applies to

Certificate of readiness

(10) The Prothonotary shall forward the original Certificate of Readiness to the Court Administrator’s Office and retain the copy in the file.

Summary: The Prothonotary must forward the original Certificate of Readiness to the Court Administrator's Office and retain the copy in the case file.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Registered users shall change their address or other contact information with the CountySuite Portal within ten (10) days of any change.

Summary: Registered users must update address or other contact information in CountySuite Portal within ten days after a change.