Transcript:
In this video we’ll be filing into a new case. Your time is money and you need to get rolling, so without further delay, let’s get into it.
First, click the blue button that says “File the Courts.”
Step 1: Case Information
You’ll be asked: “Are you filing an original petition with the courts?” Since we are, click “File a New Case,” which takes you to Step 1: Case Information.
On the left-hand side you’ll see red stars indicating required fields. The first is Case Title — enter your case title, which you’ll find in the top left corner of the petition you’re filing. Next, choose the court you wish to file in — today we’re filing into Andrews County Clerk. Then select your Case Category from the dropdown — in this example we’re filing a civil contract case. Next, choose your Case Type — we’re selecting Debt Contract/Debt Collection.
Now select your attorney from the dropdown — if you have multiple attorneys, choose the one you need. Next, select your Payment Account from the dropdown. Finally, enter the Damage Amount — this is the amount you’re suing for, which in our case is over a million dollars. Click Next when you’re ready.
Step 2: Parties
Step 2 is Parties. Starting with the first required field, click the Party Type dropdown and select Plaintiff. Enter the first and last name for your party. Scroll down and click the blue “Add Party Details” button to add any address information if needed.
Once your first party is added, you’ll see their information displayed horizontally. Make sure to check the “Filing Party” box — this is very important. Then repeat the same process for the defendant: select Defendant from the Party Type dropdown, enter their information, and add their address details including street address, city, state, and zip code. Click “Add Party Details” when done.
Scroll back to the top and confirm that both your plaintiff and defendant are displayed horizontally, indicating they’ve been successfully added. Confirm the Filing Party box is checked, then click Next.
Step 3: Service Contacts
Step 3 is Service Contacts. This is not a required step, but if you need to add someone, you can search by first name, last name, firm name, or email and click “Search for Attorney.” You can also select from existing firm contacts by clicking the arrow and checking the appropriate contact. To add a new service contact, enter their first name, last name, and email address and click “Save Service Contact.” Since we don’t have anyone to add today, we’ll skip this step and click Next.
Step 4: Filings
Step 4 is Filings — the whole reason we’re here. You’ll see three required fields on the left: Filing Type, Client Matter Number, and Filing Description.
For Filing Type, click the dropdown and select Petition. For Client Matter Number, enter whatever reference you use for this case — ours is “test” today. For Filing Description, enter “Plaintiff’s Original Petition.” Once entered, highlight and copy that text with Ctrl+C — you’ll use it again in a moment.
If you have any messages or instructions for the court clerk, enter them in the next box. If anyone needs a courtesy copy, enter their email address in the Courtesy Copies box. Do the same for Preliminary Copies if applicable.
Scroll down to Optional Services. If you need to add anything such as a citation, jury fee, or service, highlight the option and press Add. You’ll see your selection appear under Selected Optional Services. To remove it, simply click Remove. We don’t need any today, so we move on to the Documents section.
Under Documents, click “Browse Computer” for your lead document and select your Plaintiff’s Original Petition. Press Open and your document will load as a hyperlink. For Document Description, press Ctrl+V to paste the description you copied earlier. For Document Security Type, select “Does Not Contain Sensitive Data” from the dropdown — or make the appropriate selection if your document does contain sensitive data. If you have attachments, click “Browse Computer” under Attachments and follow the same upload steps.
Scroll back up and review everything: filing type, client matter number, filing description, payment account, filing attorney, and uploaded lead document. When everything checks out, scroll down and click “Save and Next.”
Step 5: Summary
Step 5 is the Summary page — you’re almost done. Review each step of your filing: confirm your Case Information from Step 1, click the dropdown for Parties to verify your plaintiff and defendant are listed, check your Filings to confirm your petition, description, and client matter number, and review Service Contacts if any were added. Scroll down to the Fees section and confirm everything looks correct, including your payment account and filing attorney.
Once everything checks out, click the “Submit Case” button. You’ll see a pop-up that says “Envelope is Submitting,” confirming your filing is on its way to the court. You did it — you’re a filing pro. Happy filing!