> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cottfile.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cottfile.com/filer-guide/filing-a-new-case.md). # Filing a New Case To file a new case, click **File a New Case** on the dashboard. The filing wizard opens inline, right above your filings table, and walks you through five steps: 1. **Court & Type** 2. **Parties** 3. **Documents** 4. **Fees** 5. **Review** A side panel guides each step. The bottom bar always offers **Back**, **Discard**, **Save Draft**, and **Next**. {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** Clicking "File a New Case" on the dashboard, the wizard opening inline with the "Court & Filing Type" side panel, and the bottom bar showing Back, Discard, Save Draft, and Next. {% endhint %} *** ## Step 1: Court & Type The **Court & Filing Type** panel asks you to select the court, case type, and filing type: 1. **Court** -- The court where you are filing. Only courts with e-filing enabled appear in the list. 2. **Case Type** -- The category of case (e.g., Civil, Probate). 3. **Filing Type** -- Required when the case type has subtypes; pick the one that best describes your matter. {% hint style="info" %} The court and case type determine which document types and fees are available in later steps. {% endhint %} ## Step 2: Parties The Parties panel starts with one empty card (**Party 1**). Click **Add Party** for each additional party -- the second party defaults to Defendant, later ones to Plaintiff. Use the trash icon (**Remove party**) to delete a card. For each party: * **Organization switch** -- Off for an individual, on for a business or organization. * **Party Role** (required) -- Plaintiff or Defendant. * **Individuals** -- First Name (optional), **Last Name** (required), and Email. * **Organizations** -- **Organization Name** (required). Click **Add more details** to open the optional fields: Title and Middle Name (individuals), Phone, Email (organizations), Address Line 1 and 2, City, State, ZIP, and a **Confidential** switch for parties whose information should be shielded from public view. {% hint style="warning" %} You must add at least one party. Individual parties require a last name; business parties require a business name. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** Adding a party -- toggling the Organization switch, choosing the Party Role, entering the last name, then expanding "Add more details" to fill in the address fields. {% endhint %} ## Step 3: Documents Drag and drop your files into the drop zone, or click to browse. **PDF only, max 500 MB per file.** Once at least one file is uploaded, the panel offers **Add file**, **Add deposit**, and **Add escrow deposit**. For each document: * **Docket Entry** (required) -- A searchable list of the court's document types (e.g., Petition, Motion). The first document you upload is automatically the lead document, and its title comes from the file name -- there is nothing extra to fill in. * **Note for the clerk (optional)** -- Up to 1,000 characters of context for the reviewing clerk, e.g. "proposed order attached, courtesy copy, refiling after correction." The note goes to the clerk only; it never becomes part of the court record. ### Organizing pages The document organizer gives you full page-level control: * **Split by range** -- Enter a page range (e.g., `1-2` splits the document into pages 1-2 and 3 onward). * **Merge documents** -- Combine adjacent documents into one. * **Page thumbnails** -- Rotate a page 90° or remove it individually. * **Multi-select** -- Click to select a page, Ctrl+click for multiple, Shift+click for a range. A toolbar then offers Rotate, Delete, Split to new document, and Clear. * **Reorder** -- Drag documents to change their order. * **Compress all** -- A switch that shrinks large files before submission. * **Delete document** -- Removes an uploaded document (you'll be asked to confirm). A status line keeps count: "N pages in N documents." {% hint style="info" %} The **Sealed** and **Redacted** options are marked "Coming soon" and cannot be used yet. {% endhint %} When you click Next, the system shows "Assembling documents..." while it prepares your files. This may take a moment for large filings. {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** Uploading a PDF, picking a Docket Entry type, typing a note for the clerk, selecting pages with Shift+click, and splitting them into a new document. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} You can also drop PDF files anywhere on the dashboard while the wizard is open -- they are added to your current filing. With no wizard open, a dialog offers to start a new filing from the files. {% endhint %} ### Adding an Advance or Escrow Deposit Some filings need money on the case ledger beyond the document fees. Once you have uploaded at least one document, two buttons appear next to **Add file**: * **Add deposit** -- Adds an **Additional Advance Deposit** row with a dollar amount. These are extra funds added to the case ledger: no document is attached, the amount is charged with this filing and credited to the case. Use **Remove deposit** to take it off. The amount must be greater than $0 and no more than $100,000. * **Add escrow deposit** -- Adds an **Escrow Deposit** row. This money is held in the case's escrow account: it is charged with this filing and stays in escrow until the clerk releases it -- it does not pay down the case ledger. Deposits are added to the court amount before the e-filing and convenience fees are calculated. A filing must still contain at least one document -- you cannot submit a deposit on its own. {% hint style="warning" %} Deposits cannot be combined with a fee waiver or a fee-exempt filing. If you request a waiver while a deposit is attached, the wizard asks "Remove your advance deposit?" with the choices **Keep it for now** and **Remove deposit**. {% endhint %} ## Step 4: Fees The **Fee Summary** panel shows exactly what will be charged. Fees are only calculated once you have chosen a filing type in Court & Type. ### Deposit ledger card For a new case, a **Deposit Ledger Estimate** card shows: * **Advance deposit** -- The amount collected up front, based on the filing type and your documents. * **Estimated docket fees** -- What the clerk is expected to deduct for your documents. * **Estimated remaining balance** -- What stays on the case ledger after acceptance. ### Fee summary card The **Fee Summary** card itemizes your **Estimated Charge on Acceptance**: | Line | What it is | | --------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Advance Deposit -- {filing type}** | The court's deposit for opening this case type (the larger of the filing type's base fee and the estimated docket fees). Per-page document fees show as "$X base + N extra pg × $Y/pg". | | **Additional Advance Deposit** / **Escrow Deposit** | Any deposits you added in the Documents step. | | **E-Filing Fee** | A flat $6.00 per filing. | | **Convenience Fee (3.05%)** | 3.05% of the court amount plus the e-filing fee. | | **Estimated Total** | The full amount charged when the clerk accepts. | {% hint style="info" %} Your card is only charged when the clerk accepts your filing. If rejected, no charges are made. {% endhint %} ### Payment method Under **PAYMENT METHOD**, pick the card to charge. If your organization has a firm card on file, it is selected by default (e.g., "{Firm} firm card -- Visa ending in 1234") with a **Use my personal card instead** link to switch; with no firm card, your personal card form is shown. If fees apply and you have no card, no waiver, and no exemption, the filing cannot be submitted until a card is added. ### Fee waiver If you cannot pay the filing fees, check **Request fee waiver (will be reviewed by the clerk)** and choose a **Reason**: * **Pauper** -- You qualify to proceed in forma pauperis. * **Government Agency** -- You are filing for a government agency. An optional **Message** field lets you add details for the clerk. When a waiver is requested, the summary notes: "Fee waiver requested -- no charges will be made if the clerk approves your waiver." {% hint style="warning" %} If your fee waiver is denied, you'll need a payment method on file before the filing can be accepted. {% endhint %} ### Fee-exempt organizations If your organization is fee-exempt, the Fees step shows "Your organization is fee-exempt -- no charges will be made on this filing and no waiver request is needed." Amounts appear struck through with a $0.00 total, and there is no waiver box or card picker. {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** The Fees step showing the Deposit Ledger Estimate card, the Fee Summary with the e-filing and convenience fee lines, and the PAYMENT METHOD section with a firm card selected. {% endhint %} ## Step 5: Review & Submit The final step summarizes everything, with an **Edit** button on each card: * **Court & Case Information** -- Court, case type, filing type, filing category (New or Existing Case), and case number. * **Parties (N)** -- Every party, with "(Confidential)" flagged where set. * **Documents (N)** -- Each document with its Lead badge and file size. Deposit rows appear as "Additional Advance Deposit" or "Escrow Deposit" with a "No document" badge. * **Fee Summary** -- The Estimated Total. **Internal Reference (optional)** -- Your firm's own tracking number (matter number, file number, etc., up to 100 characters). It appears in reports and Excel exports. Before submitting, check the certification checkbox: > "I certify that the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that filing false documents may result in sanctions or other penalties under applicable law." Click **Submit Filing**. ### The success screen On success you'll see **"Filing Submitted Successfully"** -- "Your filing has been submitted and is now in the clerk review queue." -- along with your reference number ("Ref: ..."), the submission timestamp, and a note that an email confirmation has been sent to your registered email address. From here, choose **Back to Dashboard** or **File Another Case**. {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** The Review step -- scrolling the summary cards, entering an Internal Reference, checking the certification box, clicking "Submit Filing," and the success screen appearing with the reference number. {% endhint %} *** ## Saving, Auto-Save, and Discarding * **Auto-save** -- Once you have picked a court and case type, the wizard automatically saves a draft every time you click Next. If an auto-save fails, a message asks you to use Save Draft to preserve your progress. * **Save Draft** -- Saves everything and closes the wizard, returning you to the dashboard. Find the draft later on the **Drafts** tab (see [Working with Drafts](/filer-guide/working-with-drafts.md)). * **Discard** -- Opens a "Discard filing?" confirmation. For a saved draft, it warns: "This will permanently delete this draft, including all uploaded documents and party information. This action cannot be undone." Choose **Keep working** or **Discard filing**. * Submitting successfully removes the auto-saved draft -- no cleanup needed. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://docs.cottfile.com/filer-guide/filing-a-new-case.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. 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