FAQ
Common questions organized by role. If you cannot find your answer here, try asking the AI Assistant or visit the Support page.
Filer Questions
How long does filing review take?
Review times vary by court and filing volume. Most filings are reviewed within 1-2 business days. You can check your filing's current status at any time from your Dashboard or the Case Detail page. When the status changes, you will receive an email notification and an in-app alert.
What happens if my filing is rejected?
You will receive an email and in-app notification with the rejection reason code, any notes from the clerk, and a cure deadline (if applicable). You do not need to start over -- go to the case detail page, review the feedback, and click Resubmit to create a corrected filing pre-filled with your original data.
How do I check the status of my filing?
Three ways:
Dashboard -- Your most recent filings and their statuses are shown on your filer dashboard
Case detail page -- Click any filing to see its full status history, documents, and any clerk notes
AI Assistant -- Open the chat panel and ask "What's the status of [filing number]?"
How do fee waivers work?
During the fee review step of the filing wizard, check the Request Fee Waiver option. Your filing will be submitted with the waiver request. The court reviews the request and either approves or denies it. You will receive a FEE_WAIVER_DECISION notification with the outcome. If denied, you will need to pay the standard filing fees.
Can I edit a filing after I submit it?
No. Once a filing is submitted, it cannot be edited. If you need to make changes before the clerk picks it up, contact the court directly. If the filing is rejected, you can resubmit with corrections.
What file formats are accepted?
Only PDF files are accepted. Convert Word documents, images, or scans to PDF before uploading. See Document Requirements for full details.
What are the file size limits?
25 MB per individual file
35 MB total per filing envelope (all documents combined)
How do I file on an existing case?
From the sidebar, choose File on Existing Case. Search for the case by case number, case title, party name, or bar number. Once you select the case, the filing wizard opens with the court and case information pre-filled.
Can I save my filing and finish later?
Yes. Your progress is auto-saved as a draft at each step of the wizard. You can also manually save and exit. Resume any draft from the Drafts page in the sidebar.
Clerk Questions
How are filings assigned to me?
Assignment depends on your court's configuration:
Round-robin -- Filings are distributed evenly across available clerks
Rules-based -- Routing rules assign filings based on case type, document type, filer type, or fee status
Manual -- A supervisor or lead clerk assigns filings manually
You can see your assigned items on the Queue Board or by asking the AI Assistant "Show my assigned items."
What if I need to route a filing to a judge?
During review, choose the Route to Judge option. Select the judge from the dropdown. The filing moves to With Judge status and appears in the judge's inbox. You will see it return to the queue if the judge sends it back with notes.
Can I reassign a filing to another clerk?
Yes. On the review page, use the Reassign option in the review panel to transfer the filing to a different clerk. This is useful when a filing requires expertise in a specific case type or when balancing workload.
What rejection reason codes are available?
Rejection codes are configured by your court administrator. Common codes include:
Incomplete filing
Wrong case type
Missing required document
Incorrect party information
Document format issue
Fee discrepancy
Duplicate filing
You can also add free-text notes to explain the rejection in detail.
How do I handle a partial acceptance?
When some documents pass review but others do not, use per-document decisions. In the accept dialog, mark each document individually as Accepted or Rejected with a reason. The filing receives a Partial Accept status, and the filer is notified about which documents need correction.
Judge Questions
Can I edit documents before signing?
No. Judges review documents as-is. If a document needs changes, use Return to Clerk with notes explaining what needs to be corrected. The clerk will work with the filer or make administrative corrections as appropriate.
What happens after I accept a filing?
When you accept a filing from your inbox, it moves to Recorded status. The system stamps the PDFs, creates docket entries, and records the filing in the Verdict CMS. The filer receives an acceptance notification.
What happens when I return a filing to the clerk?
The filing moves back to Returned to Clerk status and re-enters the clerk queue. Your notes are attached to the filing so the clerk knows what action to take. You can continue to see the filing's status from your inbox.
General Questions
What browsers are supported?
Cott E-Filing supports the latest versions of:
Google Chrome (recommended)
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
Safari
Internet Explorer is not supported. For the best experience, use an up-to-date version of Chrome or Edge.
Is there a mobile app?
There is no dedicated mobile app, but the platform is accessible from mobile browsers. The filer portal and clerk console are responsive and work on tablets and phones. For document-heavy tasks like clerk review, a desktop or laptop is recommended.
Who do I contact for technical help?
Visit the Support page (accessible from the navigation bar) for:
FAQ and troubleshooting guides
Contact methods for the support team
Support hours
Emergency filing procedures (for when the system is unavailable)
You can also ask the AI Assistant to submit a support ticket for technical issues that cannot be resolved through the platform.
Are my filings secure?
Yes. All documents are stored in private, encrypted storage. Access is controlled by role-based permissions:
Filers can only see their own filings
Clerks can only see filings for their assigned court
All actions are recorded in an audit trail
What happens during system maintenance?
Scheduled maintenance windows are announced in advance via the Announcements banner on the filer dashboard and through system alert notifications. During maintenance, you may not be able to submit new filings. Draft auto-save continues to work locally.
How do I update my profile or contact information?
Go to Profile in the sidebar (available in both the filer and clerk portals). You can update your name, phone number, mailing address, and alternate email addresses. Bar numbers and PINs cannot be changed through the profile page -- contact support if these need correction.
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