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Electronically imaged court records, electronic filing and electronic access in family law cases: Imaged and Partial-Imaged cases, the official court record, optional e-filing through approved providers, electronic service, the “PARTIAL-IMAGED FILE” caption, exhibits, redactions, lodged documents, format and the 11:59:59 p.m. filing deadline, and kiosk and remote access. In effect for 2026.
California > Fourth Appellate District > San Diego County > Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
[File stamp: FILED, Clerk of the Superior Court, DEC 31 2025, By: G. Arce-Barraza, Deputy] SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CENTRAL DIVISION IN RE PROCEDURES REGARDING ELECTRONICALLY IMAGED COURT RECORDS, ELECTRONIC FILING, AND ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC COURT RECORDS IN FAMILY LAW CASES GENERAL ORDER OF THE PRESIDING DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 010126-21 THIS COURT FINDS AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS: In 2015, the San Diego Superior Court (“court”) began an Imaging Program in the Family Court (“Imaging Program”), whereby cases initiated and assigned to the family law departments or the family support division, filed on or after August 24, 2015, were imaged and stored electronically. All such cases are currently designated as “Imaged Cases.” In 2020, the court also began allowing electronic filing (“e-filing”) of these Imaged Cases using the e-filing portal “Odyssey eFileCA.” Exempt from the Imaging Program and e-filing were cases filed prior to August 24, 2015. Effective June 1, 2022, cases that were filed prior to August 24, 2015, were partially imaged as follows: Documents filed prior to June 1, 2022, remain in paper format; documents filed on and after June 1, 2022, are imaged. These cases are designated as “Partial-Imaged cases.” As of November 3, 2025, cases initiated and assigned to the family support division before August 24, 2015 will be fully imaged and will be designated as “Imaged Cases.” Cases initiated and assigned to the family law departments before August 24, 2015 remain “Partial-Imaged Cases.” Parties will be permitted to e-file documents in Imaged and Partial-Imaged cases. E-filing is encouraged, but not mandated. All e-filers must comply with California Rules of Court, rules 2.250 through 2.261, Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6, San Diego Local Rules, rules 5.1.10 and 5.1.11, and the court’s e-filing requirements listed in San Diego Superior Court Form (“SDSC Form”) #D-305, which is available on the court’s website www.sdcourt.ca.gov. Below are some of the applicable rules, but parties should refer to SDSC Form #D-305 for the most up-to-date requirements. A. Electronic Court File in Imaged / Partial-Imaged Cases – the Official Court Record Pursuant to Government Code section 68150 and California Rules of Court, rule 2.504, the official court record of the case file is as follows: 1. Partial-Imaged Cases: The paper portion of the file containing documents filed before June 1, 2022, and the electronic portion of the file in Odyssey containing documents imaged on and after June 1, 2022, are together certified as the official record of the court. 2. Imaged Cases: The electronic court file in Odyssey is certified as the official record of the court. 3. All other cases: For all matters filed on or before August 22, 2015, in which no documents become part of the case file on or after June 1, 2022, the paper portion of the case file is certified as the official record of the court. B. Filing and Service Requirements in Imaged and Partial-Imaged Family Law Cases 1. E-filing Service Providers: E-filing must be completed through a court approved Electronic Service Provider (“EFSP”). Further information and an approved list of court approved EFSPs can be found on the court’s website at www.sdcourt.ca.gov. The court also continues to accept documents in person, via U.S. Mail, in court drop boxes, and via private courier service at the appropriate courthouses. 2. Service of Imaged Case Notice: Parties filing new actions that are assigned to the Imaging Program as Imaged Cases shall serve on all parties a copy of the “Notice of Electronic Case File and Imaged Documents” with the complaint, petition, or other case initiating pleading. A copy of this notice will be provided to the filing party by the court clerk when case originating filings are processed. 3. Electronic Service: A self-represented litigant who wishes to consent to electronic service of notices and documents pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 must file a Notice of Consent to Receive Electronic Service (SDSC Form #ADM-431) with the court and serve a copy on all parties who have appeared in the action. A self-represented litigant who wishes to withdraw consent to electronic service must file a Notice of Withdrawal of Consent to Receive Electronic Service (SDSC Form #ADM-431). “Partial-Imaged” Identifiers: For Partial-Imaged Cases, all documents filed on or after June 1, 2022, must include the words, “PARTIAL-IMAGED FILE” in all caps immediately under the case number. 4. Original Documents: Original documents should not be filed with the court. Original documents should be lodged with the court, as necessary, under the procedures set forth in paragraph nine (9) below. Any original document filed will be imaged and destroyed in accordance with this order. 5. Proposed Orders: Proposed orders should only be submitted with initial pleadings for ex-parte hearings or motion hearings in which proposed orders are statutorily required. Proposed orders should not be submitted for a noticed “Request for Order” hearing until after the hearing is completed, unless requested otherwise by a judicial officer or through in-person submission in compliance with San Diego Local Rules, rule 5.5.2. 6. Exhibits: Any exhibits attached to a pleading presented for filing must have the exhibit tabs located at the bottom of the respective documents, in accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 3.1110. Each exhibit must be preceded by a cover page that contains solely the word “Exhibit” and the exhibit’s identifying number or letter. 7. Confidential Documents: Any documents classified or considered confidential pursuant to statute, rule of court, or local rule filed with the court will be imaged and destroyed in accordance with this order. Access to the imaged confidential document(s) shall be as set forth in paragraph (C)(3) below. 8. Redactions - Confidential Information: Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 1.201, it is the submitting party’s responsibility to redact confidential information, such as social security numbers and financial account numbers. 9. Lodged Documents: The Notice of Lodgment itself must be filed with the court. In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 3.1302(b), the documents submitted with the notice must be lodged, not filed, and will be returned in the manner requested by the party or recycled if no manner of return is specified. 10. Format: All documents e-filed with the court must be in a text-searchable format (e.g. PDF, OCR). The court is unable to accept documents that do not comply with these requirements, or documents that include, inter alia: digitized signatures, fillable forms, or negative image. 11. Fees: The e-filing fee is governed by Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6. If a party with a fee waiver files documents electronically, that party is exempt from the fees and costs associated with e-filing. 12. Filing Date: The receipt and filing of documents submitted electronically is governed by Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 and California Rules of Court, rule 2.259. The court’s filing deadline is 11:59:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on court days. The electronic transmission of a document to the court can take time, so waiting until shortly before the deadline to electronically transmit a filing is not advised, as it could be received by the court after 11:59:59 p.m. and deemed filed the next court day. Per California Rules of Court, rule 2.259, the e-filer is responsible for verifying that the court received and filed any document submitted electronically. Please see the applicable EFSP’s website for filing instructions. To the extent any San Diego Superior Court Local Rule sets forth a different deadline for filing electronic documents, the applicable portions of the Local Rule are no longer valid with respect to Family Law Division filings. C. Enhanced Electronic Access to Official Court File and Court Documents 1. Access in Clerk’s Business Offices: Public kiosks providing free access to the official electronic record of the court file in Imaged and Partial-Imaged cases are available in the Family Business Offices identified below: a. North County, 235 South Melrose Drive, Vista, California, 92081. b. Central Courthouse and Family Support Division, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, California, 92101. c. East County, 250 East Main Street, El Cajon, California, 92020. d. South County, 500 Third Avenue, Chula Vista, California, 91910. Members of the public may access and view all public portions of the files as they currently do with paper court files. If there are people waiting to use the kiosks, a time limit of 15 minutes will be imposed. Additional time will be permitted after waiting in line again to use one of the kiosks. Any changes to this policy will be made by the Presiding Judge or the Family Law Division Supervising Judge and the new policy will be posted in the applicable Business Offices. Copies, including certified copies, of any documents contained in the electronic court file may be obtained by paying the applicable fee. The court’s Fee Schedule is available on the court’s website at www.sdcourt.ca.gov. (See SDSC Form #ADM-001.) Additional instructions about obtaining printed copies of records from the electronic case file will be provided at the kiosk locations in the applicable business offices; instructions are also available at the court’s website listed above. 2. Remote Electronic Access of Imaged Documents: The court also has an online Register of Actions for family law cases (ROA Family) that permits users to identify and order non-confidential case documents that have been imaged, including certified and exemplified copies, for a fee. Upon ordering and paying the appropriate fees (including postage fees) online, the documents will be mailed to users at their designated mailing address. While the ROA Family allows users to identify and order available documents, users cannot view the documents online remotely. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.503 [prohibiting public remote access to family court records].) In addition, the ROA Family cannot process requests for documents without collecting a fee by credit card. Therefore, parties with a valid fee waiver on file must request copies in person and present a valid government-issued photo identification for the court to be able to apply the fee waiver. 3. Access to Non-Imaged Documents: Non-imaged documents will not be accessible online nor at the public kiosks, nor will information and documents that are confidential by operation of law or have been ordered sealed. Requests for non-imaged documents must be made in person at the Family Law Business Office at the court location where the case resides. 4. Access to Confidential or Sealed Documents: Court documents that are confidential by operation of law shall remain confidential and may not be released except as legally permitted. Requests to view confidential documents must be made to the clerks in the Family Law Division Business Office. Individuals who are legally permitted to access the records must present valid government-issued photo identification. Case documents that have been ordered sealed require a court order to unseal. Absent a court order and valid government-issued photo identification they will not be released. 5. Notice Regarding Electronic Access: In accordance with California Rules of Court, rule 2.504, the Manager of Family Operations, or their designee, is the court staff member who may be contacted about the requirements for accessing the court’s records electronically in all divisions of the court. 6. Damage to or Alteration of Official Record: Any person who willfully destroys or alters any court record maintained in any form is subject to the penalties imposed by Government Code section 6201. 7. Photography or Other Imaging of Record: No person shall photograph or otherwise record any digital images of documents displayed on the kiosk screens in the Business Offices. This order shall become effective on January 1, 2026, and expire on December 31, 2026, unless otherwise ordered by this court. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: December 31, 2025 [signature] HONORABLE MAUREEN F. HALLAHAN PRESIDING JUDGE
[File stamp: FILED, Clerk of the Superior Court, DEC 31 2025, By: G. Arce-Barraza, Deputy] SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CENTRAL DIVISION IN RE PROCEDURES REGARDING ELECTRONICALLY IMAGED COURT RECORDS, ELECTRONIC FILING, AND ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC COURT RECORDS IN FAMILY LAW CASES GENERAL ORDER OF THE PRESIDING DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 010126-21 THIS COURT FINDS AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-28 (California T3 San Diego build) from BenchPath custody ca/t3/ca-san-diego/go/general_order_010126-21.pdf (413261 bytes, sha256 8f4b560c0fe2aa0210a5f2f2f66ecab5073650440e5368321922e70ec6113e5d; 6 pages) - the court's own posted PDF, a scan with no usable text layer: transcribed from the rendered page images, every page read against the image; a machine reading (RapidOCR) was used only as a second reader for a word-level diff; every quotation mark, apostrophe, dash and section sign checked in full-resolution crops; pleading line numbers and “///” fill marks omitted; the file stamp and signature bracketed. The order prints the North County family business office as “235 South Melrose Drive” (other orders print 325). Printed irregularities are kept as printed.
9 verbatim requirements from 4th Circuit Administrative Order 1997-10.
6 verbatim requirements from 4th Circuit Administrative Order 1997-13.