TrueFiling Procedures

1. CCAP’s eService address = eservice@capcentral.org

All panel attorneys may eServe CCAP any document that is electronically filed via TrueFiling with both the Third and Fifth Districts. Documents that exceed 25 MB are too large for CCAP eService; our email system will reject it. If this happens, filers will need to either divide the document into two parts or paper serve the document via postal service and amend the proof of service.

IMPORTANT: Do not use the eService box for drafts submitted to the CCAP staff attorney; contact the staff attorney directly via their individual CCAP email. CCAP case processors are unlikely to differentiate between a draft version and a filed version of a document sent to our eService email. For this reason, eservice@capcentral.org should NOT be used for anything other than for electronic service, unless otherwise directed.

If you choose to have TF do the eService for you, CCAP should be listed as a contact for appointed cases within the TrueFiling system. However, if CCAP is not listed, you may still eServe us directly by using our eservice@capcentral.org email address.

2. AG’s eService address = SacAWTTrueFiling@doj.ca.gov

By agreement between CCAP and the AG’s office, all CCAP panel attorneys may eServe the AG with any document that is electronically filed via TrueFiling with the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Documents that exceed 20 MB are too large for AG eService; filers will be required to either divide the document into two parts or paper serve the document via postal service and amend the proof of service.

NOTE on AG’s email switch: a previously posted email of dcadocketingsacawt@doj.ca.gov reportedly will still work, but the AG’s office prefers the one listed above. Notwithstanding this, we are aware that TrueFiling may be using the old one in their contact lists; you may update it, or use it as is until further notice.

3. Adding CCAP & the AG into TrueFiling when missing in the contacts for your case

For instructions on how to add CCAP and the Attorney General as contacts for a case in TrueFiling so that we may be eServed via TrueFiling, see CCAP’s guide: Adding Attorneys, CCAP, and the Attorney General to a Case in TrueFiling

4. Other counsel eService by agreement

Only attorneys who have agreed to accept eService in a case may be eServed. (Cal. Rule of Court, rule 8.78(a).) However, if other counsel registers to use the TrueFiling system in the case, they have automatically opted in pursuant to the rule. (Ibid.) The counsel list that pre-populates your case entry in TrueFiling have agreed to accept eService.

Over time, CCAP anticipates contacting County Counsel offices and other frequently used contract respondents for dependency cases to ask whether they will agree to electronic service in all CCAP appointed cases. Until then, eService in appellate proceedings is not expressly authorized by the Code of Civil Procedure, and so, as a precaution against any later claim of irregular service, case-by-case agreements between you and opposing counsel, may be required.

The Children’s Law Center of Sacramento, which represents foster children in Sacramento County in their dependency cases, has agreed to accept eservice in Third DCA cases. They prefer that briefs and other documents be served electronically, rather than in paper format. You can add attorneys from the Children’s Law Center by following the directions for adding the Attorney General as a contact (see instructions for Adding Attorneys, CCAP, and the Attorney General to a Case in TrueFiling above). Instead of searching for the Attorney General, search for Children’s Law Center of Sacramento, or search by the trial attorney’s name.

5. Use of TrueFiling automatically opts you in to accepting eService

See Fifth District Local Rule 8(i) (“An attorney’s registration with TrueFiling to participate in EFS [electronic filing system operated by TrueFiling] constitutes consent to service or delivery of all documents by any other party in a case through the system.”) and Third District Local Rule 5(i) (“Registration with TrueFiling manifests affirmative consent to receive service through the EFS. Documents prepared by the court will be served on EFS users through the EFS or by electronic notification.”)

6. Sample proof of service for eService

• CCAP’s POS version for TrueFiling:
  • Sample Attorney TrueFiling POS
  • Sample Attorney TrueFiling POS (wpd)
  • Sample Attorney TrueFiling POS

7. eService includes both the Third & the Fifth

Service via TrueFiling: For documents served using the EFS TrueFiling eService function ($3 charge), TrueFiling will generate a notification of service that both courts will accept as your Proof of Service. Counsel will need to still attach a separate POS for those parties who cannot be served via TrueFiling (e.g., your client). The TrueFiling generation notification of service can be found in the stored documents section for the individual case; it is not sent to the filer automatically.

Service copy of Petition for Review: These courts strongly prefer that service of petitions be done via TrueFiling. The proof of service may state that the Court of Appeal was “Served via TrueFiling.”

7. eService email subject line can help the receiving party

If you use our eService email separate from the EFS TrueFiling website eService process, please use an email subject line that states both the appellate case number and appellant’s name. Examples: F012345 Smith or F012345 John S.

We also recommend that you add a confidentiality warning to the body of your email (see #11 below).

8. Is eService available for Third and Fifth District cases?

Yes! Both CCAP and the AG’s office accept eService on all panel cases.

9. Is a paper copy also needed for service if I eServe CCAP or the AG?

No additional paper document is required for either office.  The AG will eServe counsel but should continue to send counsel a second paper copy, which is the client’s copy, as required by the Rules of Court.

10. Should I include my CCAP staff attorney on the eService email for my e-served document?

No. All, or nearly all, “mail” items pass through our support staff for recording into our case management system and uploading into our document management system. Receiving the document directly in the staff buddy’s email short-circuits these important steps in document management within our office. Draft-only items may be sent directly to the CCAP’s staff buddy’s email; service items are sent only to the eService email.

11. Recommended confidentiality warning if using email to eServe

We recommend that you add a confidentiality warning to the body of your email when e-serving using your own email.

In a juvenile dependency and delinquency and other confidential cases, attorneys should add the following language to the body of the email transmitting the eService document: “By law, the attachment is confidential. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 827.) If you are not an authorized recipient under the law, you may not open it. Please notify the sender immediately and delete this email.”

12. Keep your email address current with the court (rule 8.78(d)(1))

TrueFiling requires a current email address. It is important that counsel plan ahead for any change of the email address used for TF. You will not be able to file or receive TF notices on electronic filings if your email address is no longer functioning either because the email has changed, or the mailbox is “full.”

Unfortunately, counsel cannot unilaterally update their own profile email address within the TF system. To update your TF email, you must submit a change of email address to the court pursuant to rule 8.78(d)(1), with service on the parties and CCAP. Once filed, the court’s database will in turn update TF in a secured upload process that occurs each night.

Both the Third and the Fifth are okay with submitting a single notice that lists all open cases you are appointed on in that court. Submit the notice via TrueFiling attached to only one case for that court (and one set of fees).

13. Who do I contact if I have questions?

If you have any questions about using our eService email, please contact support staff member Stephanie Feilzer.
If you have questions about TrueFiling, please contact customer service at TrueFiling.