May 17, 2017 – Mandatory e-filing in Wisconsin began almost one year ago, initiating a digital approach to filing and changing the way people conduct business with Wisconsin circuit courts. The e-filing system continues to evolve with additional tools to meet filing needs.

What are the New Website Enhancements?

According to the Director of State Courts Office, Office of Court Operations, the following updates were recently introduced on the e-filing website:

• Uncertified copies of court documents are now accessible to filers. Uncertified copies provide filers with the ability to access annotation and editing features, and the flexibility to create multiple PDF documents when necessary.

• Nonparty filers are no longer subject to the 10-document upload maximum. Instead, the court has implemented CAPTCHA to help mitigate malicious activity. CAPTCHA will be streamlined with the next software release to require only a single checkbox selection to determine user authenticity.

• The Affidavit of Nonmilitary Service is replaced with the Declaration of Nonmilitary Service. Please select this document type from the drop down when e-filing this document.

What’s on the Horizon?

• Enhancements are being developed to accommodate e-filing for special prosecutors and municipal attorneys.

• The e-filing system will expand later this year with additional case types: civil liens, judgments, mental commitment, and guardianship cases. E-filing for these case types will begin as voluntary and become mandatory in 2018.

Who's E-filing Near You?

• Nine counties have recently rolled out mandatory e-filing: Dane, Iron, Menominee, Polk, Price, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, and Washburn.

• During May, June, and July, 11 more counties will begin mandatory e-filing: Langlade, Lincoln, Forest, Lafayette, Sauk, Kenosha, Marinette, Crawford, Grant, Sheboygan, and Door.

• Eleven counties are also beginning to implement voluntary e-filing for probate and informal probate cases: Ashland, Bayfield, Columbia, Florence, Iron, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Shawano, Taylor, and Walworth.

No Need to E-file Discovery Documents

There is often confusion about whether to e-file discovery documents. Do not share discovery documents through the e-filing system. In addition, unless cover letters contain valuable information not found in the filing documents, there is no need to create and e-file this type of document either. Once a document is e-filed, it is unnecessary to also mail and/or fax the filing to the clerk.

For more information, please see the circuit court e-filing website.