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How e-filing works in LITEFile

Welcome to LITEFile! This tool helps you submit your legal forms and court documents directly to the court clerk online from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

You don't need to visit the courthouse, stand in line at the clerk's window, or figure out complicated numeric court codes. LITEFile guides you through the process step by step, helps you check that you have the right documents, and delivers your forms securely to the court.

Your filing journey: 6 simple milestones​

Here is the straightforward path you'll follow from start to finish:

What screens you'll see along the way​

As you move through the tool, here is what each step does and what you'll do on each screen:

1. Choosing your path​

  • What you see: A choice between Starting a new case or Filing into an existing case.
  • What you do: If you are opening a case for the first time (like asking for a Name Change or filing a new complaint), choose Start a new case. If you already have a case number and are responding to court papers (like filing an Answer or an Appearance), choose File into an existing case.

2. Uploading your completed documents​

  • What you see: A file upload box where you can drag and drop your files.
  • What you do: Upload your completed, signed PDF forms. Your primary form (like your Petition or Complaint) is your Lead Document. Any accompanying forms (like a Proposed Order or Notice) are your Supporting Documents.
What to know about your documents
  • Format: Court systems require files in PDF format (.pdf).
  • Signatures: Make sure you have signed and dated your forms before uploading.
  • File size: Keep each file under 10 MB (standard phone scans and digital PDFs easily meet this limit).

3. Automatic form reading & case review​

  • What you see: A screen showing the court name, case category, and case type that LITEFile detected from your uploaded PDF.
  • What you do: Review what the tool found. If it correctly identified your court and case type, click confirm! If something looks off, simply choose the correct option from the dropdown menu.

4. Case lookup (if you have an existing case)​

  • What you see: A search box for your court and case number.
  • What you do: Enter your case number (for example, 2026-MR-001234). LITEFile connects to the court records to find your case title, judge, and registered parties so you don't have to type them all in by hand.

5. Checking your document checklist​

  • What you see: A tailored checklist of forms commonly needed for your specific case type (like a Name Change or an Eviction defense).
  • What you do: Review the list to see if you have everything you need:
    • Always needed: The main forms the court requires to open your matter.
    • Usually needed: Standard forms like proposed orders or notices.
    • Sometimes needed: Conditional forms like fee waivers or publication notices.
The checklist is a helpful guide

The checklist is here to help you avoid missing court forms—it never stops or blocks you from filing if your situation is different.

6. Organizing your documents​

  • What you see: Your uploaded documents listed with options to label their official court document type and security level.
  • What you do: Select the document name (e.g., Petition, Appearance, Proposed Order) and set whether the document is Public or contains confidential information.

7. Confirming who is involved (parties)​

  • What you see: Your contact information (name, address, phone, email) and the names of any other people involved in the case (Petitioner/Plaintiff and Respondent/Defendant).
  • What you do: Check that your contact details are up to date so the court clerk knows where to send official notices.

8. Paying the court fee or applying for a fee waiver​

  • What you see: Payment account options (credit card / bank account) and a Fee Waiver option.
  • What you do:
    • If you can pay the court filing fee, select your payment method.
    • If you have low income or receive public assistance (such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI), select Fee Waiver and attach your completed Application for Waiver of Court Fees.

9. Final review & one-click submission​

  • What you see: A complete, easy-to-read summary of your entire filing package.
  • What you do: Double-check everything, click Submit Filing, and receive your official Envelope Tracking ID.

What happens after you submit?​

Once you hit submit:

  1. Receipt email: You will receive an instant email confirming your submission.
  2. Clerk review: A deputy clerk at your local courthouse reviews your paperwork (usually within 1 to 3 business days).
  3. Approved stamped copies: When approved, you will receive an email with official court-stamped copies of your filed documents.

Ready to explore the screens?​

Take a look at the step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots to see exactly what each screen looks like.