Electronic filing (e-filing) is the process of filing legal documents with courts and other government and nongovernment entities (arbitration administrators) electronically—often through a website—rather than mailing or delivering paper copies of the documents to be filed.
In New York, electronic filing (e-filing) has become an integral part of the legal system, allowing attorneys and self-represented litigants to file legal documents with courts electronically. The New York State Unified Court System offers an e-filing system known as the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system. This system is available for many types of cases in both the Supreme and lower courts. E-filing is mandatory in many types of cases and in many counties throughout the state, although there are exceptions where traditional paper filing is still used. The system is designed to increase efficiency, reduce paper use, and provide easier access to court records. Users must register for an account on the NYSCEF website to file documents electronically. Training is available for those unfamiliar with the system. Additionally, arbitration administrators may have their own electronic systems for filing documents related to arbitration proceedings.