eFiling vs Physical Filing in Los Angeles: When You Still Need a Court Courier

On efiling vs physical filing in Los Angeles, the rule is simple: attorneys in LA Superior Court civil and probate cases must eFile, and the federal court in Los Angeles runs on CM/ECF. Paper didn’t disappear, though. Courtesy copies, lodged documents, trial exhibits, records lodged conditionally under seal, bonds and original wills still have to reach a courthouse physically, and those are the jobs a court courier handles now.

This guide sorts the two using LASC’s general order and FAQs and the Central District of California’s local rules. It covers logistics, not legal strategy. Judges add their own requirements, so check the courtroom’s rules and the current operative order for your case.

Who must eFile in Los Angeles Superior Court

The civil mandate comes from LASC’s First Amended General Order re Mandatory Electronic Filing for Civil (2019-GEN-014-00, dated May 3, 2019). It requires represented litigants to eFile through an approved electronic filing service provider (EFSP) under California Rules of Court, rule 2.253(b). The court can’t take eFilings directly.

Two groups sit outside the mandate. Self-represented litigants are exempt, and any party can apply to be excused for undue hardship or significant prejudice. The LASC civil eFiling FAQ says attorneys with cases in the Central District apply to Department 1 in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, using Judicial Council forms EFS-007 and EFS-008. The same FAQ confirms fax filing ended at 12:01 a.m. on November 14, 2022.

Probate works the same way for lawyers. The LASC Probate eFiling FAQ (dated April 2026) says attorneys are required to eFile in probate cases and self-represented litigants aren’t.

So most pleadings and motions never need a runner. What’s left is the paper the rules carve out.

What still goes to the courthouse on paper

Section 4 of the general order lists documents that “shall not be filed electronically” in civil cases. They are:

• Peremptory challenges or challenges for cause of a judicial officer under CCP §170.6 or §170.3
• Bonds and undertakings
• Trial and evidentiary hearing exhibits
• Ex parte applications filed at the same time as a new complaint, including those going to the Writs and Receivers departments at Stanley Mosk
• Documents submitted conditionally under seal (the motion itself is eFiled)

Lodgments are handled separately. The Notice of Lodgment is eFiled, but the documents attached to it are lodged or served in paper. According to the civil FAQ, exempt documents other than lodgments supporting a motion go to the Clerk’s Office of the Civil Division where the case is assigned, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or by mail.

Records lodged conditionally under seal

Sealing requests follow their own steps. Rule 2.551(d) says a paper record lodged conditionally under seal goes in a sealed envelope or container. LASC’s FAQ adds that a conformed copy of the eFiled sealing motion must be attached and the package delivered directly to the assigned courtroom. Once a judge orders a document sealed, the general order says it’s eFiled with the sealed designation.

Probate originals

Probate carries the most paper. The probate FAQ lists testamentary instruments (wills and codicils), letters, original trust documents, bonds, trial and hearing exhibits and lodged documents as exceptions to eFiling. Those can be filed at the Probate Division clerk’s office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or by mail.

Original wills also carry a statutory deadline. Probate Code §8200 requires the custodian of a will to deliver it to the superior court clerk within 30 days after learning of the testator’s death, either personally or by registered or certified mail. Whether a courier hand delivery fits the statute’s delivery methods is a question for the responsible attorney, so settle it before anyone picks up the will.

LASC courtesy copies and ex parte timing

Courtesy copies are the biggest source of paper runs in LA civil practice. Section 9 of the general order and the civil FAQ require a printed courtesy copy, with proof of electronic submission, for these filings no matter when they were eFiled:

• Any printed document a standing or general order requires
• Pleadings and motions of 26 pages or more, counting declarations and exhibits
• Pleadings and motions that include points and authorities
• Demurrers and anti-SLAPP filings under CCP §425.16
• Motions for summary judgment or adjudication, and motions to compel further discovery
• Oppositions to ex parte applications

Timing is tight near a hearing. For a document eFiled two or fewer days before the hearing, the courtesy copy must reach the courtroom by 4:30 p.m. that business day, or by 10:00 a.m. the next business day if eFiled after 4:30 p.m. Judges can ask for more, and LASC posts courtroom-specific guidelines online.

Ex parte work runs on its own clock. Applications must be eFiled by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the hearing, and written oppositions by 8:30 a.m. on the hearing day, with a printed courtesy copy handed to the court that day. Probate differs: an opposition eFiled by 4:00 p.m. needs no courtesy copy; a later one does.

Rejections, filing times and conformed copies

An eFiling isn’t filed until the court accepts it. Under CCP §1010.6(e)(3) and the general order, a document received between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day is filed that day if accepted. One received on a non-court day is filed the next court day.

The civil FAQ says the court tries to confirm filings within two business days. A Notice of Rejection gives the reason; you correct and resubmit, and if that makes you late, you apply to the court for relief. Common reasons LASC lists include combining several documents into one PDF, choosing the wrong document name or court location, mismatched party information, duplicate submissions, and PDFs that aren’t bookmarked or text searchable.

Conformed copies come back through the EFSP, stamped in the upper right of the first page. Some things still travel by mail: if a judge revises a proposed order or signs by hand, the FAQ says it’s mailed to the submitting party. Certified copies are requested from the records unit by mail or in person.

Federal court: C.D. Cal. CM/ECF and chambers copies

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California uses CM/ECF, and its Local Civil Rules (June 1, 2026) keep paper in a few defined places.

The largest is L.R. 5-4.5. Unless the assigned judge orders otherwise, one mandatory chambers copy of every eFiled document must reach the judge’s chambers or designated location by 12:00 noon the next business day. The copy has to be printed from CM/ECF with the ECF header on each page, include the Notice of Electronic Filing as the last page, follow L.R. 11-3 formatting such as blue-backing and tabbed exhibits, and be labeled MANDATORY CHAMBERS COPY on the face page. Each judge’s delivery location, copy count and deadline are posted on the court’s CM/ECF website, so check before every run.

L.R. 5-4.2 sets the exceptions. Pro se litigants may file on paper or through the Electronic Document Submission System. Nonpaper physical exhibits and oversized paper exhibits are lodged with the clerk or submitted at trial. Some sealed documents go on paper unless L.R. 79-5 requires eFiling. Timeliness is set by L.R. 5-4.6.1: transmissions must finish before midnight Pacific time. If CM/ECF fails, L.R. 5-4.6.2 has the filer try at least twice, an hour apart, and then allows a paper filing that same day if time permits.

eFiling vs physical filing in Los Angeles: task table

Here’s the summary for a represented party. Confirm details against the current order and the judge’s procedures.

Task	eFile	Paper	Courier needed?
Motion or pleading, LASC civil	Yes, through an EFSP	Courtesy copy if on LASC’s list	Often, for the courtesy copy
Demurrer or MSJ, LASC civil	Yes	Printed courtesy copy with proof of eFiling	Yes
Filing within 2 days of hearing, LASC	Yes	Courtesy copy by 4:30 p.m. same day (10 a.m. next day if eFiled late)	Yes, same day
Ex parte opposition, LASC civil	By 8:30 a.m. hearing day	Courtesy copy at the hearing	Usually
Documents attached to a Notice of Lodgment	Notice only	Lodged documents	Yes
Records lodged conditionally under seal	Motion only	Sealed envelope with conformed motion, to courtroom	Yes
CCP §170.6 challenge, bond or undertaking	No	Clerk’s office or mail	Yes, if time matters
Trial or evidentiary hearing exhibits	No	Delivered to court	Yes
Original will (Prob. Code §8200)	No	Clerk, in person or registered/certified mail	Ask the attorney
C.D. Cal. filing	Yes, CM/ECF	Mandatory chambers copy by noon next business day	Yes, unless the judge waives it
C.D. Cal. physical exhibit	No	Lodged with the clerk	Yes

Working with a court courier

Give your courier the case number, courthouse, department or judge, document type and the real deadline (4:30 p.m. for a same-day courtesy copy, noon for a C.D. Cal. chambers copy). Include the proof of electronic submission or NEF with each courtesy copy, and put sealed materials in their sealed envelope before pickup.

Then ask about proof. For a clerk’s office filing, you want a conformed copy or receipt returned. For a courtroom delivery, get the name of the person who took it and the time. For originals like wills, agree on the delivery method with the supervising attorney before the courier leaves your office.

More on court runs is on our legal courier page, and our Los Angeles courier page covers non-court deliveries around the county. Firms with Arizona matters can see how we handle Maricopa County filings on our legal courier Phoenix page, and the legal industry page links our other law-firm resources.

Related guides: before booking a paper run, check the 2026-27 court holiday and filing deadline calendar for closures. It shows which days LA, San Diego, Phoenix and Houston courts are closed and how deadlines roll forward.

Frequently asked questions

Is eFiling mandatory in Los Angeles Superior Court?

For attorneys, yes, in civil and probate cases. LASC’s First Amended General Order requires represented litigants in Limited and Non-Complex Unlimited civil cases to eFile through an approved EFSP, and the probate FAQ says attorneys must eFile in probate. Self-represented litigants are exempt but may choose to eFile. Check the operative order for your case type.

Can self-represented litigants file on paper in LA?

Yes. California Rules of Court, rule 2.253 exempts self-represented parties from mandatory electronic filing, and LASC’s civil and probate FAQs say they may eFile if they want to. In federal court, C.D. Cal. L.R. 5-4.2 lets pro se litigants file on paper or through the Electronic Document Submission System unless the court orders otherwise.

When is a courtesy copy due in LASC?

For filings eFiled two or fewer days before a hearing, by 4:30 p.m. the same business day, or 10:00 a.m. the next business day if eFiled after 4:30 p.m. Some filings need a printed copy whatever the timing, including demurrers, summary judgment motions and motions with points and authorities. Check the courtroom’s own guidelines too.

What happens if LASC rejects my eFiling?

The Notice of Rejection states the reason. You correct the problem and resubmit through your EFSP. A rejected filing doesn’t keep its original date, so if the rejection makes you miss a deadline, LASC’s FAQ says you must apply to the court for relief or another corrective order. File early enough to leave time for a resubmission.

Can an original will be eFiled in Los Angeles?

No. LASC’s probate eFiling FAQ lists wills and codicils among the documents excepted from eFiling. Probate Code §8200 requires the custodian to deliver the original to the superior court clerk within 30 days after learning of the death, personally or by registered or certified mail. Confirm the method with the responsible attorney.

Does C.D. Cal. still require paper chambers copies?

By default, yes. L.R. 5-4.5 requires one mandatory chambers copy of every eFiled document by noon the next business day, printed from CM/ECF with the NEF attached and labeled on the face page. Judges can change the count, location or deadline, or waive copies, in their posted procedures, so check the assigned judge’s page.

Sources

• Los Angeles Superior Court: First Amended General Order re Mandatory Electronic Filing for Civil (2019-GEN-014-00)
• Los Angeles Superior Court: Civil Efiling FAQ (revised May 24, 2024)
• Los Angeles Superior Court: Probate Efiling FAQ (04/26)
• California Rules of Court, rule 2.253
• California Rules of Court, rule 2.551
• California Probate Code §8200
• California Code of Civil Procedure §1010.6
• U.S. District Court, C.D. Cal.: Local Civil Rules, Chapter I (June 1, 2026)

Have a courtesy copy, lodgment or original that has to reach a Los Angeles courthouse today? Call (323) 744-1900 or request a quote.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by the Power House Courier dispatch team.