GR 30
                                  ELECTRONIC FILING


    (a)  Definitions

    (1)  "Digital signature" is defined in RCW 19.34.020.

    (2)  "Electronic Filing" is the electronic transmission of information to a
court or clerk for case processing.

    (3)  "Electronic Document" is an electronic version of information
traditionally filed in paper form, except for documents filed by facsimile
which are addressed in GR 17.  An electronic document has the same legal effect
as a paper document.

    (4)  "Electronic Filing Technical Standards" are those standards, not
inconsistent with this rule, adopted by the Judicial Information System
committee to implement electronic filing.

    (5)  "Filer" is the person whose user ID and password are used to file an
electronic document.


                                     Comment

The form of "digital signature" that is acceptable is not limited to
the procedure defined by chapter 19.34 RCW, but may include
other equivalently reliable forms of authentication as adopted by
local court rule or general.

    (b)  Electronic filing authorization, exception, service, and technology equipment.

    (1)  The clerk may accept for filing an electronic document that complies with
the Court Rules and the Electronic Filing Technical Standards.

    (2)   A document that is required by law to be filed in non-electronic media
may not be electronically filed.


                                      Comment

Certain documents are required by law to be filed in non-electronic media.  Examples
are original wills, certified records of proceedings for purposes of appeal, negotiable
instruments, and documents of foreign governments under official seal.

    (3)  Electronic Transmission from the Court.  The clerk may electronically
transmit notices, orders, or other documents to a party who has filed
electronically, or has agreed to accept electronic documents from the court,
and has provided the clerk the address of the party's electronic mailbox.  It
is the responsibility of the filing or agreeing party to maintain an electronic
mailbox sufficient to receive electronic transmissions of notices, orders, and other documents.

    (4)  Electronic Service by Parties.  Parties may electronically serve documents
on other parties of record only by agreement.

    (5)  A court may adopt a local rule that mandates electronic filing by
attorneys provided that the attorneys are not additionally required to file
paper copies except for those documents set forth in (b)(2). The local rule
shall not be inconsistent with this Rule and the Electronic Filing Technical
Standards, and the local rule shall permit paper filing upon a showing of good
cause. Electronic filing should not serve as a barrier to access.


                                        Comment

When adopting electronic filing requirements, courts should refrain from requiring
counsel to provide duplicate paper pleadings as "working copies" for judicial officers.

    (c) Time of Filing, Confirmation, and Rejection.

    (1)  An electronic document is filed when it is received by the clerk's
designated computer during the clerk's business hours; otherwise the document
is considered filed at the beginning of the next business day.

    (2)  The clerk shall issue confirmation to the filing party that an electronic
document has been received.

    (3)  The clerk may reject a document that fails to comply with applicable electronic
filing requirements.  The clerk must notify the filing party of the rejection and
the reason therefor.

    (d) Authentication of Electronic Documents.

    (1)  Procedures

    (A)   A person filing an electronic document must have received a user ID and
password from a government agency or a person delegated by such agency in order
to use the applicable electronic filing service.


                                          Comment

The committee encourages local clerks and courts to develop a protocol for uniform
statewide single user ID's and passwords.

    (B)   All electronic documents must be filed by using the user ID and password
of the filer.

    (C)  A filer is responsible for all documents filed with his or her user ID
and password.  No one shall use the filer's user ID and password without the
authorization of the filer.

    (2)  Signatures

    (A)  Attorney Signatures - An electronic document which requires an attorney's
signature may be signed with a digital signature or signed in the following manner:

		s/ John Attorney
		State Bar Number 12345
		ABC Law Firm
		123 South Fifth Avenue
		Seattle, WA 98104
		Telephone: (206) 123-4567
		Fax: (206) 123-4567
		E-mail: John.Attorney@lawfirm.com

    (B)  Non-attorney signatures - An electronic document which requires a non-
attorney's signature and is not signed under penalty of perjury may be signed
with a digital signature or signed in the following manner:

		s/ John Citizen
		123 South Fifth Avenue
		Seattle, WA 98104
		Telephone: (206) 123-4567
		Fax: (206) 123-4567
		E-mail: John.Citizen@email.com

    (C)  Non-attorney signatures on documents signed under penalty of perjury -
Except as set forth in (d)(2)(D) of this rule, if the original document
requires the signature of a non-attorney signed under penalty of perjury, the
filer must either:

    (i)  Scan and electronically file the entire document, including the signature
page with the signature, and maintain the original signed paper document for
the duration of the case, including any period of appeal, plus sixty (60) days
thereafter; or

    (ii) Ensure the electronic document has the digital signature of the signer.

    (D)  Law enforcement officer signatures on documents signed under penalty of perjury.

    (i)  A citation or notice of infraction initiated by an arresting or citing
officer as defined in IRLJ 1.2(j) and in accordance with CrRLJ 2.1 or IRLJ 2.1
and 2.2 is presumed to have been signed when the arresting or citing officer
uses his or her user id and password to electronically file the citation or
notice of infraction.

    (ii) Any document initiated by a law enforcement officer is presumed to have
been signed when the officer uses his or her user ID and password to
electronically submit the document to a court or prosecutor through the
Statewide Electronic Collision & Traffic Online Records application, the
Justice Information Network Data Exchange, or a local secured system that the
presiding judge designates by local rule.  Unless otherwise specified, the
signature shall be presumed to have been made under penalty of perjury under
the laws of the State of Washington and on the date and at the place set forth
in the citation.

    (E)  Multiple signatures - If the original document requires multiple
signatures, the filer shall scan and electronically file the entire document,
including the signature page with the signatures, unless:

    (i) The electronic document contains the digital signatures of all signers; or

    (ii) For a document that is not signed under penalty of perjury, the signator
has the express authority to sign for an attorney or party and represents having
that authority in the document.

If any of the non-digital signatures are of non-attorneys, the filer shall maintain
the original signed paper document for the duration of the case, including any
period of appeal, plus sixty (60) days thereafter.

    (F) Court Facilitated Electronically Captured Signatures - An electronic document
that requires a signature may be signed using electronic signature pad equipment
that has been authorized and facilitated by the court.  This document may be
electronically filed as long as the electronic document contains the electronic
captured signature.

    (3)  An electronic document filed in accordance with this rule shall bind the
signer and function as the signer's signature for any purpose, including CR 11.
An electronic document shall be deemed the equivalent of an original signed
document if the filer has complied with this rule.  All electronic documents
signed under penalty of perjury must conform to the oath language requirements
set forth in RCW 9A.72.085 and GR 13.

    (e) Filing fees, electronic filing fees.

    (1)  The clerk is not required to accept electronic documents that require a
fee.  If the clerk does accept electronic documents that require a fee, the
local courts must develop procedures for fee collection that comply with the
payment and reconciliation standards established by the Administrative Office
of the Courts and the Washington State Auditor.

    (2)  Anyone entitled to waiver of non-electronic filing fees will not be
charged electronic filing fees.  The court or clerk shall establish an
application and waiver process consistent with the application and waiver
process used with respect to non-electronic filing and filing fees.


[Adopted effective September 1, 2003; December 4, 2007; September 1, 2011.]