E-FILING allows you to add as many Checking Accounts or Credit Cards as you wish to use. Notes

THOMAS A. KLEIN WINNEBAGO COUNTY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

E-FILING

Manual

Thank you for your interest in the Winnebago County E-filing Program. Attached is a walk through intended to assist you as you e-file with our county. Our E-Filing Administrator is also always available to assist you with your e-filing questions and will address any concerns you may have. We look forward to partnering with you to advance this program.

V8

Table of Contents

CONTACT INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 3

Amy Havens, E-FILING ADMINISTRATOR ..................................................................................................................................... 3

REGISTERING TO E-FILE ........................................................................................................................................................ 3

TO BEGIN REGISTERING .................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Locate the Attorney E-Filing tab .......................................................................................................................................... 3

Fill in the Attorney E-Filing Registration form ..................................................................................................................... 4

After the clerk has reviewed and approved your registration request ................................................................................ 6

ATTORNEY PORTAL .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

REGISTER YOUR E-FILING ACCOUNT .................................................................................................................................... 7

SETTING UP PAYMENT METHODS ........................................................................................................................................ 8

DRAWDOWN ACCOUNTS ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

WALLETS ACCOUNTS..................................................................................................................................................................... 8

SETTING UP CITEPAYUSA ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

MANAGING CITEPAYUSA ACCOUNTS ................................................................................................................................... 9

CREDIT CARD OPTION ................................................................................................................................................................. 10

CHECKING ACCOUNT OPTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 11

FILE A NEW CIVIL CASE ....................................................................................................................................................... 12

TO BEGIN FILING A NEW CIVIL CASE ................................................................................................................................................. 12

Select the correct case type category ................................................................................................................................ 12

Add Litigants ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Adding Additional Filings .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Request A Hearing / Request Case Sealed ........................................................................................................................ 14

Attaching Documents ........................................................................................................................................................ 14

FILE ON EXISTING CIVIL CASE ............................................................................................................................................. 16

TO BEGIN FILING ON EXISTING CIVIL CASE ......................................................................................................................................... 16

Add Litigants ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Adding Filings To An Existing Case .................................................................................................................................... 17

Request A Hearing / Request Case Sealed ........................................................................................................................ 17

Attaching Documents ........................................................................................................................................................ 17

MAKING A FILING PAYMENT.............................................................................................................................................. 19

DRAWDOWN ACCOUNT ............................................................................................................................................................... 19

WALLET ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19

CitePayUSA Receipt ........................................................................................................................................................... 20

MANAGING YOUR EXISTING CASES ................................................................................................................................... 21

Monitor Case Filings .......................................................................................................................................................... 21

Filing Status ....................................................................................................................................................................... 21

HOW TO CREATE A DESKTOP SHORTCUT ........................................................................................................................... 24

Internet Explorer: .............................................................................................................................................................. 24

Google Chrome.................................................................................................................................................................. 25

Contact Information Any questions or concerns contact:

Amy Havens, E-Filing Administrator

[email protected] 815-319-4579

Registering To E-File

To begin registering, please visit our website at www.cc.wincoil.us

Locate the Attorney E-Filing tab located on the right hand side of our home page.

http://www.cc.wincoil.us/

Page 4 of 25 E-Filing Manual V8

This form will help us to load your information, approve your request, and enter you as an e-filer in our system.

You will only need to visit this form once per attorney. Fill in the Attorney E-Filing Registration form, making note to address each line marked with an asterisk.

Attorney Information

Payment Method


Staff Contact Information

Authorization Information

Notes:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________


You will receive an automated response from our system that will confirm your registration was successfully submitted.

Submission Confirmation

After the clerk has reviewed and approved your registration request, you will receive an email with a link to click. This link will bring you to the Attorney Portal.

Email Notification & Link

Notes:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________


Attorney Portal

This portal will be your direct connection to the clerk’s office and will be used to e-file your documents. A shortcut to this link may be placed on your desktop for easy access. See page 24.

Register Your E-Filing Account

It is at this point that you will need to confirm all information is correct, choose a password, and click the red Register button.

You will receive an automated response from our system notifying you that your request has been saved.


Setting up Payment Methods

Drawdown Accounts, contact our E-Filing Administrator. Subject to a $2,500 minimum initial

deposit per attorney, and restored at a minimum $2,500 increment deposit per attorney.

Wallets Accounts are set up with CitePayUSA and may be used with a checking account (with No

additional fees) or a credit card (4% per transaction). Transaction fees only apply to filings incurring

statutory fees.

You will need to login into the Attorney Portal, if using a wallet, and set up your account.

Go to the right side click Welcome Back for a drop down menu. Choose My Profile to begin.

You will need to choose a Wallet Name and create a Wallet Password to protect access to your wallet information.


After the Wallet is created, click the red Manage button to set up your payment preference with CitePayUSA.

Setting up CitePayUSA

Your E-Filing Payments Login password will be necessary to make any changes to your payment preferences, and will redirect you to the CitePayUSA E-Filing Payments page.

Managing CitePayUSA Accounts

After login, choose to add a credit card or add a checking account.


Credit Card Option

Enter your credit card information and click the red Save Changes button.

After reading the CitePayUSA Terms and Conditions pop up, click the “I Agree” button to proceed.

Your Wallet will now reflect your new payment option.

CitePayUSA allows you to add as many Checking Accounts or Credit Cards as you wish to use.

Notes:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________


Checking Account Option

Enter your checking account information and click the red Save Changes button.

After reading the CitePayUSA Terms and Conditions pop up, click the “I Agree” button to proceed.

Your Wallet will now reflect your new payment option(s).

Notes:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________


File A New Civil Case

To begin filing a new civil case, login to the Attorney Portal and choose New Case Filing from the Filing dropdown at the top of the page.

Select the proper Court (Winnebago County).

Select the correct case type category for your new filing. Main Filing Type can be found by typing in key words. Choose the red Continue button to proceed to the next page.


Add Litigants

Click the red Add Litigant box to open the Add/Update A Litigant screen.

Add/Update A Litigant

Input all available information regarding each litigant. The Filing Litigant box must be and is only checked on the intial set up of plaintiff’s information.

Repeat, if necessary, to add new litigants until all parties are listed. (This includes all additional party types.)

Click the red Save button after each party has been entered.

THIS BOX IS ONLY CHECKED ON THE INTIAL SET UP OF

PLAINTIFF’S INFORMATION.


All litigants will appear when finished.

Adding Additional Filings

Advance to the Add Filing Type section to enter additional document titles that you may also be filing along with your complaint. These documents can be found by typing in key words.

If you are exempt from filing fees, choose the proper reason for exemption from the drop down menu. You must be pre-approved to use this option. Please contact the E-Filing Administrator for help with exemptions.

Request A Hearing / Request Case Sealed

You may request a hearing by checking the box and typing suggested dates in the blank text field. If a document has been ordered sealed, please refer to that order and date in the blank text field.

Attaching Documents

Click the red Add Document button to attach documents.


Add a Document Description to the text field. Choose a PDF File to Upload. A PDF (Portable

Document Format) is a file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. PDF files are created using Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat Capture, or similar products. Documents must be submitted as separate PDF attachments. Do not send all documents in one PDF. Documents that have incorrect information

will cause the filing to be rejected. Click the red Save button to attach this document. Repeat for

additional documents.

All documents will appear when finished. Click the red Submit button.

Once you have hit submit, go to page 19 for instuction on how to make a payment if a fee is due.

Example: Summons for John Doe

You only check this

box if it is the original

Complaint/Petition.

ATTACH A PDF DOCUMENT


File On Existing Civil Case

To begin filing on existing civil case, login to the Attorney Portal and choose Filing On Existing Case from the Filing dropdown at the top of the page.

Add Litigants

If you have been given leave to file an Amended Complaint, Third Party Complaint, or a Counter Complaint, click the red Add Litigant box to begin adding your litigants.

ONLY DO THIS PAGE

IF YOU HAVE BEEN

GIVEN LEAVE TO FILE

AN AMENDED

COMPLAINT, THIRD

PARTY COMPLAINT,

OR A COUNTER

COMPLAINT.


Adding Filings To An Existing Case

Advance to the Add New Filing Type section to enter document titles that you may be filing. These documents can be found by typing in key words.

If you are exempt from filing fees, choose the proper reason for exemption from the drop down menu. You must be pre-approved to use this option. Please contact the E-Filing Administrator for help with exemptions.

Request A Hearing / Request Case Sealed

You may request a hearing by checking the box and typing suggested dates in the blank text field. If a document has been ordered sealed, please refer to that order and date in the blank text field.

Attaching Documents

Click the red Add Document button to attach documents.


Add a Document Description to the text field. Choose a PDF File to Upload. A PDF (Portable

Document Format) is a file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. PDF files are created using Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat Capture, or similar products. Documents must be submitted as separate PDF attachments. Do not send all documents in one PDF. Documents that have incorrect information

will cause the filing to be rejected. Click the red Save button to attach this document. Repeat for

additional documents.

All documents will appear when finished. Click the red Submit button.

Once you have hit submit, go to page 19 for instuction on how to make a payment if a fee is due.

Example: Summons for John Doe

You only check this

box if it is the original

Complaint/Petition.

ATTACH A PDF DOCUMENT


Making a Filing Payment

With a wallet (credit card or checking account) or drawdown account now set up, you may choose your preferred method of payment.

Drawdown Account

Your transaction is complete when you click the red Pay and File box. You now are able to monitor

case filings after logging into the attorney portal. (see page 21)

Wallet Account

You may have multiple choices. This will depend on how many Wallet Accounts you have set up.

Please note a transaction fee will be reflected and added to your Total Due.

Click the red Pay and File box when finished.


CitePayUSA Receipt

If you paid using a Wallet Account, you will receive a CitePayUSA receipt in your email. This will reflect your filing and transaction fees.

Filings will now be reflected in the Attorney Portal. You will be able to see if the filing is in pending or accepted status.


Managing Your Existing Cases

Monitor Case Filings

To monitor case filings, login to the Attorney Portal and choose Existing Filings from the Filing dropdown at the top of the page.

Filing Status

When you wish to organize your existing filings list, you may put a check in the Hide Filed or Hide Reviewed boxes. The lists may easily be called up by clicking the red Retrieve box.

After the clerk has reviewed and accepted your filing, you will be able to view your file stamped or

issued copies. Print and use these copies for service or for your own records. (see examples on page

22 & 23)

Filing fees/transaction fees are subject to change per statute and vender agreement. The office of the Circuit Clerk reserves the right to reject e-filings that are deemed incorrect or for additional verification of payment. Rejection reasons may include but are not limited to the following: filings with incorrectly attached documents, filings determined to have a filing fee due, filings made in the wrong county, wrong parties, or wrong case numbers.

Thank you for your participation in the Winnebago County E-filing Program. We are happy to expand

our filing options to include this new platform. With your assistance, we look forward to continuing

the advancement of the Circuit Clerk’s office.


12

Copy

Example: Electronic File Stamp


Copy

Example: Electronic Sealed Summons


How to Create a Desktop Shortcut

Internet Explorer:

1. In the URL, open up the website IE: For E-Filing – efile.wincoil.us

2. Select File

3. Select Send 4. Select Shortcut to Desktop

5. Select Yes


Google Chrome

1. In the URL, open up the website IE: For E-Filing – efile.wincoil.us

2. Open up the Settings for Google Chrome

3. Open up Tools/More Tools 4. Select Add to Taskbar