1. Definitions

(a)  "Authorized E-Filer" is a licensed South Carolina attorney in good standing who has registered to E-File through the Attorney Information System.

(b)  "Case Management System Public Index" is the automated system that allows members of the public to access case information and to view and print court documents via the internet through each county's webpage.

(c) "Document" is any pleading, motion, paper, exhibit, or other written attachment that is E-Filed under these Policies and Guidelines.

(d) "Electronic Filing System" or "E-Filing System" is the South Carolina Judicial Branch's automated system for receiving and storing documents filed in electronic form.

(e) "Electronic Signature" is a signature made in compliance with Rule 614, SCACR.

(f) "E-Filing" or "E-File" is the electronic submission of documents by Authorized E-Filers for Electronic Filing with each county's Clerk of Court's Office via the E-Filing System.
 
(g) "Electronic Filing - Filer Interface User Guide" is an E-Filing manual for Authorized E-Filers that contains further instructions and guidance concerning the technical aspects of properly preparing, formatting, and perfecting E-Filings.

(h) "Electronic Service" or "E-Service" is the electronic transmission of notice of an Electronic Filing to an Authorized E-Filer under these Policies and Guidelines via the E-Filing System.

(i)  "Notice of Electronic Filing" or "Notification of Electronic Filing" ("NEF") is a notice automatically generated by the E-Filing System at the time of a filing or other court action. An NEF is transmitted by email to all Authorized E-Filers who have appeared and been entered by the clerk as counsel of record in the case and includes a description of the filing and a list of parties to whom the NEF was transmitted.

(j) "PDF" refers to a Portable Document Format, a universal document format style used for consistency in E-Filing.

(k)  "Supreme Court" refers to the Supreme Court of South Carolina.
 
(l)  "Technical Failure" is a malfunction of court-run hardware, software, or communications that results in the inability of an Authorized E-Filer to submit a document for E-Filing. Technical Failure does not include malfunctioning of an Authorized E-Filer's equipment, software, hardware, or internet connection.
 
(m) "Traditional Filer" is a party or an attorney for a party who is not an Authorized E-Filer and who files and serves paper documents via Traditional methods of filing and service.
 
(n)  "Traditional Filing" is the physical filing of paper documents in the office of the Clerk of Court or as otherwise authorized under the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

(o) "Traditional Service" is the service of a document using the forms or methods of service authorized under the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, or by electronic means pursuant to an order of the Supreme Court issued under Rule 613, SCACR.

(p) "Traditional Signature" is the original, handwritten signature of any person. All persons who are not authorized by Rule 614, SCACR, to use an Electronic Signature, including, but not limited to, paralegals, legal assistants, and notaries, are required to use a Traditional Signature on all E-Filed documents. 

Last amended by Order dated May 27, 2022.