King County Clerk’s Office 2005 Updates
By Barbara Miner
Electronic Filing
By the time you read this, the Clerk’s Office/Department of Judicial Adminis-tration in conjunction with the Superior Court will have implemented the most complex part of the Electronic Court Records (ECR) Program, Electronic Filing (E-filing). E-filing, as you may know, allows delivery of court case documents to the Clerk via the Internet.
In this state, electronic filing has been authorized and is governed by GR 30. With E-filing, no paper record has to be created-electronic documents are uploaded in standard formats, PDF or TIF (scanned images). The E-Filing application will also have electronic forms to complete and E-File while on line; these will be mostly the standard court forms frequently used by filers, including pro se litigants.
The King County Clerk’s E-Filing system places E-Filings in the ECR document management system used here since 2000. The Clerk’s Office Web site (www.metrokc.gov/kcscc) will provide the interface for E-Filing-a filer just logs on with a browser and needs no special software to proceed. In later versions, the system will provide more capabilities and enhancements, particularly for frequent E-Filers. During 2005, we will be developing tools for litigants to receive service electronically, similar to how federal court E-filing works. We are also discussing how we might manage submission of proposed orders for judicial consideration and handling of other documents directed to the Court.
Several volunteers in E-Filing pilot projects have been testing and commenting on the system over the last few months. Issues discovered through the pilot projects will lead to some modifications before E-Filing is made available to all filers. We in the Clerk’s Office are all grateful to the pilot project members for their time, patience, and thoughtful suggestions through the project.
Remote Access
Many of you have had the opportunity over the last four years to visit the Clerk’s Office and view court files electronically via the ECR system. And many of you have wondered (out loud), “When can I have access to this system in my office?” Finally, we have an answer for you. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the State Supreme Court adopted GR 31, which puts in place the ground work for allowing remote access to electronic court records like King County’s ECR system.
This Court is currently in the process of making local policy decisions related to remote access and GR 31. Once those decisions are made, the Clerk’s Office will start work to implement the access. As with E-filing, access will be via the Clerk’s Office Website. As work begins on this process, we will be keeping you informed of plans, developments, and schedules.
Will Repository
Pursuant to a legislative change made to RCW 11.12 during the 2004 legislative session, the King County Superior Court Clerk has begun accepting original wills of living testators for deposit into the Clerk’s Will Repository under seal. This is a new line of business for the Clerk’s Office and, hopefully, a valuable service for those of you acting as the sole repository of wills for your clients.
In King County, a party wishing to deposit an original will of a living person must complete a Will Repository Cover Sheet (WRCS), which is available in the Clerk’s Office or on the Clerk’s Web site (www.metrokc.gov/kcscc/forms.htm). A filing fee of $20 is required to deposit a will in the Clerk’s Will Repository. An index will be maintained in the Superior Court Management Information System (SCOMIS) under the name and date of birth of the testator.
After the death of the testator, and upon request and presentation of a certified copy of the death certificate, the will will be unsealed.
The Clerk’s Office will retain deposited wills or the record of their withdrawal for 100 years.
We hope you find this new service to be of use to you.
Barbara Miner is Director of the King County Department of Judicial Administration/Superior Court Clerk. The Clerk’s Office Website is www.metrokc.gov/kcscc. The Clerk’s office is always working to improve its site and appreciates questions, comments, and suggestions.
