SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals took another step toward improving court efficiency with the implementation last week of electronic filing and electronic service. The courts implemented TrueFiling, an e-filing system from Southfield-based ImageSoft Inc.
For the next several weeks, the use of TrueFiling is limited to a test group of filers at both courts, but following a successful test run, it is slated to be available to all filers on Jan. 5. Electronic filing in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals is currently voluntary, but the courts may decide to make it mandatory at some point in the future. Other than paying the statutory filing fees when applicable, there is no additional cost to the filer to use TrueFiling. (There are no transaction charges or credit card processing fees charged to filers.)
TrueFiling, which will eventually replace the Court of Appeals’ current e-filing system, is a Web-based e-filing product that allows attorneys to electronically file documents to the courts from anywhere an Internet connection is available — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also enables real-time communication with the courts through a web portal. ImageSoft says it will also streamline and accelerate the courts’ internal processes with automated workflow and drastically reduce paper handling, improving efficiency for the courts and the filers.
For the courts, e-filing means more efficient use of resources. For attorneys, it may mean less time spent travelling to and from the courts to file paper documents, as well as cost savings by eliminating the need to copy, process and deliver thousands of paper documents each year. TrueFiling also offers a bundling feature that enables filers to combine several filings for a single case into one transaction and creates a system-generated proof of service.
“With electronic filing at the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, the public will benefit from even better customer service and the added convenience of 24/7 access to file important documents,” said ImageSoft President Scott Bade. “TrueFiling has consistently received high marks from end users. It is a true multi-jurisdictional solution that is built for the complex law firm, but is also simple enough for the self-represented filer. TrueFiling has been in production for several years in both Michigan and other states, and we have gotten great feedback and feature suggestions from the legal community, which we have incorporated into the product.”
Founded in 1996, ImageSoft provides document and process management products to automate, streamline and improve court and government processes. In addition to its Southfield headquarters, ImageSoft has offices in Raleigh, N.C., and Portland, Ore.
More at www.imagesoftinc.com.