How to Fax Court Documents | Filings, Pleadings, Legal | SecurelyFax
Whether a court accepts faxed filings depends on the jurisdiction and the document type. Many state and county courts still take certain documents by fax; federal courts generally require electronic filing through CM/ECF. Check the court's local rules first, then send online from any device and keep the delivery confirmation in case the filing is questioned.
Check the court's local rules before you send
Filing rules are set by each court, not by any fax service. Look up the court's local rules (often titled "local rules of practice" or similar) for the specific document type — civil motion, criminal filing, probate petition, family-law form — to confirm whether fax is permitted, what cover-page information is required, and whether a filing fee or fax-filing surcharge applies.
What's commonly faxed to courts and law offices
Examples include subpoenas and proofs of service, motions and supporting affidavits, ex parte applications, stipulations, declarations, probate documents (notices of administration, orders, inventories), guardianship and conservatorship forms, family-law responses, and routine correspondence between counsel. Attorneys also fax retainer agreements, discovery requests, and document-production correspondence between offices.
Cover-page essentials for filings
Most courts that accept fax filings require a cover page with the case caption, case number, document title, page count, sender's name and contact information, and sometimes a direct callback number. A wrong page count or missing case number is the most common reason a clerk rejects a faxed filing — double-check before you send.
Fax a court document online
-
1
Confirm fax is permitted for this filingCheck the court's local rules and any filing-fee schedule for fax-filed documents.
-
2
Prepare a clean cover pageInclude case caption, case number, document title, total page count, and sender contact info.
-
3
Combine pages into a single PDFCover page first, then exhibits in the order they're referenced.
-
4
Send and save the confirmationSend to the court's filing fax number and save the delivery confirmation with the file copy in case the filing is questioned later.
SecurelyFax transmits documents and keeps a delivery confirmation. It is not legal advice and does not replace a court's official filing record. For deadline-sensitive filings, consider whether your court requires electronic filing or a wet-signature original — many do.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file a court document by fax?
It depends on the court. Many state and county courts still accept fax filings for specific document types; federal courts generally require electronic filing through CM/ECF. Check the local rules.
What goes on a filing cover page?
Case caption, case number, document title, page count, and sender contact information. Some courts also require a callback number or filing-fee authorization.
What about deadline-sensitive filings?
Check the court's rule on when a fax filing is considered timely — some count the time the fax begins, others count receipt. A delivery confirmation timestamp can matter.
Can I fax to another attorney's office?
Yes. Inter-firm fax is still routine for stipulations, discovery, and document production.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-10