Filing Documents tab: Lower Tribunal Records

This tab provides the ability to upload the records that you intend to file with an Appellate court. Based on the filing type that you selected, the Filing Documents tab automatically displays at least some of the document names that need to be submitted to the court. This step is the most critical part of the PACFile process since no filing can be submitted without the corresponding documents.

Acceptable Electronic Document Formats

All documents must be saved in the PDF file format.

This format is required because other files types might be difficult or impossible for the filing office to open. If you don't have a PDF conversion tool on your computer, many free programs are available for download via the internet that will convert your documents into PDFs. Alternatively, many copier machines with a scanning function have the ability to convert paper documents into PDFs.

Requirements for the submission of electronic documents.

 

 

Uploading Documents

All documents are associated to these filings by using the Manage Documents method.

The Manage Documents icon Manage Documents icon is used to upload documents to PACFile from your computer or a movable storage device (ex. memory stick). Clicking this icon for any filing type opens a popup screen that allows you to browse to the location where the document is saved. Only one document can be selected at any given time, but you can repeat this process if you need to upload multiple documents to a given filing type. If this situation does not apply, do not add any unnecessary documents. When necessary, this process can then be repeated for any other required documents.

If the trial court or agency record contains a Confidential Information Form, or an unredacted document that was filed along with a redacted version, it must be separated from the rest of record and uploaded to the filing independently. Any confidential documents should be uploaded to the Trial Court Record - Sensitive Documents filing type.

 

 

Certification Document

If the primary filing document is Trial Court Record or Supplemental Record, PACFile automatically generates and attaches a certification document to the filing which states that the uploaded materials are true and correct copies.

 

 

Assigning a Confidentiality to a Document

After uploading a document to your filing, a dropdown menu appears to the right of the document’s name. You must select one of the following options that describes the document as it relates to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania ("Policy"):

Confidentialities

  • Not Confidential - Unredacted - The document contains no confidential information or redactions based on Section 7.0 of the Policy and is not considered a confidential document under Section 8.0.

  • Redacted - The document contains confidential information (i.e., social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial account numbers, etc.) that has been redacted based on Section 7.0 of the Policy. The sensitive information must be redacted and replaced with alternative references, which are indirect citations that refer to the unredacted information on a corresponding Confidential Information Form. When a redacted document is added to a filing, a Confidential Information Form must be uploaded separately and categorized as Confidential Information Form.

  • Confidential - Unredacted - The document contains sensitive information that is visible to a reader. Unless the corresponding case is exempted from public access, an unredacted confidential document must be submitted with a redacted version or a Confidential Document Form.

  • Confidential Document - The document is considered wholly confidential based on Section 8.0 of the Policy. These documents (i.e., financial source documents, a minor’s educational records, medical records, etc.) contain sensitive information that is visible to any reader. When a confidential document is added to a filing, a Confidential Document Form must be uploaded separately and categorized as Confidential Document Form.

  • Confidential Document Form - Refers to the standardized cover page that identifies the submission of one or more documents considered wholly confidential by Section 8.0 of the Policy (i.e., financial source documents, a minor’s educational records, medical records, etc.). When a Confidential Document Form is added to a filing, the confidential document(s) should be uploaded separately and categorized as Confidential Document.

  • Confidential Information Form - Refers to the standardized document that contains any sensitive information (i.e., social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial account numbers, etc.) that was redacted in a corresponding document based on Section 7.0 of the Policy. When a Confidential Information Form is added to a filing, the redacted document must be uploaded separately and categorized as Redacted.

If you are submitting a filing with either of the following document combinations, it must be stressed that each document must be uploaded separately, to the same Filing Type, and with distinct confidentialities.

1. 

A Confidential Document Form and the corresponding confidential document.

2. 

A Confidential Information Form and the corresponding redacted document.

 

 

Viewing Uploaded Documents

After uploading a document to a PACFiling, you may want to view it in order to verify that the correct document was selected. You can view a document through the Documents(s) column of the Filing Documents screen, by clicking the Document icon Document icon for the corresponding filing.

 

 

Adding Optional Filings

The primary filing type, or the key reason for initiating the filing, always displays in this tab by default. If additional documents need to be filed that do not display automatically, these can also be associated to your filing by completing the following:

1. 

Click on the Add Optional Filing icon Add Optional Filing icon.

2. 

In the Document Management popup screen, click on the Filing Type dropdown and choose the type that best describes the document you want to upload to your filing.

3. 

Select the Is Included checkbox.

4. 

Click the Add Document icon Add Document icon to add the new filing type.

5. 

Click the CHOOSE File button.

6. 

Upload or attach an electronic document to these filing types using the processes described above.

7. 

Click on the Confidentiality dropdown and choose the option that describes the document as it relates to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania ("Policy").

8. 

Click the SAVE button.

This commonly occurs when it is necessary to file a supplemental record.

 

 

Disclaimer

At the bottom of the Filing Documents tab, you are required to select the I acknowledge the foregoing Disclaimer checkbox in order to submit your filing. Please read the disclaimer carefully to make sure you understand your obligations regarding filed documents and confidential information.

 

 

Removing Filing Types

If the primary filing type is Trial Court Record or Supplemental Record, the following filing types may also appear automatically: Exhibits, Transcripts of Testimony, and Trial Court Opinion. These additional filing types are optional and can be removed by clicking the corresponding Delete icon Delete icon.

 

 

Removing Documents

Any document that has been uploaded or attached to a filing type can be removed from the PACFiling by clicking the corresponding Manage Documents icon Manage Documents icon and then clicking the Delete icon Delete icon for the appropriate document in the Document Management popup screen.