Select Filing screen

The primary purpose of this screen is to identify the name of the document that you intend to submit to the court. Based on the data entry requirements for initiating a new case versus filing on an existing case, the use of this tab varies based on the action you intend to complete.

Initiating a New Case Action

This screen is used to identify the basic information that establishes the court of record and the type of document being filed. The order in which information must be entered is restricted since the options available to select in some fields are based on your selections in other fields. All fields on this tab denoted with an asterisk (*) are required:

1. 

Click on the Court Type dropdown and select Appellate Courts.

2. 

Click on the dropdown and select Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

3. 

Click on the District dropdown and select the filing office location that will process the new case based on the county of origin for the trial court or agency.

Map of Pennsylvania with counties color coded by Superior Court district.

4. 

Click on the Docket Type dropdown and select Miscellaneous.

Tip: Appeal docket cases cannot be initiated in PACFile. Rule Pa.R.A.P 902 specifies that appeals taken by matter of right from a lower court case (i.e. Notice of Appeals) must be filed with the clerk of the lower court. This rule does not apply to the filings that initiate Miscellaneous cases (i.e. Petitions to File Nunc Pro Tunc and Petitions for Writ of Mandamus).

5. 

Click on the Filing Type dropdown and choose the type of document that is initiating the appeal.

6. 

(Optional) Click in the Description field and enter any word or phrase that will help you identify your new filing more easily through your PACFile Dashboard. This text is intended for your use only and is not submitted to the court.

7. 

Click SUBMIT to advance to the Select Cases screen.

The Select Filing screen in the Case Initiating wizard.

 

 

Filing on an Existing Case

This screen is used to identify the basic information that establishes the type of document being filed on the case.

1. 

Click on the Filing Type dropdown and choose the type of document that will be filed on the identified case. The options available to select in this dropdown are restricted to those that apply to the corresponding docket type.

2. 

(Optional) Click in the Description field and enter any word or phrase that will help you identify your new filing more easily through your PACFile Dashboard. This text is intended for your use only and is not submitted to the court.

3. 

Click SUBMIT to advance to the Participants tab.

The Select Filing screen in the Case Filing wizard.