Electronic filing (E-filing) is a successful tool in the Tennessee appellate courts and is expanding in the trial courts. E-filing is easy, efficient and convenient. You can E-file 24/7 from the comfort of your office or home.

Here is what you need to know:

• Appellate and trial court E-filing systems can now be accessed through an E-filing portal at TnCourts.gov. On the homepage of TnCourts.gov, click on “E-FILING” at the top right side of the page, and then follow the links for appellate or trial court E-filing.

• 75% of all appellate briefs are E-filed in the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and the Court of Criminal Appeals.

• The only cost for Appellate E-filing is a 3% convenience fee added to credit card payments.

• Trial court E-filing is expanding. These courts offer E-filing:

Davidson–Chancery, Circuit and Criminal

Rutherford–Chancery

Shelby–Chancery and Circuit

Sumner–Chancery

Williamson–Chancery and Circuit (Civil)

These courts have been approved for E-filing and will be online soon:

Blount–Circuit (Civil)

Coffee–Chancery

Davidson–General Sessions and Juvenile

Hancock–Chancery

Jefferson–Circuit (Civil), General Sessions (Civil) and Juvenile

Greene–Chancery

Hamblen–Chancery

Montgomery–Chancery and Circuit (Civil)

Sumner–Chancery and Circuit (Civil)

Hamilton–Juvenile

These courts have pending applications for E-filing:

Coffee–Circuit (Civil)      

Hamilton–Chancery

Greene–Circuit (Civil)    

Putnam–Circuit (Civil)

• The only cost for E-filing in Davidson Circuit, Davidson Criminal and Shelby Chancery and Circuit courts is a convenience fee for credit card payments. In Rutherford, Sumner and Williamson Chancery Courts and Williamson Circuit Court, there is a credit card convenience fee plus a fee of $5 per filing ($50 max per year per case) and $1.25 per document download or a $300 annual subscription fee covering unlimited filings in all four courts.

• E-filing is not currently available in all courts. In Tennessee, each court must decide when to adopt an E-filing system. To ensure consistency and high standards, every E-filing system must be approved by the Tennessee Supreme Court Trial Court E-filing Oversight Committee. If your court does not offer E-filing, talk to your local officials, clerks and judges, and encourage them to join the many other Tennessee courts already offering E-filing. |||

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JUSTICE SHARON G. LEE was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2008 and retained by the voters in 2010 and 2014. Justice Lee served as chief justice from 2014 to 2016. From 2004 to 2008, she served on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, the first woman to serve on the Eastern Section of the Court in its 79-year history. Before her appointment to the bench, she practiced law in her hometown of Madisonville from 1978 until 2004.  She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law.

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