Supreme Court Expands E-Filing to All RTC Branches Nationwide

Overview

In a landmark administrative circular issued August 2026, the Supreme Court expanded the mandatory e-filing system to all Regional Trial Court (RTC) branches nationwide. This follows the successful pilot program in Metro Manila and Cebu that began in 2024.

The circular amends the Rules of Court to require that all pleadings, motions, and submissions be filed electronically through the Supreme Court's e-Filing platform, with limited exceptions for indigent litigants and technical failures.

Key Provisions

The new guidelines introduce several significant changes to court filing procedures:

• •All pleadings must be filed through the e-Filing portal (efiling.judiciary.gov.ph) — physical filing is no longer accepted except for walk-in indigent litigants.
• •Filing fees must be paid online through the portal using GCash, Maya, or credit card. Cash payments at the Office of the Clerk of Court are being phased out by December 2026.
• •Service of pleadings on opposing counsel must also be done electronically, with proof of service generated automatically by the system.
• •Pleadings must be in PDF format, text-searchable, and not exceed 10 MB per file. Exhibits may be filed as separate attachments.
• •The date and time of electronic submission as recorded by the system is considered the official date of filing, regardless of court office hours.

Impact on Law Firms

Law firms must adapt their workflows to comply with the new e-filing requirements. This includes ensuring all pleadings are properly formatted as searchable PDFs, setting up accounts on the e-Filing portal for all lawyers and staff, and transitioning to electronic service of pleadings.

The Supreme Court has provided a 60-day transition period from the effectivity date, during which physical filings will still be accepted. After the transition period, only electronic filings will be accepted.

Exceptions

The following are exempted from mandatory e-filing:

• •Indigent litigants with valid Indigent Litigant Certification
• •Pleadings filed in areas where internet connectivity is unavailable (must be certified by the court)
• •Urgent pleadings filed after system hours during technical outages (must be filed physically the next business day with proof of system unavailability)