First time users should read
the following carefully before filing an action.
A more detailed step
by step user guide is also
available.
If you are not a first time user and you do not wish to read the following, go to logon.
Please note that the EFS can not be used to lodge documents in proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court
Authority
Applications and other documents may be filed or lodged electronically with the Federal Court in accordance with the Federal Court Rules. An application may consist of a form or forms accompanied by supporting documentation.
Document Acceptance
All documents sent electronically must be sent using the Federal Court's home page. All documents sent electronically must be capable of being printed with the content and in the form in which they were created. The sender must keep paper copies of all documents sent electronically.
A document or application is not accepted or filed with the Court until it is received, checked for completeness and accuracy and stamped by the Court. Documents received after 4:30 pm (local registry time) will not be considered to have been received until the start of business on the following working day.
A document is not accepted or filed simply because a filing fee has been paid or waived.
NB There may be delays between the time information is sent electronically and the time it is received.
Forms
The forms which must be used in the Court are set out in the First Schedule of the Federal Court Rules, the Federal Court (Corporations Law) Rules 2000 and the Native Title (Federal Court) Regulations. Forms cannot be completed on-line. Forms need to be downloaded and saved on your computer or to disk and completed off-line.
All forms may be downloaded in PDF (Portable Document Format) and RTF (Rich Text Format) from the filing, forms and fees area of this site. Included are guides to completing the most commonly used forms, an alphabetical index to all forms, the types of documents or service for which forms are used and the fees (if any) incurred.
Fees
The Federal Court of Australia Regulations require a fee to be paid when certain documents are lodged or filed with the Court. In specific circumstances fees may be exempted or waived. An application form for an exemption or waiver of fees is provided on the fees page.
Formats
Documents to be filed or lodged electronically must be in Rich Text Format (RTF), Portable Document Format (PDF), Tagged Image Format (TIF), Graphical Information Format (GIF), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG) or .doc in any version of Microsoft Word. Signed Documents
Where a document must be signed, a facsimile of the signature may be affixed on the document by electronic means. Alternatively, an image of the signed document may be submitted. Access to a scanner will be required to convert documents to an image format such as TIF, GIF or JPG.
Affidavits may only be filed electronically by sending an image of the document in an appropriate format.
File Size
A single document filed with the Court (zipped or unzipped) may not be submitted for filing electronically if it is more than 100 pages when printed (including any annexure or attachment).
Suitability of Documents
For Electronic Filing complex documents such as maps (where photo-reduction results in poor image quality or loss of scale) or images where colour is a critical component of the case (eg, in some intellectual property cases) may not be suitable for electronic filing.
Return of Documents
Once a document is accepted and filed with the Court, the Registry will provide the person submitting the document with one stamped copy of the document to the address specified on the cover sheet (email, postal or held for collection).
Note that the documents are returned electronically in PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader which is required to read PDF documents, the free plug in software can be downloaded from the Adobe website.
Copies of Documents
In most cases, you will need stamped copies of each document for service on the other party or parties.
If you have asked that documents be returned to an email address, you can print copies of the stamped documents for service.
If you have asked that documents be returned by facsimile transmission, you can make copies of the stamped documents for service.
If you have asked that documents be returned by post or be available for collection from the registry, you will need to specify the number of copies of each document you want the registry to make. The first copy is provided by the Court free of charge. Any additional copies are charged at $ 1.00 per page. In addition there is a $3 service fee.
Payment
Payment may only be made using the following credit cards: VISA or MasterCard.
Security
The Court's electronic filing facility uses encryption (SSL technology) to ensure personal details are secure. You must have Internet Explorer version 4.0 or above or Netscape Navigator version 4.0 or above to use this facility. If you need to download this software please click below.
