Art. 253. Pleadings, documents, and exhibits to be filed with clerk

            A. All pleadings or documents to be filed in an action or proceeding instituted or pending in a court, and all exhibits introduced in evidence, shall be delivered to the clerk of the court for such purpose. The clerk shall endorse thereon the fact and date of filing and shall retain possession thereof for inclusion in the record, or in the files of his office, as required by law. The endorsement of the fact and date of filing shall be made upon receipt of the pleadings or documents by the clerk and shall be made without regard to whether there are orders in connection therewith to be signed by the court.

            B. The filings as provided in Paragraph A of this Article and all other provisions of this Chapter may be transmitted electronically in accordance with a system established by a clerk of court or by Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority. When such a system is established, the clerk of court shall adopt and implement procedures for the electronic filing and storage of any pleading, document, or exhibit, and the official record shall be the electronic record. A pleading or document filed electronically is deemed filed on the date and time stated on the confirmation of electronic filing sent from the system, if the clerk of court accepts the electronic filing. Public access to electronically filed pleadings and documents shall be in accordance with the rules governing access to paper filings. The clerk of court may convert into an electronic record any pleading, document, or exhibit as set forth in R.S. 44:116. The originals of conveyances shall be preserved by the clerk of court.

            C. A judge or justice presiding over a court in this state may sign a court order, notice, official court document, and other writings required to be executed in connection with court proceedings, by use of an electronic signature as defined by R.S. 9:2602. The various courts shall provide by court rule for the method of electronic signature to be used and to ensure the authenticity of the electronic signature.

            D. Any pleading or document in a traffic or criminal action may be filed with the court by facsimile transmission in compliance with the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure Article 14.1.

            E. The clerk shall not refuse to accept for filing any pleading or other document signed by electronic signature, as defined by R.S. 9:2602, and executed in connection with court proceedings, or which complies with the procedures for electronic filing implemented pursuant to this Article, if any applicable fees for filing and transmission are paid, solely on the ground that it was signed by electronic signature.

            F. If the filing party fails to comply with any requirement of this Article, the electronic filing shall have no force or effect. The district courts may provide by court rule for other matters related to filings by electronic transmission.

            G. The clerk of court may procure equipment, services, and supplies necessary to accommodate electronic filings out of the clerk's salary fund.

            H. All electronic filings shall include an electronic signature. For the purpose of this Article, "electronic signature" means an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.

            Amended by Acts 1980, No. 355, §1; Acts 1985, No. 457, §1; Acts 2001, No. 319, §2; Acts 2010, No. 461, §1; Acts 2014, No. 606, §1; Acts 2017, No. 419, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; Acts 2020, No. 264, §3; Acts 2022, No. 318, §1.