L.A.R. Misc. 113.8: Retention Requirements

Documents that are electronically filed and require original signatures other than that of the Filing User must be maintained in paper form by the Filing User until 2 years after the issuance of the mandate or order closing the case, whichever is later. If counsel withdraws and a new attorney enters an appearance, documents that require original signatures must be transferred to the new attorney of record. On request of the court, the Filing User must provide original documents for review.

Because electronically filed documents do not include original, handwritten signatures, it is necessary to provide for retention of certain signed documents in paper form in case they are needed as evidence in the future. The Rule addresses the retention requirement for “verified documents” (in which a person verifies, certifies, affirms, or swears under oath or penalty of perjury, e.g. affidavits, stipulations or the Criminal Justice Act forms) bearing original signatures of persons other than the person who files the document electronically.