Parties may consent to electronic service, or the court may require electronic service by local rule or court order, under rule 2.251. The court may provide in a case management order that documents filed electronically in a central electronic depository available to all parties are deemed served on all parties.
Rule 3.751.Electronic service
Division 7. Civil Case Management · Chapter 5. Management of Complex Cases · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.751 allows parties to consent to electronic service, or the court to require it by local rule or order, and lets a case management order deem documents filed to a central electronic depository available to all parties as served on everyone.
Full Text of Rule 3.751
Plain-English Summary
Electronic service in a case management context works on two tracks under rule 3.751. Parties can consent to it, or a court can require it by local rule or court order — either way, the mechanics run through the general electronic service framework the rule points to. What rule 3.751 adds is confirmation that this option is squarely available as part of managing a case, not just a general filing procedure.
The rule also addresses a specific setup that shows up in larger cases: a central electronic depository where all parties can access filed documents. When a case management order establishes one, the court can provide that documents filed there are deemed served on every party — no need for separate service on top of the filing itself.
That depository option connects directly to complex-case management: rule 3.750 lists creating an electronic document depository as a subject for the initial conference in a complex case, and rule 3.751 is what lets a case management order give that depository actual service effect once it’s set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all parties have to agree before documents can be served electronically in a California case?
Not necessarily. Rule 3.751 allows service by consent, but also lets the court require electronic service by local rule or court order.
What is a central electronic depository under rule 3.751?
A shared electronic repository for filed documents that, if the case management order provides for it, is deemed to serve all parties once a document is filed there.
How does rule 3.751 connect to complex case management?
Rule 3.750 lists creating an electronic document depository as a subject for the initial conference in a complex case, and rule 3.751 supplies the mechanism for treating filings there as served.
Amendment History
Rule 3.751 amended effective January 1, 2017; adopted as rule 1830 effective January 1, 2000; renumbered as rule 3.751 effective January 1, 2007.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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