File a Case (CMAINIT)

Overview

Fields

1. Open the Case Initiation Maintenance form (CMAINIT). If you see a Security Warning, click here.

2. Enter the Court Type, Location, and Case Type. For more information, click here.

To automatically add default docket entries set up for the case type (along with any predecessor codes defined), you must Save from the Short Docket tab or from the Docket Association Entry form (CDADOCT), which you can open from the navigation frame.

3. If the Party ID window opens, click here. Otherwise, go to step 4.

4. Enter a Case ID or type NEXT to generate a number. (System-generated numbers do not display until you Save, move to the previous or next record in the key block, or move to a tab.)

5. Enter a case description to the right of the case ID. If the person setting up your system defined prefixes and suffixes for the court/location/case type on the Case Description Prefix/Suffix Rule form (CTRDESC), the appropriate prefix and suffix appears automatically as the default description. You can enter a different description.

If no prefix or suffix is set up for a court/location/case type in CTRDESC, no prefix or suffix appears as the default description.

6. Enter the case Security. 1 = lowest security and 9 = highest security.

7. For a civil case, enter the Claim/Value involved.

8. Enter the case Weight. 1 = simple cases and 9 = most complex.

9. ACS Contexte automatically provides a Filing date and time if the person setting up your system selected Default Date and Time on the System Control form (COASYSC). Change either if necessary.

For more about the System Control form (COASYSC), see the ACS Contexte Setup Manual or contact your system administrator.

10. Enter a Trial type or select one from the list of values (LOV).

11. Enter or search for the Agency filing the case.

12. Select the Track check box if you want to track the case using reports designed specifically for your court. (ACS Contexte does not use this feature in any of its built-in reports or queries.)

13. Attach a content file to a new case. To learn how to:

• Scan a text document or picture, or import any electronic file that can be maintained through your third party document management system, click here.

• Add a text document or picture to an open batch for batch scanning and how to print a bar code label for the hard copy being scanned click here.

14. Save.

If your jurisdiction uses the automatic case status update feature, a status may be assigned automatically when a case is initially filed. The status is assigned only if no other action is taken that affects case status. For example, entering dockets and events can also cause case status to be automatically updated.

15. If you use ECI and you want to print a bar code for the case's jacket, select Bar Code (CCRBARC) in the navigation frame.

16. If you use CaseStats, select CaseStats Options in the navigation frame to enter additional case information for reporting.

17. To enter a party to the case, select Next from the Block menu. ACS Contexte saves previously entered information and moves to the Party tab.

18. To file another case, Save if necessary, then Clear Form. ACS Contexte automatically enters the court and location codes you entered for the first case. To change them, enter the Case Type, then navigate back to the Court Type and Location fields to change as necessary.

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