EFS Phase 4B(ii), launched on 15 December 2003, covers the following areas:

• Proceedings by way of a petition filed under Part X of the Women's Charter (Cap 353, 1997 Revised Edition)

• Originating Summonses filed under the Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap 122, 1985 Revised Edition), section 59 of the Women's Charter, the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap 3, 1999 Revised Edition) and section 17A of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322, 1999 Revised Edition)

(b) Probate and Administration proceedings (for the Supreme Court and Subordinate Courts)

• Probate and administration proceedings in the Subordinate Courts

• Probate and administration proceedings in the Supreme Court (enhanced procedures)

• Applications under the Adoption Act
  

1. Adoption Order       
2. Adoption Petition       
3. Order Of Court (Dispensation Of Service And/Or Consent)       
4. Order Of Court (Prayer1 And Dispensation Of Service/Consent)       
5. Order Of Court (Prayer1)       

1. Certificate Of Making Decree Nisi Absolute (Nullity - Submitted by Parties)       
2. Certificate Of Making Decree Nisi Absolute (Presumption Of Death And Divorce - Submitted By Parties)       
3. Certificate Of Making Decree Nisi Absolute (Submitted by Parties)       
4. Decree Nisi (Submitted by Parties)       
5. Decree Of Judicial Separation (Submitted By Parties)       
6. Petition For Decree Of Presumption Of Death And Dissolution Of Marriage       
7. Petition For Judicial Separation       
8. Petition For Nullity       
9. Petition For Nullity And Alternatively For Divorce       
10. Petition for Divorce       
11. Petition for Nullity and Alternatively For Judicial Separation       

1. Petition For Probate/Letters Of Administration [Form 168]      
2. Checklist For Petition      
   

The implementation of Phase 4A will see more case types coming under EFS. They are:

Filing of EFS Phase 4A documents will generally follow the same filing procedure as that for earlier phases, with additional data entry screens ("More Document Information") provided wherever necessary. Existing document types that were catered for in earlier phases are still available to file in Phase 4A.

Phase 4A will also provide the following additional features and functionalities to the FE-Web:

The Electronic Filing System ("EFS") is a revolutionary, integrated, national network which, when fully implemented, will offer the following four services to meet the evolving needs of civil litigation and litigants:

1. Electronic Filing Service
2. Electronic Extract Service
3. Electronic Service of Documents Service
4. Electronic Information Service

The first three services are now available on the Internet via the web-based EFS Front-End application which was launched on 2 July 2001.

Step 1: Register for EFS Account

Download the Application Forms for EFS FE-Web (available at http://info.efs.com.sg/eForms.htm) and fax the duly completed Application Form to the EFS Business Development Team at 6778- 5277. (Attach the completed SMS Notification Service Application form, if you also wish to subscribe to an optional SMS Notification Service.)

Please note that if you have already subscribed to any other services provided by CrimsonLogic, you may use your existing Interbank GIRO (IBG) account when applying for EFS FE-Web. Otherwise, please send by post the original copy of the duly completed Application Form for Interbank GIRO.

Upon successful application for EFS FE-Web, you will receive a notification letter (informing your User EFS User ID and Password) from CrimsonLogic.

Step 2: Apply for EFS Smart Cards (for new EFS users only)

When you receive your EFS User ID and password (upon successful application) you will need to apply for a Smart Card for each solicitor at your firm who will use EFS. Application for EFS smartcards can be done at the Supreme Court Certification Authority (Contact No.: 6332-4217).

Step 3: Installation and Configuration of client software

1. Download the necessary client software as well as “EFS FE-Web Getting Started Guide” and “Setup Procedures” at http://info.efs.com.sg/downloads.htm and http://info.efs.com.sg/UserGuide.htm.
2. Setup the FE-Web Clients, by following the instructions in the “EFS FE-Web Getting Started Guide” and “Setup Procedures for FE (Web) Client”.
3. Install the Judiciary KMS (Web) Client software, by following the instructions in the “Setup Procedures for KMS (Web) Client”.
4. Prepare your EFS smartcards, by following the instructions in “EFS KMS Web-based Key Generation Software (General User)” which can be downloaded at http://info.efs.com.sg/UserGuide.htm. 

Please contact EFS Call Centre at 6887-7888 if you need assistance with the software installation and configuration.

There is no license fee for the FE and KMS Client software.

A Smart Card is used for authenticating a user in EFS, and issued by EFS Certification Authorities, namely, the Supreme Court and the Subordinate Courts. Each solicitor who wishes to file using FE-Web is required to apply for a Smart Card. Application for EFS smartcards can be made at the Supreme Court Certification Authority (Contact No.: 6332-4217).

Only practitioners with valid practicing certificates are allowed to apply for the Smart Card. The sole responsibility concerning with the security, authorization and delegation of the usage of the Smart Card lies with the holder of the Smart Card and the firm. Thus it is advisable that law firms draw up internal control in this respect.

EFS certification gives recognition to law firms that are fully geared up to prepare and submit documents electronically to the courts. Once certification has been granted, law firms can use the EFS logo on their letterheads and the law firm’s name will appear on the EFS website to indicate that they are EFS certified. All EFS users should apply for the EFS Certification before using the system. Please visit http://info.efs.com.sg/Certification.htm to apply for EFS Certification.

The pricing structure for EFS FE-Web is as follows :

Important Note: Pricing structure shown here is for information only. Please contact our Sales Admin Dept at 6887 7888 (and press 21) or sales@crimsonlogic.com.

The Singapore Academy of Law conducts training on EFS FE-Web. We strongly recommend that you attend the training for EFS FE-Web prior to using EFS services. Existing FE users may attend a Refresher Course while the new EFS FE-Web users may attend the Full Course. Separate training sessions are available for the general users as well as for the system administrators.

For further details, please visit the http://www.lawnet.com.sg or contact 6332-4256. You may download the course registration form from the above website.

You may find the Supreme Court's Practice Directions at http://www.supcourt.gov.sg/policies/policiesindex.htm or the Subordinate Courts' Practice Directions at http://www.subcourts.gov.sg/Practice_Directions.htm.

The Hearing fees and Court Fees for EFS are described in the Rules of Court. (If you are a Legal Workbench subscriber, you may view the Rules of Court at http://www.lawnet.com.sg. Non-subscribers may purchase 30-mins time-blocks to access the Legal Workbench.)

What is SMS Alert Service?

SMS Alert Service allows you to be instantly alerted whenever replies are received from the Courts or when legal document are being served upon your firm through EFS. Once alerted, immediate actions can be taken to avoid further delay. This will allow you to have better control of turnaround time which is highly crucial in today’s competitive world.

What are the fees for SMS Alert service?

In order to encourage EFS law firms to continue using this service, the following promotional rates apply with effect from 1 October 2002.

Should I sign up as a subscriber or should I use the adhoc service?

If your firm expects to get Reply status alerts for at least 34 submissions per month (to both the Supreme Court and Subordinate Courts), we strongly recommend you to subscribe to this service. This will ensure that you will enjoy greater savings than being a non-subscriber. Moreover, only the subscribers can enjoy the benefits of being alerted whenever there are documents served on you. Non-subscribers may request for Court Reply status alerts; however, the Service of Document alerts cannot be sent to the non-subscribers.

I am an existing subscriber to the free trial SMS alert service. How can I continue (or discontinue) my subscription?

If you have already registered for the Free Trial for this service, you do not have to re-register again. We will take care of all the administrative updates, the relevant charges will be deducted from your same registered EFS Giro account. However, in the unfortunate event that you decided to terminate this service, please send us the duly completed deregistration before 30 September 2002. Otherwise, the above charges shall apply starting 1 October 2002.

How often must I login to EFS to check my messages?

Please be reminded that all Court replies and Service of Documents, if not unpacked within 7 days after the receipt, are automatically archived to tape. A service fee is payable for any request for restoration of archived material. Users are thus advised to login to EFS and check the In-Tray (Unpack Messages) regularly.

The latest version of EFS FE-Web Configuration Guide is Release 6.0 - 15 May 2002, which is revised and updated for EFS Phase 4.0. It is available online at http://info.efs.com.sg/ConfigGuide.htm

Which Operating Systems and Browsers can EFS FE-Web run on?

FE-Web client can run on Windows 95 (all versions), Windows 98 (Second Edition only), Windows ME, Windows NT4 (Workstation) or Windows 2000 (Professional Edition) and Windows XP(Professional or Home Edition). Internet Explorer 5.0 or above(including IE 6).

It is strongly recommended that latest fixes, patches and service packs available for the OS and browser version used are downloaded from Microsoft website and installed.

Which version of Adobe Acrobat (f.k.a. Acrobat Exchange) is required?

EFS Front-End can work with Adobe Acrobat versions 4.x, 5.x and 6 (Standard) software, although documents to be e-filed via EFS must be saved in Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3) format (as at August 2003). Adobe Acrobat 6.0 (Standard) or 5.x software can be used to save the PDF documents in the lower version supported by EFS. To save PDF documents in Acrobat 4 using higher versions of Acrobat software, read this Step-by-step Guide.

Acrobat Acrobat software should be installed in all PCs where PDF documents are to be generated/ edited.Acrobat 6 users need to download and install the updated PDF Plug-in (EFS annotation tools) here.

However, when EFS FE-Web is used only for viewing of the submissions, the Acrobat Reader software (downloadable at www.adobe.com) is adequate.

MS Word for Windows version 6.0, or 7.0 (Word 95) or 8.0 (Word 97) or Word 2000 can be used with EFS FE-Web. Cover page templates for EFS main documents in MS Word format are available online at http://info.efs.com.sg/downloads.htm. These cover page templates, which should be used to prepare EFS documents, require one of the above versions of MS Word. If PDF documents are prepared without using the cover page templates, or when they are generated by other means (such as scanning), MS Word may not be required.

A broadband connection (such as A/DSL, cable, and lease line) is generally faster than an ISDN line. If you were previously using FE-Windows with ISDN, you may continue to use your ISDN connection to file submissions via EFS FE-Web. However, we strongly encourage FE-Web users to take advantage of increasingly affordable broadband packages offered by local ISPs, in order to enjoy higher transmission rates and faster response time. Contact your system vendor or a local broadband service provider (SingNet, PacificNet, StarHub, etc.) for more information or consultation.

The user guides for FE-Web application and Web-based Key Management System applications can be found online at: http://info.efs.com.sg/UserGuide.htm

We strongly recommend that you attend the training for EFS FE-Web prior to using EFS services. [Also see 1.8]

The list of solicitors in EFS is maintained by the Judiciary and regularly downloaded to FE-Web application. Beginning Phase 3.0, FE-Web users are no longer able to enter a new name, if the desired solicitor name is not found in the downloaded list. To have a solicitor name added to the list, please fax in the details to 6337-9450, Attn: Head, EFS Project Directorate, Supreme Court.

The list of solicitors in EFS is maintained by the Judiciary and regularly downloaded to FE-Web application. To have a correction made in the solicitors' list, please fax in the details to 6337-9450, Attn: Head, EFS Project Directorate, Supreme Court.

If you have a reason to believe that your submission to Court was unsuccessful due to a system failure and/or incorrect Gateway Rejection, a backdating request may be made.  To request for backdating a submission, you need to first obtain a "backdating letter" from CrimsonLogic. Contact EFS Help Desk at 6887-7888 or write to efs_support@crimsonlogic.com, and provide relevant details regarding the failed submission. The backdating letter may be issued once the preliminary investigation of the failed submission has been done.

To prepare a submission which you wish to request backdated, go to Backdating Information section in the Document Information page, enter the relevant details, such as the Date and Time to be backdated, and Reason for Backdating. Then, file the backdating letter obtained from CrimsonLogic (in PDF format) in the same submission, by attaching it as a "Letter" or "Other Document" document type. You may also request for a partial waiver, if applicable. [See next]

Please take note that the backdating and partial waiver requests are subject to the Court's approval.

If you have a reason to believe that your submission to Court was unsuccessful due to a system failure and/or incorrect Gateway Rejection, then you may request for a partial waiver (for the transmission and processing fees) when you re-file the submission. Partial waiver is applicable for Transmission and Processing fees of the submission, and should only be requested if these fees have actually been charged for your failed submission.

To indicate a partial waiver request for a document re-filed, go to Exemption/Waiver section in the Document Information page, select "Partial". Then, click on the "Partial Waiver for Filing Fee" button and enter the amount requested to be waived. Repeat the process for all documents in the submission.

Please take note that the partial waiver request is subject to the Court's approval.

Users can access FE-Web and view the submission and reply details from anywhere via the Internet.

However, unpacking (of received/served messages) should be done only at the location where all your EFS documents are normally stored (i.e. at the office). This is to prevent a possibility that the received PDF documents are being ‘unpacked’ and downloaded and saved in a 'wrong' folder location at the PC.

Index Search may be done from any Internet-enabled PC, whereas, Filing and Service can be done only if the PC used has the necessary FE client software installed, and a smart-card reader attached.

Send and Unpack (Receive) functions used for Filing and Service require some client software (also known as FE-Web client-side components) to be installed on the PC. Furthermore, a smartcard reader (of supported models) is needed to digitally sign EFS filings before transmission to Court. [Refer to FE-Web Configuration Guide; See 2.1]

Please note that response time may vary if FE-Web is accessed from overseas.

An Internet email address is required when registering as a member of the EFS portal (http://www.efs.com.sg) to access FE-Web. After registering as a member, a notification will be sent to the above email address so that the member can activate his/her member ID.  The email address is also used when the member has forgotten the password, and requested for reset. The reset password will be sent to that email address.

What are the important things to note when filing Admiralty documents? 

Please read these notes first before filing Admiralty documents.

It is not necessary to provide the name of the Owner of the Vessels. Instead, enter the name, ID and the port of registration for each of the vessels in the in the Writ.

Please note that you may use the "Duplicate Party" function to minimize the effort involved in entering the Vessel information.

Yes. Warrant Of Arrest In Admiralty Action may be filed together with the Writ Of Summons In Admiralty Action for a fresh ADM case.

Power of Attorney is a main document which generates a Case No. upon filing. So, it may not be filed together with another main document in the same submission. If Power of Attorney is to be filed in other cases (eg Bankruptcy), a non-main document version called Copy of Power of Attorney should be used. Therefore, Copy of Power of Attorney (which are 'non-main' documents) may be filed together with any othere documents in one submission.

No, it is not necessary to file any praecipe in order to file for Power of Attorney.

No, the normal white paper is to be used for all your EFS documents.

As at May 2002, there are no changes to the procedure for paying the deposit to the Official Assignee. It is to be done as per present practice by lodging a copy of the Lodgement Form with the Supreme Court. The deposit amount is prescribed under the Bankruptcy (Fees) Rules. The amount payable for the deposit remains unchanged on implementation of EFS.

When the Court replies a submission that contains any of the following documents, the reply will be sent to the law firm, as well as to the Official Assignee:

- Creditor’s Bankruptcy Petition
- Debtor’s Bankruptcy Petition
- Bankruptcy Order
- Lodgment Form (Bankruptcy)

The filing of the above papers with the courts will be deemed as service on Official Assignee and it is not necessary to serve these documents separately to the Official Assignee.

This deeming of service on Official Assignee is restricted only to the above papers. For all other papers required to be served on Official Assignee, the current requirement remains i.e. the service of the papers manually on the Official Assignee is required. There is no necessity however for such copies to be served on Official Assignee to be made on blue paper; white paper will suffice.

Proof of Debt is not a document that needs to be filed to the court; it is to be filed with the Official Assignee. Only those documents needed by the court must be filed via EFS. Please contact the Official Assignee for further enquiries.

If it is a court document, then it may be filed via EFS. If it is a voting letter under section 95 of the Bankruptcy Act, such voting letter is not to be filed with the courts; it is to be filed with the Official Assignee.

For other types of documents, then please check with the relevant organisation.