Disclaimer: This guide is general information only, not legal advice. The requirements are based on the Director of Courts directives, verified against the official text (see "Official sources" at the end), but they may be updated and may differ between court instances and types of proceeding. Before filing, confirm the current directives on the Judicial Authority website.
In short: Net HaMishpat accepts PDF files only, of up to 30MB per file. A larger file must be split into "volumes" below the threshold, or compressed. All pages of the document and appendices are numbered continuously; a table of contents and cover pages are required only when there are more than five appendices. Since September 2022 no smart-card signature is required - you "sign" by stating your name at the end of the document, and identification goes through the national identification system. A non-compliant filing may be rejected, so prepare your files in advance.
What "Net HaMishpat" is
Net HaMishpat is Israel's online court filing system. You use it to file pleadings (statement of claim, defence, motions) and all exhibits and evidence - as digital files, without going physically to the registry. Everything is handled as PDF files. That's why the technical requirements matter just as much as the legal content: a filing that fails on format, size or appendix structure can be rejected, and you start over.
The technical requirements at a glance
| Requirement | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| File format | PDF only | E-filing directive, s. 2(2) |
| Maximum file size | 30MB | s. 2(3) |
| Page count | None in most instances; Supreme Court - up to 70 pages | s. 2(3) |
| Signature | State your name at the end (no smart card, since 9/2022) | s. 2(4) |
| Identification | National identification system or a Tamuz certificate | s. 2 + 3 |
| Page numbering | All pages, including appendices, continuously | Form & structure directive, s. 1(4) |
| Table of contents + cover pages | Only when there are more than 5 appendices | Form & structure directive, s. 2(2) |
Format: PDF only
Section 2(2) of the electronic-document directive (August 2022 text) states: "An electronic document shall be submitted in PDF files only." (Until 2022, TIFF was also allowed - that is no longer in force.)
What that means: anything that isn't a PDF has to be converted first:
- A Word pleading → convert to PDF.
- Images of evidence (screenshots, photos of a document) → combine images into one PDF.
- An Excel spreadsheet (a calculation table, a data summary) → convert to PDF.
Size: 30MB per file - the most common pain point
The main practical constraint: each file up to 30 megabytes (section 2(3)). A file over the threshold simply won't upload. This happens constantly with cases that have scanned exhibits. Two ways to solve it:
1. Split into volumes. If your merged exhibits weigh 80MB, split them into three volumes under 30MB each (e.g. "Exhibits - Volume 1", "Volume 2", "Volume 3"). The PDF split tool lets you cut by page ranges or by size.
2. Compress. If the file is just over the threshold (say 35MB) because of heavy scans, it's usually better to compress the PDF and drop below 30MB without splitting at all - keeping a single continuous exhibit bundle.
The rule: try compressing first; if it's still too heavy - split.
Signature and identification: no longer a smart card (since 2022)
An approved smart-card electronic signature used to be required. Since 6 September 2022 this changed. Under section 2(4) of the directive:
- Signature - for a document that requires a signature, the filer "signs" it simply by stating their name at the end of the document - no smart card.
- Affidavit - an affidavit additionally requires a handwritten signature of the declarant and of the person certifying it.
- Identification - the identification requirement at filing remains, fulfilled through the national identification system or an electronic identification certificate (Tamuz). Lawyers can identify via the national identification system and thereby avoid holding a smart card.
Note: this relaxation applies to Net HaMishpat only. Other authorities - the Land Registry (Tabu), Enforcement (Hotzaa La'Poal) - still require a smart-card signature.
At the Supreme Court there is an extra limit: under regulation 162, the first document in a proceeding cannot be filed electronically.
Appendix structure - what is actually required
This is the part most filers get wrong. Under the Director of Courts directive on document form and structure (July 2025 text), the rules are:
Always (any number of appendices):
- Continuous numbering - all pages of the document, including the appendices, are numbered continuously (section 1(4)). You can number every page automatically with our page numbering tool.
- Appendix marking - the first page of each appendix is marked with a numeral so it's easy to locate (section 2(1)).
Only when there are more than five appendices (section 2(2)):
- Table of contents before the first appendix, listing for each: the appendix name, its designation numeral, and its first page number.
- A cover (separator) page before each appendix, centred: the appendix name, numeral and first page number - in David / Rananah / Calibri font, size 36.
In other words: with up to 5 appendices it's enough to number continuously and mark where each appendix starts; above 5, you add a table of contents and cover pages.
Good to know: the form-and-structure directive also sets how the document body itself looks - A4 page, 2.5cm margins, David / Rananah / Calibri font size 12, line-and-a-half spacing.
A recommended end-to-end workflow
- Convert to PDF - the pleading (from Word) and all exhibits (from images / Excel / scans).
- OCR the scans - run scanned exhibits through make searchable. This makes them searchable, and often significantly reduces the size too.
- Merge and order - merge the exhibits into one file, number all pages continuously, mark where each appendix starts, and if there are more than 5 appendices add a table of contents and cover pages.
- Check the size: over 30MB? First compress; if still heavy - split into volumes.
- File through Net HaMishpat: the pleading as one file, the exhibits as a volume / volumes.
Common mistakes
- A file over 30MB - won't upload at all. Compress or split before filing.
- A non-PDF format - raw Word, JPG or Excel are rejected; convert first (Net HaMishpat accepts PDF only).
- A TOC/cover pages when not needed, or missing them when needed - they're mandatory only above 5 appendices; but continuous numbering and marking the start of each appendix are always required.
- Waiting until the last minute - compressing, splitting and merging a heavy case file takes time; don't leave it to the minute before the deadline.
- Sending each exhibit as a separate file instead of one orderly merged bundle.
The tools you'll need
- Split PDF - cut a heavy case file into volumes under 30MB.
- Compress PDF - shrink scanned exhibits below the threshold without splitting.
- Merge PDF - combine exhibits into one orderly bundle.
- Page Numbers - number all pages of the case file and appendices continuously, as required.
- Word to PDF - for the pleading.
- Images to PDF - for photographed evidence.
- Make PDF searchable (OCR) - for scanned exhibits.
Official sources
- Directive on submitting an electronic document to the courts and labour courts (Director of Courts, August 2022 text, effective 6 September 2022) - PDF format, 30MB, 70 pages at the Supreme Court, signature and identification.
- Notice of the Director of Courts directive on document form and structure under the Civil Procedure Regulations 5779-2018 (July 2025 text) - page numbering, appendix marking, table of contents and cover pages above 5 appendices.
- The Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum file size for Net HaMishpat?
Up to 30 megabytes (MB) per file. A larger file must be split into several separate files ("volumes"), each under 30MB, or compressed. The rule is set in section 2(3) of the Director of Courts directive on submitting an electronic document.
Which file formats are allowed?
PDF only. Section 2(2) of the electronic-document directive (August 2022 text) states that an electronic document is submitted in PDF files only. (TIFF used to be allowed - that is no longer the case.) So a Word document, a scan or an image must be converted to PDF before filing.
Do I still need a digital signature (smart card) to file with Net HaMishpat?
No. Since 6 September 2022, under section 2(4) of the directive, for a document that requires a signature the filer 'signs' simply by stating their name at the end of the document - no smart card. An affidavit additionally requires a handwritten signature of the declarant and the person certifying it. The identification requirement remains, fulfilled through the national identification system or an electronic identification certificate (Tamuz). Other authorities (Land Registry, Enforcement) still require a smart card.
When are a table of contents and cover pages required for appendices?
Only when there are more than five appendices. Under section 2(2) of the Director of Courts directive on document form and structure, with more than 5 appendices you need a table of contents before the first appendix plus a cover (separator) page before each one. With up to 5 appendices, a TOC and cover pages are not required - but you must always number all pages of the document and appendices continuously and mark the first page of each appendix.
Is there a page limit?
The 30MB limit is the main practical constraint. The Supreme Court additionally has a limit of up to 70 pages per document (section 2(3)). The other instances have no hard page limit - only the size cap.