Frequently Asked Questions

Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy courts, and from the PACER Case Locator via the Internet. Links to all courts are provided from this web site.


Electronic access is available by registering with the PACER Service Center, the judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and technical support center.


Each court maintains its own databases with case information. Because PACER database systems are maintained within each court, each jurisdiction will have a different URL. Each court service is comparable to the others; however, the format and content of the information may differ slightly.

PACER is a service of the United States Judiciary. The PACER Service Center is operated by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

Fill out the online registration form. If you questions or difficulties, you may contact the PACER Service Center for a registration form at (800) 676-6856 or (210) 301-6440 from 8am to 6pm Central Time. There is no cost for registration.

Currently we do not provide statement transactions in a spread sheet format. However, we provide an option to obtain details in pipe delimited text format. This is a test.

Here's how to use it. Login to the Manage My PACER Account section of this web site. Select Review Transaction History . Under Display options, select Write Transactions to a Text File . You should be able to import this file into any spread sheet program that offers this feature. For example, in Excel, the import feature can be found under the tool bar option Data , then Get External Data .

Accounts are billed quarterly. Each quarter a statement will be generated and mailed for your account.


If you registered for the automatic credit card billing or the paperless billing option, you will not receive a paper statement. These accounts will receive an email when a new statement is available at our web site. Statements and transaction detail are available for all accounts through the Manage My PACER Account section of this web site.

The PACER Service Center accepts payment by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or check payable through a U.S. Bank. To make a payment by credit card, visit the Manage My PACER Account section of this web site. If you have a balance due during a quarter and you are signed up for automatic credit card billing, we charge the credit card you have on file with PACER automatically up to 7 days prior to the "Due Date" on your statement.

When making a payment by check, include the your login ID on the check to ensure that payment is posted to the correct account. Mail payment to:

    PACER Service Center
    P.O. Box 71364
    Philadelphia, PA 19176-1364

Yes. PACER offers a client code option as you login to PACER. Client codes are thirty-two character text fields provided for tracking charges.

The quarterly statement will only include the total amount due. However, you can get detailed transactions with client codes on this web site.

You must enter or change the client code before you perform any operation that results in a charge, otherwise it will not appear on the bill. The client code feature is optional, so you must enforce how it is used within your office.

The Review Transaction History option on the Manage My PACER Account page at this site provides an option to sort and total your transactions by client code. These transactions are updated by the 15th of each month.

The client code field is an optional feature that can be used to help track groups of transactions. For those firms or individuals not interested in this feature the field can be left blank. If the field is used it will accept up to thirty-two characters of text.

This feature can be useful to those firms who are doing work for multiple clients and would like to have those transactions grouped separately for their own internal billing process.

The PACER Service Center's tax identification number is 74-2747938.

In order to contact the PACER Service Center, call (800) 676-6856, or (210) 301-6440 between 8am and 6pm Central Time.

Or write to:

    PACER Service Center
    P.O. Box 780549
    San Antonio, TX 78278-0549
email: pacer@psc.uscourts.gov Email

The $.10 per page charge is based on the number of pages that result from each search and each requested report or document. The charge is not based on printing. Here are some examples that may be helpful to understanding how the charges are generated:

Enter party name "johnson, t" and receive 2 pages of matches. The charge is $.20

Enter case number 01-10054 and select Docket option. The docket is 10 pages so the charge is $1.00. (You may enter a date range to limit the number of pages by displaying entries for the date range rather than all entries in the report.)

Select link within the docket report to view a document. The scanned document is 5 pages so the charge is $.50.

Please note that there is a 30-page cap for documents and case-specific reports (i.e. docket report, creditor listing, claims register). You will not be charged more than $3.00 when you access documents or case-specific reports that are more than 30 pages. Please be aware that the 30-page cap does not apply to name search results, lists of cases, or transcripts (when available online).

PACER charges $0.10 per page retrieved. This applies to both the pages of search results and the pages of documents you retrieve.

The charge for any single document is capped at $3.00, the equivalent of 30 pages. The cap does not apply to name searches, reports that are not case-specific, and transcripts of federal court proceedings.

If you accrue a total of less than $15.00 worth of charges in any given quarter, fees are waived for that quarter.

Yes. The PACER Service Center provides a service to retrieve and distribute case information if you cannot or wish not to perform your own search. There is a fee for the service. It is applied as follows:

  • $30.00 for the search, plus $0.10 per page per document delivered electronically up to 5 documents (30 page cap applies).
  • if you want printed copies, the fee is $30.00 plus $0.50 per page (30 page cap does not apply) instead of $0.10 for email.
  • if you want documents in another case, a new $30.00 fee will apply.
  • if we search and fail to find anything, the fee is $30.00.
  • search fees must be collected before any documents are delivered.

The United States Congress has given the Judicial Conference of the United States, the judicial governing body of the U.S. Federal Courts, authority to set user fees for electronic access to case information. For a current electronic public access fee schedule, click here. All registered agencies or individuals will be charged a user fee. Access to web based PACER systems will generate an $0.10 per page charge. The per page charge applies to the number of pages that results from any search, including a search that yields no matches (one page for no matches). The charge applies whether or not pages are printed, viewed, or downloaded. You will be billed on a quarterly basis for your transactions. You will be allowed to enter a client code of your choosing each time you login to PACER to help facilitate managing the costs.

The Judicial Conference of the United States approved a measure in March 2010 stating that you will not owe a fee unless your account accrues more than $10.00 of usage in a given quarter. In September 2011, this amount was increased to $15.00. If you accrue less than $15.00, your fees are waived for that quarter and your billing statement will have a zero balance. This policy change will be effective for the July 2012 statement.

The Judicial Conference, at its September 2003 session, amended the language of Section I of the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule for the appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (adopted by the Judicial Conference pursuant to sections 1913, 1914, 1926, 1930, and 1932 of title 28, United States Code). The previous schedule placed a cap on the per page charge for Internet access to data obtained electronically from the public records of individual cases in the courts, with a maximum $3.00, the equivalent of 30 pages, for electronic access to any single document. The amendment extends this cap to all case documents, including docket sheets and case-specific reports. The cap does not apply to name searches, reports that are not case-specific and transcripts of federal court proceedings. The cap applies to all CM/ECF sites. For example: A 50 page document that would cost $5.00 at $0.10 a page is capped at 30 pages so only costs $3.00. Users will receive the entire 50 page document but only be charged $3.00. Each attachment in CM/ECF sites is considered a separate document. Therefore, the cap will apply to each attachment over 30 pages separately.

  1. We use a formula to determine the number of pages for an HTML formatted report.
  2. Any information extracted from the CM/ECF database, such as the data used to create a docket sheet, is billed using a formula based on the number of bytes extracted (4320 Bytes equals one page).
  3. For a PDF document, the actual number of pages are counted to determine the number of billable pages.
For report data retrieved from the CM/ECF system that is printed, the print job will not always match the number of pages billed. The number of pages printed is dependent on individual printer and browser settings. All users are charged equally for the same information regardless of the browser settings or printer configurations.

A transaction receipt and the Review Billing History option are provided in each court site for reviewing charges. Also, Review Transaction History is available on this site in Manage My PACER Account for reviewing transactions from all courts. The transactions are updated on the PACER Web Site by the middle of each month.

In 1988, the Judiciary sought funding through the appropriation process to establish the capability to provide electronic public access services. Rather than appropriating additional funds for this purpose, Congress specifically directed the Judiciary to fund that initiative through the collection of user fees. As a result, the program relies exclusively on fee revenue.

Government agencies are not exempt from PACER fees. The fees are the same for all users of the system.

For credit to be considered, it is necessary to submit a Credit Request Form. The form must be completed according to the instructions outlined in the document.

Account holders must submit a letter of request along with a Refund Form to receive a refund for payments made to the PACER Service Center. The request can not be processed without both a letter of request and form. Click here for a copy of the Refund Form. Please allow 4-6 weeks for payment processing. In some cases refunds will be issued via electronic funds transfer. The refund will appear as a credit to your checking or savings account.

At this site:

  1. Click on Manage My PACER Account
  2. Enter login & password. Submit.
  3. Click on Review Transaction History.
  4. Select Client Code/Date.
  5. Specify date range.

The PACER Service Center does not maintain a list of court addresses and phone numbers. In most courts, address and phone number information can be found on the court's home page. For a complete listing of court home pages see: http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/.

In Forma Pauperis status does not automatically entitle you to free access to PACER. Users must petition the court separately to request free access to PACER.

Exemptions from user fees are uncommon. A court may, for good cause, exempt persons or classes of persons from the electronic public access fees, in order to avoid unreasonable burdens and to promote public access to such information. This language is intended to provide a mechanism by which a court may, upon appropriate demonstration of need, grant an exemption from fees for the use of electronic access to court data.

The appropriate procedure by which a court may consider the grant of an exemption from the fee is upon motion by the party seeking exemption from the fee. The motion should demonstrate the basis upon which the party claims such exemption. The standards established by the Judicial Conference are: to avoid unreasonable burdens and to promote public access to such information. A party must demonstrate that both standards have been met in order for a court to grant an exemption from payment of this fee.

The exemption of PACER fees will only apply in the jurisdiction that issued the order. PACER usage in other courts will be subject to public access fees unless similar exemptions are granted in those jurisdictions as well.

Using your firm's assigned login and password, you may obtain details under the Manage My PACER Account section of this web site. Click on Review Quarterly Statement.

We do not send quarterly statements, but we will send you a link to where you can find your statement online. Using your firm's assigned login and password, you may sign up to receive these emails under the Manage My PACER Account section of this web site. Sign up for Paperless Statement/Invoice.

The PACER system provides electronic access to case information from federal courts across the United States. The information gathered from the PACER system is a matter of public record and may be reproduced without permission. However, the PACER user assumes all responsibility for consequences that arise from use of the data.

Some bankruptcy courts offer a limited amount of bankruptcy case information through the VCIS (Voice Case Information System) application. Access to the VCIS is currently offered at no cost and can be accessed through a touch-tone phone. Click the link above for a list of telephone numbers.

Yes. There is an option Review Quarterly Statements in Manage My PACER Account.

For a current list of the PACER policies and procedures, click here.

Yes. Access privileges will be suspended for any account that causes an unacceptable level of congestion or a disruption to the operations of the PACER Service Center, a U.S. federal court, or another PACER user. In addition, any attempt to collect data from PACER in a manner which avoids billing is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution or civil action. PACER privileges will be terminated if, in the judgment of judiciary personnel, they are being misused. Misuse includes, but is not limited to, using an automated process to repeatedly access those portions of the PACER application that do not assess a fee (i.e. calendar events report or case header information) for purposes of collecting case information.

No, any person can register for a PACER login.


PACER provides access to federal case information nationwide. The PACER system offers quick, accurate information about current federal cases. You can obtain:

  • A listing of all parties and participants including judges, attorneys and trustees
  • A compilation of case related information such as cause of action, nature of suit and dollar demand
  • A chronology of dates of case events entered in the case record
  • A claims registry
  • A listing of new cases each day in all courts
  • Written judicial opinions
  • Judgments or case status

You may search by case number, party name, social security number, or tax identification number in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. You may search by case number, party name or filing date range in the U.S. District Courts. You may search by case number or party name in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.

The PACER Case Locator offers more advanced search capabilities.

PACER provides access to the case summary, the docket entries, and in many jurisdictions copies of documents filed in federal cases. If you need more, contact the federal court for instructions on obtaining more case information. Click here for links to federal court home pages.

If you cannot locate a case when searching by case number or party name, you should try using the PACER Case Locator. This program will search nationwide and generate a listing of court locations and case numbers where a party is involved in federal litigation. However, if the party in question was not located through the PACER Case Locator, then contact the jurisdiction where you think the case was filed.

If there is a discrepancy found with case information, notify the PACER Service Center. PACER will contact the court administrator so the problem can be pinpointed and corrected.

Courts on the CM/ECF system (which most courts currently are) have copies of filed documents available. For more information about CM/ECF click here.

  • COR - Counsel of Record
  • LD - Lead Counsel
  • NTC - To receive notice

Case information appears on the PACER system in real time. Once case information has been updated in CM/ECF, that information is available through PACER immediately.

It is possible to limit the number of pages displayed by entering a specific date range or docket entry number range for a case docket.

Yes. From the query screen, enter the attorney's name and select Attorney from the Type drop down menu.


Use this link to request a copy of a lost or forgotten password. If you enter a valid email address and have password security information on file with the PACER Service Center, you will receive a link to retrieve your password online, otherwise your account information will be sent via U.S. mail to the address on record for the specified account.


If you have problems, contact the PACER Service Center by telephone or email. The PACER Service Center security policy prohibits the divulging of account information by telephone, fax, or email. Your login and password will be sent by U.S. mail unless the security information is already on file.

You may need to adjust some settings in your Adobe Reader. See below for a few suggestions. Open a new browser session after making any of the changes below.

Check the version of Adobe Reader you are using, then try the following:

  • Settings for Adobe Acrobat 4.0
    • On the toolbar
    • Select File->Preference->General->Options
    • Remove the check mark under Web Browser Integration
  • Settings for Adobe Reader 5.0
    • On the toolbar
    • Select Edit->Preference->General->Options
    • On the right hand side of the screen, uncheck the following features:
    • Display PDF in Browser and Allow Fast Web View
  • Settings for Adobe Reader 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 or 9.0
    • On the toolbar
    • Select Edit->Preference->Internet
    • On the right hand side of the screen, uncheck the following features:
    • Display PDF in Browser and Allow Fast Web View

PACER accounts typically become active within an hour of registration. If you used the instant registration process to establish the account today, click here to login now. For others that are unable to login, your login and password are not being recognized by the system. Make sure of the following:

  • You are entering the password associated with your PACER login, and not the password associated with your CM/ECF filer login.
  • You are entering your PACER login in lower case letters. (Your password can be a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.)
  • When entering your login, the first 2 characters are alphabetic, [a-z], and the last 4 characters are numeric, [0-9]. All PACER logins follow the format aa####, where
    • a is an alphabetic character [a-z]
    • # is a number [0-9]
  • You are using a cookie enabled browser. Your browser should be set to accept cookies.
If you have successfully entered a PACER web site before and are still receiving an Invalid user message, you may have a corrupt cookie stored on your system. A corrupt cookie will prevent access to the site. The easiest solution to the problem would be to delete all cookies stored on your system. Check with your local system administrator for instructions on deleting cookies stored on your system.

Case information appears on the PACER system in real time. Once case information has been updated in CM/ECF, that information is available through PACER immediately.

Each court maintains its own case information database; therefore, there will be some variations among jurisdictions as to the date ranges of information offered. You will need to contact the court directly to find out how far back case information is available on PACER in a particular jurisdiction.

Only courts that are running nationally supported PACER products are currently listed on this site.

If you do not see Login to PACER, enable the Java script in your browser settings. If your browser does not support Java script, you will need to upgrade your browser.

No, PACER does not offer information on state/county courts. PACER access is for federal courts only.

Select Save As... under the browser tool bar option, File. Then open the file in your word processing software. If you save the formatted report, the file will be in HTML format; plain text, ascii DOS text.

There are several factors that can cause the system to time out - Internet traffic, type of processor in your PC, not having the most current version of your web browser loaded.

Yes.

You are automatically logged out when you close your browser.

For a complete list of the PACER web sites see the Court Links.


The PACER Case Locator is a national locator index for PACER systems in the United States appellate, district and bankruptcy courts. Subsets of data are collected from each court and transferred to the PACER Service Center nightly. The PACER Case Locator allows searches by party name or social security number in the bankruptcy index, party name or nature of suit in the civil index, defendant name in the criminal index, and party name in the appellate index. The information provided by the search will include the party name, the court where the case is filed, the case number and the filing date.

The PACER Case Locator is on the World Wide Web at http://train-pcl.uscourts.gov. If you are a subscriber to PACER, you will automatically have access to the PACER Case Locator with your existing login and password.

This varies from court to court. There is a menu option at the top of the page on the PACER Case Locator called Court Information Click on Court Information to display a pop-up window that shows the available date ranges for the cases in each court.

To retrieve more information on a particular case found while searching the PACER Case Locator, access the PACER system for the jurisdiction where the case resides. This is indicated by the court abbreviation provided with each hit on the PACER Case Locator. For most hits on PACER Case Locator, the Case Number will be a link to the case summary information at that court's PACER site. All you need to do is click the case number.

A Nature of Suit code is a tool for categorizing the types of cases filed in the federal courts. The Nature of Suit codes are the basis of all federal caseload statistics produced by the federal judiciary.

All courts participate in the PACER Case Locator except the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit does not have data available on the PACER Case Locator.


You will need Internet access and a Javascript enabled web browser.

If you experience problems or have questions regarding PACER access, contact the PACER Service Center by phone at (800) 676-6856 between 8am and 6pm Central Time, or email pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.

To print the information retrieved from a PACER web site, click on the Print button of your browser. If there is a frame, click on the frame you wish to print before clicking the print button. If there is not a frame, click in the body of the document before clicking the print button.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. An RSS document, also referred to as a "feed", typically includes summarized text with links to full versions. These feeds allow users to stay informed about any changes on a web site. The PACER RSS feed contains information such as upgrades to local courts CM/ECF software and PACER announcements.

To access the PACER RSS feed simply click on the RSS Feed icon. You may also subscribe to the feed using the feed reader of your choice.


Electronic access to docket sheets and court opinions through through PACER is not affected by these policies except some personal identifying information is no longer available from certain reports, queries and screen displays. (For detailed information, see http://www.uscourts.gov/Common/PrivacyPolicy.aspx)

In September 2002 session, the Judicial Conference approved amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedures and the Official Bankruptcy Forms. The amendments implement the Conference policy on privacy and public access to electronic case files. These amendments took effect at all courts on December 1, 2003.

As a result of this decision only the last four digits of the Social Security Number (SSN) are displayed on all reports. However, the full SSN can still be used to perform searches to identify debtors.

It is the attorney's responsibility to inform their clients that case files may be obtained electronically and to ensure private information is not included in the case files.


In **January 1996,** the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts began development of the Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system. CM/ECF is a comprehensive case management system that allows courts to maintain electronic case files and offer electronic filing over the Internet. Courts can make all case information immediately available electronically through the Internet. Eventually, CM/ECF will replace the current case management systems used by the federal courts across the country.
Judges, court staff, and the public now have the capability to access electronic docket information, case management data and legal research materials. As most documents are now initially created first in electronic form, the federal courts can further reduce the reliance on paper records by establishing electronic case file systems. These systems enhance the accuracy, management and security of records, reduce delays in the flow of information and achieve cost savings for the judiciary, the bar and litigants.
There are a number of significant benefits and features: **Courts** can allow registered attorneys to file documents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reduction of paper, photocopy, postage and courier costs. Full case information is available immediately to attorneys, parties, and the general public through the Internet. This includes the ability to view the full text of most filed documents. Attorneys on the system will receive email notices electronically in CM/ECF cases. This greatly speeds delivery and eliminates the costs to both the court and attorneys of handling and mailing paper notices. Multiple parties can view the same case files simultaneously. Since CM/ECF uses Internet standard software, the out-of-pocket cost of participation for attorneys is typically very low.
CM/ECF is available in most district, bankruptcy and appellate courts. For a complete list of the CM/ECF courts, visit: http://www.pacer.gov/cmecf/ecfinfo.html
There is no additional fee associated with the filing aspect of the CM/ECF system.

The Judicial Conference of the United States approved an Internet access fee. Currently, the access fee is $0.10 per page and applies to information retrieved through the system for all users. Attorneys of record and parties in a case (including pro se litigants) receive one free electronic copy of all documents filed electronically, if receipt is required by law or directed by the filer. Effective April 2012, no fee is owed until an account holder accrues charges of more than $15.00 in a quarter. This will be reflected in the July 2012 quarterly billing.

Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy courts, and from the U.S. Party/Case Index via the Internet. Access to all courts is provided from this web site. Electronic access is available by registering with the PACER Service Center, the judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and technical support center.

Each court maintains its own databases with case information. Because PACER database systems are maintained within each court, each jurisdiction will have a different URL. Accessing and querying information from each service is comparable; however, the format and content of information provided may differ slightly.

PACER is a service of the United States Judiciary. The PACER Service Center is operated by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
Yes. When a document link is accessed, the next screen will display information regarding the number of billable pages and the related cost. To accept the charges, click on the View Document button. The PACER cost is $0.10 per page with a cap of $3.00 per document, except transcripts.
If you believe there is an error on your statement or if you have a question concerning a transaction, please write to:

    PACER Service Center
    P.O. Box 780549
    San Antonio, TX 78278
    or
    Fax (210) 301-6441
 All credit requests must be submitted in writing with signature. In your correspondence provide your name, PACER login ID, and the dollar amount of the suspected error(s) together with a copy of the transaction in question. Please provide a reason for each credit being requested. When the PSC receives your request, you will be contacted by a service representative. Credits cannot be issued until after the quarterly statement has been generated.
All software for the project has been developed by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
For help using CM/ECF, visit the PACER Service Center web site at http://www.pacer.gov, send email to the PACER Service Center at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov or call (800) 676-6856 between 8am and 6pm Central Time.
In most filings, the CM/ECF system generates a Notice of Electronic Filing (in district and bankruptcy cases) or a Notice of Docket Activity (in appellate cases) -- an email message containing a hyperlink to the document filed -- whenever a document is filed with the court. It is up to individual courts whether this Notice can be used to serve parties. Most courts are permitting this.
Public users of the CM/ECF system are charged $0.10 per page for the results of your search on case specific information. Examples of case specific information are the docket sheet, the PDF copies of filed documents, and the cases report. Public users are not charged for filing documents using CM/ECF or for viewing calendar information. There is a cap of $3.00 (30 pages) for a single document or case specific report including docket sheets. Each attachment in CM/ECF is considered a separate document. Therefore the cap will apply to each attachment over 30 pages separately.
Any information extracted from the CM/ECF database, such as the data used to create a docket sheet, is billed using a formula based on the number of bytes extracted. For a PDF document, the actual number of pages are counted to determine the number of billable pages.

For report data retrieved from the CM/ECF system that is printed, the print job will not always match the number of pages billed. The number of pages printed is dependent on individual printer and browser settings. All users are charged equally for the same information regardless of the browser settings or printer configurations. A transaction receipt and the Review Billing History option are provided in each court site for reviewing charges. Also, Review Transaction History is available on this site in Manage My PACER Account for reviewing transactions from all courts. The transactions are updated on the PACER Web Site by the middle of each month.
For district and bankruptcy courts:

Log into the CM/ECF system with your court-issued filing login. Your PACER login will not have sufficient privileges to access this information. Click on Utilities. Click on Maintain Your Account. On the screen titled Maintain User Account, click on Email Information at the bottom of the page. Enter your email address in the box for Primary email address. You can send additional notices to other email addresses by checking the box 'to these additional addresses' and listing other email addresses in the box to the right. You can receive notices in other cases by checking the box Send notices in these additional cases and listing the case numbers in the box to the right. You can choose to receive an individual notice for each filing or a daily summary notice of all filings for that day. Both the individual and summary notice contain hyperlinks back to the documents. You can choose to receive the email notices in HTML or text format. You should choose the format based on the type of email program you use on your end. After completing the information requested on the screen, click on Return to Account Screen. Click on Submit. Then, click on Submit again. You should receive a confirmation message on the screen that your email preferences were successfully updated. Make sure you keep your email address current, so you don't miss notices.

For appellate courts:

Initially, a court may send attorneys notification via mail and/or post notification on its website that it is beginning CM/ECF implementation. The court will request that attorneys provide an email address directly to the court or register as a filer on this site. Check the court's website for specific instructions. Once the email address has been entered into CM/ECF, a Notice of Docket Activity (NDA) will be produced when an event is docketed.
Yes. A fee is applied for accessing a docket sheet and any documents accessed from the link on the docket sheet.
Yes. Access privileges will be suspended for any account that causes an unacceptable level of congestion or a disruption to the operations of the PACER Service Center, a U.S. federal court, or another PACER user. In addition, any attempt to collect data from PACER in a manner which avoids billing is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution or civil action. PACER privileges will be terminated if, in the judgment of judiciary personnel, they are being misused. Misuse includes, but is not limited to, using an automated process to repeatedly access those portions of the PACER application that do not assess a fee (i.e. calendar events report or case header information) for purposes of collecting case information.
Each federal court maintains an appropriate use statement for filing logins. In addition to the local appropriate use guidelines, the following applies in all federal districts: Passwords are issued to permit electronic filing and entry of data. Extracting data from CM/ECF through any program, script or mechanism other than those provided by the court is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution or civil action. Electronic filing privileges may be suspended if, in the judgment of the court, they are being misused.
Local court rules vary. Contact the court or check its website to determine if there are local rules governing this process.
The system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (except for routine or emergency maintenance). You should be able to file anytime. Scheduling of routine maintenance can vary by court and is likely posted on each court's website.

What has probably happened is that you docketed an event for a case, and then clicked on the browser Back button a few times to get to a point where you could enter another case number and then docketed another event. By clicking the Back button, instead of clicking on Bankruptcy Events you are keeping the information pulled for the last case you docketed. As long as you click on the menu item instead of clicking on Back you'll be fine - only use the Back button to correct a mistake on an event you are in the process of docketing, not to change cases.
To ensure the documents transmitted arrive in their entirety, it is important to examine the document after it is received by the court. This can be done by viewing the docket sheet for the case and selecting the transmitted document. The number of the transmitted document appears on your electronic filing receipt in district and bankruptcy CM/ECF. The document will appear with an icon or a number on an appellate court's docket sheet.
Check your Cache settings in your browser. The verify documents entry should have the once per session or every time entry checked, but not the never entry.
All documents must be submitted in Adobe PDF (portable document format) with an extension of ".pdf".

Two common errors occur:

  1. First, a user thinks that he/she saved the document in PDF. The user then tries to file the WordPerfect version of the document; not the saved PDF version.
  2. Second, a user fails to indicate the full path name for the PDF file he/she wants to upload. Because the system could not find the file, it responded with the format not recognized message.
The solution--provide the full path name when identifying the file
(for example: "C:\somedirectory\documentsmotion.pdf")
during the upload process.
Rule 5(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 5005(a) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Rule 25(a) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Rule 49(d) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure authorize individual courts by local rule to permit papers to be filed by electronic means. Amendments to Rules 5(b), 6(e) and 77 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 45 and 49 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rules 25 and 26 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Rules 7005, 9006, 9014 and 9022 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, authorize service of documents by electronic means if parties consent. The amendments do not apply to service of process.

Most courts that offer electronic filing have issued an authorizing local rule; most have supplemented the local rule with a general order and/or procedures that set forth the relevant electronic filing practices in that court. Individual court rules and procedures are generally available on their Web sites.
When a document is filed in CM/ECF, a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF, for district and bankruptcy courts) or Notice of Docket Activity (NDA, for appellate courts) is automatically generated and emailed to the registered parties in the case. The NEF and NDA includes the text of the docket entry, the unique electronic document stamp, a list of the case participants receiving email notification of the filing, and hyperlink to the document(s) filed. Most recipients will receive one free look at the document.
At present, this is a matter for local court rule or order. All courts using electronic filing are currently treating use of an attorney's unique system login and password as a signature. Most of the courts require that attorneys retain copies of certain paper documents, such as affidavits or bankruptcy petitions, containing original signatures of third parties, for a set period of time.
The Administrative Office of the United States is currently working on archiving standards that meet the guidelines of the National Archiving and Records Administration. Currently the open and closed cases will reside on the CM/ECF server.
Most cases are available for remote access by all PACER users. There are certain restricted case types and documents (e.g. Social Security, Immigration and criminal case documents filed prior to 11/1/2004) where only the attorney of record can access the case remotely.
The Cases report in CM/ECF is used to display summary data for a range of cases. It can be used to produce a list of open or closed cases between a date range. For example, it can be used to produce a list of cases filed or discharged. It addition, there are a number of options to help limit the results. The Cases report can be found under the Reports menu option in CM/ECF. The report is NOT subject to the 30-page limit on PACER charges so users should use caution when running the report. It should be noted that in Bankruptcy CM/ECF, the Cases report does not include cases that have been archived.
For district and bankruptcy courts:

The Utilities menu option in district and bankruptcy CM/ECF has a miscellaneous option to view mailing information. Attorneys may use this function to determine who is receiving service electronically and who is receiving service conventionally.

For appellate courts:

The Notice of Docket Activity (NDA) lists the parties and their preferred method of receiving the notice.
Access to the PDF document may be restricted for some cases for the following reasons:

  • The document is sealed or access is restricted;
  • Only the attorney of record in certain types of cases (e.g., Social Security, Immigration) may view PDF documents remotely;
  • In district courts, you should be able to view all criminal documents except those under seal through the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF). However, most criminal case documents filed in district court prior to November 1, 2004 may be viewed remotely only by the attorney of record. All criminal documents are available in an Appellate case through the Notice of Docket Activity (NDA).
Possibly. In most circuits the clerk will scan all pro se filings, including any pro se briefs received in paper format, and will attach these documents to the relevant docket entry. A Notice of Docket Activity (NDA) will usually be sent when the clerk's office files the document. All scanned pro se documents will be accessible through PACER. Visit a circuit's website to verify its rules on the availability of pro se filings.

Pro se filers may file in some appellate courts and get their own CM/ECF appellate accounts.
When the opposing party or attorney is not a CM/ECF participant, you must serve them in a traditional fashion (see Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 25).
You cannot delete or edit filings after they have been submitted through CM/ECF. If you made an error (filed in the wrong case, submitted the wrong version of a document, etc.) contact the clerk's office.
An associated case is a case the court has identified as being related to another case because the cases involve the same parties or the same, similar, or related issues of law. An associated case will appear in the Applied Case Selection box on the File a Document screen. A document may be filed to all of the associated cases listed or the user may deselect (uncheck) cases in the list. If an associated case(s) is deselected (the case will appear in bold), the event is only filed to the lead case. If the case is selected, the document is filed to the associated case(s). The selected associated case(s) is displayed at the top of most of the document filing screens.

Yes, the public can access case data in CM/ECF unless it has been sealed by the court. The public access component of CM/ECF will require a user to enter a PACER login and password. Because the PACER login and CM/ECF filing login will be different, a filing attorney will need both. Established PACER users will automatically have access to these sites; a new account does not need to be created. For those currently not registered with PACER, a PACER account may be obtained at: http://www.pacer.gov/reg_pacer.html

Access to the filing portion of CM/ECF is available to authorized users only. Authorization and training of users is provided by the practicing CM/ECF court. Check with the individual court for details on filing privileges.
Access to the filing portion of CM/ECF is available to authorized users only. Authorization and training of users is provided by the practicing CM/ECF court. Check with the individual court for details on filing privileges.
Yes. The system requires two separate login IDs and passwords. A PACER login ID is required for querying cases and is provided by the PACER Service Center. Its format consists of two alpha characters followed by 4 numeric characters. A CM/ECF login ID is required for attorneys to file cases, documents, and motions online.
In order for an attorney to be authorized to file documents electronically and to receive email notices of documents that are filed, he/she must be admitted to practice in the court and be registered to file electronically with the specific court providing the CM/ECF system.

For district and bankruptcy courts:

Each district/bankruptcy court has its own requirements and procedures for registering. Visit http://www.pacer.gov/cmecf/ecfinfo.html for a complete list of the courts that offer CM/ECF and to learn more about their systems, including filing requirements and procedures, manuals, and other pertinent information. Upon registration with the court, attorneys will be provided with an identification name and password that will allow access for the filing aspect of the system.

For appellate courts:

Attorneys, pro se parties, court reporters and some non-filing persons (e.g. journalists) may register to become an authorized CM/ECF user in appellate courts and bankruptcy appellate panels through this website. You may need to check the court rules to find out who is permitted. Click here, to view more information about the registration procedures.

Please note that attorneys from all court types must register for PACER in addition to requesting filing privileges in order to fully utilize the capabilities of the CM/ECF system.
Any court that permits electronic filing will have its own procedures and requirements.
Contact your local court to see what training sessions may be offered. Most courts offering CM/ECF access will provide an on-line tutorial, training database, FAQs, and a user manual. If a training database is provided, participants should use it to practice filing before filing a document in the "live" database.
No. The attorneys can still share the PACER login IDs. However, they should not share their CM/ECF login IDs. Attorneys must get a PACER login ID prior to using CM/ECF, as it is a necessary component of the system.
The firm PACER account can be used for the query component of CM/ECF. However, if you would like to keep the billing separate from the firm's, you will need to establish a new PACER account. A PACER account may be obtained at: http://www.pacer.gov/reg_pacer.html
If your current PACER account is shared among the firm you are leaving, then you must establish a new PACER account. A PACER account may be obtained by registering here: http://www.pacer.gov/reg_pacer.html

If your PACER account is not shared among staff at your current firm, it may move with you. You may update the contact information on this website. Login to the Manage My PACER Account section with your PACER login and password and update the contact information.
This login prompt is requesting your PACER login and password, which is required whenever you request a report or document from a case. In order to bypass this login prompt in the future, click the box that says make this my default login after entering the PACER login and password. Your CM/ECF login and password will still need to be entered each time the ECF site is visited.
Look for a few of these common problems:

  • The login should be entered in lower case letters followed by four numbers (does not apply in appellate courts). The password may consist of upper and lower case letters, numbers and/or special characters.
  • Make sure the proper login and password are being used for the proper database. (PACER login for querying; CM/ECF login for filing).
  • Verify that the recommended browser is being used which is a current version of either Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
  • Check the location of the website. The training database is located at: https://ecf-train.COURT.uscourts.gov while the live database is at: https://ecf.COURT.uscourts.gov (without the train) where COURT is the code for the particular court. Typically, appellate courts do not have training databases.
  • The browser needs to be set to accept all cookies and must be JavaScript-enabled.
  • Verify that you are using a recommended browser (we have tested the site to work with current versions of Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer).
  • Make sure to set your PC to accept all cookies. If the problem persists, delete your existing cookie files. Different browsers handle this in various ways, so you have have to explore your browser's options in order to find out where to clear the cookies or browser cache.
Turn off any pop-up blocker installed on your system and try again.
It is possible to use the same filing login in all appellate courts. Click here to register for the ability to file documents electronically with appellate courts. If you have already registered to file and would like to add additional courts, click here.

Because each bankruptcy and district court assigns the filing login for filing privileges in the CM/ECF system, it is not possible to obtain a universal filing login in these court types. However, some courts allow you to request a particular login and password when you register, so you may be able to use the same filer login for many courts.
For district and bankruptcy courts:

Once you are logged in as a CM/ECF filer, click on Utilities. In Utilities, click on Change Your PACER Login. Enter a new PACER login and password. You can change the default PACER login by checking the box Make this my default PACER login. Once you associate a PACER login and a filer login, there is no way to un-associate the two without making another PACER login the default.

For appellate courts:

Once logged in as a CM/ECF filer, click on Utilities in the menu and select Update My Account. Check the box next to Remove the Default PACER Login [your default login] and then click Apply. Now click on Reports and select PACER Report. This should take you to a login web page. Now you can enter a new login and check the box that says Make this my default PACER login.

If selecting PACER Report takes you to a report page, this means you are already logged into PACER> You need to Click logout first. Once you have logged out, go back to the Appellate CM/ECF file application and click on Reports->PACER Report again. This will take you to the login page, where you can set a new login as your default PACER account.
CM/ECF allows a filing attorney to permanently associate a PACER login with an ECF filing login. The ECF filing login and PACER login became associated by checking the box Make this my default PACER login during a previous session. When they are associated, each time the attorney logs in to file a document the system also logs the attorney in as a PACER user. This is a problem for those users that must switch between PACER accounts based on the type of work being performed.

For district and bankruptcy courts:

If having an ECF filing account associated with a PACER account is a problem for you, contact the court to un-associate your PACER login from your filing login. With the two un-associated, the system will prompt you to enter the appropriate PACER account when querying. Future versions of CM/ECF will allow users to do this on-line under Utilities. For an immediate solution, you can change your PACER login for the session by clicking on Utilities then select Change PACER login. Or, click on Logout and re-enter the site with the correct PACER login.

For appellate courts:

Once logged in as a CM/ECF filer, click on Utilities in the menu and select Update My Account. Check the box next to Remove the Default PACER Login. This option is used to indicate that a PACER login is associated with your ECF login, so that when you login to ECF and access PACER using the Reports menu, you do not need to login to PACER again. To remove the default login for your PACER account, click the Remove the default PACER login checkbox and click the Apply button.
In district and bankruptcy courts:

Electronic access to Social Security Administration case documents is limited to parties in the case. In addition, documents from criminal cases filed prior to November 1, 2004 are only available electronically to the parties in the case. So when attempting to view either of these document types, the CM/ECF system will display the message you do not have permission to view this document. If you are an attorney of record or another party in the case, you must enter your ECF filing ID before trying to access these documents. All others interested in these documents should contact the clerk's office for information about viewing copies. Criminal documents filed after November 1, 2004 are available electronically through PACER once a court has upgraded to the correct version of the CM/ECF software.

In appellate courts:

Viewing of certain document types in an Appellate CM/ECF court may be restricted. When attempting to view documents in Social Security or Immigration cases, the CM/ECF system will display the message you do not have permission to view this document. If you are an attorney in the case, you must login to CM/ECF with your ECF filing ID and run the PACER Report in order to view the documents. You must have an approved ECF filer account in a court and be an attorney in the case in order to view these documents.
When you register through the PACER Service Center to become an efiler, the registration information is forwarded to each circuit in which you registered. The court will review each request so processing times will vary. You will receive an email confirmation from the PACER Service Center when your registration request is processed that will indicate the disposition of your request. If there is an emergency situation and you need to file immediately, contact the clerk's office for assistance and direction.
Training and filing requirements, prior to registration, are left to each circuit. Each court may have Electronic Learning Modules (ELMs) available for training. You are strongly encouraged to visit a circuit's website to determine whether there are any educational requirements prior to submitting filings. ELMS are also available on the PACER website at http://www.pacer.gov/psc/etraining.html.
A Notice of Docket Activity (NDA) is an email notice generated from an appellate court when a docketing transaction requires that notice be sent to attorneys, case participants or court personnel. An NDA can be generated when a party or attorney files a document with the clerk's office or when the court enters an order or takes other public actions in a case. If you are a CM/ECF participant, typically your receipt of the NDA is service of that document or order, and registration for the CM/ECF system constitutes consent to receive service through the Notice of Docket Activity. In the district court and bankruptcy court systems the NDA is referred to as the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF).
The clerk's office reviews attorney filings as part of its quality control procedures. In the event the deputy clerk finds an error or needs to modify the docket text for the event and the filing, the deputy may make the changes and send a new NDA to the case participants. If you receive a second NDA for a filing and cannot determine the reason for the second Notice, please call the office of the clerk from which the notice was sent.
Requirements for Certificate of Service vary depending by circuit. Contact the circuit to determine if there are local rules governing this process.
No. Electronic access to documents in Social Security cases and Immigration matters is limited to the attorneys or parties in the case in order to protect the privacy of the individuals involved in those cases. You may be permitted to inspect these files in person in the clerk's office. If you are a party or attorney in the case, please note that you can access documents in these cases only through use of your CM/ECF filer ID and password and that you cannot access them with your PACER ID and password.

The email notification goes to the email address of the registered attorney(s) of record and all email accounts an attorney has listed as recipients of additional notices. Recipients who have identified a case as being of interest may also receive notification but will not receive a free copy if they are not an attorney or secondary listing to an attorney on the case.
The attorney will be charged for viewing documents in PACER every time they access that document after the first free copy.
Yes. 15 days.
You get only one free look. After that, you will incur PACER charges. Users are encouraged to save the PDF document onto their firm's network drive or to the local hard drive for future access.
Yes. Clicking on the docket sheet hyperlink found in the NEF and NDA will cause a PACER login screen to appear if you have not already logged into PACER. Once you have completed the login screen you will be presented with the current docket sheet for that case. Access to the docket sheet will result in PACER charges.
The document within an email notification is accessed by a hyperlink. This hyperlink takes you to a site which will allow the first viewing to be free. The first individual to view the linked document will not be charged. If you forward the email notification without viewing the document, the recipient of the email will be able to view the document for free. Anytime after the first viewing, a charge will be incurred to view the document. The document should be saved to a local hard drive during the first viewing.
CM/ECF participants receive an email notification of activity in each of their cases. The email notification contains a link to the "one free copy" as part of the CM/ECF program.
It may be advantageous for the recipient to save the document to view or print at a later time.

The following instructions apply from the point where you view the email message containing the attached PDF document.

CAUTION: To save the PDF document as described below, make sure the Acrobat Reader is opening in your Web browser, not as a separate window.

1. Click on the link to the document found in the email verification notice.
2. The document loads into Adobe Reader.
3. A toolbar with a diskette icon appears at the top of the Adobe Reader screen.
4. Click on the diskette icon.
5. A dialogue box entitled Save As appears over the document.
6. Complete the following data fields:
  • Save in: Designate the drive and directory to save the file.
  • File name: Name the file. Example: Public, JQstaymotion.pdf.
  • Save as type: Leave at Acrobat (*.pdf) default.
7. Click the Save button to store the document in the drive and folder you designated.
8. You can now view or print the document at a later time.
The most common reason for non-delivery of court emails is that the email has been identified as spam either by the recipient or automatically by the ISP. If a recipient inadvertently identified a previous court email as spam, the ISP may be blocking email from the court. Contact your ISP to rectify this situation.

Some ISPs may automatically route court email to a junk mail folder. Go into your junk mail folder and mark the email from the court as "not junk mail."
There are 3 reasons you will be prompted to login after clicking the link:

1. If it is a certain case type (e.g., Social Security or Immigration case) or a restricted document, you will need to enter your CM/ECF filer ID so the system can verify you are an attorney of record.
2. If 15 days have elapsed since the document was filed, the free copy has expired and you will be required to log in. You will be charged for viewing the document.
3. If the link has been used. You will be charged for viewing the document.
It is possible some of the settings on your PDF viewer are incorrect. If you are using an Adobe product, try the following: Edit->Preferences->Internet, uncheck Allow Fast Web View and Display PDF in Browser.
To sign up, visit the BNC's public web site, at www.ebnuscourts.com, read the information provided, download and complete the registration form, and submit it to the BNC.

Documents in Portable Document File (PDF) format do not require a copy of the word processing program used to create them in order to be viewed. They can be viewed by anyone with a free viewer such as Acrobat Reader, a product of Adobe Systems, Inc. In addition to its cross platform advantage, a PDF document matches very closely the format of the original document in which the PDF document was created. All of the pleadings in the CM/ECF system are stored in PDF format. To view PDF files, you must have a PDF viewing software such as Acrobat Reader, which you may download free from the Adobe website http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html. You will view PDF documents the way they were created, and you may save and print them in that format.
Adobe Acrobat is a commercial software product from Adobe that allows you to view and create documents in PDF (portable document format). Adobe, the inventors of the PDF format, can be found at http://www.adobe.com, where you can find both the free reader version of the software, which can be used to retrieve documents from CM/ECF, and the writer version, which can create documents for posting. There are other brands of commercially available software to create PDF files, and the CM/ECF's only requirement is that filings must be in PDF to be accepted by the CM/ECF system. All documents filed in CM/ECF must be in PDF format. The Federal Judiciary does not endorse any specific software.
There are several ways in which you can get a document from a word processing program into the PDF format.

The newer versions of some common word processors include the ability to publish a document to PDF built right into the word-processing software. In WordPerfect 9 and 10, you can click on File and then Publish to PDF to convert your WordPerfect file (.wpd) to PDF. MS-Word (up to version XP) does NOT have this capability.

Adobe, the inventors of the PDF format, can be found at http://www.adobe.com, where you can find both the free reader version of the software, which can be used to retrieve documents from CM/ECF, and the writer version, which can create documents for posting.

When you've installed Acrobat, you can make PDF files right out of your word-processing software simply by printing the document, and selecting the printer called Acrobat PDFWriter from the drop down list of available printers. That process will actually save a file in PDF format, with a ".pdf" file extension, on your hard drive.

There are many other vendors besides Adobe who provide software to create PDF documents. Please note that the Federal Judiciary does not endorse or recommend any specific PDF software. Since there are so many different applications, and we could not depict instructions for all, we have chosen to depict all our instructions with reference to Adobe.
You are probably trying to scan the document using optical character recognition (OCR)--don't do this. PDF can handle both text and scanned documents. It can also take scanned documents and perform OCR on them, turning the image back into editable text. However, this process has many problems and should not be done before e-filing them. It is permissible to perform OCR on PDF documents after they are in the e-filing system, since any OCR errors will not be placed in the official documents at the court.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a plugin that the browser will automatically launch when you try to access a document stored in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, your computer will show you a set of applications from which to choose a program that will read the file. None of them will work, which is why you must download the Adobe Reader from Adobe Systems' website. To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click on http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.
The answer to both questions is "yes." In Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or the Adobe Reader 5.0, click on File, then Preferences, then General. In the Options section at the bottom of the window labeled General Preferences, check the box (by clicking on it if it is blank) beside Web Browser Integration to make a PDF document open within the browser. Uncheck that box (by clicking on it if it is checked) to cause Acrobat or the Adobe Reader to open in a separate window.

In Adobe Acrobat 7.0 or the Adobe Reader 7.0, click on Edit and then Preferences. Click on Internet in the Categories list on the left-hand side of the screen. In the Web Browser Option panel, check the box (by clicking on it if it is blank) beside Display PDF in Browser to make a PDF document open within the browser. Uncheck that box (by clicking on it if it is checked) to cause Acrobat or the Adobe Reader to open in a separate window.
This is more of a matter of personal preference. Some of the functionality of the Reader is lost when the PDF document is opened in a browser window. However, most of the functions accessible either using the menu or shortcuts when the Reader opens in its own window can be accessed using the various button icons that remain available when the Reader is opened within the browser.
After you click the print icon, click the shrink to fit box on the printer setup screen. Once the setting has been changed, it should remain this way for all PDF documents.
If a PDF document contains text, as opposed to an image, you can select text and do a normal copy and paste. Using the Acrobat Reader, one can select no more than a page at a time.
The Administrative Office(AO) of the United States Courts' CM/ECF Development Team extensively tested and evaluated the capabilities and compatibility of the Adobe Acrobat version 5.0 with the CM/ECF service. These test results indicate that court personnel and lawyers can use Version 5 PDF documents without adverse effects to CM/ECF. It should be noted that CM/ECF does not endorse any specific software, just the use of the PDF.
The Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure require that certain personal data identifiers be modified or partially redacted from federal court case files. These identifiers are Social Security numbers, dates of birth, financial account numbers, and names of minor children, and in criminal cases, also home addresses. Information regarding the Judiciary Privacy Policy is located at www.privacy.uscourts.gov. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the attorney and the parties in the case to redact personal identifiers.
No specific method is endorsed by the Federal Judiciary. But for best results, delete or modify the text from the original file before creating a PDF and save it with a new name. Modify the text you wish redacted by replacing it with the word [REDACTED] or Xs (i.e., XXX-XX-1234). To redact text, its metadata-literally the information about the data-must be removed from the file. The following court references may be useful:

Commercial software designed specifically to redact is also available. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the attorney and the parties in the case to redact personal identifiers.
In Adobe 5.0 or higher version , make the following changes:

Go to Edit->Preferences->Internet. Uncheck Display PDF in Browser. Uncheck Allow Fast Web View.
When creating PDF documents for the purpose of filing in CM/ECF, it is recommended they be converted directly from the word processing program. Usually only very large WordPerfect or Word documents converted to PDF will have size limitation problems. You will more frequently run into size issues when scanning documents. When scanning, be sure to set your scanner to black and white and 300 dpi. If your scanned document is larger than the limit, you can separate it into multiple smaller files. To check the size of the file, right click on the file and select properties. You must save a scanned document to PDF; only PDF documents can be filed.
It is possible you will need to install a postscript print driver. These drivers are available from your printer manufacturer's website.
If you are using Adobe Acrobat 5, make the following adjustment: select the Print command, check the box next to the option Print as Image which is located in the print status window next to the printer name. If using Adobe Acrobat 6, select the Print command then select the Advanced button located at the bottom left corner of the print status window, then select Print as Image. You may want to turn this setting off when printing in the future because it can slow down a large print job.
The system will not accept documents which have security measures turned on (for example, password protection in Adobe.) Remove the security features from the document and submit your document again.
If you are using Adobe Reader the settings may need to be changed in order to view the document. Go to Edit->Preferences->Internet, and uncheck Allow Fast Web View.
If you are using an Adobe product, you must first select the text tool (look for the T on the toolbar) instead of the hand. Then select the text, and either right-click and choose copy, or use the copy icon. If you cannot select the text, then the PDF is a scanned image. Scanned documents in PDF act just like photographs. You will not be able to copy and paste from a scanned image.
This is called "flowing". Depending on the font, the printer selected, and other characteristics of the content, a document may undergo some changes when it's rendered into PDF. If you are using an Adobe product to convert documents to PDF, visit www.adobe.com. Adobe has a set of technical documents posted on their site that refer directly to ways in which you may attempt to address flowing problems.

Another work-around is to set your PDF printer as your Default Printer before opening the document, then open the document, edit it to correct any format errors, save it and try printing (converting) to PDF again.
No. In fact, the vast majority of documents can be easily converted to PDF format without scanning. Any document that you create on your computer can be converted to PDF by your computer as long as you have the appropriate software installed and configured properly.
Launch Acrobat Reader, select Help menu option, and select About Acrobat Reader. If you are using version 5.0.5 or higher, you do not need to upgrade. If you are using version 4 or below, please visit Adobe's website at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html to download a free upgrade to the latest version of Acrobat Reader.

Attorneys will need the following hardware and software to electronically file, view, and retrieve documents in the electronic filing system.

For all court types:

  • A personal computer with Windows or an Apple Macintosh (Mac) with internet access and a compatible browser. (See below for more information about operating Appellate CM/ECF on a Mac.)
  • Software to convert documents from a word processor format to portable document format (PDF). Adobe Acrobat PDF Writer, as well as certain word processing programs can perform this function. Adobe Acrobat Version 5 and higher meet the CM/ECF filing requirements. For viewing documents, not authoring them, only Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed.
  • A word processing package like Mac or windows-based versions of WordPerfect and Word whose output can be converted to PDF format.
  • A scanner to make PDFs of documents that you have only in paper.
In addition, for appellate courts:

  • You will need the Java plug-in. Click to run the Java Version Test.

    Mac Users

    If you are running Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6, available since August 2009), you can use the regular login hyperlink (rather that the special Mac-only hyperlink) for any Appellate CM/ECF court where you have filing privileges. Only if you are running Leopard (OS X 10.5, the previous OS) do you need to use the Mac-only hyperlink to file in CM/ECF.

    Apple recently released Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 9, which brings Mac Java up-to-date and also automatically configures web browsers to not automatically run Java applets. Because of this, a Mac user who installs OS X Update 9 will have to re-enable the Java applet. This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. After this update is installed, the next time a Mac user logs onto CM/ECF it will say "Missing Plug-In" and require a one-time download to be performed. Clicking "More Info" will direct a user to the Oracle web site to download the plug-in software. Instructions for doing this can be found at Apple's site by following this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5241. More information can be found here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1550.
If you get to the login screen and the system hangs when you try to complete your login, something is blocking the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) port 443 (that's the point where we transition from web port 80 to SSL port 443). The systems person at your firm needs to look at the router and any firewalls the firm has set up to determine where the blocking is taking place. Attorneys at a firm may experience this problem while other attorneys at the same firm do not because they may be directed to different proxy servers.
If you find your session freezing after you have hit SUBMIT, try using the Back button to return to the previous screen and click on SUBMIT again. It may be the case that the session has not really halted; this kind of misbehavior is common to browser-based applications.
Unlike most programs, a web browser will open multiple windows. In other words, two or more windows in which the browser appears may be active at the same time. Look at the tool bar at the bottom of the screen, this is the same bar where the start button is located. If the browser logo appears on two different buttons, you have more than one window open. Click on the button that is not active (not highlighted) to open the previous window. If there is only one window open, click on the GO menu item at the very top of the screen; a drop down menu will appear where you can click on the address of the page to which you wish to return.
Some users have reported when trying to print large dockets or other reports from the CM/ECF system that they received an error message stating: Data Missing - This document resulted from a POST operation and has expired from the cache. If you wish you can repost the form data to recreate the document by pressing the reload button. To fix this problem, we recommend increasing the size of your cache dramatically.
If you are using Internet Explorer and Windows XP with Service Pack 2, you may be having a problem downloading the "data only" format of the cases report. Two options are recommended to work around the problem.

1. Use Firefox. The report downloads correctly using this browser.

or

2. Delete the Windows XP registered file type for .txt files. To delete the registered file type in Windows XP, use the following steps:

  • Double click My Computer.
  • Go to Tools->Folder Options.
  • Click File Types.
  • Find the "TXT" file type from the list and click on it.
  • Click Delete.
  • When the confirmation box is displayed, click Yes.
  • Click OK to close the File Types box.
The cache on your computer may be full. Cache is a location on your hard drive where data is stored. When you search the Internet, your computer keeps track of every page you have visited and saves this information on your hard drive. If this file becomes large (i.e., many pages have been searched), the result may be a loss of data.
Right click in the window and select Reload (Firefox) or Refresh(IE). If that does not display all options, clear the cache or temporary internet files.
The following browsers have been tested for use with CM/ECF:

  • Firefox 3.5 and 3.6
  • Internet Explorer 7 and 8
The following have not been tested with CM/ECF but seem to work:

  • Safari
  • Opera
  • Google Chrome
  • Netscape
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 and below
  • AOL browser
  • MSN browser
Firefox is supported. The Mozilla browser is not "officially supported" but many users use it with success with CM/ECF. You should have access to an "officially supported" browser.
No. The MSN provided browser is different from Internet Explorer and is not supported and does not work with CM/ECF. You can use MSN for connecting to the internet, but you must use either Firefox or Internet Explorer for CM/ECF.
Some users have reported problems when attempting to download large audio files from the CM/ECF system using both Internet Explorer and Firefox. The problem reported is that the browser appears to download the PDF with the embedded audio file but freezes at some point during the download. The judiciary has duplicated the issue and recommends having Acrobat open outside of the browser to solve the problem. This setting can be changed in the Internet preference area of Acrobat that can be found under the Edit menu. For example, to change the setting in Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, do the following:

   1. Open Adobe Acrobat.
   2. Click Edit.
   3. Click Preferences.
   4. When the preference box opens, click Internet.
   5. Uncheck Display PDF in browser.
   6. Click OK.

If you have any questions or problems downloading audio files from CM/ECF, contact the PACER Service Center for assistance.
The recommended screen resolution for appellate CM/ECF is 1024 x 768 pixels or higher. If the screen resolution for your workstation is lower (e.g., 800 x 600, 640 x 480), all of the information will not fit on the screen horizontally. To change the resolution, perform the following on your PC:

  1. Click Start on the Task bar.
  2. Point to Settings.
  3. Click Control Panel.
  4. Double-click Display.
  5. Click the Settings tab and drag the slider, under Screen area, to 1024 x 768 pixels.
  6. Click Apply.
Each circuit determines the types of documents that can be filed electronically. Many circuits have filed an Administrative Order Regarding Electronic Filing that outlines the local policies. Check the circuit's website for a copy of the order and local rules.
Electronic learning modules (ELMs) are available on this website for appellate CM/ECF. Click here to view the ELMs. In addition, most circuits post court specific training materials on their websites.

Appellate CM/ECF has an on-line Help module available that provides a general overview of the product that includes topics such as docketing, utilities and reports. The Help module can be accessed by users with a filer login and password.

If you have additional questions, contact the PACER Service Center at 800 676-6856 between 8am and 6pm Central Time.
Click to run the Java Version Test.

Once you select a document to review, you can perform a word search by clicking on EDIT, then clicking on either Find and Replace, or Find in Document (or pressing Ctrl+F), and entering the word(s) you wish to locate in the document. For documents in PDF format (viewable using Adobe Acrobat Reader) search by clicking on TOOLS, then FIND (or Ctrl+F), and proceed the same way. Note, if the PDF document is an image file, as opposed to a text file, searching the document is not possible. As the names imply, a text file is one created in the first instance using a word processing, spreadsheet, or similar program, while an image file is created by scanning a document using a document scanner or fax machine.
A "link" or "hyperlink" is a shortcut to another website or web page. These are represented by a word or phrase underlined in blue. For example, if you click on one of the items on the Featured Links section of this website, you will be taken to the item described by the "link".
A plug-in is a small add-on piece of software that extends the capabilities of your web browser. A plug-in may, for example, enable you to view files written in a format other than HTML, the language used to create Internet web sites, or to listen to audio files or view videos.
While on the Desktop screen, right click the mouse and then click on New, followed by Shortcut. The next screen will ask for a command line. For example, to setup a shortcut to the CM/ECF system for a court, type " http://ecf.COURT.uscourts.gov/" in the space and then click Next. Change the name of the shortcut to CM/ECF-Court or some other designation of your choosing and then click on Finish. COURT is the code for the particular court. For example, New York Southern Bankruptcy would be nysb.
Copying is the act of making a duplicate. Cutting is the act of removing something and placing it in another location (Deleting is the act of removing something entirely). Cutting sometimes works like deleting. Pasting is the act of placing anything that has been cut or copied into a new location. There are many ways to copy or cut, and paste, but all of them involve highlighting what you want to copy or cut first.

For a file, simply clicking on the file once will highlight it.

For text, position your cursor at the beginning of the text you want to highlight, hold the left mouse button down and drag the cursor to the end of the text you want to highlight, then release the mouse button.

To copy the highlighted item (3 options):

1. From the menu-bar at the top of any application, select Edit->Copy, -or-
2. Right-Click on the highlighted item and select Copy from the menu that shows, -or-
3. On the keyboard, hit Ctrl-C.

To cut the highlighted item (3 options):

1. From the menu-bar at the top of any application, select Edit->Cut, -or-
2. Right-Click on the highlighted item and select Cut from the menu that shows, -or-
3. On the keyboard, hit Ctrl-X.

To paste the item you just copied or cut (3 options):

1. From the menu-bar at the top of any application, select Edit->Paste, -or-
2. Right-Click where you want to place the highlighted item and select Paste from the menu that shows, -or-
3. Click where you want to place the item, then on the keyboard, hit Ctrl-V.

Make a mistake? Try any one of these to undo or revert to the last state. Some programs allow you to step-back many times, others allow only once, or none.

1. From the menu-bar at the top of any application, select Edit->Undo,

-or-

2. On the keyboard, hit Ctrl-Z.
Some applications also have a Redo option, which "undoes the undo".

1. From the menu-bar at the top of any application, select Edit->Redo, -or-
2. On the keyboard, hit Ctrl-Y.