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NextGen CM/ECF FAQs
If you are currently registered to file electronically in a federal court that has announced it will convert to NextGen CM/ECF, you will first need an upgraded PACER account.
Follow the steps on the "Get Ready for NextGen CM/ECF" page to upgrade your account.
Register for a new PACER account if you do not have an account.
Log in to Manage My Account and check your ‘Account Type.’ It should indicate you have an Upgraded PACER Account.
Log into Manage My Account and upgrade your account by clicking Upgrade link next to your “Account Type” or click on any of the options under the Settings tab. You will then be prompted to upgrade your account.
If the Case Search Status says "Inactive," you can still upgrade your account, but cannot search for case information. To activate your account contact the PACER Service Center for assistance at (800) 676-6856 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.
Only CM/ECF users are required to upgrade their accounts right now. However, you will be prompted to upgrade your account when you update any of your account information with the exception of making a payment.
There are several learning aids that can help you learn more about the NextGen CM/ECF system.
Once a court has migrated to NextGen CM/ECF you will need to link your accounts together. First log in to manage your account. You will need to use the "Link my filer account to my PACER account" link (appellate court) or the "Link a CM/ECF account to my PACER account" link (bankruptcy or district courts). This process varies depending on court type.
For detailed instructions, review the:
Once you linked your filing credentials, you will only need to use your upgraded PACER account credentials to file and/or view case information in any NextGen CM/ECF court.
If the linking process failed, please try again. If you do not remember your CM/ECF username or password, contact the court.
If the linking process still does not work, you must log in with your upgraded PACER account and submit a new electronic filing request for the court:
- Log in to Manage My Account.
- Click the Maintenance tab.
- Click either Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration or Non-Attorney Admissions E-File Registration.
Once request is submitted, you will need to wait for the court to process the request and grant you electronic filing privileges.
To learn more about submitting a new electronic filing request, review the electronic learning module for the Manage My Account Maintenance tab.
For CurrentGen courts, you must register through the court, and the court must approve you as a filer. For NextGen courts, you must register through Manage My Account, and the court must approve you as a filer. You need to register for each court in which you wish to file.
You should upgrade before your court converts to NextGen CM/ECF.
The CurrentGen CM/ECF system requires two separate usernames and passwords; however, once a court implements the NextGen CM/ECF system, you will be able to use your PACER username and password for both. Look up if your court has upgraded to NextGen CM/ECF.
Once your court implements the NextGen CM/ECF system, you will be required to use your PACER account for all courts.
Because each bankruptcy and district court assigns the login for filing credentials in the CurrentGen 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.