Look for a few of these common problems:

The second login prompt is requesting your PACER username and password, which is required whenever you request a report or document from a case while logged in as an electronic filer. To avoid getting the second login prompt, you can store your PACER username and password. To do so, when you enter your PACER credentials, check the checkbox “Make this my default PACER login” on the CM/ECF login page. After checking this box, you will only need to use your CM/ECF credentials for electronic filing and for viewing documents via PACER.

You can make updates to personal information such as address, password, email notification preferences, etc. The process for making changes depends on your court's CM/ECF system.

For district and bankruptcy courts using the CurrentGen CM/ECF system:

• In CM/ECF, click on Utilities and select Maintain Your CM/ECF account. 

For appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts using Next Gen CM/ECF:

For CM/ECF

You do not need to register for CM/ECF more than once. Even if you change firms, your username and password remain valid. However, you must update your contact information–address, email, etc. Different courts have local rules and procedures governing this process, check the courts website.

The federal Judiciary does not recommend sharing PACER accounts. Anyone sharing a username and/or password can potentially update information, like the password, and inadvertently lock out other users who also share the account. To reset your password, you will need to know associated email address and username, or account number, or date of birth, and security questions.   

Contact your local court to see what training sessions may be offered. Most courts offering CM/ECF access will provide an online 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.

Review available documentation on using CM/ECF.

Each court has its own procedures and requirements. Check with the court website for more information.

An attorney must be admitted to practice in a specific court and registered to e-file with that same court in order to file court documents electronically and to receive email notices of documents that are filed.

For district and bankruptcy courts: 

Each district/bankruptcy court has its own requirements and procedures for registering. Visit the court's website for more information.

For appellate courts:

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.

Access to the filing portion of CM/ECF is available to authorized users only. Learn more about who can file using CM/ECF. Authorization and training of users is provided by the individual federal court. Contact the court for details on filing privileges.