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NextGen CM/ECF FAQs

  • What is NextGen CM/ECF?

    NextGen CM/ECF is the acronym for the Next Generation Case Management Electronic Case Files (NextGen CM/ECF) system used by the federal judiciary to maintain case files over the Internet and allows documents to be submitted electronically.  NextGen CM/ECF is operational in federal courts throughout the country and is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.  Attorneys on the system will receive electronic notices  and documents are available immediately upon filing.

  • How do I make changes to my account information "i.e. address, password or email"?

    You can make updates to personal information such as address, password, email notification preferences, etc.

  • How can I contact the court if I'm experiencing problems with E-Filing?

    Help Desk Information

    Please visit our NextGen CM/ECF contact information page for more information.

  • How to receive a login and password to Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court

    Currently, only registered attorneys with a login and password can submit documents under the  NextGen CM/ECF system.  Non-attorneys and the general public can review case documents under the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system (see below). 

     

    If an attorney has a login and password to ECF from another Federal Court (district or bankruptcy) or has attended ECF training at another federal court and is currently admitted to practice before the bar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania he or she is eligible to receive a login and password to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court upon submission of a Registration Form.

     

    If an attorney does not have a login and password to another court and has not taken any CM/ECF training, he or she must attend a court sponsored training class.  Please visit our NextGen CM/ECF Training Information page for more information . 

  • Can the general public view ECF cases and the documents in bankruptcy and adversary cases?

    The public access component of NextGen CM/ECF requires a user to enter a Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) login and password. Public users will be subject to Pacer charges to view NextGen CM/ECF reports and queries through the Internet. PACER logins may be obtained by either contacting the Pacer Service Center at (800) 676-6856 or through its website at https://www.pacer.uscourts.gov  Established PACER users will automatically have access to these sites.  

    The Clerk's office has public access computers available to view case information.

  • Since access will be limited to authorized attorneys or users, is there any way for pro se filers or attorneys without Internet access to file documents in ECF cases?

    Pursuant to In Re Amendment 2 to Standing Order M-04-3009, Provisions For Electronic Filing, Standing Order M-04-3009 (EDPA Bankruptcy October 19, 2004), attorneys filing documents with the court must become authorized users and file electronically. An attorney may apply for an extension of time to comply with or a waiver from the electronic filing requirements pursuant to the requirements laid out in that order. If such a request is granted, the attorney will be required to accompany their paper filing with CD-ROM containing in portable document format (PDF) the documents filed with the Court. Attorneys who are granted extensions or waivers and are unable to create and submit computer disks in PDF format may scan the paper document utilizing a document scanner that will be available in the Clerk's Office.

    The system will also be capable of accepting paper input from pro se filers and others as necessary. In that case, the Clerk’s Office would convert the papers submitted to the court to electronic format by scanning and then adding the scanned image into the ECF system.

  • Are there guidelines for NextGen CM/ECF in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania?

    Guidelines are set forth under In Re Provisions for Electronic Case Filing,  Standing Order M-03-3005 and amendments thereto.

  • How will payments of filing fees be handled for ECF cases?

    Attorney filers will pay any incurred filing fees in NextGen CM/ECF with a credit card or debit card at the time of filing via the Pay.Gov system