Resource Guide

What is CM/ECF?

CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) is the system used by all 207 federal courts for electronic document filing. It replaced paper filing and is maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

207
Federal Courts
1996
First Deployed
100%
Adoption Rate
NextGen
Current Version

How CM/ECF filing works

1
Authenticate
Log in via PACER Central Sign-On (CSO) with your filing credentials.
2
Select the case
Enter the case number to navigate to the correct case docket.
3
Choose an event code
Select from hundreds of codes that categorize your filing (e.g., Motion to Dismiss, Reply Brief).
4
Upload your PDF
Attach the main document and any exhibits. PDFs must be searchable and under 100MB.
5
Enter docket text
Add or edit the text that will appear on the case docket.
6
Submit
Review and submit. The court generates a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF).

Who uses CM/ECF?

✓
Attorneys
Admitted to practice in the specific federal court
✓
Pro se litigants
Self-represented parties (in courts that allow it)
✓
Court clerks
File court orders and administrative documents
✓
Judges
Issue orders and review filings through the system

Common challenges with CM/ECF

Event code selection

Courts have hundreds of event codes. Wrong code = rejected or delayed filing.

PDF requirements

Documents must be searchable, not encrypted, no form fields, and some courts require PDF/A.

Rule 5.2 redaction

SSNs, DOBs, financial accounts, and minor names must be redacted before filing.

Court-specific rules

Each court has local rules affecting filing procedures, page limits, and formatting.

Filing fees

Complaints ($405), appeals ($605), bankruptcy ($338-$1,738) — must pay before filing processes.

Multi-step process

Each filing requires navigating 6+ pages of forms — time-consuming and error-prone.

NextGen CM/ECF

The federal courts have migrated to NextGen CM/ECF, which unifies authentication through PACER Central Sign-On, modernizes the interface, and eliminates the Java requirement. Most courts completed migration by 2025.

ECFiler automates all of this

Drop a PDF. AI reads the document, extracts everything, and files with one click. 207 federal courts supported.

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