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CM/ECF
What it is
CM/ECF is the U.S. federal courts' electronic case filing system, founded in 2001. It lets federal courts maintain electronic case files and accept documents filed over the Internet. Registered attorneys may file online at any time when an individual court offers that option. Filings are accepted as PDFs and automatically create docket entries, updating docket sheets immediately. After a filing, the system emails the filer and registered case participants a Notice of Electronic Filing with links to the document and docket sheet. Attorneys and the public can view and download case information, docket sheets, and filed documents through PACER, subject to court restrictions. A central sign-on account provides access to PACER and electronic filing, but filing also requires a PACER account and access issued by the relevant court. There is no added fee for filing documents online, though existing court filing fees still apply. PACER charges ten cents per page for record access, with most documents capped at $3.00; transcripts and docket sheets are excluded from that cap. Filers must acknowledge their responsibility to redact personal identifier information each time they log in.
For and against
For
- Accepts court documents in PDF format.
- Filings update docket sheets immediately.
- Emails filing notices with document and docket links.
- No added fee for online filing.
Against
- Filing access must be issued by an individual court.
- Existing court filing fees still apply.
- PACER record access may incur per-page charges.
- Filers must redact personal identifier information.
The verdict
CM/ECF handles electronic filings and related docket updates for the covered federal courts. Check court-specific filing access and PACER charges before relying on it.
Who it suits
CM/ECF is for attorneys and other users filing in U.S. federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. Some courts also allow bankruptcy claimants and self-represented litigants to file.
Plans and prices
CM/ECF electronic filing
PACER charges for viewing additional case records · court-issued filing access required
Read 5 Oct 2026 · uscourts.gov
On the record
- Central sign-on
- A central sign-on account provides access to both PACER and electronic filing, while filing requires a PACER account and access issued by an individual court.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Computer requirements
- The FAQ lists a personal computer running Windows or Mac OS X, internet service, and a web browser among filing requirements.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Docket updates
- Electronic filings automatically create docket entries and update docket sheets immediately.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Document access
- Attorneys and the public can view and download case information, docket sheets, and filed documents through PACER, subject to court restrictions.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- File format
- CM/ECF accepts documents in PDF format.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Filing availability
- At a court's option, registered attorneys can file online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Modernization
- The Judiciary says it is modernizing its case management system and describes plans for PACER unified search and other improvements.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Notifications
- After an electronic filing, the system emails a Notice of Electronic Filing with links to the filed document and docket sheet to the filer and registered case participants.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- PACER access fees
- PACER record access is listed at ten cents per page, with most documents capped at the equivalent of 30 pages ($3.00); transcripts and docket sheets are excluded from the cap.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Privacy responsibility
- Filers must acknowledge their responsibility to redact personal identifier information each time they log in.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CM/ECF lets federal courts maintain electronic case files and accept court documents filed over the Internet.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Training and support
- Each court offers CM/ECF training, and PACER provides learning aids and FAQs.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026
- Users
- It is used most often by attorneys, U.S. Trustees, and bankruptcy trustees; some courts allow bankruptcy claimants and self-represented litigants to file.uscourts.gov · read 5 Oct 2026