Registration Wizard

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Registration Wizard Help

There are several different types of accounts for which you may be eligible to register. A PACER account provides read-only access and works in all federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. A PACER administrative account allows groups or firms to manage multiple PACER accounts for billing purposes. In addition, electronic filing (e-filing) accounts for attorneys and non-attorneys are offered. Attorneys may now register for admission to practice in federal courts as well.

In an effort to provide more efficient systems to the public, the Federal Judiciary will implement a nationwide centralized attorney admissions and e-filing registration process in all appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts over the next several years. If the court you wish to practice in has upgraded

"Upgrade(d)" refers to the modernized case
management system that requires only one
login. This system was implemented as
of August 9, 2014.

to the next generation Case Management/Electronic Case Files(CM/ECF) system, you may apply for admissions and/or register for e-filing privileges through this site. If the court has not upgraded, filing privileges are handled by each court individually.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856 between 7 AM and 6 PM CT Monday through Friday or by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov. Otherwise, continue with this wizard to determine the type of account you need.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Quit the Registration Wizard and go to the
PACER home page.

PACER Case Search Registration

The View option allows read-only access for viewing, searching, and printing. This option does not allow you to electronically file documents. It is not exclusive to attorneys and is available to everyone. The View option is what most people choose.

To obtain a PACER account, you must complete the online PACER registration form. For immediate access to court records, provide a credit card during registration. If you do not provide a credit card, an activation code will be sent by U.S. mail to the address you provided on the registration form. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for mail delivery. For security reasons, activation codes cannot be emailed, faxed, or given over the phone.

There is no registration fee. However, the Judicial Conference of the United States has established a fee for access to PACER. All registered agencies or individuals will be charged the fee. Access to PACER systems will generate a $.10 per page charge.

Billable pages are calculated in three
ways in PACER: 1) A formula determines
the number of pages for an HTML-formatted
report. The information extracted, such as
data used to create a docket sheet, is
billed using a formula based on the number
of bytes extracted. 2) For a PDF, the actual
number of pages are counted to determine
the number of billable pages. 3) On the
PACER Case Locator (PCL), 54 lines are
counted as one billable page.

If you would like to try PACER before registering, visit our How to use CM/ECF. More detailed information about how to use PACER is available in the PACER User Manual.

Continue on to PACER Case Search
registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

PACER Administrative Account Registration

The PACER Service Center (PSC) has developed the PACER Administrative Account (PAA), a consolidated billing and online account management process for groups - such as law firms, non-profit organizations, educational or research institutions - to manage and pay for all charges associated with multiple PACER logins (i.e., PACER account) within their group at an organizational level.

NOTE: The PAA includes the following features:

Request addition of existing individual logins.
Remove individual logins, as needed.
Update cost center information for a login.

The PAA does NOT provide access to case information.

To obtain a PACER Administrative Account, you must complete the online PACER Registration Form.

There is no registration fee. However, the Judicial Conference of the United States has established a fee for access to PACER. All registered agencies or individuals will be charged the fee. Access to PACER systems will generate a $.10 per page charge.

Continue on to PACER Administrative
Account registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Legacy Appellate CM/ECF E-File Registration

You have provided all the necessary information to successfully complete the Registration Wizard.

If you already have a legacy

"Legacy" refers to the first generation
case management system that was upgraded
as of August 9, 2014.

appellate filer account and you need to register for filing privileges in another court, click the Continue button below to log in to Manage My Appellate Filer Account; then select the Register for Additional Court(s) option.

Continue on to Manage My Appellate Filer
Account.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Appellate CM/ECF E-File Registration

You must complete the legacy appellate CM/ECF e-file registration process. Click Continue to begin.

Registration for appellate ECF is separate from and in addition to PACER registration. PACER registration allows you to view docket reports and documents from a court's database, while ECF registration allows you to file documents electronically. If you have a legacy

"Legacy" refers to the first generation
case management system that was upgraded
as of August 9, 2014.

PACER account, you must complete a separate ECF registration to request filing privileges via this website. You will not have to register at each court's website separately; however, you must request e-file privileges from each court in which you wish to file.

When registering for ECF filing, you will choose a login ID, password, and security question. After you complete this process, you may request filing privileges in additional appellate courts. The same login ID and password are used to access CM/ECF in all appellate courts in which you are registered.

When your request is complete, the PACER Service Center will send it to the court for verification and processing. Document filing and access to restricted cases/documents in a court is not permitted until that court processes the request. Processing time for e-file registration can vary from court to court. Once your request is processed, you will receive an email notification of the court's determination. Contact the Clerk's Office if immediate access to file documents is needed.

Continue on to Appellate Filer Account
registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Legacy Appellate CM/ECF E-File Registration Options

Based on your selections, it is unclear which path you need to take. You have a couple options:

If you have a legacy account and wish to register for filing privileges in another court, log in to Manage My Account and select the option.
If you have never e-filed in an appellate court, you will need to register in order to gain e-file privileges.

If neither of these options applies, contact the PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856 between 7 AM and 6 PM CT Monday through Friday or by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Quit the Registration Wizard and go to the
PACER home page.

Upgraded PACER User E-File Conversion

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined that, although you have e-file privileges in this court, you need to upgrade

"Upgrade(d)" refers to the modernized case
management system that requires only one
login. This system was implemented as
of August 9, 2014.

to the new case management system.

To do this, you must link your upgraded PACER account to your existing filer account. When you click the link, a new window will appear. Follow the steps listed below:

Go to the website.
Click - Document Filing System; and then log in using your upgraded PACER account credentials.
- For District and Bankruptcy:
  Click Utilities→ NextGen Release Menu Items→ Link a CM/ECF account to my PACER account; then enter your old e-file login and password.
- For Appellate:
  Click Link my filer account to my PACER account; then enter your old e-file login and password.
NOTE: You will have three chances to enter your old credentials before your e-file account is locked out.
Click Continue below. This will take you to the Manage My Account/E-File Registration/Maintenance History page where you can verify that the linking of accounts was processed.

Continue on to E-File Registration/
Maintenance History.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Attorney E-File Registration for Upgraded PACER Accounts

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should follow the attorney admissions/e-file registration path.

An upgraded

"Upgrade(d)" refers to the modernized case
management system that requires only one
login. This system was implemented as
of August 9, 2014.

PACER account is required to e-file. Follow the steps below to access the e-filing utility:

Click Continue below to log in to the Manage My Account screen.
Log in with your PACER account credentials. NOTE: If you already have an upgraded PACER account, you will be taken directly to the Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration option. If you do not have an upgraded PACER account, select any of the options in the Settings tab in order to upgrade your account.
After upgrading your PACER account, go to the Maintenance tab and select Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration to complete the e-file registration process.

Continue on to Attorney Admissions/E-File
registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Non-Attorney E-File Registration for Upgraded PACER Accounts

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should follow the non-attorney/e-file registration path.

This path is specifically for non-attorneys, i.e., pro se filers, court reporters, interested parties, filing agents, creditors, trustees, U.S. Trustees, and other parties who are not attorneys. NOTE: Not all courts accept non-attorney filers, and some accept only specific types of non-attorney filers. If the selected court does not allow a specific type of non-attorney filer, you will not be able to register for filing privileges.

An upgraded

"Upgrade(d)" refers to the modernized case
management system that requires only one
login. This system was implemented as
of August 9, 2014.

PACER account is required to e-file. Follow the steps below to access the e-filing utility:

Click Continue below to log in to the Manage My Account screen.
Log in with your PACER credentials. NOTE: If you already have an upgraded PACER account, you will be taken directly to the Non-Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration option. If you do not have an upgraded PACER account, select any of the options in the Settings tab in order to upgrade your account.
After upgrading your PACER account, go to the Maintenance tab and select Non-Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration to complete the e-file registration process.

Continue on to Non-Attorney E-File registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Attorney E-File Registration for New Users

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should take the attorney admissions/e-file registration path.

Click Continue below. This will redirect you to the Attorney Admissions and/or E-File Registration screen. Then follow the instructions to complete the process for e-file registration.

If you are not an attorney, click Close and select the Non-Attorney button.

Continue on to Attorney Admissions/E-File
registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Non-Attorney E-File Registration for New Users

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should take the non-attorney e-file registration path.

This path is specifically for non-attorneys, i.e., pro se filers, court reporters, interested parties, filing agents, creditors, trustees, U.S. Trustees, and other parties who are not attorneys. NOTE: Not all courts accept non-attorney filers and some only accept specific types of non-attorney filers. If the selected court does not allow a specific type of non-attorney filer, you will not be able to register for filing privileges at that court. Click Continue below to go to the Attorney Admissions and/or E-File Registration screen. Then follow the instructions to complete the process for e-file registration.

If you are an attorney, click Close and select the Attorney button.

Continue on to Non-Attorney E-File registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

E-File Conversion for New Users

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you need to create a new account.

After creating your new upgraded

"Upgrade(d)" refers to the modernized case
management system that requires only one
login. This system was implemented as
of August 9, 2014.

PACER account, you must link your current filer account. Follow the steps below:

Register for an upgraded PACER account. When you click this link, a new window will appear. Complete the registration.
Link your new PACER account to your existing filer account. When you click the court link below, a new window will appear. Follow the steps below:
- Go to the website.
- Click - Document Filing System; and then log in using your upgraded PACER account credentials.
  - For District and Bankruptcy:
    Click Utilities→ NextGen Release Menu Items→ Link a CM/ECF account to my PACER account; then enter your old e-file login and password.
  - For Appellate:
    Click Link my filer account to my PACER account; then enter your old e-file login and password.
  NOTE: You will have three chances to enter your old credentials before your e-file account is locked out.
Click Continue below. This will take you to the Manage My Account/E-File Registration/Maintenance History page where you can verify that the linking of accounts was processed.

Continue on to E-File Registration/
Maintenance History.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Attorney E-File Registration for Legacy PACER Users

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should follow the attorney admissions/e-file registration path.

Click Continue below. This will redirect you to the Manage My Account screen.
Log in with your legacy PACER account credentials. This should take you directly to the Account Conversion option.
NOTE: If you are not automatically directed to the Account Conversion option, select any option from the Settings tab. Then follow the instructions to complete the conversion and e-file registration process.

If you are not an attorney, click Close and select the Non-Attorney button.

Continue on to Conversion and Attorney
E-File registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Non-Attorney E-File Registration for Legacy PACER Users

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should follow the non-attorney e-file registration path.

This path is specifically for non-attorneys, i.e., pro se filers, court reporters, interested parties, filing agents, creditors, trustees, U.S. Trustees, and other parties who are not attorneys. NOTE: Not all courts accept non-attorney filers and some only accept specific types of non-attorney filers. If the selected court does not allow a specific type of non-attorney filer, you will not be able to register for filing privileges at that court.

Click Continue below. This will redirect you to the Manage My Account screen.
Log in with your legacy PACER account credentials. This should take you directly to the Account Conversion option.
NOTE: If you are not automatically redirected, select any option on the Settings tab. Then follow the instructions to complete the conversion and e-file registration process.

If you are an attorney, click Close and select the Attorney button.

Continue on to Conversion and Non-Attorney
E-File registration.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

E-File Conversion for Legacy PACER Users

Based on your answers, the Registration Wizard has determined you should convert your legacy

"Legacy" refers to the first generation
case management system that was upgraded
as of August 9, 2014.

PACER account.

After converting your PACER account, you must link your current filer account to this account. Follow the steps below:

Convert your legacy PACER account to an upgraded PACER account. When you click this link, a new window will appear. Log in with your legacy PACER credentials and complete the conversion process. NOTE: You will have three chances to log in before you are locked out.
Link your upgraded PACER account to your filer account. When you click the court link below, a new window will appear. Follow the steps below:
- Go to the website.
- Click - Document Filing System; and then log in using your upgraded PACER account credentials.
  - For District and Bankruptcy:
    Click Utilities→ NextGen Release Menu Items→ Link a CM/ECF account to my PACER account; then enter your old e-file login and password.
  - For Appellate:
    Click Link my filer account to my PACER account; then enter your old e-file login and password.
  NOTE: You will have three chances to enter your old credentials before your e-file account is locked out.
Click Continue below. This will take you to the Manage My Account/E-File Registration/Maintenance History page where you can verify that the linking of accounts was processed.

Continue on to E-File Registration/
Maintenance History.

Continue the Registration Wizard.

Registration Type Selection

What would you like to do?More Information

Select this option to register to view,
print, or search for federal case
information.

Select this option to register to e-file
in a federal court. In order to e-file,
you may need to be admitted to practice
in the court. If you need to apply for
attorney admissions, select this option.

Done with the Registration Wizard and go
to the PACER home page.

	MFA Information
	Users only have to enroll in MFA when they are prompted. Need help enrolling in MFA? Check out our MFA Tips and Resources page to get you started.