CM/ECF

About

CM/ECF is the U.S. federal courts’ electronic case filing system, used by courts to maintain digital case files and accept documents filed over the Internet. Its coverage includes federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. Registered attorneys may file online at any time when a court enables that option. Filings are accepted in PDF format, create docket entries, and update docket sheets immediately. After an electronic filing, the system emails a Notice of Electronic Filing with links to the document and docket sheet to the filer and registered case participants. 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 can provide access to PACER and electronic filing, but filing also requires a PACER account and access issued by the individual court. Filers must acknowledge responsibility for redacting personal identifier information each time they log in. Filing documents over the Internet has no added fee, though existing court filing fees still apply; PACER charges for record access.

Who it is for

It suits attorneys and other permitted users filing in covered U.S. federal courts. Some courts also allow bankruptcy claimants and self-represented litigants to file.

Compared on legal e-filing software

Free plan

Yesuscourts.gov

Court coverage

U.S. federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courtsuscourts.gov

Filing status tracking

Yesuscourts.gov

Electronic service

Yesuscourts.gov

Supported platforms

webuscourts.gov

Facts

Purpose

CM/ECF lets federal courts maintain electronic case files and accept court documents filed over the Internet.uscourts.gov · 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 · 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 · 5 Oct 2026

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 · 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 · 5 Oct 2026

Docket updates

Electronic filings automatically create docket entries and update docket sheets immediately.uscourts.gov · 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 · 5 Oct 2026

File format

CM/ECF accepts documents in PDF format.uscourts.gov · 5 Oct 2026

Privacy responsibility

Filers must acknowledge their responsibility to redact personal identifier information each time they log in.uscourts.gov · 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 · 5 Oct 2026

Training and support

Each court offers CM/ECF training, and PACER provides learning aids and FAQs.uscourts.gov · 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 · 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 · 5 Oct 2026

Company

Founded

2001uscourts.gov · 23 Sept 2026

Where it ranks on Inferse

• Best Legal E-Filing Software in 2026#4 of 23

Sources

• uscourts.gov/court-records/file-a-case-cm-ecf/faqs-c· checked 5 Oct 2026
• uscourts.gov/court-records/electronic-filing-cm-ecf· checked 5 Oct 2026