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CM/ECF Training and Registration for Attorneys and Filing Agents

Below are instructions for obtaining access to file electronically in NextGen CM/ECF for attorneys, attorney staff, and filing agents.

Attorneys

  1. Attorneys requiring full access to CM/ECF must be admitted to practice in the Southern District of California with either a California Bar ID or Pro Hac Vice. For more attorney admission information, visit the District Court's website at https://www.casd.uscourts.gov/attorney/attorney-admission.aspx  or contact them by phone at 619-557-5329.
  2. Read the Local Rules and Administrative Procedures.
  3. Read the relevant General Orders of the Court.
  4. Familiarize yourself with the Court’s website, local forms, and methods of communication.
  5. Review the following training videos:
    1. Signing and Retention of Documents (7 mins)
    2. Local Rules (6 mins)
    3. Utilizing Court Forms (7 mins)
    4. Using the CM/ECF Online Manual (13 mins)
    5. Filing Documents in CM/ECF (16 mins)
    6. E-Order Process (8 mins)
    7. Attorneys new to CM/ECF may wish to also view the following videos:
      1. Get Acquainted with CM/ECF (10 mins)
      2. Working with PDFs (6 mins)
      3. Required Documents for Bankruptcy Case Opening (3 mins) 
  6. Request access to California Southern Bankruptcy in the PACER system.  https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account/attorney-filers-cmecf
    1. You must have an individual PACER account upgraded for compatibility with NextGen CM/ECF.
    2. If you already have a PACER account, you can request filing privileges by logging into PACER “to Manage my Account”; select Maintenance; select Attorney Admission/E-File Registration then select the Court.

If you have questions regarding obtaining a CM/ECF Login for filing in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California, call 619-557-7555 or send Email to info_casb@casb.uscourts.gov.  For assistance on the PACER side, follow this link https://pacer.uscourts.gov/contact-us.

Attorney Staff

All attorneys are responsible for completing our CM/ECF training requirements. These training materials may be used by an attorney and any attorney staff member at any time. Attorneys who wish to have staff file in the CM/ECF System on behalf of the attorney may have that individual apply for a Filing Agent login to the System.

Filing Agents

Definition:  A filing agent is a user who can file on behalf of attorneys or trustees and may be linked to multiple attorneys or trustees. Filing agents have the same access and permissions as the attorney/trustee for whom they are filing; however, when filing agents use their login and password on behalf of an attorney/trustee, the attorney/trustee’s name appears in the docket text as the filer.

Filing Agent Training and Registration

Although filing agents must understand how to file in the CM/ECF System, the attorney/trustee for whom they are filing is responsible for the document that is filed

All filing agents MUST have their own non-attorney PACER account. If you have not done so already, register for a Non-Attorney PACER account. Please see the information below for additional information.

  1. Filing agents may file on behalf of an attorney with a login to the CM/ECF System for the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California, or on behalf of a trustee in the System.  That attorney or trustee is responsible for all the requirements to file in the System.
  2. Filing agents familiar with filing in CM/ECF should review the following training videos:
    1. Signing and Retention of Documents (7 mins)
    2. Local Rules (6 mins)
    3. Utilizing Court Forms (7 mins)
    4. Using the CM/ECF Online Manual (13 mins)
    5. Filing Documents in CM/ECF (16 mins)
    6. E-Order Process (8 mins)
    7. Filing agents new to CM/ECF may wish to also view the following videos:
      1. Get Acquainted with CM/ECF (10 mins)
      2. Working with PDFs (6 mins)
      3. Required Documents for Bankruptcy Case Opening (if relevant) (3 mins)
  3. Request access to California Southern Bankruptcy in the PACER system by following the “Non-Attorney E-file Registration” link below and selecting “Filing Agent” as the “Role in Court” when completing the registration form.
  4. https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account/non-attorney-filers-cmecf
    1. You must have an individual PACER account upgraded for compatibility with NextGen CM/ECF.
    2. If you already have a PACER account, you can request filing privileges by logging into PACER “to Manage my Account”; select Maintenance; select Non-Attorney E-File Registration then select the Court.

If you have questions regarding obtaining a CM/ECF Login for filing in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California, call 619-557-7555 or send Email to info_casb@casb.uscourts.gov.  For assistance on the PACER side, follow this link https://pacer.uscourts.gov/contact-us.

Associating a Filing Agent with a CM/ECF Account of an Attorney or Trustee:
(To be completed AFTER Filing Agent completes above steps)

An attorney or trustee must take the following steps in CM/ECF to associate the Filing Agent with the attorney or trustee's CM/ECF account.

  1. Click Utilities > Maintain Your ECF Account > More User Information
  2. In the Find Filing Agent field, enter the last name of the Filing Agent and click the search icon.
  3. Select Filing Agent.
  4. Click Return to Account Screen. (Do not use the back-screen button.)
  5. Click Submit to add the filing agent to the attorney/trustee account.
    1. Filing agents may receive email notification from the CM/ECF system only if the attorney/trustee enters the filing agent’s email address in the attorney/trustee’s CM/ECF Maintain User Account.
  6. To remove a filing agent, return to Maintain Your ECF Account > More user Information and uncheck the box.

***THE FILING AGENT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILE UNTIL THE SUPERVISING ATTORNEY/TRUSTEE COMPLETES THESE STEPS!***