NextGen FAQs
Select from the categories below to view a list of the most common NextGen questions. If you have a question that isn't addressed from the list of FAQs, please contact us.
NEXTGEN PACER REGISTRATION AND/OR UPGRADING A LEGACY PACER ACCOUNT (accounts with 6 characters as the login username)
- What if I don't have a PACER account?
You must have your own PACER account, which will be linked to your CM/ECF filing account to access NextGen CM/ECF. Shared PACER accounts may no longer be used by CM/ECF users.
If you do not have an individual PACER account, register for one at PACER.USCOURTS.gov. When you get to the PACER web site, please click on Register for an Account and then select the item that applies to you.Questions regarding PACER accounts should be directed to the PACER Service Center at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov or (800) 676-6856.Also separate PACER accounts will be required for users with multiple CM/ECF filing accounts. Instead of using multiple CM/ECF account agents under a single Attorney or Trustee account.- How do I know if my account needs to be upgraded?
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If you already have your own PACER account, but it was created prior to August 11, 2014, or if your current PACER username is 6 characters, you must upgrade it if you have not done so already.
- Do all attorneys need their own individual PACER accounts for NextGen?
Yes, each attorney filing electronically with the court needs their own individual PACER account.
- We share PACER accounts in my firm/office. Can we continue to do this in NextGen CM/ECF?
If you intend to e-file, you are required to have your own PACER account because your PACER account will be linked to your NextGen CM/ECF e-filing account.
- I am concerned that once I upgrade my PACER account, I will no longer be able to get into other court’s e-filing systems since they are not on NextGen yet.
You will continue e-filing in non-NextGen Courts (now called CurrentGen CM/ECF) via their website using the username and password that court issued to you for CM/ECF.
The new/upgraded PACER account will allow you to view documents in any court in the country whether that court is on NextGen or not.
- I don’t want to get a PACER account because I don’t want to pay.
There is no fee to register for PACER, there is only a fee for viewing documents. Check PACER website for their fees.
- I forgot my PACER login or Password.
Click here and select Forgot My Password or Forgot My Username. If you forgot your user name, you will need your PACER account number or will need to contact PACER directly.
- What steps do I take once your court is live?
You must link your current CM/ECF login and password to your newly created or upgraded PACER account. Linking is a one-time process per NextGen Court.
You must know your current CM/ECF login and password to link your account. You must also know your PACER user name and password.
Once linked, your PACER login grants access to both PACER and CM/ECF and you will use your PACER user name and password to e-file as well as view files or run reports.
- I upgraded my PACER account and now I can’t get into CM/ECF (prior to NEXTGEN Go-Live date of November 15, 2021).
You need to determine if you are logged into only PACER. If you do not see “Bankruptcy” or “Adversary” on the blue menu bar at the top, then you are only logged into PACER. You would need to click on “Logout” and then log back in with your current CM/ECF login and password that the court issued to you when you registered to e-file. You should then see all the options, including “Bankruptcy” and “Adversary” on the blue menu bar.
Users confuse CM/ECF with PACER and prior to courts going live on NextGen, you still need to use the court issued CM/ECF login and password to e-file.
When courts go live on NextGen, you will use your upgraded PACER user name and password to log into NextGen CM/ECF. The URL will remain the same to e-file and you will continue to go to ecf.nvb.uscourts.gov.
- I upgraded my PACER account prior to the NVB Go Live date, but when I am in CM/ECF and try to query documents it is not letting me.
You may have previously defaulted your PACER login and password within CM/ECF credentials and therefore it is not recognizing your new PACER login and password.
You will need to change the default PACER login within CM/ECF in any non-NextGen court you have defaulted your PACER credentials.
To change the default PACER login in CM/ECF to your Upgraded PACER login.
- Log into CM/ECF with your current CM/ECF login and password.
- Select the Utilities tab.
- Under Your Account, select:
- Change to Another PACER Login Account.
- Select the checkbox next to Make this my default PACER login.
- Enter your upgraded PACER Account credentials.
- Select Login.
- This will make the changes required.
- Since attorneys will have their own PACER Accounts do they need to use their own credit card for PACER fees or can they use firm credit card?
Attorneys can enter whatever credit card they want when registering for PACER.
Linking PACER Account to CM/ECF (ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 15, 2021)
- I don't know my current CM/ECF login and password.
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You must know your current CM/ECF login and password BEFORE the Court upgrades to NextGen. If the login information is stored in the browser, it is lost and not recoverable. If you do not know your login, contact ECF Support at (866) 232-1266.
If you do not know your CM/ECF password, you may reset it at the following link:
- Is it necessary to link my PACER account with CM/ECF to file online?
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Yes. You will not be able to file without linking your PACER account to CM/ECF NextGen.
You will need the following information to link your accounts:
- Your upgraded PACER login and password
- Your current ECF login and password
If you have not obtained a PACER account, see the FAQ - What if I don't have a PACER account.
If you have your own PACER account but you haven't upgraded it, see Instructions for upgrading your PACER account
PACER Administrative Accounts
- If each attorney has their own PACER account, will the firm get several different bills?
The firm can create a Pacer Administrative Account (PAA) for central billing for all attorneys.
One person in the firm should be appointed the Administrator and would complete the registration on the PACER website.
Once that account is created, (for administrative purposes ONLY). The Administrator can:
- Add users to the account which will then send a request to that user asking them to accept being a part of the PAA account.
- Upon accepting the request, the PAA will get one bill itemized by each attorney.
- See the PACER website for more information on PAA.
- My firm had one account and now we have many. Can we combine the billing?
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- Yes. The PACER Service Center offers the PACER Administrative Account (PAA), a consolidated billing and online account management process that allows groups to manage and pay for all charges associated with multiple PACER accounts.\
- To register for a PAA, click here. And for more information, read the PAA User Manual. You may also review the PAA FAQs.
- What if I have outstanding fees once NextGen is live? Will I be locked out?
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We strongly suggest to pay any outstanding filing fees PRIOR to November 10, 2021.
If your account has outstanding filing fees pending once the court has implemented CM/ECF NextGen, your account may lock once those outstanding fees are paid and you will be unable to file right away. If you are locked out of CM/ECF after linking your account and paying the fees, please contact the ECF Help Desk to have your account unlocked at (866) 232-1266 or via email at helpdesk [at] nvb [dot] uscourts [dot] gov.
Attorneys/Trustees
- What if I have outstanding fees once NextGen is live? Will I be locked out?
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We strongly suggest to pay any outstanding filing fees PRIOR to November 10, 2021.
If your account has outstanding filing fees pending once the court has implemented CM/ECF NextGen, your account may lock once those outstanding fees are paid and you will be unable to file right away. If you are locked out of CM/ECF after linking your account and paying the fees, please contact the ECF Help Desk to have your account unlocked at (866) 232-1266 or via email at helpdesk [at] nvb [dot] uscourts [dot] gov.
- How can I add additional Email Accounts in CM/ECF?
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To add Additional Email Accounts in CM/ECF:
- Click Utilities.
- Click Your Accounts.
- Click Maintain Your ECF Account.
- Click Email Information.
- Enter the secondary email address in two fields: Secondary E-Mail Address and Reenter Secondary E-Mail Address.
- Click To the Secondary Addresses if you want notices to be sent to secondary email address.
- Click Return to Account Screen.
- Click Submit.
- How can I link a filing agent to my CM/ECF account?
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An approved Filing Agent will need their account linked to the attorney or trustee’s CM/ECF account.
- Click Utilities > Your Accounts > Maintain Your ECF Account > More User Information
- In the Find Filing Agent field, enter the name of the Filing Agent and click the search icon.
- Select Filing Agent.
- Click on the Filing Agent’s name once it has been linked, and the Update Filing Agent Permissions box will appear.
- Change Internet Payment to Y and click Save.
- Click Return to Account Screen.
- Click Submit.
If the agent has not yet been approved in the NextGen system, please see Creating and Removing Filing Agents in NextGen.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.
- What if I have filing agents? What do I need to do to prepare them for NextGen?
Separate PACER accounts will be required for users with multiple CM/ECF filing accounts. Instead of using multiple CM/ECF accounts, setup filing agents under a single Attorney or Trustee account.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.
Creating and Removing Filing Agents in NextGen
Note: If an attorney/trustee had filing agents prior to NextGen, the Filing Agent is already linked to their CM/ECF account. The attorney/trustee will only need to notify the filing agent if their PACER account is not upgraded.
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Non-Attorney Filers
- What if I have outstanding fees once NextGen is live? Will I be locked out?
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We strongly suggest to pay any outstanding filing fees PRIOR to November 10, 2021.
If your account has outstanding filing fees pending once the court has implemented CM/ECF NextGen, your account may lock once those outstanding fees are paid and you will be unable to file right away. If you are locked out of CM/ECF after linking your account and paying the fees, please contact the ECF Help Desk to have your account unlocked at (866) 232-1266 or via email at helpdesk [at] nvb [dot] uscourts [dot] gov.
- What are filing agents?
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A "Filing Agent" is a user that can file on behalf of attorneys or trustees. All filing agents must have their own upgraded PACER account and may be linked to multiple attorneys and trustees. The filing agent will have the same access and permissions as the attorney or trustee. However, when the filing agent uses their login and password, the attorneys' or trustees' name will appear in the docket text as the filer.
Filing Agents may receive email notification, but only if the attorney or trustee enters the filing agent's email address in their CM/ECF Maintain User Account. See the FAQ below titled: How can I add additional Email Accounts in CM/ECF.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.
Process for Filing Agents:
- Upgrade current PACER account or Register for an upgraded PACER account. Filing Agents MUST register under Non-Attorney E-File Registration.
- Request E-filing privileges with the court through PACER or if you already have a CM/ECF login and password, link your CM/ECF account to your PACER account on or after November 15, 2021.
- The attorney/trustee must then link the Filing Agent to their CM/ECF account.
Note: If an attorney/trustee had filing agents prior to NextGen, the Filing Agent is already linked to their CM/ECF account. The attorney/trustee will only need to notify the filing agent if their PACER account is not upgraded.
- What if I have filing agents? What do I need to do to prepare them for NextGen?
Separate PACER accounts will be required for users with multiple CM/ECF filing accounts. Instead of using multiple CM/ECF accounts, setup filing agents under a single Attorney or Trustee account.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.
Creating and Removing Filing Agents in NextGen
Note: If an attorney/trustee had filing agents prior to NextGen, the Filing Agent is already linked to their CM/ECF account. The attorney/trustee will only need to modify the Filing Agent’s permissions and/or notify the filing agent if their PACER account is not upgraded.
- I am a filing agent and I have a CM/ECF account, but not a PACER account.
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You must register for a Non-Attorney PACER account.
Once your PACER account is created, you must link it to CM/ECF on or after November 15, 2021.
Once you have linked your PACER account to CM/ECF, your attorney or trustee will need to link your account to their CM/ECF account.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.
- I am a filing agent and I do not have a CM/ECF account nor a PACER account.
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You must register for a Non-Attorney PACER account.
Once your PACER account is upgraded, you must link it to CM/ECF on or after November 15, 2021.
Once you have linked your PACER account to CM/ECF, your attorney or trustee will need to link your account to their CM/ECF account.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.
- I am a filing agent and I have a CM/ECF account and a PACER account.
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Make sure you upgrade your PACER account if it is not yet upgraded.
Once your PACER account is upgraded, you must link it to CM/ECF on or after November 15, 2021.
Once you have linked your PACER account to CM/ECF, your attorney or trustee will need to link your account to their CM/ECF account.
Exemptions
If a trustee is adding an employee's upgraded PACER account as a filing agent, the trustee must notify the Clerk's office with the filing agent's name and PACER account number so the filing agent's account can be added to the trustee exemption order.