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NextGen CM/ECF PDF Requirements (Step 1)

IMPORTANT PDF REQUIREMENTS - PLEASE READ.

When preparing documents for electronic filing in a federal bankruptcy court that has adopted the NextGen CM/ECF system, all PDF files must meet specific requirements. Your individual PACER account login, which is now used for both viewing and filing, provides access to the NextGen CM/ECF system. Submitting a non-compliant PDF may result in your document being rejected by the court.

For complete details on all PDF content criteria, refer to the official document from PACER: PDF-Related Functionality for Public Filers in NextGen CM/ECF.

While the official PACER document outlines the federal judiciary's universal PDF requirements, please also follow any specific guidelines on this page, as they reflect our court's local implementation of the NextGen CM/ECF system. This may include rules on maximum file size, naming conventions, or specific workflow steps.

DOCUMENTS REJECTED:

  • File size over 35 MB
  • Does not comply with PDF format standards
    • Contains Javascript
    • Encrypted or password-protected
    • Contains autio/video content
    • Contains scripts that launch external applications (like external font programs or data streams)
  • Contains internal attachments or embedded files
  • Contains hyperlinks to external websites
  • Contains editable forms
  • Created with Mac OS X using a fillable form in the Safari web browser
  • Created with Mac OS X using MS Word and saved by selecting the option “Best for printing"

DOCUMENTS ACCEPTED:

  • File size of 35 MB or smaller
  • Meets the PDF/A standard
  • Scanned documents
  • Contains optical character recognition (OCR) metadata (allows text-recognition and text searches)
  • Created with Mac OS X using a fillable form in the Chrome web browser
  • Created with Mac OS X using MS Word and saved by selecting the option “Best for Electronic Distribution”
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