How to access NextGen CM/ECF

CM/ECF is the Federal Judiciary's Case Management and Electronic Case Filing System. The system gives authorized users, such as attorneys and creditors, the ability to file electronically with the court.

NextGen CM/ECF has enhanced CM/ECF in that public filers now have a single login and password for e-filing and for PACER access. Eventually all Federal Courts will convert to NextGen CM/ECF.

The requirements for access to NextGen CM/ECF courts are different than for CM/ECF courts. We are a NextGen CM/ECF Court.

To become a filing user with us, you must have a PACER account. You can register for a new PACER account by using PACER’s Registration Wizard. All existing PACER accounts must ensure they are upgraded to the latest version (the login name is more than 6 characters).

To upgrade a PACER account you must do the following:

1. Go to http://www.pacer.gov

2. Click My Account and Billing, then Manage My Account Login. When prompted, enter your PACER username and password.

3. Your account type may be listed as Legacy PACER Account. To upgrade, click the Upgrade link.

4. You will be directed to the Upgrade PACER Account page. Verify your personal information and update/enter all required information in each tab (Person, Address, and Security).

• Person Tab: Verify the information listed in the required fields and update, if necessary. Enter your date of birth, and then from the User Type list, select a user type, if one was not previously selected. Select the user type that best describes the individual or organization associated with this account. The user type information is used for statistical purposes. Click Next.

• Address Tab: Verify and/or update the address information listed. From the County list, select your county. Click Next.

• Security Tab: Create a new username, password, and security questions. Click Submit.

5. Your PACER account is now upgraded. A dialog box displays confirming the upgrade was successful. NOTE: You are no longer able to use your old PACER username and password.

For an Existing CM/ECF User, Link your CM/ECF Account with you PACER Account

  1. Go to our CM/ECF login at https://ecf.canb.uscourts.gov, click on the link for the Northern District of California– Document Filing System (NextGen CM/ECF ver. 1.5.3)
     
  2. At the login screen, log in with your PACER account credentials.  
     
  3. Click the “Utilities” menu
     
  4. Click “Link a CM/ECF account to my PACER account”
     
  5. Enter your CM/ECF login and password
     
  6. You will be prompted to confirm the CM/ECF account being linked to the PACER account to ensure you are linking the correct accounts  

After successfully logging into the system, you will be sent to the welcome screen for the court. If the filing menus Bankruptcy and Adversary do not appear, try the following:  

  • Refresh your browser (F5)    
  • Clear your browser cache  (Ctrl+Shift+Delete) or for Safari (⌥Opt+ ⌘Cmd+ E)  
  • Log out, close the browser, open the browser, and log back in.

The Clerk's Office has public access computers available to view case information free of charge.

The NextGen CM/ECF system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.