E-Filing Access Related Questions

  • Should I keep my Login and Password secure?

    Yes. All logins and passwords must be kept secure. The Court recommends that attorneys only share their account information with staff who are authorized to assist the attorney in e-filing. Pro se litigants who have been granted permission to e-file in a case should also ensure that their logins and passwords remain protected. This helps to prevent unauthorized persons from obtaining access to the Court’s e-filing system and using it for malicious purposes. If you believe that a compromise may have occurred to your account, please change your password immediately. Click here for instructions on how to update your profile on-line.

  • How do I recover my password if I have forgotten it?

    Please review the information at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/electronic-filing-and-case-access-attorneys.

  • How do I log on to CM/ECF?

    On the Court's website click the Login to CM/ECF button on the right side bar.

  • Reset your CM/ECF Password

    Please review the information at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/electronic-filing-and-case-access-attorneys.

  • What if I previously did not consent to receive electronic service of documents and now I want to consent?

    Consent to electronic service is no longer required when service is made using the Court’s CM/ECF System. (See amendments to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(E) effective December 1, 2018.) To ensure you receive notice when documents are filed in your cases, check to make sure your email address is correct in your CM/ECF profile. For detailed instructions on how to update your contact information in CM/ECF, see the Court’s website at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/updating-your-contact-information. As long as you are a registered CM/ECF User and your contact information is kept up-to-date in CM/ECF, you should receive electronic notice of documents filed in your cases.

  • How do I reset my password?

    Please review the information at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/electronic-filing-and-case-access-attorneys.

  • If I am not an attorney, can I e-file?

    Pursuant to Local Rule 5-4.1.1, a non-incarcerated pro se litigant may seek leave of Court to use CM/ECF to file documents electronically in a particular case.

  • What should be done when an attorney leaves the firm?

    That attorney has an obligation under Local Rules 5-4.8.1 and 83-2.4 to maintain and update his or her business and contact information with the Court and with the parties to any pending action in which the attorney has appeared.  For further information on updating an attorney's business or contact information, click here.

    If the attorney has any cases currently pending in this Court, the attorney (or his or her firm) will also need to file a notice of withdrawal or a request for approval of substitution or withdrawal, depending on the circumstances.  For further information on noting a withdrawal and requesting court approval of substitution or withdrawal, click here .

    Please note that an attorney will continue to receive electronic notices in a case, even after updating his or her contact information with a new e-mail address, until the attorney is terminated from the case.  In addition, law firms should make sure that the case docket accurately reflects the attorney(s) of record and that the attorney of record is properly set up to receive e-mail notifications.  This may require filing a notice of appearance.  For further information on noting an appearance, click here.

  • How do I add counsel to a case?

    To add counsel in a case, electronically file a Notice of Appearance or other such document in the specific case.

  • Can I use the login and password issued by another court to e-file in the Central District of California?

    Each district court has its own registration requirements, e-filing policies, and procedures. The Central District of California upgraded to NextGen CM/ECF on February 18, 2020. After you have complied with the requirements of becoming an ECF User the court will issue you a login and password.

  • Can I have the same filing login for all courts I practice in?

    No.

  • Why do I get an invalid login message once I have already logged into the court (CM/ECF site) and I am retrieving a docket or document?
    • Verify that the recommended browser is being used.
    • Your PC needs to be set to accept all cookies. If the problem persists, log out, delete your existing cookie and internet files.
  • Why am I getting an invalid login error?

    Some common problems are as follows:

  • I am changing firms. Do I need to establish a new e-filing login and password?

    No. Your login is issued specifically to you. Even if you change firms, your login remains valid.

    However, you must update your address, including any changes to your e-mail address, in CM/ECF (see Local Rule 5-4.8.1). For detailed instructions on how to update your contact information in CM/ECF, see the Court’s website at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/updating-your-contact-information. In addition, if you are counsel of record in any cases currently pending in this district, you must file and serve Form G-06 (“Notice of Change of Attorney Business or Contact Information”) in each of your pending cases. Doing so will satisfy your notice obligation under Local Rule 83-2.4.

  • Are there separate logins and passwords for PACER and CM/ECF?

    Prior to February 18, 2020, the system required two separate logins and passwords, one for PACER and the other for CM/ECF. Since February 18, 2020, however, when the Court upgraded to NextGen CM/ECF, only one set of credentials is required. For more information, please refer to https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/nextgen-cmecf.

  • Can any member of the public use CM/ECF to e-file documents with the court?

    No. Access to the filing portion of CM/ECF is only available to registered ECF Users.

  • Why am I having problems with my E-filing login and password?

    Confirm the following:

    • Are you using the correct login and password?
    • Are you on the correct website? Each federal district court has a separate e-filing website. Please confirm you are logging into the link associated with Central District of California: https://ecf.cacd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/ShowIndex.pl.
    • Have you linked your old CM/ECF account to your individual, upgraded PACER account since the Court upgraded to NextGen CM/ECF on February 18, 2020? For more information, please refer to https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/nextgen-cmecf.
    • If your login and password still does not work, please e-mail or call the CM/ECF Help Desk for assistance.
  • Can the general public view CM/ECF cases and the documents in those cases?

    Yes, the public view cases and documents in CM/ECF unless they are sealed or restricted. A PACER login and password are required.

    For those currently not registered with PACER, a PACER account may be obtained at www.pacer.gov.

  • What should be done when an attorney leaves the firm?

    That attorney has an obligation under Local Rules 5-4.8.1 and 83-2.4 to maintain and update his or her business and contact information with the Court and with the parties to any pending action in which the attorney has appeared.  For further information on updating an attorney's business or contact information, click here.

    If the attorney has any cases currently pending in this Court, the attorney (or his or her firm) will also need to file a notice of withdrawal or a request for approval of substitution or withdrawal, depending on the circumstances.  For further information on noting a withdrawal and requesting court approval of substitution or withdrawal, click here.

    Please note that an attorney will continue to receive electronic notices in a case, even after updating his or her contact information with a new e-mail address, until the attorney is terminated from the case.  In addition, law firms should make sure that the case docket accurately reflects the attorney(s) of record and that the attorney of record is properly set up to receive e-mail notifications.  This may require filing a notice of appearance.  For further information on noting an appearance, click here.

  • How do I receive a login and password?

    Please refer to https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/electronic-filing-and-case-access-attorneys

  • Why can I get a docket sheet, but not any of the documents provided?

    This court did not become a full e-filing court until January 1, 2008. If the document number is not underlined (a link), the document was filed prior to the full e-filing date and is not attached to the docket sheet. These documents can be viewed in the Records section at the courthouse. For details, please go to the Records Department page.

    This issue may also occur if you are using an incompatible browser. Check your browser settings. Also confirm that you have a PDF viewing software installed (ie Adobe Reader) You may have PDF viewing software on your computer but have not connected it to a browser.

    If you are using MacIntosh/Apple computers and software, we recommend you use the latest version of Safari or download the free version of Mozilla Firefox and use this browser for all CM/ECF related transactions.

  • Can I loan my login and password to another attorney who doesn’t have one?

    No. Each attorney is assigned a unique login and password. It constitutes the filing attorney's signature to the document. As is the case with paper filings, it is the filing attorney's responsibility for the document. If an attorney is not listed as counsel of record, but files a document to the case, they may be added as attorney of record inadvertently.

  • What types of cases are designated for electronic filing?

    All civil and criminal cases are designated for electronic filing.  All documents must be filed electronically unless exempted by Local Rule 5-4.2 or Local Criminal Rule 49-1.2.

  • What happens if I do not consent to receive electronic notice?

    Consent to electronic service is not required when service is made using the Court’s CM/ECF System. (See amendments to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(E) effective December 1, 2018.) To ensure you receive notice when documents are filed in your cases, check to make sure your email address is correct in your CM/ECF profile. For detailed instructions on how to update your contact information in CM/ECF, see the Court’s website at https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/e-filing/updating-your-contact-information.