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CM/ECF FAQs

General FAQs | Attorney FAQs | MDL FAQs | Pro Se FAQs | Juror FAQs

  • What is CM/ECF?

    The Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system is the Federal Judiciary’s comprehensive case management system for all bankruptcy, district and appellate courts. CM/ECF allows courts to accept filings and provide access to filed documents over the Internet.

  • What is PACER?

    Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from federal appellate, district and bankruptcy courts, and the PACER Case Locator via the Internet. PACER is provided by the federal judiciary in keeping with its commitment to providing public access to court information via a centralized service. PACER is available to anyone who registers for an account. The nearly one million PACER users include attorneys, pro se filers, government agencies, trustees, data collectors, researchers, educational and financial institutions, commercial enterprises, the media, and the general public.

  • What is the difference between CM/ECF and PACER?

    PACER registration grants you access to view docket reports and documents from a court’s database, while CM/ECF registration will enable you to file documents electronically. To file documents in CM/ECF you must also have a PACER account, however, you are not required to have a CM/ECF account to view case files on PACER.

  • Are there eligibility requirements for filing cases on the Kansas CM/ECF system?

    Yes, to be eligible you must be one of the following:

    • an attorney admitted to the bar of this court (excluding those attorneys admitted pro hac vice);
    • a federal government attorney;
    • a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) attorney; or,
    • a pro se party with an open civil case.
  • What is NextGen and Central Sign-on?

    NextGen is an updated version of the CM/ECF system which includes Central Sign-on.  Central Sign-on originates with PACER and gives an attorney the ability to e-file in any NextGen court that they have been given e-filing privileges in using one centralized PACER user name and password.

  • Are all federal courts using NextGen and Central Sign-on?

    No. At some point all federal jurisdictions will use NextGen and Central sign-on, but currently many courts are not.  To view a list of courts currently using NextGen or ECF, CLICK HERE.

  • Can a pro se party electronically file in the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas?

    Yes.  A pro se party who has an open civil case may request and receive e-filing privileges.  Pro Se parties interested in electronic filing should contact Attorney Registration at 913-735-2229 prior to making their request through PACER.