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NextGen ECF

Welcome to NextGen CM/ECF

The New Jersey District Court uses the NextGen CM/ECF system. The transition to NextGen CM/ECF simplifies electronic filing by combining PACER and CM/ECF accounts into a single “Central Sign-On” account. Previously, electronic filers were required to maintain a separate PACER account and individual CM/ECF accounts for each court in which they were admitted to practice. With NextGen CM/ECF, filers no longer need a separate CM/ECF account for each NextGen court. A single Central Sign-On account allows users to view documents through PACER and electronically file documents through the CM/ECF systems of NextGen courts in which they have permission to file, including District, Bankruptcy, and Appellate Courts. Attorneys authorized to file electronically must follow the instructions below.

Do you know your current NJD ECF Credentials?

You will need to link the ECF credentials to your PACER account prior to filing. If you do NOT know your password and if your email address is current in ECF, use Reset Password otherwise, email ecfhelp@njd.uscourts.gov.

Did you obtain your individual PACER account before August 11, 2014?

Go to https://www.pacer.uscourts.gov and click on “Manage My Account”. If your account type is Legacy, click Upgrade and follow the required steps. After the NextGen go-live date (Jan. 21) you must follow step 2 below.

Did you obtain your individual PACER account after August 11, 2014?

No action is required now as your individual PACER account is already upgraded.

Do you share a PACER account or share a FIRM PACER account?

Shared PACER accounts will not work with NextGen. Go to https://www.pacer.uscourts.gov and click on the REGISTER for New Account tab to create a new individual account.

CJA Panel Attorneys

CJA panel attorneys must (1) have one upgraded individual PACER account, and (2) add CJA exempt privileges to that account for billing purposes. That one individual PACER account will allow you to toggle back and forth between CJA matters and private practice matters. Follow the instructions in the “CJA Privileges in NextGen” link below.

Pro Hac Vice Attorneys

In according to Local Civil Rule 101.1, local counsel must file papers, enter appearances for parties, sign stipulations or sign and receive payments on judgments, decrees or orders, for an attorney admitted pro hac vice before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. ATTORNEYS ADMITTED PRO HAC VICE ARE NOT NJD ECF USERS AND DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETE ANY STEPS.

PACER Administrative Accounts ('PAA')

PACER offers a PAA to centralize PACER billing for multiple attorneys in a single firm. To register for a PAA, please visit: https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account/group-billing. Attorneys with a PAA account still must have an individual account.

 

Forgot your current CM/ECF account information? Use Reset Password (if your ECF account email is up to date) otherwise, email ecfhelp@njd.uscourts.gov; or call the NJD ECF Help Desk at Camden 856-757-5021, Newark 973-645-3730, or Trenton 609-989-2065.

Forgot your PACER account information?  Click Here.

 

Step 2 –  LINK your CM/ECF account(s) with your upgraded individual PACER account.

Linking your CM/ECF account(s) with your upgraded individual PACER account is required for electronic filing. This is a one-time process.

To link your court-issued CM/ECF account with your upgraded PACER account, visit the court’s CM/ECF site and click the “Efiling CM/ECF” link. You will be automatically redirected to PACER to complete the linking process.

Link your NJD account at: https://ecf.njd.uscourts.gov.

  • Log in with your individual upgraded PACER username and password.
  • Click Utilities, then click “Link a CM/ECF account to my PACER account.”
  • Enter your current CM/ECF credentials in the CM/ECF login and CM/ECF password fields. Click “Submit.” Verify that the CM/ECF account and PACER account listed are accurate. If so, click “Submit.”
  • You have successfully linked your account. You will now use only your PACER account to access both PACER and CM/ECF for this court. Press F5 to refresh the screen and view the Civil and Criminal menu items for filing.

Do you practice in multiple Federal Courts?

If you practice in more than one Federal Court, you must link each of those CM/ECF accounts with your one upgraded PACER account. See a list of NextGen courts at https://www.pacer.gov/psco/cgi-bin/links.pl.

How will I access PACER and NextGen CM/ECF?

Navigate to the PACER website and use your Central Sign-On account to view dockets through PACER and also to file electronically in your linked courts using the NextGen CM/ECF system. See a list of NextGen courts at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/file-case/court-cmecf-lookup.

Who do I contact for help with my account?

All account maintenance requests will be handled by the PACER service center. You will need your PACER account number when contacting PACER.

On the web at https://www.pacer.uscourts.gov, Email the PACER service center at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov, Call PACER at (800) 676-6856.

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