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Basic Filing Rules and Procedures

Before filing a document in CM/ECF, please review the following basic docketing rules.

Formatting Requirements

Submit your document in text-searchable, PDF format

ECF Procedure 5 requires that all documents transmitted to ECF are submitted in PDF format such that the text of "the document may be searched and copied." Please refer to Adobe Acrobat guidance for details on generating a PDF in this manner from your word processor of choice. This requirement does not extend to attachments and exhibits such as reaffirmation agreements, affidavits, and other materials that must be scanned.

Redact personally identifiable information and other private information before filing

Rule 9037 requires that all filings be properly redacted prior to filing. This includes:

  • Social Security and Tax-Identification Numbers. Any social-security or tax-identification number should be redacted to only reveal the last four digits.
  • Birthdates. Any birthday should be redacted to only reveal the year of birth.
  • Minor Names. Any names of known minors (other than the debtor) should be redacted and replaced with the name of the minor's initials.
  • Financial Account Numbers. Any financial account numbers should be redacted to only reveal the last four digits.

Please also review the Director’s Interim Guidance Regarding Tax Information Under 11 U.S.C. § 521 for more information on safeguarding the confidentiality of tax information. If you have filed a document without proper redaction, please review the Court's redaction procedures for more information on restricting the problematic filing and replacing it with a properly redacted one.

Submission Requirements

Use an appropriate CM/ECF docketing event

Filings must be entered into CM/ECF using the correct docketing event. A list of available docketing events is available, and the "Search" functionality in CM/ECF will help locate an event. This will ensure that proper fees are assessed and that various background functionality in CM/ECF is correctly utilized. If no event appears appropriate, generic events are available for use.

Add parties only when necessary

When filing a document in CM/ECF, you will be asked to select the party filer. If the party is not already a case participant, you will be asked to search for the party in CM/ECF. It is very important to search carefully and thoroughly before adding a new party so duplicate records for the same person or entity do not reside on the database. Keep the following in mind during your search:

  • Enter one field of data for each search
  • Format Social Security Number or Tax ID with hyphens.
  • Include punctuation. (O’Brien, Garcia-Barrera)
  • Partial names using a minimum of two characters can be entered.
  • Wild cards (*) are not required at the end of search strings.
  • Wild cards may be used before or within search strings. (*son, Gr?y). 

Try alternate search clues if your first search is not successful.