Electronic Filing Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the court require courtesy copies?
   Courtesy copies vary by judge. Please hover over the Judges menu above and refer to the Practice Guidelines for each individual judge.


2. I need to e-file a document, but I am unsure what event to use (what to call the document). What should I do?
   On the Civil and Criminal events menus, there is a Search option. Use this to search for keywords to locate the appropriate event. If you are still unsure about how to e-file your document or the search feature doesn’t work, contact the Help Desk at 313-234-5000.


3. I opened a new civil case, but I forgot to add a party. How do I do that?

   E-file the text-only event Addition of Parties. The event is under Civil Events -> Other Filings -> Other Documents



4. Where is the proposed order link?
   Click the Utilities menu option in the blue menu bar in CM/ECF. Click the Proposed Order link from the options that appear below. Do not select the Proposed Orders option from the drop-down menu. Please note the utility will only accept one document at a time in Word format. Do not e-file proposed orders.


5. How do I discontinue receiving Notices of Electronic Filing?
   E-file the text-only event Discontinue NEFs. The event is under Civil Events -> Other Filings -> Other Documents.


6. How do I correct a document or have a document stricken?
   Contact the appropriate chambers for your case.


7. How/when are summons issued?
   Summons are issued electronically via Notice of Electronic Filing after the case is reviewed for accuracy and payment. This is typically done within one business day.


8. Are the motion and brief filed as one document?
   Yes.


9. How do I reset my password?
   Passwords are reset in PACER: https://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/pscof/forgotPassword.jsf


10. How do I file sealed documents?
    Sealed documents can be only be filed pursuant to Local Rules 5.3 or 26.4. On both the civil and criminal menus in CM/ECF, select the appropriate event in the Sealed Documents category. Once you complete your filing, you must serve your document on all parties in the traditional manner.


11. My CM/ECF looks differently or fails to show the all the menu options even though it worked the last time I e-filed a document. How do I fix that?
    Instead of getting information from the Court’s server, your web browser may be trying to load the page from its temporary memory. Regardless of your browser, use the following shortcut to delete your cookies, cache, and internet history. Press CTRL + SHIFT + DEL at the same time. A new tab or window will appear. Select cookies, cache, temporary internet files, and favorite website data and then click delete or clear to complete the action.


12. Does the court limit e-filing to certain hours?
    No. E-filing in CM/ECF is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even when the court is closed on weekends and holidays.