Resources
Required Steps for Registration as an ECF Filer
Use of the ECF login and password to file documents electronically is equivalent to a signature on a paper filing. Counsel may authorize an agent, such as a paralegal, secretary, or co-counsel, to use counsel's login and password to file documents electronically on counsel's behalf. The required steps for registration as a Sixth Circuit ECF Filer are set forth below.
Sixth Circuit Bar Members
Counsel should register for an ECF account following the steps below. Once an ECF account is activated, counsel will receive an email indicating that their account is available for filing. Each attorney must have their own ECF account. The court requires counsel to have an ECF account before entering their appearance in a case.
Non-Bar Members
Counsel may register for an ECF account prior to being admitted to the bar. Non-bar ECF accounts are activated with limited functionality. Once a user is admitted to the bar, the File a Document menu option will be made available on the ECF menu. Counsel will be notified once they have been admitted and case document filing has been activated for their account.
ECF Account Registration
Register for an Appellate ECF Filer account at the PACER Service Center.
Unlike District and Bankruptcy ECF Filer accounts, for which you register at the local court site, you register for a centralized Appellate ECF Filer account at the Pacer Service Center. Once you complete the initial registration in one circuit, you may request filing privileges in additional circuits. Each circuit must separately approve and activate your ECF Filer privileges, but the same login and password are used for all appellate courts in which you register.
Register for a PACER account.
A PACER registration grants you access to view docket reports and documents from a court’s database, while an ECF registration enables you to file documents electronically.