Accessing CM and ECF

(Based on CM/ECF Version 2.2 and Netscape Version 4.7)

 

GENERAL

INFO.

 

The CM/ECF System is a web based software program.  Access by the web browser, Netscape Navigator Version 4.6 or Version 4.7 has been certified for several years.   Recently CM/ECF was also certified to work correctly with Internet Explorer (Version 5.5 only). 

 

However, due to problems caused by using the back  button in Internet Explorer Version 5.5, at this time the Netscape Navigator Version 4.6 or Version 4.7 browser is the recommended browser for use with this program. 

 

Familiarity with browser navigation and functionality is recommended for successful use of the CM/ECF system.  Two of the most useful browser tools when working in CM/ECF will be your browser’s  “Back” and “Forward” buttons.

 

                  

 

Creditors may submit Proofs of Claim and Reaffirmation Agreements and Notices of Transfer or Withdrawal and view case data across the Internet.   The information that can be accessed is current and is updated in real time.

 

NOTE REGARDING WINDOWS XP:  It has come to the court’s attention that newly purchased computers are often being delivered with Windows XP as the operating system.  This system comes packaged with Internet Explorer 6.0.  Users have reported to the court that it is hard and/or impossible to download older versions of Internet Explorer when using Windows XP.  Unfortunately, there is nothing that the systems personnel in the EDKY can do to fix this problem.  The CM/ECF programmers in Washington D.C. are the ones who must update the national software so that it is compatible with newer versions of browsers.  In the interim, this is yet another good reason to download and use Version 4.6 or 4.7 of Netscape Navigator for your CM/ECF filing.

 

 

 

STEP 1

 

To access CM/ECF, double click on the Netscape shortcut to CM/ECF on your desktop. 

 

 

If you do not have a shortcut to CM/ECF at your office, double click on Netscape Navigator 4.6 or 4.7 or Internet Explorer 5.5 and type the URL of the court’s external training database in the “Location” or “Address” box and press the “Enter” key. 

 

  

 

 

 

NOTE RE:

ACCESS

TO “LIVE”

 

After you are certified, to file pleadings in real cases or to review real cases, you would type in the URL of the court’s website (www.kyeb.uscourts.gov) in the “Location” or “Address” box and press the “Enter” key.

 

 

 

Using this method to access CM/ECF will allow you to see important announcements by the court regarding any system changes (like the one shown below) before you access the system.

 

 

Then, after reading any announcements regarding recent changes to the system, you would scroll down the court’s homepage until you see the following link.

 

 

Click on the “log directly into CM/ECF” hyperlink to go to the court’s live CM/ECF database.

 

 

 

STEP 2

 

When you are accessing CM/ECF from your office, a “Certificate Name Check” screen may display next which looks similar to the one below.

 

 

If it does appear, read the information, and click the Continue button until the Finish button appears, then click the Finish button.  Then you may wish to consult with your Systems personnel to determine if any further action is needed on your part.

 

 

 

STEP 3

 

The “ECF/PACER Login screen” will be displayed next. 

 

 

Type in your ECF training Login and Password.   They are located on the front of the tent card with your name on it.

 

NOTE:  These fields are case sensitive and should have no spaces.  So, the login “user50” should not be entered as “User50” or “USER50” or “user 50”.

 

For this training, your login and password will be the same and will be entirely in lower case.

NOTE:  If an error is made, clicking the  button will delete the data you entered and allow you to re-enter the information.

 

 

 

ECF and

PACER

LOGIN

DIFFER-

ENCES

 

There are two different purposes for logging into CM/ECF.  So, you may have two sets of logins and passwords.

 

The ECF Login and ECF Password will be used when electronically filing a document (such as a Proof of Claim or Reaffirmation Agreement).   The ECF Login and Password will have the equivalent weight that an original signature has now.  All users will be personally responsible for activity that occurs with their ECF login.

 

The PACER Login and PACER Password will be used for PACER billing purposes.  The PACER Login and PACER Password must be used whenever queries or reports are going to be accessed.

 

 

 

EXAMPLE

 

On the  screen, if you know you are entering the system just to look up case information or run a report, you would enter your PACER Login and Password

 

If you know you are entering the system just to file a pleading, you would enter your ECF Login and Password. 

 

If you enter the system and file a pleading and after filing your pleading, you decide you want to print a “Claims Register” report, you would need to click on the “Reports” hyperlink in the main menu bar.

 

 


 

After clicking on the report you wish to view, the  screen would pop up to allow you to enter your PACER Login and Password to get into this new area because CM/ECF is smart enough to realize that you are currently in the system using your ECF Login and Password.

 

 

 

CLIENT

CODE

FIELD

 

Both the “ECF/PACER” login screen and the “PACER” login screen contain a “Client Code” field.  However, it does not track ECF activity by client, only PACER activity.  It is optional, but allows PACER users to associate their use of the PACER system to a specific client.  This field may be used by creditors, but it would normally be used only by attorneys.

 

 

 

STEP 4

 

Click the  button.

 

 

 

MULTIPLE LOGIN WARNING

 

If you or a co-worker is already logged in using your login and password, the following warning screen will display.

 

 

If you click the  button, you will knock the other person out of CM/ECF and they will be unable to finish filing any document they were in the process of filing.

 

If you click the  button, the first login session will be uninterrupted and you or your co-worker may complete any process that in progress.

 

NOTE:  It takes a little while for the CM/ECF system to realize that you have logged out.  So, if you logout and then try to go back into the CM/ECF system shortly thereafter, the above warning message may display even though you are no longer logged in.

 

 

 

MAIN

MENU

SCREEN

 

As long as you, nor any other person is currently using your login, the CM/ECF training database main menu screen should display next.  You can tell you’re in the right database because the training database has a different colored background (bright yellow) than the live database (white).   Also, in the training database, the word “TRAIN” appears on the screen.  In the live database, the word “LIVE” appears on the screen.  This is to try to prevent you from accidentally filing your document in the wrong database.

 

 

 

 

HYPER-

LINKS

 

The Main Menu Bar at the top of the screen provides access to the various events. 

 

 


 

Each word is a hyperlink to a different section.  These hyperlinks allow certified users to file bankruptcy pleadings, file adversary pleadings, query the case, generate reports, and view and modify some user account information.

 

Users have different levels of access to screens and menu selections as determined by their needs and the type of certification they are given.  So, the Bankruptcy/Adversary/Query/Reports/Utilities menu selections will vary according to the level of certification you have.  Attorneys with “Full-Use” certification will have more options available than “Limited-Use” certification gives to creditors. 

 

Limited-Use certification only gives enough access in order to file Proofs of Claim, Amended Proofs of Claim, Notices of Transfer of Claim, Withdrawals of Claim, and Reaffirmation Agreements, and after entering a “PACER” login and password to view case information and view/print Claims Registers.

 

 

 

HELP

SCREEN

 

Clicking the question  mark will provide the user with “help” information about the current screen being viewed.

 

 

 

STEP 5

 

The Main Menu Bar is also used to exit the CM/ECF system. 

Click the word “Logout” to exit CM/ECF

 

 

 

 

 

STEP 6

 

Then click the close  button to close the browser’s window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PACER

ACCESS

FEES

 

After your one free peek when you receive your “Notice of Electronic Claims Filing” or “Notice of Electronic Filing”, there is a 7¢ fee per screen viewed/page printed.  Prior to viewing a .pdf image, you will be advised of how many pages you have selected before seeing the document and accepting the charges, so you can change your mind. 

 

 

After running the report/query, a cost summary will be displayed at the bottom of the query or report.  This summary will keep a running total of all charges until the user logs out of CM/ECF.

 

NOTE:  Effective April 1, 2002, a fee cap was instituted.  Even if you are viewing/printing a large document, the maximum cost will be $2.10 per “document/attachment” viewed/printed as shown below.

 

 

NOTE:  The PACER Service Center bills users only when annual usage exceeds $9.99.  So, if on December 31, a participant owes $9.56, no bill will be issued for that year and a new billing cycle with a balance of $0 will begin January 1 of the next year.

 

 

 

PACER

Regis-

tration

 

PACER information and registration is available at http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov or at 1-800-676-6856.

 

 

 

PUBLIC

ACCESS

 

Case information will be available through the Court’s Internet site.  You will be able to search for case information by case name or case number.  You will have access through PACER to “Query” and to a “Claims Register” report available under the “Reports” hyperlink.  See the separate instructions on “Queries for Creditors”.

 

 

 

FREE

ACCESS

 

Creditors can also access case information at no charge if they use the public terminals located in the Intake area.  There will be a 10¢ per page charge for obtaining hardcopies from the Court while viewing cases in the Intake area.

 

 

 

bugs you should be aware of:
 
                                                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

MR #___

 

If you are using Internet Explorer Version 5.5 to access the system, the second time you click the back button, you may be thrown you out of CM/ECF and, if so, you will lose any work you had done up to that point in the filing process.  Since clicking the back button is the most efficient way for your staff to correct any errors they make during the filing process, it is recommended that you use Netscape Version 4.6 or 4.7 to access CM/ECF.

 

 

 

MR #118

 

Resizing the Netscape window while logged into CM/ECF will throw you out of CM/ECF and you will lose any work you had done up to that point in the filing process.  Minimizing and maximizing the Netscape window does not cause this problem.

 

 

 

MR #65

MR #690

 

Currently only one pc at a time in a business can  access CM/ECF using the same login and password.   So, you and a co-worker could not both be accessing CM/ECF at the same time using the same ECF login and password.