United States District & Bankruptcy Courts
ECF Registration Process

ECF Overview

Updated on Feb 19, 2021

Welcome.  The United States Courts for the District of Idaho permits registered participants to file documents with the Court over the Internet using the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF), hereafter referred to as Electronic Case Filing or ECF.

ECF is the electronic case filing system implemented in the Federal Judiciary for all District, Bankruptcy and Appellate Courts.  All active members in good standing with the Idaho State Bar and are in good standing in this Court, are required to register for an ECF account.

Electronic transmission of a document through the ECF System constitutes filing of the document for all purposes pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and the Local Rules of this court.


Step 1

Registration Process

Updated on Feb 05, 2024

 

Register for a PACER account and/or request e-filing access at the PACER Service Center.

  • Your PACER login/password is needed to look up information, review the docket, run reports, and to login to ECF to e-file documents.

 

PACER

  • The PACER Service Center is the Federal Judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and technical support center for electronic access to U.S. District, Bankruptcy, and Appellate court records nationwide.
  • Anyone can apply for a PACER account.
  • How much does PACER cost? See PACER Website.
  • A "Client Code" may be entered when using PACER in order to itemize the charges. 

ECF Login

  • A Registered Participant is an attorney, or other authorized person who has a PACER Login and Password and who has successfully completed the registration process through PACER.
  • To access ECF, you must be logged into your PACER account.  Note: You will no longer have a separate ECF Login and Password.
  • Non-attorneys may apply for a limited access account for the purpose of filing proof of claim forms and other creditor related documents in the Bankruptcy Court.
  • Once you have logged into PACER, your login is the official and legal signature of the filing party pursuant to the Electronic Case Filing Procedures and District of Idaho Local Rules.
  • Ensure you have an individual and upgraded PACER account (not a shared firm account).
  • There is no cost to e-file documents except for the regular filing fees required by the Judicial Conference.

Logging Out of ECF or PACER

  • Always use the "Logout" button on the ECF menu bar to exit.
  • The ECF system allows several minutes of idle time before it will automatically log-off a user. Therefore, if you do not exit using the Logout option, you may be locked out of ECF.
  • If you receive a login error stating - "The account you entered is already logged in" - you may click the "Continue Login" button at the bottom of the screen to continue to log in. If you receive a security error, you have been locked out. Please wait 10-15 minutes before you try again at which time you may be successful logging on.

PACER Fee Exemptions

  • PACER fee exemptions are granted on a case by case basis. CJA and other court-appointed parties can apply for a separate PACER account for which the fees are exempt. To apply for an exemption, the party must fill out the PACER Exemption Form (below) after having received a Login and password from the PACER service center.  Email requests to Stuart Kaylor. Thereafter, the Chief Judges will consider the request and either grant or deny the request. If approved, the court will notify the PACER service center.   

Getting Started

Updated on Mar 15, 2021

The United States Courts for the District of Idaho permits registered participants to file documents with the Court over the Internet using the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF), hereafter referred to as Electronic Case Filing or ECF.

The ECF system allows registered participants with a PACER account to perform the following functions:

  • Access the ECF system
  • Electronically file pleadings and documents in cases in the court's ECF database
  • View official docket sheets and documents associated with the case
  • Create and view various reports for cases that were filed electronically

Authorization for Electronic Filing

The District of Idaho's Electronic Case Filing Procedures authorize electronic filing in conjunction with the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and the Federal Rules of Civil/Criminal Procedure.

Filing Documents Electronically

Electronic transmission of a document through the ECF System constitutes filing of the document for all purposes pursuant to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, and the Local Rules of this court. This constitutes an entry of the document on the docket kept by the Clerk under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 58 and 79.1.

Upon the filing of a document, an entry is created on the court's docket by the filing party. The Clerk's Office will, where necessary and appropriate, modify the docket entry description to comply with the Court's quality control standards. A modification notation will be made in the docket text.

Filing deadlines are not altered by the use of electronic filing. An electronic document is considered timely if received by the court before midnight, Mountain Time, on the date set as a deadline, unless the judge specifically requires another time frame. If time of day is of the essence, the assigned judge will order the document filed by a time certain.

Parties can file documents electronically 24 hours a day and seven days a week.


Step 3

Review ECF Rules and Procedures


Bankruptcy Local Rule 5003-1

ELECTRONIC CASE FILING

(a)  Official records of the court.

The docketing and case management system for the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Idaho shall be the Case Management and Electronic Case Filing Program (ECF).  The official record of the court shall be all documents filed electronically, all documents converted to an electronically filed format, and all documents filed and not capable of conversion to electronic format or otherwise ordered by the court to be maintained.

(b)  Establishment of electronic case filing procedures.

The clerk of the court is authorized to establish and promulgate Electronic Case Filing Procedures (“ECF Procedures”), including the procedure for registration of attorneys and other authorized users, and for issuance and control of passwords to permit electronic filing and notice of pleadings and other papers.  The clerk may modify the ECF Procedures from time to time, after conferring with the Chief Judge.  The ECF Procedures shall be made available to the public on the court’s website (www.id.uscourts.gov) and copies shall be available at all divisional court offices.

(c)  Scope of electronic filing.

Unless expressly prohibited, the filing of all documents required or permitted to be filed with the court in connection with a bankruptcy case or adversary proceeding shall be accomplished electronically.  Any and all references to “filing” or “service” in these Local Bankruptcy Rules shall be interpreted to include filing or service by electronic means consistent with the ECF Procedures and any applicable General Order.  Local Bankruptcy Rule provisions which are or may be in conflict with ECF Procedures shall be superceded by such Procedures and/or applicable General Order until such time as appropriate rule amendments are promulgated.

(1)  Documents filed conventionally with the court will be converted into an electronic format by the court and in such cases, such documents will be treated for all purposes as if they had been electronically filed, except that conversion of a conventionally filed document to electronic format by the court will not affect the original filing date and time of that document.

(2)  On a case by case basis, the presiding judge may direct that paper copies of any documents filed electronically be sent directly to the judge’s chambers.

(d)  Court retention of records - copies. 

Where a document filed conventionally is converted to an electronic format by the court, the document originally filed shall be maintained as a copy only.  Such copies of documents will be retained by the court only so long as required to ensure that the information has been transferred to the court’s data base, for other court purposes or as required by other applicable laws or rules.  It shall be the responsibility of any party who has filed a document conventionally who desires to have the document returned by the clerk, to specifically request and arrange for its return.  Absent such a request, the clerk is authorized to dispose of the document after electronic conversion.

(e)  Retention of conventionally signed documents. 

The original of all conventionally signed documents that are electronically filed shall be retained by the filing party for a period of not less than the maximum allowed time to complete any appellate process, or the time the case of which the document is a part, is closed, whichever is later.  The document shall be produced upon an order of the court.

(f)  Eligibility. 

Only a Registered Participant or an authorized employee of the Registered Participant may file documents electronically.  To become a Registered Participant, or to act as an authorized employee of the Registered Participant, a person must satisfy the registration requirements established by the court and participate in training as required by the court unless the clerk is satisfied that training is not necessary. 

(g)  Consequences of electronic filings. 

The electronic transmission of a document to the court constitutes filing of the document for all purposes.  Such transmission shall be consistent with ECF Procedures.  The filing date and time of a document filed electronically shall be the date and time the document is electronically received by the court, which for the purposes of this Rule shall be Mountain Time.

(h)  Entry of court issued documents. 

The court shall enter all orders, decrees, judgments and proceedings of the court in accordance with the ECF Procedures, which shall constitute entry of the order, decree, judgment, or proceeding on the docket kept by the clerk of court.

(i)  Large documents, exhibits and attachments. 

The parties are directed to refer to the ECF Procedures, which may be amended from time to time.

(j)  Signatures. 

The electronic filing of any document by a Registered Participant shall constitute the signature of that person for all purposes provided in the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.  For instructions regarding electronic signatures, refer to the ECF Procedures. 

(k)  Notice and service of documents.

Participation by a Registered Participant in the court’s ECF system by registration and receipt of a login and password from the clerk of court shall constitute consent by that Registered Participant to the electronic service of pleadings and other papers under applicable Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

(l)  Technical failures. 

Any Registered Participant or other person whose filing is made untimely or who is otherwise prejudiced as a result of a technical failure at or by the court, may seek appropriate relief from the court.  The court shall determine whether a technical failure has occurred or whether relief should be afforded on a case by case basis.


RELATED AUTHORITY

Fed. R. Bankr. P. 5003, 5005
General Order 247


Advisory Committee Notes:

Effective January 1, 2006, members of the bar and other Registered Participants are required to file all documents in the District and Bankruptcy Court through ECF unless otherwise ordered by the court.  Detailed procedures are found in the clerk’s ECF Procedures and in the Court’s General Order(s), which are available on the court’s website or at any clerk’s office.  All references in the Local Bankruptcy Rules to “filing” or “service” (except service or process) are deemed to include electronic filing and/or service, even though more detailed amendments of the Local Bankruptcy Rules may later be made.

 


ECF Procedures
Amended 3/13/23 [to correct email boxes]
Amended 3/23/23 [remove JDP email box]
Amended 8/11/23 [replace EJL with AKB email]
Amended 11/30/23 [to correct BK order submission email]