ECF USER GUIDE
FOR EXTERNAL FILERS
Revised: June, 2020
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ECF User Guide - External Filers
ECF User Guide - External Filers ................................................................................................................. 2
Preface ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
General Information & Definitions ........................................................................................................... 3
Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Registration & Password Reset ................................................................................................................. 5
PACER Registration, Fees & Training ..................................................................................................... 5
Duty to Update Information ...................................................................................................................... 6
Access ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
Menu Bar .................................................................................................................................................. 7
File Size Limit........................................................................................................................................... 8
Redaction of Personal Identifiers .............................................................................................................. 8
File a New Case ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Payment of Fees & Payment History Report ............................................................................................ 8
Summons/Waiver of Service .................................................................................................................... 9
Objections & Cross Motions ..................................................................................................................... 9
Linking Documents ................................................................................................................................... 9
Motions for Leave to File ....................................................................................................................... 10
Attachments & Exhibits .......................................................................................................................... 10
Signatures................................................................................................................................................ 11
Deadlines ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Sealed Matters......................................................................................................................................... 11
Filing Errors & System Failures ............................................................................................................. 11
Viewing Restricted Documents .............................................................................................................. 12
ECF Help & Resources ........................................................................................................................... 12
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Preface
This document is intended to provide summary information on common
electronic filing questions.
For more information, please consult:
The court’s Local Rules and Supplemental Rules for Electronic Case
Filing (http://www.nhd.uscourts.gov/rules-orders); and
The Electronic Filing (ECF) page of the court’s website
(http://www.nhd.uscourts.gov/electronic-case-files-ecf).
General Information & Definitions
Counsel and pro se parties granted permission to file electronically must file all
documents, except those specifically exempted by applicable rule or court order,
shall be electronically filed using the court’s Electronic Case Filing System
(“ECF”).
A party who is not represented by counsel may file papers with the clerk in paper,
but is not precluded from filing electronically.
The clerk's office will not maintain a paper court file in any case except those
cases or documents exempted from ECF by court rule, court order, or statute.
Term/Phrase Definition
ECF The court’s Electronic Case Filing System, which
is an automated system that receives and stores
documents in electronic form.
Electronic Filing The process of uploading a document from the
Filing User’s computer and using the court’s
Internet-based ECF to file the document on the
court’s docket.
Filing User An individual who has obtained a PACER
issued login and password and permission to
file documents electronically in this district.
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Notice of Electronic Filing A notice automatically generated by ECF at the
(NEF) time a document is electronically filed setting forth
the time of filing, the name of the party and
attorney filing the document, the type of
document, the text of the docket entry, the name
of the party and/or attorney receiving the notice,
and electronic hyperlink to the filed document and
the docket report.
PACER An automated system that allows an individual to
(Public Access to Court view, print, and download court dockets and
Electronic Records) documents over the Internet.
PDF Electronic document that is created either by
(Portable Document converting a word processing document (MS
Format) Word, WordPerfect, etc.) to this format using PDF
creation software or by scanning a paper
document (i.e. via email or external hard
drive/electronic storage device).
Conventionally Filed Process of submitting certain pleadings to the
court in paper and/or electronic format outside of
the ECF system.
Requirements
The following hardware, software and accounts are needed to electronically file
and view case documents:
Personal computer running a standard platform such as Windows or
Macintosh
Portable Document Format (PDF) compatible word processing software
for creating pleadings (MS Word, WordPerfect)
PDF-creation software (used to convert documents from a word processor
format to a PDF format) and PDF-reader software (used to open and read
PDF documents)
A scanner to convert paper documents that are not in a word processing
format to PDF for electronic filing in the court’s ECF system
The District of New Hampshire is a NextGen CM/ECF Court. A PACER
login and password are required in order to access CM/ECF.
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An Internet Service Provider using point-to-point protocol (PPP) for
accessing the Internet and for sending and receiving e-mails. Some type
of Broadband, DSL, or T-1 service is highly recommended (minimum
access speed of 56K)
An e-mail account at which to receive NEFs and filed documents from the
court
An ECF compatible web browser (ECF is designed to work with Internet
Explorer 7.0 (or higher) or Firefox 3.5 (or higher))
Registration & Password Reset
Attorneys
An attorney admitted to the Bar of this court, including an attorney admitted pro
hac vice, must request access to CM/ECF via PACER. Click the link for
instructions for an admitted attorney, and an attorney admitted Pro Hac Vice.
For information regarding how to move for pro hac vice admission in a case,
please visit the Pro Hac Vice section of the Attorney Information page of the
court’s website.
Pro Se Parties
A non-prisoner who is a party to a civil action and who is not represented by
an attorney may file a motion asking to be allowed to file and receive
documents via ECF. If, during the course of the action, the party retains an
attorney who appears on the person’s behalf, the clerk’s office shall terminate the
pro se person’s ECF registration.
To request permission to file electronically in a case, complete and file in paper
the Pro Se Motion to Obtain Permission to File Electronically.
Misplaced or Forgotten Password/Username
To reset the password associated with your PACER and CM/ECF account,
contact PACER at Forgot Password - Forgot Username.
PACER Registration, Fees & Training
This is a NextGen Court, a PACER account is required in order to access CM/
ECF. For information on how to register for a PACER account to view
documents, to learn about fees associated with viewing documents through
PACER, and for PACER-related training, please visit PACER website.
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Duty to Update Information
Users must notify the clerk’s office and all parties in any active case of any
change in name, e-mail, mailing address, firm name/affiliation, or telephone
number by electronically filing in each case a “Notice of Change of Address”.
In addition to notifying the parties, users must maintain their PACER and CM/
ECF account. Any change in name, e-mail, mailing address, firm name/affiliation,
or telephone number must be updated in PACER. PACER will forward the
updated information to the court. You must maintain your account in order to
receive Notices of Electronic Filing (NEFs).
Secondary e-mail addresses are updated in CM/ECF.
Attached are step-by-step instructions for updating contact information.
Users must also update or delete email addresses associated with their ECF
account.
Withdrawal as an ECF User
An attorney of record in an active case may withdraw from participating in the
ECF system only upon motion to withdraw as counsel in that case. Otherwise, a
user may withdraw from participating in the ECF system via PACER.
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Access
STEP ACTION
1 Go to https://ecf.nhd.uscourts.gov/
2 Click Login link
3 Enter your PACER Login name and Password, click Login. Check
the Redaction Notice box. Click Continue button.
Menu Bar
ECF provides the following features that are accessible from the blue Menu bar
at the top of the screen.
Civil: Use your ECF account to file pleadings and other documents in civil (“cv”)
or miscellaneous (“mc”) cases.
Criminal: Use your ECF account to file pleadings and other documents in
criminal (“cr”), magistrate (“mj”), or petty offense (“po”) cases.
Query: Use your PACER account to obtain information by case number, party
name or nature of suit (PACER fee may apply).
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Reports: Use your PACER account to retrieve and view the case dockets and
documents (PACER fee may apply).
Search: Use your ECF account to search for a particular event to docket.
Logout: Exit ECF.
File Size Limit
Please review AP 2.3(b) PDF Documents Exceeding Ten Megabytes
on the Local Rules page of the court’s website.
Redaction of Personal Identifiers
All filers must redact: Social Security or taxpayer-identification numbers; dates of
birth; names of minor children; financial account numbers; and, in criminal cases,
home addresses, in compliance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.1.
This requirement applies to all documents, including attachments.
File a New Case
For step-by-step instructions on how to:
Open a civil case
File the case initiating documents
Add/create a new party in ECF
Please review the Electronically File a New Case document in the Reference
Materials section of the Electronic Filing (ECF) page of the court’s website.
Payment of Fees & Payment History Report
Please see the Paying Filing Fees Using ECF document in the Reference
Materials section of the Electronic Filing (ECF) page of the court’s website.
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Summons/Waiver of Service
A Filing User must file a completed summons or waiver of service PDF as an
attachment to a complaint, amended complaint or third party complaint. The
fillable PDF forms are available on the Forms section of the Case Management
page of the court’s website.
Objections & Cross Motions
You cannot combine a motion and an objection in one event (i.e. objection to
motion for summary judgment and cross motion for summary judgment) and
pleading. They must be filed in ECF separately.
Normally, a memorandum of law should be filed as an attachment to the main
pleading. However, if a memo of law pertains to both an objection and a motion,
it may be filed in ECF as a separate docket entry (after first docketing both the
objection and motion using separate events) using the Memorandum to Motion
and/or Objection event (in Objections, Reponses and Replies). Link the memo
to both the motion and objection to which it pertains.
Linking Documents
Certain events allow you to link your current filing to a document that was
previously filed pin the case.
To link the document to a previous filing, when prompted check the box next to
the question, “Should the document you are filing link to another document in this
case?” and click Next. On the following screen, check the box next to one or
more documents to which your current filing should link.
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Note: You must link any reply or sur-reply to the original motion that started the
string of filings. ECF does not allow you to link such documents to an
objection/response or reply.
Motions for Leave to File
When filing a motion for leave to file a document/amended pleading, include the
proposed pleading you seek leave to file as an attachment to the motion. If the
motion for leave to file is granted, the court’s order will instruct you to refile the
proposed pleading as its own entry on the docket using the appropriate event.
Attachments & Exhibits
Each attachment/exhibit to a pleading must be filed as a separate PDF
attachment to the pleading. Each attachment must have a short description
(chose from drop down category menu or enter description in the blank using 5
words or less).
Multiple exhibits may not be combined into one PDF and submitted as one
attachment.
Electronically Converted PDF vs. Scanned PDF
Unless otherwise provided in the Supplemental Rules, all documents referenced
as an exhibit or attachment to a motion or other pleading shall be electronically
filed in a converted text searchable format unless the filer only has a paper copy
of the document, in which case it may be submitted in a scanned PDF format.
More than 20 Attachments/Exhibits
When filing a document having more than 20 attachments, file the main
document along with any accompanying memorandum of law and the first 20
attachments/exhibits using the appropriate event for the pleading.
After receiving the NEF for the first submission, continue filing the next 20
attachments/exhibits using the Exhibit event (in Other Documents category).
When you get to the document upload screen, attach the next sequential
attachment as the main document and additional attachments as necessary.
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Note: Do not re-submit the motion and memo of law when using the exhibit
event. Rather, link the exhibit event to the previously submitted motion and
memorandum to which they pertain.
Signatures
Please review AP 2.7 Signatures on Electronically Filed Documents on the
Local Rules page of the court’s website.
Deadlines
All electronic transmissions of documents must be completed prior to midnight
local time in order to considered timely filed that day. Where a specific time of
day deadline is set by court order or stipulation, the electronic filing must be
completed by that time.
Counsel should not rely on any “Reply” or “Follow Up” deadlines noted on the
court’s docket as they are for court use only and do not represent the actual
deadlines that may apply in the case. Counsel are required to calculate
response deadlines independently in accordance with applicable rules or any
applicable court order.
Sealed Matters
Please review AP 3.3 Sealed Matters on the Local Rules page of the
court’s website.
Filing Errors & System Failures
Document Filed in Error
ECF does not permit you to change a misfiled document or incorrect docket entry
after submission. Nor should you attempt to refile the document unless
necessary to satisfy a filing deadline.
If resubmission is required to satisfy a filing deadline, you may refile the
document. In the docket text of the new entry add the following text: “(Replaces
document no. XX.)” – except when docketed in the wrong case number.
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Otherwise, to request a correction, contact the judge’s case manager or contact
the ECF Help Desk as soon as the error is discovered. If appropriate, the court
will make an entry indicating that the document was filed in error. You will be
advised if you need to re-file the document.
ECF/Filing User’s Technical Failure
Please review AP 2.10 Technical Failure on the Local Rules page of the court’s
website.
Viewing Restricted Documents
For instructions on how to view a restricted document remotely through PACER,
please see the Accessing Restricted Electronic Documents Remotely
instructions in the Reference Materials section of the Electronic Filing (ECF)
page of the court’s website.
ECF Help & Resources
ECF assistance is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
excluding federal holidays. For specific case filing concerns, please contact
your case manager. Otherwise, please contact the court's main number below
and your call will be directed accordingly.
Phone: 603-225-1423
Email:
[email protected]
Resources
While ECF User training is not mandatory, we strongly recommended that
filing users complete the interactive training modules and tutorials available on
the Training page of the court’s website.
The Reference Materials section of the court’s website provides information on
specific filing topics and technical information.
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