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How to become an E-filer

  • Guidance for Admission and E-Filing. Click here (pdf)
  • Do you need an E-Filing account? Click here (pdf)
  • All forms must be mailed to the Buffalo office of the Court.
  • Email or fax will not be accepted.
  • Allow 7 to 10 days for processing

  1) ADMISSION TO PRACTICE  (Attorney Full Access to E-File)

a. Attorney must be admitted to the District Court for the Western District of New York.  Click here to go to the W.D.N.Y. District Court website.
  • Attorneys employed by a Federal agency may skip this step.
b. Attorney must be admitted to the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. Click here for Admission to Practice form (pdf). The form must be mailed to the Court via U.S. Mail. There is no fee. The Court will mail your Certificate of Admission via U.S. Mail after receipt of the completed application. You may proceed to step c and d before receiving your Certificate of Admission.
  • Attorneys employed by a Federal agency may skip this step.
c. Read and familiarize yourself with the CM/ECF Electronic Learning Modules.  Click here.
d. Register for an e-filing account.
  • The Admission to Practice form must be mailed to the Court BEFORE registering for an e-filing account.
  • Attorneys employed by a Federal agency, when prompted: "What would you like to Apply/Register for?", select: Federal Attorney
  • *You CANNOT E-FILE yet. The Court must process your request. If approved, you will receive an automated email.

Click here to register for an e-filing account

(PDF) Instructions for Attorneys who need a PACER account

(PDF) Instructions for Attorneys who already have a PACER account

- - OR - -

  2) PRO HAC VICE  (Attorney Full Access to E-File)
         The attorney requesting pro hac vice status must e-file their own motion.

a. A) Send an email to: lisa_czaja@nywb.uscourts.gov.  The email should state that you intend to appear pro hac vice; and should contain the case number. Do not wait for a response, go to Step B.
B) Register for an e‐filing account. When prompted: "What would you like to Apply/Register for?", select: Pro Hac Vice.

*You CANNOT E-FILE yet. The Court must process your request. If approved, you will receive an automated email.

Click here to register for an e-filing account

(PDF) Instructions for Pro Hac Vice Attorneys who need a PACER account

(PDF) Instructions for Pro Hac Vice Attorneys who already have a PACER account

b.   After the Court processes your request to become an e-filer, using your PACER user name and password, you must e‐file an Ex Parte Motion and Proposed Order to Appear Pro Hac Vice.

NOTE: the Court DOES NOT have a form template for the motion/order to Appear Pro Hac Vice. There is no fee.

- - OR - -

  3) NON-ATTORNEY E-FILING ACCOUNT  (Limited Access to E-File)

a. Email Notifications (NEF's) ARE NOT available. 
b. See our CM/ECF Electronic Learning Modules.  Click here.
c. E-filing is limited to documents such as: Proofs of Claim, Reaffirmation Agreement, Creditor Request for Notice.
d. You must be an Attorney, Creditor, Creditor's Authorized Agent or Personal Financial Management Course Provider.
e. Debtors and individual creditors attempting to file on their own behalf MUST file in paper.  A Limited Access login will NOT be issued to unrepresented individuals.
f. DO NOT REGISTER for an e-filing account if you were an e-filer before our conversion to NextGen CM/ECF on June 24, 2019.  You must LINK (pdf) your PACER account with your existing e-filing account.  A new registration will be rejected.

If you have NEVER registered with this Court, you may register for an e‐filing account.  *You CANNOT E-FILE yet. The Court must process your request. If approved, you will receive an automated email.  NOTE: To view case dockets and documents across the country, you only need a PACER account, not an e-filing account.  

  Click here to register for an e-filing account

 (PDF) Instructions for Non-Attorneys who need a PACER account

 (PDF) Instructions for Non-Attorneys who already have a PACER account

  4) PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COURSE PROVIDERS

a.  Prior to registering for an e-filing account, send an email to lisa_czaja@nywb.uscourts.gov.