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NextGen CM/ECF

The Next Generation of CM/ECF (NextGen) is Here!

What Is New For Public Filers In NextGen?

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois will be upgrading its CM/ECF system to the Next Generation of CM/ECF (NextGen), and have a planned go-live date of September 13th, 2021. This upgrade will provide Central Sign-On functionality, which allows filers to use one account to e-file in all NextGen courts (appellate, bankruptcy, and district) in which they practice, and to log in to PACER nationwide.

What should you do now to prepare for NextGen?

  1. Obtain your own PACER account.
    Each filer (attorney, creditor, filing agent, etc) MUST have their own individual PACER account before the court upgrades to NextGen. Shared PACER accounts cannot be used for filing once the court has upgraded.
     
    If you already have your own individual PACER account, proceed to step 2 to verify that it is an upgraded PACER account.
     
    If you do not already have your own PACER account, go to https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ and click on "Register for an Account". Please review the "Register for New PACER Account" document for instructions.
     
    Firms may set up a PACER Administrative Account (PAA) to help manage attorney accounts and have those individual accounts centrally billed for PACER access fees. To register for a PACER Administrative Account, please visit https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account/group-billing/. For more information regarding PACER Administrative Accounts, visit https://pacer.uscourts.gov/help/pacer/pacer-administrative-account-user-manual and https://pacer.uscourts.gov/help/pacer/pacer-administrative-account-basics
     
  2. Upgrade your existing PACER account if it is a "Legacy" account.
    "Legacy" PACER accounts (accounts issued prior to August 11, 2014) must be upgraded before they can be used to e-file in NextGen CM/ECF courts. If your PACER username is 6 characters long, it is a "Legacy" account and must be upgraded. If your PACER username is at least 8 characters long, it is already an upgraded account.
     
    To upgrade your "Legacy" PACER account, go to https://pacer.uscourts.gov/, click Manage Your Account, Manage My Account Login, and log in with your current PACER credentials. If the Account Type shows "Legacy," click the Upgrade link and enter the required information.
     
    For questions regarding your PACER account, contact the PACER Service by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov or by phone at 800-676-6856.
     
    Please review the "Upgrading Your PACER Account" document for instructions.
     
    After upgrading your PACER Account, please refer to the "Change Default PACER Login" document to assist with changing your PACER Login info within in CM/ECF.
     
  3. Make sure you know your CM/ECF login and password.
    Each filer must know their current CM/ECF login and password used to e-file. This information will be used to configure central sign-on once the court converts to NextGen later this year. If this login information is saved in the web browser, it will be lost and not recoverable after the conversion to NextGen, so make note of it now.
     
    If you do not know your current CM/ECF login name and/or password, please contact the Clerk's Office by phone at (618) 482-9075, or by email at ilsbwebmaster@ilsb.uscourts.gov.

What Happents Next?

Once the court Goes Live on NextGen CM/ECF, starting Monday Sept 13th, all current CM/ECF users must take action and link their PACER Account to their CM/ECF Account.

  • See “Linking a PACER account to an ECF account” for instruction.
  • Filers will not be able to e-file in NextGen until this linkage has been completed.
  • All current CM/ECF user must link their accounts, and not request new access.

For new users to CM/ECF once the court is on NextGen CM/ECF, a request for access must be made through PACER. See “New CM/ECF Registration” for instruction.

Updates to a NextGen CM/ECF account must be made through PACER. See “CM/ECF Account Updates” for instruction.

Questions about NextGen CM/ECF?

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on the improvements and the upgrade process, please visit https://pacer.uscourts.gov/file-case/get-ready-nextgen-cmecf.

For assistance with PACER accounts, contact the PACER Service Center by phone at 800-676- 6856, or by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.

For assistance with an existing CM/ECF account, or for general questions, contact the Clerk's Office by phone at 618 482-9075, or by email at ilsbwebmaster@ilsb.uscourts.gov.