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Pro Se E-Filing

Instructions for Pro Se (Non-Prisoner)  
Electronic Filing (E-filing) Registration in Civil Cases 

If you are representing yourself in a legal matter (proceeding pro se  — "on one's own behalf"), you may be allowed to upload documents to your case rather than mail them in paper form.  This process is called electronic filing, or e-filing. In order to e-file, you must obtain approval from the judge assigned to your case.  Before seeking approval from the judge, you must complete online training modules and meet all the technical requirements for e-filing listed in Step 1 below.  After you are approved to e-file by the judge, you will use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) to register to e-file in the Western District of New York.   

Step 1: Do you meet the technical requirements for e-filing? 

I have completed the pro se e-filing training provided by the Western District of New York. 

I have regular access to the technical requirements necessary to e-file successfully: 

  1. A computer with internet access; 

  1. An email account reviewed on a daily basis to receive notifications from the Court and notices from the e-filing system. 

3. A scanner to convert documents that are only in paper format into electronic files.  

4.  A printer or copier to create required paper copies such as chambers copies.  

5.  A word processing program to create documents. 

6.  A .pdf reader and .pdf writer to convert word processing documents into .pdf format, the only electronic format in which documents can be e-filed. 

If you can answer YES to all technical requirements listed above, proceed to Step 2. 
 

Step 2: Ask for Permission from the Judge 

You must submit a motion for electronic filing privileges to the judge assigned to your case and wait for the judge to approve it. You shall download and fill in the sample motion and registration form located on the Court’s internet site at http://www.nywd.uscourts.gov/pro-se-forms.  

If the Judge DENIES your motion, you will not be able to e-file in your case. 

If the Judge GRANTS your motion, proceed to the next step. 

IMPORTANT: You will need to submit a motion in each case you wish to electronically file documents.   

Step 3: Register with PACER 

You must have a PACER account in order to e-file, view the docket, and retrieve documents.  

Register online at www.pacer.gov(link is external) (choose Register for an Account > Non-attorney Filers for CM/ECF) or call the PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856.  

If you provide your credit card information at the time of registration, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to retrieve your login information. If you do not provide your credit card information at the time of registration, you will receive login instructions by mail. Please allow two weeks for delivery. 

Forms:

Resources:

Training Videos:

It is required to completed all training videos before applying.
Playlist of all videos(via YouTube): Click here(link is external)