CM/ECF FAQs

A. Run your Transaction Log - it's FREE. The log displays all transactions completed by you during a certain date range. If you're not certain that a transaction was successful, review the Transaction Log before you attempt to refile a document - if you run a docket report from PACER you will incur fees. To run the Transaction Log go to Utilities > View Your Transaction Log > Enter a date range. All your successful ECF transactions by date, case number and type will display.

A. Scanned documents are frequently very large and may cause ECF to "time out" during filing. In addition, CM/ECF will not accept files larger than 5 MB. To avoid this choose the optimal scanner setting of black and white (not grayscale or color), set the resolution 200 dpi, and the paper size of 8½ x 11. If the scanned document is still too large separate it into smaller PDF files.

A. The signature line on all electronically filed documents must contain a /s/ name-of-person to be properly filed. For more information on signing electronic documents please see our Administrative Procedures and Commentary Supplementing Administrative Procedures.

A. Click the HELP pull-down menu > Click ABOUT ACROBAT.

A. The Adobe Acrobat print settings may not be enabled for annotations and comments. Click the FILE pull-down menu > click PRINT and do the following depending on your version of Adobe Acrobat:

• Acrobat 4: In the Print window select ANNOTATIONS in the Print Range section.
• Acrobat 5: In the PRINT window select COMMENTS in the Print Range section.
• Acrobat 6: In the PRINT window select DOCUMENTS AND COMMENTS from Print What drop down box.

If there are continued printing problems, download and install the latest printer driver from the printer manufacturer's web site. Some models offer a choice for PostScript or PCL drivers. Choose PCL driver if that is available - otherwise choose the latest driver. After driver installation reboot your PC.

A. File a document indicating your intention using the Withdrawal of Document event located in the Misc. Events category. Create a link between the document you're filing and the document being withdrawn.

A. No. Documents converted to PDF using Acrobat 6.0 cannot be saved by someone who has an earlier version of Acrobat installed on their computer. Follow these steps to ensure that your documents are compatible:

• Click the START button on the lower left of your screen
• Click ALL PROGRAMS > Click ACROBAT DISTILLER 6.0
• Click the SETTINGS pull-down menu
• Click EDIT ADOBE PDF SETTINGS
• Click the GENERAL tab
• Select Acrobat 4.0 from the COMPATIBILITY drop-down menu
• Click OK

After creating, or when saving a PDF document always take the following steps:

• Click FILE > REDUCE FILE SIZE
• Select Acrobat 4.0 or Later from the Compatible With drop-down box.
• Click OK

A. If you don't see the Bankruptcy and Adversary categories on the blue ECF menu bar then you've probably logged into PACER. Log out and try again by using your ECF login and password. If the categories are still missing try clearing the browser cache.

A. "Temp" files are stored in your computer's "cache." When the amount, or aggregate size of the files become too large, you may encounter a blank CM/ECF screen, or more frequently some menu items or categories may not display. To clear your computer's cache:

Internet Explorer Browser:

• Open Internet Explorer
• Click the TOOLS pull-down menu in your browser
• Click INTERNET OPTIONS > Click the GENERAL TAB
• Click DELETE COOKIES > Click OK
• Click DELETE FILES > Click OK
• Click OK in the Internet Options window
• If you are logged into CM/ECF, log out and then log back in

Netscape:

• Open Netscape
• Click the EDIT pull-down menu in your browser
• Click PREFERENCES > Click ADVANCED
• Click CACHE > Click CLEAR MEMORY CACHE > Click OK
• Click OK to save the change

A. If you're not receiving e-mail notices from ECF it could be due to one of the following:

• Your e-mail address has changed and you have not changed the address in CM/ECF. To do so, click UTILITIES on the blue menu bar > click MAINTAIN YOUR ECF ACCOUNT > click EMAIL INFORMATION > in the Primary e-mail address field, delete your old address and enter the new one > click RETURN TO ACCOUNT SCREEN > click SUBMIT
• Are you using AOL 9.0 for your e-mail? If so: check the Anti-Spam preferences to verify that ecfwebmaster@njb.uscourts.gov is listed in the AOL address book. This will ensure that ECF-related e-mails are not blocked from reaching you.
• Your email account is full. Most internet service providers (ISPs) limit the amount of email you may store on their server. Contact your ISP to determine the limit and how to delete the emails you no longer need.

NOTE: If you continue to encounter problems, please contact Nancy Sullivan at 973-645-6474 x 2335.

A. The Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) generates all notices for the court, including sending the Chapter 13 Plan out to creditors and Notices of Information. The number of fonts the BNC is able to produce is limited. If the font cannot be identified by the BNC, the form or notice will fail. To get around this issue, attorneys and trustees must embed their fonts in the document when it is converted to PDF.

THIS IS A ONE TIME SETTING FOR ALL DOCUMENTS CONVERTED TO PDF.

To create PDF documents with embedded fonts, do the following:

• Create the document using 3^rd party software, e.g., word processor, spreadsheet or petition preparation software (Word, WordPerfect, Excel, etc.)
• Click FILE > PRINT
• Under Current Printer: Select Adobe PDF or Adobe PDF Writer, depending on your version of Acrobat
• To the right of the Name field click Properties
• Under Adobe PDF Conversion Settings click EDIT
• Click the FONTS tab
• Place a check in the box next to EMBED ALL FONTS
• Click OK > OK > OK

A. Pop-up blockers installed on your computer or browser will prevent the payment screen from displaying. In the future you must either disable the blocker or modify the settings to access the Pay.gov site and process credit card transactions. Please call the CM/ECF Help Desk to discuss payment on the document you just filed.

A. If you filed a motion or other document that requires a fee in the wrong case, the Clerk's Office can clear the fee from your attorney record. Call or send an e-mail to the Help Desk.

A. Yes, ECF has a report that can be used to reconcile credit card charges for filing fees. On the blue menu bar in ECF, click UTILITIES > INTERNET PAYMENT HISTORY. Enter the desired date range. The report will list all payments made electronically or conventionally by you.

A. No, please file the petition and schedules as one PDF file, with the exception of the Chapter 13 Plan and Certificate of Credit Counseling. Both must be filed as separate entries. Also, if filing missing documents, file all missing documents, again with the exception of the Chapter 13 Plan and Certificate of Credit Counseling as one PDF file using the Missing Documents event under Misc. Events category.

A. File the Modified Chapter 13 Plan on the court's standard form using either the Modification of Chapter 13 Plan - After Confirmation event or the Modification of Chapter 13 Plan - Before Confirmation event, as the circumstances dictate. Both events are located under the Bankruptcy > Plan category. To access instructions on filing a Modified Plan after confirmation click here. To access instructions on filing a Modified Plan before confirmation click here.

A. If you are filing an Amendment to any schedules, use the Amended Schedules - Amendment of All Schedules Including D,E,F event in the Misc. Events category. If you are filing an Amended List of Creditors, use the Amended List of Creditors event in the Misc. Events category.

The Court's Amended Schedules form is available in fillable format on the Court's website. For instructions on filing Amendments to Schedules D,E, or F click here. To access instructions for filing an Amended List of Creditors, click here.
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Q.18 How can I notify the court of a change of address?

A. If the change of address is for an attorney who is a CM/ECF participant you can change your address by taking the following steps: (click here if the attorney is changing firms)

• Click UTILITIES on the blue menu bar
• Click MAINTAIN YOUR CM/ECF ACCOUNT
• Change the address information
• Click SUBMIT


If the change of address is for a debtor:

Complete and e-file the Court's Change of Address form using the Change of Address event, in the Misc. Events category.

A. Yes, this is very important. Failure to notify the court may result in the wrong parties receiving electronic notice or service. To do so complete our Change of Law Firm form and email it to CM/ECF Help Desk.

A. Take the following steps to change your password:

• Click UTILITIES on the blue menu bar
• Click MAINTAIN YOUR ECF ACCOUNT
• Change the information in the password fields
• Click RETURN TO ACCESS SCREEN
• Click SUBMIT

NOTE: The court encourages users to periodically change their password for security reasons, particularly if a member of your staff that had access to this information leaves your employ.

A. An efiler may choose from two formats: 1) a separate notice for each filing that is sent at the time of the filing of the document, or 2) a summary notice sent over night.

To change your preference take the following steps:

• Click UTILITIES on the blue menu bar
• Click MAINTAIN YOUR ECF ACCOUNT
• Click EMAIL INFORMATION
• Select the radio button that indicates your preference
• Click RETURN TO ACCOUNT SCREEN
• CLICK submit

A. Exhibits generally are supporting documents such as a vehicle title, a deed of trust, or a promissary note and are generally scanned. Scanned documents are frequently very large and may cause ECF to "time out" during filing. In addition, CM/ECF will not accept files larger than 5 MB. To avoid this choose the optimal scanner setting of black and white (not grayscale or color), set the resolution 200 dpi, and the paper size of 8½ x 11. If the scanned document is still too large separate it into smaller PDF files.

A. To "link" a document means to relate it to, or associate it with a previously filed document. During the filing process you may be asked "Does your document relate to a previously filed pleading?" If the answer is yes, you should follow the screen prompts to "link" the documents. Proper linkage allows a judge or any other person looking at a particular document to view all pleading related to it, such as objections, certificates of service, etc. If a document isn't linked properly it may not display on the judge's calendar. If you need help with linking please contact the Help Desk.

A. This may be a problem with Acrobat 6 users. To correct the problem take the following steps:

If you want the document to open in Adobe (preferable):

• Open Adobe Acrobat
• Click the EDIT pull-down menu > click PREFERENCES
• Click INTERNET in the list on the left side of the window
• Uncheck the box next to "Display PDF in Browser"
• Click WEB CAPTURE in the list on the left side of the window
• Select IN ACROBAT in the "Open Web Links" field
• Click OK

If you want the PDF document to open in your browser:

• Open Adobe Acrobat
• Click the EDIT pull-down menu > click PREFERENCES
• Click INTERNET in the list on the left side of the window
• Place a check in the box next to DISPLAY PDF IN BROWSER
• Click WEB CAPTURE in the list on the left side of the window
• Select IN WEB BROWSER in the "Open Web Links" field
• Click OK

NOTE: The information in the Internet and Web Capture preferences must be compatible or you may get a blank screen when trying to open a PDF document. That is, they must both be set either to open in the Browser, or to open in Acrobat.

A. For Internet Explorer 4 and above:

• Click on the "Help" tab on your menu bar at the top of the screen
• Scroll down and select "About Internet Explorer"
• A small window will display indicating the version, as well as the encryption or cipher strength of your browser (either 40-bit, 56-bit or 128-bit). If the screen indicates you have a 40-bit or 56-bit version, or if it doesn't indicate the encryption level, you will need to upgrade to a version with 128-bit encryption

• Click on the "Help" tab on your menu bar at the top of the screen
• Scroll down and select "About Navigator" or "About Communicator"
• A screen will appear that lists the details of your browser. Look for a section on the left and toward the middle that begins "Contains encryption software from RSA Data Security, Inc. .." If the next paragraph begins, "This version supports U.S. security...," your browser has 128-bit encryption. If it says that you have international security, your browser has 40-bit or 56-bit encryption and you will need to upgrade to a version with 128-bit encryption

A. CM/ECF will not accept PDF files larger than 5MB. The steps below will reduce the size of files created by scanning:

• Set your scanner to scan in black & white only - not color or grayscale.
• Set your scanner resolution to 250 DPI or less. Do not use a resolution of 300 or above - the higher the resolution, the larger the file created by the scanner.

A. Our Help Desk phone numbers are:

 

Camden: 866-653-4441
Newark: 866-653-4439
Trenton: 866-653-4449