CM/ECF is an computer application that operates on the World Wide Web. The application permits registered attorneys and creditors to file documents electronically with designated United States courts. Documents are filed in an electronic case file at the court. The application enables the court to operate entirely without paper files.

Registered attorneys and creditors are able to file documents with the court 24-hours per day, 7 days per week.

Full case information is available to PACER users over the Internet. This includes the ability to view the full text of all filed documents.

Registered attorneys receive e-mail notices of all filings in cases where they have filed a document(s).

In most cases, the handling and mailing of paper notices is eliminated.

Electronic filing and the electronic docket makes case management by the court more efficient and timely.

There are no costs (other than filing fees) for attorneys and creditors who use CM/ECF.

No. Only registered attorneys and creditors can file documents using CM/ECF.

Anyone can obtain a PACER account which permits them to view bankruptcy cases and documents in CM/ECF. PACER offers convenient electronic access to documents, listing of all case parties, reports of case related information, chronologies of events entered in the case record, claim registries, listing of new cases, and deadlines. There is a fee to use PACER based on the number of pages of information accessed.

No. The court accepts paper filings, then converts them to CM/ECF filings.

Registered attorneys and creditors will need the following hardware and software to file documents in CM/ECF:

PC running Microsoft Windows or Macintosh.

The more memory you, have the faster your documents can be processed, such as when you are scanning and/or converting to PDF format.

An Internet service provider (ISP) and browser software.

The higher the connection speed between your computer and your ISP, the less time you will need to wait for your filings to upload.

CM/ECF has been tested successfully using Internet Explorer 6.0 and Netscape 7.2 as representative browsers. Other browsers and browser versions may work as well. You cannot use America Online’s version of Netscape Navigator.

Bankruptcy petition software.

CM/ECF provides a "case upload" interface which greatly simplifies the process of opening new bankruptcy cases. Several petition preparation software packages provide the appropriately formatted files to take advantage of the interface.

All documents (except creditor matrices) must be in PDF format before they can be filed in CM/ECF!

Software to convert documents to Portable Document Format (PDF), such as Adobe Acrobat Writer may be required.

Attorney filers pay filing fees with their credit card using Internet Credit Card Processing. Filing fees must be paid at the time of e-filing or before the end the end of the day the document with a filing fee was filed.

A receipt number is displayed immediately after the credit card charge is processed. Attorney filers can review their Internet credit card transaction payment history at any time.

A document filed by electronic means shall either (a) contain a scanned image of any manual signature or an electronic signature affixed thereto; or (b) display an “/s/” with the name typed in the location at which the signature would otherwise appear.

Without relieving an Electronic Filer of the duty to comply with the signature requirement outlined above, the filing of any document using a login/password combination issued by the Authorizing Court shall constitute an Electronic Filer’s signature for purposes of signing the document under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011 or any other signature requirement imposed by the Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, or any local rule of the Authorizing Court.

The process starts with your submission of the appropriate registration form(attorney or creditor filer). You will be contacted regarding training and Connectivity Confirmation requirements. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Mary Croy at 210-472-6720 extension 228or e-mail Mary_Croy@txwb.uscourts.gov.

The court holds that no person shall knowingly utilize or cause another person to utilize the password of an Electronic Filer unless such a person is an authorized agent of the Electronic Filer.

Court personnel review all filings in order to insure the electronic docket is completely accurate. When errors are found, case managers notify the filer of the error. Case managers will correct some errors themselves. Otherwise, they may suggest the filer take corrective actions such as re-filling or filing an amendment. Case managers cannot give legal advice.

No. The court provides access to PACER in each divisional office at no charge. There is a fee if you print any of the information you view.