How are initiating documents and filing fees handled?
The court has not activated the feature that would allow attorneys to file new cases. The court requests that filers call the clerk’s office at 1-866-241-7123 during business hours to open a new case. The clerk’s office staff will open a shell case and provide the case number to the attorney. The attorney will electronically file PDF versions of case initiating documents (civil cover sheet, complaint, notice of removal, summons). The clerk’s office staff will assign a judge after the documents are electronically filed and the filing fee is paid. With the implementation of ECF, the court is implementing the use of pay.gov and credit card payment. Filers are encouraged to pay the filing fee using the pay.gov feature in ECF. Otherwise, an attorney must arrangements with the clerk’s office to prepay the filing fee before a shell case is opened.
