For Pro Se Civil Case Opening instructions, see Representing Yourself page

Preparing to File: Civil Case Opening

• Review Attorney Civil Case Opening guidance
  • Case Opening Checklist  (PDF; revised 3/2020)
  • Attorney's Guide to Opening a Civil Case (PDF; revised 1/2020)
  • Standards for Entering Party Names in CM/ECF (PDF; revised 6/2019)

Preparing to File: Notice of Removal

• Required reading: Attorney Notice of Removal guidance
  • Notice of Removal Checklist (PDF; revised 3/2020)
  • Attorney's Guide to Opening a Notice of Removal Civil Case (PDF; revised 1/2020)
  • Standards for Entering Party Names in CM/ECF (PDF; revised 6/2019)

Opening Your Civil Case (via CM/ECF):

Select a topic to see more detailed instructions.

• Emergency Filings
• Complete and Enter Civil Cover Sheet information
• Nature of Suit Code Descriptions
• Add case participants from the initiating document (i.e. Complaint or Notice of Removal) see Adding Case Participants 1 and 2
• Upload initial pleadings and all required documents in PDF format
• Pay the filing fee through Pay.gov, and
• Complete case opening and send Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF)

After you file, court staff will complete the following tasks:

• Issue summons, if any
• Assign the judge to the case
• Do a quality check of the new case after it is filed, and  
• Notify filer of deficiencies or errors

For additional information, review our Case Opening Frequently asked questions.