Four ways to get papers to a federal court
- On paper.Mail or hand-deliver to the clerk's office. Every court accepts paper filings from people without lawyers, and some require them.
- Email or web upload.Some courts take PDFs by email or through an upload page (often called EDSS). Some accept new complaints this way; others only take filings in existing cases. If your papers are photos or scans, ECF PDF (free, runs in your browser) turns them into PDFs for filing.
- Email notices only.Many courts let you sign up to get electronic notices of everything filed in your case while you keep filing on paper. It's faster than mail and you get a free copy of each document.
- Full e-filing (CM/ECF).Filing directly into the court's system. Under the national rules, a person without a lawyer can e-file only if a court order or local rule allows it (Rule 5(d)(3)(B)). Most courts require a judge's permission, and most don't allow it for the complaint itself.
How e-filing registration works
- Check your court's rule first.If the court requires a motion, file it (and get the order) before you register. Some courts, like the Southern District of Ohio, have a form for this.
- Create your own PACER account.At pacer.uscourts.gov. It has to be an individual account, not a shared one. The same login is used for searching records and for filing.
- Request e-filing access.In PACER, go to Manage My Account → Maintenance → Non-Attorney E-File Registration and choose your court (PACER's instructions). The role name varies by court (for example “Party” or “Individual”).
- Wait for the court.You can't file until the court processes your request. PACER notes that not every court accepts non-attorney filers.
Once you're a registered e-filer, electronic filing in your case counts as service on other registered users. You'll get a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) by email for every filing, with one free look at the document.
What each court allows
Checked against each court's website, September 24, 2026. Courts change these rules, so confirm before you rely on them. Emails and upload links change often, so we link to the court's page instead of repeating addresses.
| Court | E-filing (CM/ECF) | Starting a new case | Email notices only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central District of California Electronic filing for people without lawyers · Forms for people without lawyers | Judge's permission needed Full e-filing (CM/ECF) needs a motion. But the court's Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS) needs no permission and accepts new complaints. | Yes, through EDSS. | Yes, e-notice registration through PACER. |
| District of Arizona Proceeding without an attorney · Self-represented litigant handbook (Jan. 2026) | Judge's permission needed Only by a motion the court grants, in each case. Complaints go on paper unless authorized. | On paper. The court's free E-Pro Se interview drafts a complaint for you to print, sign and file. | Yes, with the court's request form for electronic noticing. |
| District of Colorado Representing yourself · Email filing instructions | You can register Request access through PACER as a Non-Attorney Filer once your case is open; the court reviews the request. You can also file by email. | Yes, by email (see the court's email-filing instructions). | None found |
| District of Columbia Pro se help · Emailing instructions | Judge's permission needed A motion for e-filing rights must be granted before you register. | Yes, by email. Follow the court's emailing instructions. | Yes, by consent form (not in Social Security, immigration or sealed cases). |
| District of Maryland EDSS | Upload option The court's Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS) takes filings in existing cases. Using it counts as consent to electronic service. | Not through EDSS (existing cases only). | None found |
| District of Massachusetts NextGen e-filing for pro se parties | Judge's permission needed Only for parties the court has granted permission to e-file. | On paper. | None found |
| District of New Jersey Filing without an attorney · ADS web form | Not allowed No e-filing for people without lawyers. Use the court's Alternate Document Submission (ADS) web form instead. | Yes, through ADS (PDF only; mark it as a new case). | Yes, by the court's pro se consent and registration form. |
| Eastern District of Michigan Pro se information · Pro se document upload | Judge's permission needed Case by case: you request it through PACER and court staff review it. Only in pending cases. | Yes, through the court's Pro Se Document Upload. | None found |
| Eastern District of New York Representing yourself · Pro se forms | Judge's permission needed Only after the court grants a motion for leave to e-file. Don't apply in PACER until you have that order. | On paper. New cases can't be filed by email, fax or e-filing. | Yes. File the Consent to Electronic Service form in your case. |
| Eastern District of Pennsylvania Pro se page · EDS submission | Judge's permission needed You must ask the assigned judge by motion. Without that, use the court's Electronic Document Submission (EDS) form, which the court asks you to use whenever possible. | Yes, through EDS (not for people in custody or sealed filings). | Yes. File the E-Notice Consent Form in your case. |
| Eastern District of Virginia EDSS | Upload option EDSS (live since April 15, 2026) takes filings in existing cases from people without lawyers. Not available to people in custody. | Not through EDSS (existing cases only). | None found |
| Middle District of Florida Litigants without lawyers · E-notice consent portal | Judge's permission needed Only with the judge's permission; then register in PACER as a Non-Attorney Filer. Not for new cases. | On paper (hand delivery, mail or private carrier). | Yes, through the court's online consent portal (not for criminal, Social Security, immigration or sealed cases). |
| Northern District of California E-filing instructions for pro se litigants · Pro se handbook | You can register You can register yourself for e-filing in an existing case without a judge's permission. Complaints and other papers that open a case must be filed on paper. | On paper. | None found |
| Northern District of Georgia Prisoner and pro se guidance | Not allowed People without lawyers must file everything on paper; the clerk scans it in. | On paper. | None found |
| Northern District of Illinois Pro se page · Pro se PDF upload | You can register In an existing case, you can apply after completing the court's e-filing training. New cases can't be e-filed. | Yes, through the court's Pro Se Filer PDF upload (usually docketed within about 3 business days). | None found |
| Northern District of Ohio Pro se information · Pro se guide (2020) | Judge's permission needed A judge can allow it in a specific case (Local Rule 5.1) if you apply on the court's pro se e-file application. Not for starting a new case. | On paper, by mail or in person. | Yes. You can ask for a “read only” account to get email notices (same application form). |
| Northern District of Texas Pro se litigants · Pro se handbook (July 2026) | Required once your case is open Once your case is open, non-prisoner pro se parties must register and e-file (Local Rule 5.1, effective Sept. 1, 2026), within 14 days unless the judge excuses you. The complaint itself is filed on paper. | On paper. | Through your required e-filing account. |
| Southern District of Florida Filing without an attorney | Not allowed People without lawyers can't register for e-filing. Everything, including the complaint, is filed on paper. | On paper. | Yes. File the court's consent form to get notices by email. |
| Southern District of New York Pro se page | Judge's permission needed You need the court's permission, by motion, in a pending case. You can also sign up as a “Receiving User” to get email notices without e-filing. | New complaints can be sent by email. Check the court's pro se page for the current address and file format. | Yes, as a “Receiving User” (not for people in custody). |
| Southern District of Ohio Pro se handbook (2017) · E-filing page | Judge's permission needed A judge must first grant a “Motion by Pro Se Litigant to Obtain Electronic Case Filing Rights” (filed with a consent to electronic service). Then you register in PACER as a Non-Attorney E-File user. Paper filing is always allowed. | On paper, by mail or in person. We found no email or upload option. | None found |
| Southern District of Texas E-filing and EDSS · Electronic notices | Judge's permission needed Only if the presiding judge grants permission, and only in an existing case. | On paper. (The court's EDSS is for Bankruptcy Court only.) | Yes, by consent form for electronic notices. |
| Western District of Washington Representing yourself · Pro se guide (July 2024) | You can register No permission needed. Once your case is open, register with the court's pro se CM/ECF form: either e-service only or e-service plus e-filing. | Yes, by email to the Seattle or Tacoma new-cases address (see the court's page). | Yes, choose “E-Service Only” on the registration form. |
Your court isn't listed? Use the court finder to get its website, then look for its “pro se” or “representing yourself” page.
What PACER costs
| Through Dec. 31, 2026 | From Jan. 1, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Per page | $0.10 | $0.12 |
| Per-document cap | 30 pages ($3.00) | Not stated in the announcement |
| Free if your quarterly total is at most | $30 | $40 |
| Judges' opinions | Free | Free |
Sources: PACER pricing and the June 2026 fee announcement. The judiciary calls the 2027 increase temporary, for five years.
- Your free copy. As a party, the Notice of Electronic Filing gives you one free look at each document filed in your case. The free link usually expires after about 15 days, so download each document as soon as the notice arrives.
- Fee exemptions. Courts can exempt people who can't afford PACER fees when it's needed to avoid an unreasonable burden. Ask the court handling your case; some have a request form.
- Free archive. Many federal court documents are free on CourtListener's RECAP Archive, and the free RECAP browser extension shows you free copies while you use PACER.
A rule change you can weigh in on
In August 2026 the federal judiciary published a proposed amendment to Rule 5 that would let people without lawyers use the courts' e-filing system unless a court order or local rule says otherwise. A court that bars pro se e-filing would need reasonable exceptions or another electronic way to file, such as email or an upload system. Public comments are due February 15, 2027. The earliest the change could take effect is December 1, 2028.
People who have filed without a lawyer know best what works and what doesn't. Read the proposal and how to comment.
This page describes court procedures in general. It isn't legal advice. Each court's local rules and orders control.