Filing agents have docketing privileges, but their accounts are not identical to those used by attorneys and trustees.  Here are some important facts about filing agents:

• Can docket on behalf of the attorney/trustee
• Will not appear on the pick list for docketing (only the attorney or trustee name will show)
• WIll not appear on docket text (the docket text will show the attorney or trustee name as the filer)
• Assume the rights and privileges assigned to the attorney or trustee's user account
• Will not receive email on their own.  The filing agent's email address must be designated through the attorney or trustee's account in ECF under Maintain Your ECF Account as a "Secondary Email Address;" after adding the filing agent's email as a secondary address, check "send the notices to the secondary addresses"
• Can docket restricted documents (e.g., SSN verification forms, or writs) and sealed documents but cannot view them after docketing.  The attorney or trustee must use their own accounts to view those documents.

If a filing agent had a CM/ECF account prior to May 10, 2021, and does not have an individual PACER account, they must do the following to continue filing in NextGen CM/ECF:

1. DO NOW: Register for a Non-Attorney PACER Account.  To register for a new PACER account, visit the PACER website.  Click here for account registration instructions.
2. ON or AFTER May 10, 2021: Link your individual PACER account to your pre-existing CM/ECF account. Click here for instructions on linking your account.
3. You can begin filing. No further action is required by the filing agent or the attorney/trustee.

If a filing agent had a CM/ECF account prior to May 10, 2021, and already has an individual (non-shared) PACER account, they must do the following to continue filing in NextGen CM/ECF:

1. DO NOW: Upgrade your PACER account if it was created before August 11, 2014. Click here for instructions to upgrade your PACER account.
2. ON or AFTER May 10, 2021: Link your PACER account to your pre-existing CM/ECF filing agent account. Click here for instructions on linking your account.
3. You can begin filing.  No further action is required by the filing agent or the attorney/trustee. 

A new filing agent account requires action from the filing agent and the attorney/trustee for whom they will be filing.

First, the filing agent must do the following:

1. Register for a Non-Attorney PACER account (if you do not already have an individual PACER account)
2. Request "Filing Agent" access to the Maryland Bankruptcy Court.
   • From the PACER.uscourts.gov homepage, login to "Manage My Account"
   • Select the "Maintenance" tab
   • Select the "Non-Attorney E-file Registration" link
   • Select "Filing Agent" as the "Role in Court" when completing the registration form
   • Submit the request
3. When your e-file request is processed, you will receive a notification from the court.
4. You will not have access to ECF until the attorney or trustee for whom you file completes the steps below.

The attorney or trustee must take the following steps in CM/ECF to link their accounts to the filing agent:

1. Click Utilities, then select "Maintain Your ECF Account" and click on "More User Information"
2. In the "Find Filing Agent" field, enter the last name of the filing agent and click the search icon.
3. Select the filing agent from the list
4. Click on the filing agent's name once it has been linked, and the "Update Filing Agent Permissions" box will appear
5. Change "Internet Payment" to Y
6. Select all of the Groups to which the filing agent will have permissions (these are typically the same as the attorney or trustee has)
7. Click "Return to Account Screen"
8. Click submit.

Training is not required, however we recommend viewing the following docketing instructions:

• Guide to Navigating ECF
• PDF Requirements
• Certificate of Service Guide
• Proposed Orders Guide
• Court Hearing Scheduler Guide
• Amended Schedules Guide
• Common Issues Guide
• ECF User's Manual (a comprehensive docketing guide)