District Court

You may consent to e-service if all of the following apply:

1. You are a party in one or more pending civil or miscellaneous cases in the Southern District of Texas;
2. You are not currently incarcerated;
   and
3. You are self-represented (pro se).

Bankruptcy Court

You may consent to e-service if either of the following applies:

1. You are a debtor in a pending bankruptcy case;
   or
2. You are a self-represented (pro se) party in a pending bankruptcy or adversary case.

If you consent to e-service:

• You will no longer receive paper copies of court-filed or party-filed documents in your case.
• You will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) email whenever a docket entry is made in your case. The NEF includes the case number, case name/style, and the text of the docket entry.
• If a document is filed with that docket entry, the NEF will include a hyperlink to the document.
• You may view each filed document one time without charge by using the hyperlink in the NEF within 15 days after the notice is sent. You should download or print the document the first time you view it. 
• After your free view has been used or 15 days have passed, access to the document requires a PACER account and applicable PACER fees may apply.
• Consenting to e-service does not authorize you to file documents electronically. Separate approval from the presiding judge is required to electronically file.
• You are still responsible for serving documents you file on the other parties in your case as required by the applicable rules.
• You must promptly notify the Court if your email address changes. 

Before consenting to e-service, be sure you have reviewed the two sections above to ensure you are qualified and that you understand the effects of your consent:

• Qualifications to Consent to E-Service
• What to Know If You Consent to E-Service

To consent to receive e-service by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF), you must complete the appropriate form, and submit it to the Clerk's Office.

• Debtor Registration Form for Service of Documents by Electronic Mail: Complete this form if you are a debtor in a Bankruptcy case.
• Consent By Self-Represented Litigant to Receive Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF): Complete this form if you are a self-represented (pro se) party in
  • a District Court civil or miscellaneous case, or
  • a Bankruptcy Court bankruptcy or adversary case.

In Bankruptcy Court, self-represented parties can submit documents to the Clerk's Office in person, by U.S. mail, or by uploading them electronically. If you want to upload documents electronically you can do so from the Bankruptcy Electronic Document Submission System (BK EDSS). Additional information about this option can be found under Electronic Filing (CM/ECF and EDSS).
Important Note: Submitting documents electronically through BK EDSS, requires you to consent to e-service.

No. A PACER account is not required to receive electronic notices. A PACER account may be needed to access documents after the free access period provided through the Notice of Electronic Filing expires. See Case Search.

Yes. If you have more than one case, you must consent to receive electronic notices in each case in which you are a self-represented party.

No. Electronic notice and electronic filing are separate. Registering for electronic notice does not authorize electronic filing. See Electronic Filing (CM/ECF and EDSS).

No. By consenting to receive Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF), you are consenting to get electronic service of documents. You will only receive notice by email, through the CM/ECF Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF), that a document has been filed in your case.

If you change your email address, you must promptly notify the Court in writing. The most common method for notifying the court of changes to your email address or mailing address is to file a Notice of Change of Address in each case in which you are a party.