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CM/ECF FAQs: Adding Parties

Categories: Adding Parties | Attorney Civil Case Opening | CM/ECF E-Filing | CM/ECF Technical | E-Filing Contacts | E-Filing Account

  • Should I use punctuation when adding parties?

    No periods or commas should be used in a party's name unless the punctuation is critical to the naming convention, such as "Amazon.com." Other forms of punctuation should still be used (e.g., apostrophes and hyphens).

    For more information on adding party name standards, review the Standards for Entering Party Names into CM/ECF guide and Adding Parties tipsheet.

  • Should I enter the address of each party?

    No, addresses should only be entered at case opening for parties who will be proceeding pro se.

    Also, you can review the Attorney's Guide to Opening a Civil Case.

  • How do I know how to enter a party's name?

    For more information on adding party name standards, review the Standards for Entering Party Names into CM/ECF guide.

    Also, you can review the Attorney's Guide to Opening a Civil Case.

  • What if I need to add a minor as a party?

    Minor parties should be added as an Alias (“mnr”) to the party initiating the lawsuit on the minor’s behalf. Minors should be identified by initials only, separated by periods (e.g., "R.M.").

    If the minor is the party initiating the lawsuit, or is a defendant without guardian, they must be entered by their initials only in the Last Name field (with periods):

    For example: If the party name listed on the complaint is "Gerald Erickson as guardian on behalf of minor J.A.," then you should enter the party name as the following:

    Party Name:
    Last Name: Erickson
    First Name: Gerald

    Party Text: as guardian on behalf of

    Alias (mnr): Last Name: J.A.

    For more information on adding party name standards, review the Standards for Entering Party Names into CM/ECF guide.

  • How should I add the Social Security Administration as a party?

    For Social Security cases filed on or after 07/16/2018, the Commissioner should be added as “Commissioner of Social Security” (even if not named as such in the caption).

    For example: If the party name listed on the complaint is "Social Security Administration," then you should select "Commissioner of Social Security" as the party when adding them to a case.

    For more information on adding party name standards, review the Standards for Entering Party Names into CM/ECF guide.

  • How should I add the USA as a party?

    Add all versions of United States of America as "United States of America." For more information on adding party name standards, review the Standards for Entering Party Names into CM/ECF guide.