D. Mass. L.R. 5.4

(a) Electronic Filing Generally. Unless exempt or otherwise ordered by the court, all

pleadings and other papers submitted to the court must be filed, signed, and verified by

electronic means as provided herein.

(b) ECF Administrative Procedures. Subject to the supervision of the court, the clerk will

maintain Electronic Case Filing (ECF) Administrative Procedures, including procedures

for the registration of attorneys and other authorized users and for distribution of passwords

to permit electronic filing. All electronic filings must be made in accordance with the ECF

Administrative Procedures. The ECF Administrative Procedures will be generally available

to the public and shall be posted on the court's web site.

(c) Service of Pleadings. Unless exempt or otherwise ordered by the court, all pleadings and

other papers must be served on other parties by electronic means. Transmission of the

Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) through the court's transmission facilities will constitute

service of the filed document upon a registered ECF user.

(d) Deadlines. Although the ECF system is generally available 24 hours a day for electronic

filing, that availability will not alter filing deadlines, whether set by rule, court order, or

stipulation. All electronic transmissions of documents must be completed prior to 6:00 p.m.

to be considered timely filed that day.

(e) Civil Case Opening Documents. All ECF filers registered in this district must file civil

case opening documents, such as a complaint (or petition or notice of removal), civil action

cover sheet, or category sheet, electronically. Cases which include sealed or ex parte

documents and supporting materials presented contemporaneously with civil case opening

documents may be filed and served initially in paper format and not electronically. Pro se

filers, others exempt from electronic filing, or otherwise ordered by the court, may file case

opening documents in paper format and not electronically. Whenever possible, at the time

a civil case is submitted in paper format, the filing party may also file a disk with the clerk

containing in PDF format the opening documents and any emergency motions and

supporting papers not filed electronically.

(f) State Court Record in Removal Proceedings. Within 28 days after filing a notice of

removal in a civil action, a party removing an action under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441-52 must

electronically file certified or attested copies of all docket entries, records, and proceedings

in the state. If exempt from electronic filing or otherwise ordered by the court, the removing

party must file a disk with the clerk’s office containing the state court record in PDF format.

(g) Exemptions.

(1) Documents That Should Not Be Filed Electronically. The following types of

documents must not be filed electronically:

(A) sealed documents;

(B) ex parte motions;

(C) documents generated as part of an alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

process;

(D) such other types of documents as the clerk may direct in the ECF

Administrative Procedures.

(2) Documents That Need Not Be Filed Electronically. The following types of

documents need not be filed electronically, but may be scanned into the ECF system

by a filing party or the clerk:

(A) handwritten pleadings;

(B) documents filed by pro se litigants who are incarcerated or who are not

registered ECF users;

(C) indictments, informations, criminal complaints, and the criminal JS45 form;

(D) affidavits for search or arrest warrants and related documents;

(E) documents received from another court under Fed. R. Crim. P. 20 or 40;

(F) appearance bonds;

(G) any document in a criminal case containing the original signature of a

defendant, such as a waiver of indictment or a plea agreement;

(H) such other types of documents as the clerk may direct in the ECF

Administrative Procedures.