Case Access Codes

For legal and security reasons, the ability to access documents and file on cases through PACFile is largely restricted to the participating attorneys who are registered members of the UJS Web Portal. Due to Federal challenges that have been brought in other states, however, the ability to file electronically must also be available to case participants, particularly pro se litigants. The effect of this open electronic filing policy required the establishment of a system that helps eliminate instances of identity fraud. Consequently, the access code system is available to provide a secure way for the court to confirm the identity of any non-attorney who wants to perform case-related tasks through PACFile.

When a case is officially docketed by the court, regardless of whether it was filed electronically, it is assigned an access code of randomly generated numbers and letters. This code can then be disseminated by the court, at their discretion, to provide non-attorneys the means to access the case through PACFile. When applicable, the code is distributed through the regular mail in order to reduce the risk of identity fraud. Pro se litigants, therefore, must possess and enter the appropriate access code in PACFile before they are able to file on any of their existing cases electronically. The entry of a valid code in PACFile is the only way the court can validate the identities of case participants.

Access codes are not required for attorneys, and by extension their proxies, because their identities are electronically verified by the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board at the time they assign the 'Attorney' role to their UJS Web Portal account. Access codes may be provided to attorneys, however, for instances in which they wish to share it with their clients. These individuals are then able to create their own UJS Web Portal account and access their case information in a read-only capacity. Importantly, access codes do not give represented case participants the right to submit filings on their cases.

Anyone who has received an access code must have a UJS Web Portal login. After logging into the Web Portal, the following steps can be used to enter an access code to complete identity validation:

	Adding a Case Access Code
1.	Click on the Add New Record icon appearing above the Manage Case Access Codes grid.
2.	In the Add Case Access Code popup screen, enter the case number in the Docket Number field. Note: This number is available in the same letter sent by the court that contains the access code.
3.	Enter the access code. Note: The letters in the number are not case sensitive.
4.	Click SEARCH.
5.	Click on the Participant dropdown and select the appropriate name (likely your own).
6.	Click SAVE.

This process only needs to be completed once for each case. Once entered, a pro se litigant can begin filing electronically on the corresponding case. Should it become known that the access code has been compromised, the court will generate a new code and notify the appropriate case participants through an Administrative notification. If this occurs, the steps listed above must be repeated for the new code in order to retain the rights provided under the old one.

Note: Case access codes are not required to initiate a new case filing.

Note: Pro se litigants must wait until they receive an access code from the court before they can file on their existing case(s), even if they initiated the case(s) through PACFile.