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Biennial Attorney Renewal Fee (effective 10/1/2024)

Pursuant to General Order 24-06, attorneys who practice in the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Oklahoma will be required to pay a $60 biennial fee every two years. For this collection fee period, payments must be submitted between October 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025. Attorneys will pay the biennial fee through the court's CM/ECF system.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYMENT OF THE BIENNIAL FEE FOR DISTRICT AND BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEYS

Terms & Conditions:

  • Attorneys paying the biennial renewal fee must be considered in good standing.  Attorneys who are not in good standing should NOT pay the fee. Payments made in error will not be refunded.
  • Federal agency attorneys, including federal public defenders and attorneys employed by the U.S. government in a legal capacity, are exempt from the fee.  This exemption does NOT include CJA panel attorneys.
  • Attorneys newly admitted to the Eastern District during the calendar year 2024 are also exempt from the renewal fee.
  • To make the biennial renewal fee payment, an attorney must have linked their PACER and CM/ECF accounts.
  • Fee payments are made through the court’s case management system (CM/ECF) into a specially designated case, 24-mc-900.  DO NOT file the biennial renewal fee in a civil case.
  • Failure to pay the biennial renewal fee by January 31, 2025, will result in the removal of the attorney from the court’s active attorney rolls. 
  • Attorneys making payment of the biennial fee payment after January 31, 2025, will incur an additional $30.00 charge (for a total of $90.00) to reinstate their account to an active, good standing status.  Repeated failure to pay the fee may result in possible removal from the roll of the Court's bar.  Attorneys removed may be required to reapply for membership and pay the full fee for admission should they desire to practice before the Court again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • How Do I pay the biennial fee? 
    • Instructions will be posted at the top of this page.  Be sure to make the payment in specifically-designated case 24-mc-900.
  • When is the last day I can pay the biennial fee? 
    • There is no cut-off date for payment.  If payment is made after January 31, 2025, however, a $30.00 fee will be added for a total of $90.00.
  • Can I pay the biennial fee over the phone or send a check? 
    • No.  Payment must be rendered on the biennial fee case record, 24-mc-900, via CM/ECF per the instructions above.
  • Can a firm pay for multiple attorneys at one time?
    • No. Each attorney must log into CM/ECF with their individual PACER account to pay the renewal fee. If the paying attorney’s login and password credentials are not used, the payment will not be applied correctly.
  • I need to link my CM/ECF and PACER accounts but I don't remember my CM/ECF credentials.
    • If you DO NOT remember your ECF login and password to perform the linking process, register for e-filing permissions via PACER and the court will link your accounts.
  • I need to link my CM/ECF and PACER accounts but I don't remember my PACER credentials.
    • The court does not manage PACER accounts.  You must reset your PACER credentials at www.pacer.uscourts.gov.  Select either the My Account & Billing dropdown from the menu bar or Manage Your Account from the boxes in the center of the screen.  Both have a link to the Forgot Username or Password page which will allow you to reset your PACER credentials.
  • I paid the biennial fee and have a receipt but my attorney status is still showing 'Fees Due'.
    • The clerk's office must manually update each attorney's account to reflect 'Fees Paid'.  This process will take some time.  Attorneys will still be able to file in CM/ECF in the meanwhile.
  • How can I confirm that my payment was properly submitted and received?
    • To determine whether a payment was successfully completed, go to Utilities and run the Internet Payment History report.  You can also review your transaction on the docket sheet established for the Biennial Renewal Fee, 24-mc-900.
  • What happens if I don't pay the biennial fee by January 31, 2025?
    • You will be removed from active status and be unable to e-file in this district.  If you wish to practice in the district or bankruptcy courts in the future, you will need to pay the biennial fee and the additional $30.00 penalty.  Attorneys who repeatedly fail to pay may be required to reapply for membership and pay the full admission fee to practice before the court.