On February 2, 2015, the Fifth Circuit will implement Pay.Gov, a U.S. Department of the Treasury web based application that will permit us to accept online payments by electronic check, credit card, or by debit from a checking or savings account.  Pay.Gov accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards, as well as debit cards branded with the Visa or MasterCard logo.  

This will permit us for the first time to accept in CM/ECF original petitions for review, including writs of mandamus, and to simultaneously accept the associated filing fees. We also will be able to accept fees associated with other matters, such as applications for admission to our bar and bar renewals, Certificates of Good Standing, and copy fees. When a user files a document or requests an action that requires payment of a fee, CM/ECF will automatically direct the user through the Pay.Gov payment process and return the user to CM/ECF for completion of the action.    

We shortly will provide detailed instructions on the process, including step by step instructions for each type of CM/ECF related Pay.Gov transaction.   
Fee payment using Pay.Gov is optional, not mandatory.  We are making this option available partly in response to recommendations of public users, who view Pay.Gov as a more convenient payment option.

January 1, 2015 Court approved changes to Anders Guidelines now require counsel to verify counsel communicated with defendants in a language understood by the defendant.  Anders Guidelines are located under the Forms, Fees & Guides tab and the Rules and Procedures tab.