> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cottfile.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cottfile.com/getting-started/creating-your-account.md).

# Creating Your Account

How you get started with CottFile depends on whether you are a filer (attorney, pro se litigant, or organization administrator) or court staff (clerk, judge, or court administrator).

## For Filers

### Step 1: Go to the Registration Page

From the CottFile homepage, click **Sign In** in the top navigation bar, then click the **Create Account** link on the sign-in page. You will be taken to the registration page.

You can sign up using:

* **Google** -- Use your existing Google account for one-click registration.
* **Microsoft** -- Use your existing Microsoft or Outlook account.
* **Email and password** -- Create a new account with any email address.

Choose whichever method is most convenient. If you sign up with Google or Microsoft, you will not need to create a separate password.

{% hint style="info" %}
**📹 GIF:** Navigating from the CottFile homepage to the registration page, showing the "Sign In" link and then the "Create Account" link on the sign-in page.
{% endhint %}

### Step 2: Verify Your Email

After signing up with email and password, you will receive a verification code at your email address. Enter the code to confirm your account. If you signed up with Google or Microsoft, this step is handled automatically.

### Step 3: Complete Onboarding

After signing up, you are redirected to the onboarding page where you complete your profile. The onboarding form collects the information needed to set up your account:

1. **Account type** -- Select your role:
   * **Attorney** -- Licensed attorney filing on behalf of clients. Requires a bar number.
   * **Pro Se (Self-Represented)** -- Individual filing on your own behalf. A personal PIN will be generated for you.
   * **Organization Administrator** -- Filing on behalf of a law firm or agency. You will create an organization during registration.
2. **Role-specific fields:**
   * **Attorneys** must enter a valid **bar number**. Each bar number can only be registered once. If your bar number is already in use, contact support.
   * **Organization administrators** must enter an **organization name**. This creates a new organization that you will manage.
   * **Pro se filers** do not have additional role-specific fields. A **PIN** (e.g., PS-12345) is generated automatically after you complete onboarding.
3. **Contact information** (required for all roles):
   * **Phone number**
   * **Mailing address**
4. Click **Complete Setup** to finish.

{% hint style="info" %}
**📹 GIF:** Completing the onboarding form -- selecting "Attorney" as the account type, entering a bar number, filling in phone and address, and clicking "Complete Setup."
{% endhint %}

### What Happens After Onboarding

* **Attorneys and Organization Admins** are taken directly to the filer dashboard.
* **Pro Se filers** see a confirmation screen displaying their generated PIN (e.g., PS-12345). Save this PIN -- you may need it for identification at the courthouse. Click **Continue to Dashboard** to proceed.

### Joining an Organization via Invite

If you received an email invitation to join an existing organization (law firm or agency), click the invite link in the email. The registration page will show the name of the organization you have been invited to join. After completing registration and onboarding, your account is automatically linked to that organization.

{% hint style="info" %}
Organization invites expire after a set period. If your invite has expired, ask your organization administrator to send a new one.
{% endhint %}

### Important Notes for Attorneys

* Your bar number must be valid and unique in the system. If your bar number is already registered to another account, you will see an error during onboarding.
* Make sure the name on your account matches the name associated with your bar number.

## For Court Staff

Court staff accounts -- including clerks, judges, judicial staff, and court administrators -- are **not** created through self-registration. Instead:

1. A **court administrator** or **platform administrator** creates your account or assigns your role from the admin panel.
2. You will receive instructions to set your password.
3. Once your password is set, sign in at the **staff login page** (`/staff/login`).

If you are court staff and do not have an account, contact your court administrator to request one.

{% hint style="info" %}
Court staff must be assigned to a specific court before they can access the filing queue or judicial inbox. Your court administrator handles this assignment.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.cottfile.com/getting-started/creating-your-account.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.