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Rule 5005-4

Electronic Court Filing System

(a) Mandatory Electronic Filing.

(1)  Except as provided in subsection (2) of this Local Rule, all documents submitted in any case or proceeding must be filed electronically and signed or verified by electronic means in compliance with the Court’s Administrative Procedure Guidelines for Electronically Filed Cases (the “ECF Guidelines”). Attorneys and other filers using the ECF system must comply with the ECF Guidelines.

(2)  Only the following may be excepted from the mandatory electronic filing requirement:

(A)  Pro Se.  Documents filed by an unrepresented individual.

(B)  Bankruptcy Court Order.  Documents ordered to be filed in paper form. 

(C)  Emergency.  Documents filed when electronic filing is not possible.

(b)  Proofs of Claim.  Unrepresented parties may file proofs of claim electronically through ECF, submit them online on the Court website, or mail or deliver them to the Clerk’s Office.

(c)  Rejection of Paper Filings.  The Court may reject any document presented for filing in contravention of this Local Rule. A paper document accepted for filing will be deemed filed on the date that it was received by the Clerk.

(d)  Signatures on Electronically Filed Documents.

(1)  Registered User’s Signature.  An individual’s registered user name and password serves as that individual’s signature on any electronically filed document. The signature on the filed document shall be /s/Name, Bar Number. With written permission, a registered user may electronically sign for another registered user.

(2)  Signature of Other Individuals.

(A)  Signature.  When an electronically filed document is not signed by an ECF registered user, a scanned signature or a /s/ signature may be used.

(B)  Retention of Signed Original Documents.  ECF filers must retain original signed documents for five (5) years from (1) the date of discharge or dismissal in a chapter 7 and (2) the entry date of a confirmation or dismissal order in a chapter 11, 12, or 13.

(C)  Password Use.  ECF passwords may only be used by the assigned attorney, or other authorized filer, or authorized agents or employees.

(e)  Address Information.  All filers must include a physical address, telephone number, and email address on any filing, except the list of creditors, schedules, and statement of financial affairs. The Clerk’s Office must promptly be notified in writing of any changes in address information.

(f)  Privacy Interests.  Any person may file a motion for cause limiting or prohibiting electronic access to specific personal information.

(g)  Documents Filed on Paper.  Any document submitted to the Clerk in paper format will be converted into electronic format before docketing. It is the filer’s duty to confirm that the converted document is accurate or file an objection within fourteen (14) days of its entry. Unless ordered otherwise by the Court, if no objection is timely filed, the docketed document will be conclusively confirmed as the paper document. Upon electronic conversion, the Clerk may dispose of the paper document.

 


Notes 2018:  Rule amended to require email address on filed documents, as well as other technical changes. The amended rule eliminates the requirement that the Clerk retain paper documents and authorizes immediate disposal of paper documents 14 days after docketing.

 

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