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Cases and Documents Subject to Electronic Case Filing

Generally

Pursuant to Local Rule B-5005-1, all attorneys must file all documents electronically, and those entities who file more than 10 documents per year must either become limited users in CM/ECF, which allows electronic filing of only a specific set of documents, and/or become ePOC/eWOC users, which allows an alternative method for electronically filing, amending, or withdrawing only proofs of claims.    All others shall file cases, pleadings and documents on paper, except that the creditor matrix for any case must be submitted on a diskette, CD, or other electronic media acceptable to the Clerk.

Attorneys, limited users, parties, and pro se litigants may view dockets and electronically filed documents via the Internet through the use of the Court’s PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) System. 

Documents Signed by Debtors

Documents signed by debtors shall be filed electronically by the debtors’ attorney.  Debtors are not authorized to file electronically, and therefore are not authorized to use the electronic signature format.  Documents filed by debtors’ counsel may only use the electronic signature format for pleadings executed by debtors if counsel has the debtors’ wet signatures on originals prior to filing.  [See “Electronic signature” in the Definitions section.]

Joint or Agreed Pleadings

If the document is a joint or agreed filing with counsel for an opposing party, the e-filer may use the electronic signature format for opposing counsel only if:

a) the filer has received consent of that counsel to use an electronic signature, and

b) the opposing counsel is also authorized to file electronically.

If both conditions are satisfied, then the e-filer need only retain proof of consent from the opposing party and is not required to obtain or retain a wet signature.  If the other party to the joint or agreed filing is not an attorney or is an attorney but is not authorized to file electronically, then the e-filer must have a wet signature on the original document.  (Note:  Reaffirmation Agreements are subject to this requirement.)  The e-filer may then use the electronic signature format for the opposing counsel or party but such use constitutes a representation that the e-filer has possession of the original document with the required wet signatures prior to filing.


History of Changes

11/09/2011 - Added sections "Documents Signed by Debtor" and "Joint Pleadings."

12/21/2011 - Added sentence referencing Reaffirmation Agreements under "Joint Pleadings."

04/03/2013 - Added 'agreed' to 'joint filing' and 'Joint Pleadings' to make it 'joint or agreed filing' and 'Joint or Agreed Pleadings.'

08/20/2013 - Added to the 1st paragraph under 'Generally' that limited users can only file a specific set of documents electronically or can use ePOC/eWOC.

02/06/2015 - Replaced reference to General Order 09-0003 and 09-00011 with reference to Local Rule B-5005-1.