Retention of Documents with Original Signatures

Documents with original signatures of persons other than the e-filer must be retained by the e-filer for a period of two years after the closing of the case by the Clerk unless the Court orders a different period.  This retention period does not affect or replace any other retention periods required by other applicable laws or rules.  Upon request by the Court, the United States Trustee, or the case trustee, the e-filer must provide documents with original signatures of persons other than the e-filer for review or proof of consent as to joint or agreed pleadings with another attorney authorized to file electronically.

Parties permitted or required to file documents non-electronically must file the original with wet signatures and also provide a copy.  The original will be returned to the filer (if the filing occurred in person or a return mail envelope was provided), and must be retained by the filer for the same duration as a document filed electronically.  If the filing party submits a document by mail and fails to provide a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope, the party is presumed to have retained an original. All submitted documents not returned to the filer will be retained by the Court for 30 days and then discarded.


History of Changes

02/01/2012 - Removed the sentence referencing "Joint Pleadings" from the first paragraph.

04/04/2012 - Retention of documents with original signatures changed from 'three years' to 'two years.'

04/03/2013 - Added 'agreed' to 'joint pleading' to make it 'joint or agreed pleadings.'