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Definitions

The following definitions shall apply to this Electronic Case Filing Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual:

2.1     “Cases” means all bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings.

2.2     “Document” means pleadings, motions, exhibits, declarations, affidavits, memoranda, papers, orders, notices, and any other filing by or with the Court.

2.3     “ECF” means the Electronic Case Filing portion of the Court’s CM/ECF System, which may be accessed by e-filers for the purpose of filing documents electronically in cases pending before the Court.  [See section under Registration.]

2.4     “E-filer” means an attorney or limited user authorized to file documents electronically through CM/ECF or a person filing, amending, or withdrawing a proof of claim electronically using a program other than CM/ECF made available by the Court.

2.5     “Electronic filing” means the submission of electronic documents through CM/ECF or an alternative electronic program made available by the Court.

2.6     “Electronic signature” means the e-filer’s name preceded by /s/ in the space where the e-filer’s wet signature otherwise would appear.  [See section under Electronic Signature and Signature Block.]  Debtors are not authorized to file electronically.  The e-filer may use this "electronic signature" format for debtors if the e-filer has possession of the documents with the debtors' wet signatures.  [See section "Cases and Documents Subject to Electronic Filing" for more information on use of the "electronic signature" format.]

2.7     “Limited user” means a creditor, or party in interest other than a debtor, given limited rights to file electronically.  Limited Users are only permitted to file certain documents electronically.  Any other document should be filed on paper, or filed on behalf of the Limited User by an attorney who has full electronic filing rights.  [See the Court’s Procedures Manual for a listing of limited documents.]  

2.8     “Notice of Electronic Filing” means the e-mail notice that is automatically generated by the Electronic CaseFiling System at the time a document is filed by an e-filer or an order is entered by the Court.  The Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) will set forth the date and time of filing or issuance, the type of document, the text of the docket entry, the name of the parties receiving the notice, and an electronic link (hyperlink) to the document, which allows recipients to retrieve the document electronically.

2.9     “PACER” (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) means the Public Access portion of the Court’s CM/ECF System, which may be accessed by anyone with a PACER user ID and password for the purpose of viewing case dockets and electronically filed documents in cases pending before the Court.  PACER also serves as the portal to access CM/ECF for e-filing.

2.10   “PDF” means a document that exists in Portable Document Format.  A document file created with a word processor, or a paper document which has been scanned, must first be converted to a portable document format before it can be electronically filed with the Court.  Converted files contain the extension “.pdf.”

2.11   “Traditional service” or “traditionally serve” means service in accordance with Fed.R.Bankr.P. 7004.

2.12   “Wet signature” means the original signature on a document which results from signing with pen.  When required, a wet signature must be obtained before the document is filed.

2.13   “Manual” means this document - the Electronic Case Filing Policies and Procedures Manual.


History of Changes

11/09/2011 - Added language in 2.6 and 2.12 to clarify that 'wet' signatures must be obtained prior to filing.

05/30/2013 - Added language in 2.4 and 2.5 re:  alternative electronic program for filing, amending, or withdrawing claims.

08/20/2013 - Added language in  2.7 re:  scope of documents a Limited User can file electronically.

04/11/2014 - Changed 2.7 to read "...permitted to file certain documents.." instead of "...permitted to file a list of documents..." for clarity.

03/28/2018 - Added language in 2.9 to clarify that PACER now serves as the portal to access CM/ECF for e-filing.  Updated language for NextGen (04/16/2018).