CM/ECF  Release 3.3.3 

The CM/ECF system is expecting to go live with Release 3.3.3 on Saturday, November 7, 2009. This release will change the login page so that the following message will display when FILERS attempt to log into CM/ECF:

IMPORTANT: All filings with the court - including attachments - must comply with Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037: Social Security or taxpayer-identification numbers; dates of birth; names of minor children; and financial account numbers may not appear, except as allowed by the rule. All filers will have to check the following box which appears under the message:

I understand that, if I file, I must comply with the redaction rules. I have read this notice. Filers must check this box and will not be able to continue logging in until it is checked.

Reaffirmation Agreement Filing Deadline, effective 8/31/09

By amendments effective December 1, 2008, Bankruptcy Rule 4008 (a) established the deadline for the filing of objections to discharge as the deadline for the filing of Reaffirmation Agreements, subject to extension by the court. While most Reaffirmation Agreements are timely filed, a substantial number are not. The court has adopted a new procedure addressing untimely filed agreements. Effective August 31, 2009, any Reaffirmation Agreement filed after the deadline for the filing Reaffirmation Agreements will result in a deficiency notice, and the matter will be set for hearing. The court may, in its discretion, extend the time at the hearing, or may strike the agreement. Additionally, the Court’s Notice of § 341 Meeting will also contain the deadline for filing a Reaffirmation Agreement.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has been working with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), regarding archival preservation and continued use of the scanned images in the Judiciary's Case Management/Electronic Case File System (CM/ECF). There is a need to have a scanning resolution that produces a high quality document with a file size that will not hamper the length of time it takes to scan, load and retrieve documents.

In the past, the recommendation from NARA was set at 200 dots per inch (dpi). Since that time, however, NARA has published higher standards for scanning resolution, which better support archival preservation. In efforts to assist NARA in preserving and continuing the use of scanned images in the Judiciary's Case Management/Electronic Case File System, we are asking for your assistance in this effort. It is strongly recommended (although not required) that scanner settings of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) or higher be used for any scanned documents submitted to the court on CM/ECF. See guidance below.

NARA 's Acceptable Image Quality Specifications:

3.2.1 Bitonal (1-bit) scanned at 300 - 600 ppi

This is appropriate for documents that consist exclusively of clean printed type possessing high inherent contrast (e.g., laser printed or typeset on a white background Scanning at 600 ppi is recommended.

3.2.2 Gray sale (8-bit) scanned at 300 - 400 ppi

This is appropriate for textual documents of poor legibility because of low inherent contrast, staining or fading (e.g., carbon copies, thermofax, or documents with handwritten annotations or other markings), or that contain halftone illustrations or photographs. Scanning at 400 ppi is recommended.

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact our ECF Help Desk.

Pursuant to 11 USC sec. 1328 (a) and (h) and 522(q), new Standing Order 14 provides that in order for a debtor to receive a discharge, the debtor must first file an Application for Entry of Chapter 13 Discharge , Please note that this a locally created form, and not the optional AO form.

This form will be sent to the debtors and their counsel by the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee upon filing of the Chapter 13 Final Report. The debtor must file the Application within 20 days of filing of the Final Account. The form is also available at the clerk's offices and in the Forms section of our website.

The clerk's office, upon receipt of the Application, will issue a Notice of Filing of Application for Entry of Chapter 13 Discharge. This notice will carry a 14 day bar date for the filing of any objections. If any objections are filed, a hearing will be scheduled. If no objections are filed and the debtor is otherwise eligible a discharge will enter. If the Application is not filed, the case may be closed without a discharge after notice and hearing.

*In addition to the Application for the Entry of Discharge, the debtor must also, in order to receive a discharge, file a Debtor’s Certification of Financial Management (official form B23), and a Financial Management Certificate (from agency)

Obtain the application here.

*Note... this can take a few minutes depending on the speed of your connection.