Opening a Case Ch. 7 (involuntary)

STEP 1          Click on Bankruptcy

STEP 2          Click on BK Case Opening-Involuntary

STEP 3          Select 7 from the drop down box marked Chapter; click [NEXT]

STEP 4          Enter the appropriate information for the Debtor in the screen labeled Search for a Debtor; click [search]

STEP 5          If the Debtor has filed with the court before, the Search for a Debtor function may yield their personal information. If a search yields the correct personal information for your client, select your Client’s name and personal information from the box.  If your Debtor has not filed with the court before and a search did not yield your clients name or the Debtor's previous information does not match exactly; click [Create New Party]

STEP 6           Enter the Debtor’s personal information in the appropriate boxes on the Debtor Information page.

Note- If the Debtor you are filling for is known under any Alias please click [Alias...] and enter any Alias that Debtor was known by.

STEP 7          Enter the appropriate information for Petitioning Creditor in the screen labeled Search for a Petitioning Creditor; click [search]

STEP 8          If the Creditor you are filing for has filed with the court before, the Search for a Petitioning Creditor function may yield their personal information. If a search yields the correct personal information for your client, select the Creditor’s name and personal information from the box.  If the Creditor has not filed with the court before and a search did not yield your clients name; click [Create New Party]

STEP 9          Enter the petitioning creditor’s personal information in the appropriate boxes on the Petitioning Creditor’s Information page. Place a check in the box “The user opening the case is the filing attorney for this party”. Click Submit. The Search for a Petitioning Creditor screen displays so that you may add multiple Creditors. Once you have added all the Creditors; click [End Petitioning Creditor Selection]

Note - If the Debtor you are filing for is known under any Alias please click [Alias...] and enter any Alias that Debtor was known by.

STEP 10        Screen will display what Divisional Office is set for your Debtor based upon the Debtor’s zip code that was entered in the previous screen; click [Next]            

STEP 11        Select the Nature of the Debt from the drop down box, and the appropriate radio button selection listed under Type of Debtor and Nature of Business; click [NEXT]

STEP 12        Upload a completed copy of form B5: Involuntary Petition in .pdf format; click [NEXT]

Note – Please ensure that the form is correctly filled out and the file is a .pdf

STEP 13        The screen will notify you that the fee for filing a Ch 7 case is $335; click [NEXT]

STEP 14        Click [NEXT]]

STEP 15        Docket text displays.  Review for accuracy.  If modification is necessary, abort the transaction and begin again.  Modifications cannot be made on this screen.

SAMPLE DOCKET TEXT

Chapter 7 Involuntary Petition. Fee Amount $335. Re:[Debtor Name] Filed by [Petitioning Creditor(s)] (Test Atty)

STEP 16       Summary of Charges Screen will display.  Select Pay Now or Continue Filing.  DO NOT close this window by clicking on the X in the upper right corner.

1.  If you select Pay Now, be sure to print for your records the payment confirmation screen which contains a receipt number for this transaction.

2.  If you select Continue Filing, please note  it is the court's policy that all fees be paid by the end of the day.  Attorneys with outstanding balances will receive an automated e:mail reminder and will be locked out of CM/ECF  if the fee remains outstanding for 3 days.

STEP 17         Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing displays