Online Attorney's Manual

CM/ECF

Online Attorneys' Manual

Welcome to the Online Attorneys' Manual for Electronic Case Filing (ECF). Use the links in the left frame to navigate by clicking on the name/link of the document you want to see. This online manual contains all of the sections included in the Attorney Training Manual that is handed out during attorney ECF training classes. This online manual also contains additional sections not included in the paper training manual.

 

For CM/ECF related help and questions, please contact us at.....

Email

Click here to send an email message

Phone

Greensboro    -         (336) 358-4010

Winston-Salem    -    (336) 397-7787

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Getting Started

 

Hardware and Software Requirements
Last Updated: May 26, 2005

  • A personal computer.  Minimum system requirements:

    Pentium Processor
    16 MB of RAM (24MB for Windows NT; 32MB if scanning documents)
    40 MB of available hard disk space
    Windows 3.1 or above

    -OR-

    A Macintosh.  Minimum system requirements:

    68020 processor or Power Macintosh
    16 MB of RAM
    40 MB of available hard disk space
    Apple System Software version 7.1.2 or later

  • Internet access.  If it is by modem, it operates at 56 kps or faster.  High speed Internet access is recommended, but NOT required (i.e., cable, DSL, etc.).

  • An Internet Service Provider using point to point protocol (PPP). America On Line is not endorsed for use with ECF.  It is recommended that the provider is capable of a minimum connection speed of 56 kps.

  • Netscape Navigator version 4.6x or 4.7x (Netscape 6 is not yet authorized).

         -OR-

  • Internet Explorer version 5.5 or higher

  • Software to convert documents from a word processor format to portable document format (PDF).  Adobe Acrobat PDF Writer/Distiller, as well as certain word processing programs can perform this function.  For viewing documents, not authoring them, only Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed. Click on the link for a free download.

  • A PDF-compatible word-processing program, such as WordPerfect or Word.

  • A scanner to transmit documents that are not in your word processing system. (the Court recommends a scanner with a document feeder as opposed to a flat-bed or single-sheet scanner)

 

 

 

 

How to Register

 

How to Register
Last Updated: May 26, 2005

Attorneys

Training classes for attorneys and their staff will be held at the Court's divisional offices in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Durham.  Please complete the registration form below:

If you are a registered ECF user in another District, you DO NOT have to attend Training. Please fill out the Registration Form and mail it to the court. Please indicate on the form the districts in which you are registered. The attorney must sign the Registration Form. Upon receipt of your form, we will e-mail you a training database login and password and a short assignment. Upon completion of the assignment, we will check your entries and assign you a login and password to our live database.

Attorneys attending a training class should fill out the Registration Form and mail it to the court before the date of the class. Also before attending the class, please review the Technology Requirements for using CM/ECF and our Administrative Guide for ECF.

Each attendee MUST be registered individually.

PLEASE make certain of the date you wish to attend. Changing classes after Registration involves calling Amanda Waite or Matt Brittain at the court and re-registering for a new class, which will be subject to availability.

Limited Use Participants

Currently the Court is not issuing logins for "Limited Use Participants" such as creditors.

NOTE:  Use of the CM/ECF system is limited to authorized users. As indicated in the Attorney/Participant Registration Form signed by all registered users, the combination of an authorized password and user identification constitutes the participant's "signature" of any documents that are submitted electronically through the CM/ECF system. Passwords should not be shared with unauthorized users, as only the authorized attorney/participant will be deemed to have signed the pleading for purposes of Fed. R. Bankr. Pro. 9011. If there is any reason to suspect that your password has been compromised in any way, it is your responsibility to immediately notify the Court so that the password can be changed.  

 

 

 

 

 

How to Use this Manual

 

How to Use this Manual
Last Updated: May 26, 2005

This manual is a resource and reference tool for electronic case filers and the clerk's office. It includes filing requirements and step-by-step instructions for filing documents electronically.

Important Note: Although filing requirements and references to the Bankruptcy Code and/or Rules may be provided for some topics, this manual should not be relied upon exclusively by the user. The actual Bankruptcy Code and/or Rules should still be consulted.

Looking up topics in the Online Manual

You can look up topics in this manual using these methods:

Contents:  Provides you with a hierarchical overview of the content and organization of the manual.

Search:  Allows you to search every topic in this manual for a particular word or phrase. For example, users can search for “Amendment” and every topic that contains the word “Amendment” will be listed at the Search tab. Search tips

Printing in the Online Manual

Click the print button on your browser's toolbar to print topic page. Select the printing options you want.

 

 

 

 

 

Case Opening

 

Filing Case Using Conventional ECF System - Open a BK Case
Last Updated: June 16, 2005

The following is the conventional way to open a new case.

Note: It is important to complete all steps in this procedure.

Instructions:

 

  1. Log into CM/ECF

    .

  2. Select Bankruptcy.

  3. Select Open a BK Case.

    • Leave Case type at the default bk

    • Select appropriate chapter from the drop down box

    • Select “y” or "n" for Joint Petition.
       

    • Always leave deficiencies as n

  4. Search for a Party screen:

    • Enter Social Security Number/tax identification number to search for debtor name in the ECF database and click on [Search].

    • Party search results:

      • If debtor name appears, select the name from the list and verify debtor information (pop up window).

      • If debtor information is the same, click on “Select name from list” button.

      • If debtor name does not appear, or is not an exact match, click on “Create new party.”

  5. Party Information screen:
    This screen appears for selected name or creating new party.

    • Complete/Update all appropriate fields for the debtor.

      • Enter complete name.

      • Enter complete Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number.

        Note: PDF copy of Petition must contain redacted Social Security Number.

      • Include mailing address.

      • Indicate County.

        Note: If prompted on the next screen that the county spans multiple divisional offices, choose the divisional office that is closest to the debtor's residence.

    • Select the “Alias” button if debtor has alias.

      • Complete all appropriate fields for alias(es).

      • Select appropriate Role for alias(es) (aka, dba, fdba, fda).

    • Review debtor information once more before submission; Click Submit.

      Note: Repeat steps 5 and 6 for Joint Debtor, if applicable.  If Joint Debtor’s address is different from Debtor, uncheck “Copy previous party’s address”.

  6. Statistical Information Screen:

    • Select “Type of Debtor” such as individual, corporation, etc.

    • Select “Paid” or “Installment” for Fee Status.

    • Select “consumer” or “business” for Nature of debt.
       

    • Select “yes” for Asset Case for all Chapter 13s. If the case is a Chapter 7 unless you know for sure there are assets, leave it at "no" and let the Trustee decide.

    • Select the appropriate Estimated number of creditors, assets and debts.

    • Review information; Click Next.

  7. Enter the information from the Summary of Schedules page from the petition.

  8. Browse

    to select the Voluntary Petition (pdf file); Click Next.

    Important: PDF copy of Voluntary Petition must contain the redacted Social Security Number.

  9. Verify filing fee amount. If paying in installments, change the fee amount to the amount of the first installment payment and click Next

  10. The Final Docket Text Screens appears. VERIFY the text is correct before submitting.

 

 

 

U.S.C.: 301-304
Bk FRBP: 1002-1008

 

Open AP Case

 

Open AP Case
Last Updated: June 24, 2005

An Adversary is a lawsuit arising in or related to a bankruptcy case. It is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.

Step-by-Step Procedures:
To File Electronically

  1. In CM/ECF, Select [Adversary].

  2. Select [Open an AP Case].

    • Do not enter a case number.

    • Case type “ap”

    • Date filed (today’s date)

    • Complaint “y”

  3. Enter Lead Case Number.

    • Association Type is Adversary.

  4. Case assignment appears next.

  5. Search for a Party screen:

    • Enter last/business name (upper and lower case) to search for plaintiff name in database.

    • Party search results:

      • If plaintiff name appears, select the name.

      • If plaintiff name does not appear, click on “Create new party."

  6. Party Information screen:
    This screen appears for selected name or creating new party.

    • Enter address information if known.

    • Select Role “Plaintiff.”

  7. Select the “Attorney” button and search by last name of attorney representing plaintiff.

    • Review plaintiff information once more before submission.

  8. Repeat steps for each plaintiff and defendant.  

    Note: When entering defendant(s), do not enter attorney for defendant(s) at this time. Change pro se field to yes.

  9. Case Information Screen:

    • Select Party Code.

    • Select only one nature of suit (ALWAYS select 727 objection to discharge if it is one of the suits).

    • Origin-default “original proceeding.”

    • Transfer date (court function).

    • Rule 23 (class action) - default  “n.”

    • Jury demand (default none) .

    • Enter dollar demand to the nearest thousand (e.g. enter 5 for $5,000).

  10. Browse

    to Select the Complaint (pdf file).

  11. The filing fee exceptions screen appears. Leave the Fee box blank if any of the 3 special cases apply to you..

  12. The trustee fee option screen appears. Follow the instructions for Trustees/ DIP's on the screen

  13. Click [Next]

  14. Verify the final docket text; if correct, click [Next] to submit your document(s).

 

 

 

 

11 U.S.C.:
FRBP:7000-7087

 

Statement of Social Security Number

 

Statement of Social Security Number
Last Updated: June 23, 2005

A Statement of Social Security Number must be filed in every case

Step-by-Step Procedures
To File Electronically:

  1. Log into

    CM/ECF

    .

  2. Select [Bankruptcy >  Other]
    Note: This is a private entry.  Only court staff are able to view the PDF document.

  3. Enter the case number (e.g, xx-xxxxx).

  4. Select [Statement of Social Security Number(s) (Form 21)] from the event list.

  5. Skip the Joint Filing screen

    to select the Statement of Social Security Number (pdf file).

  6. Click [Next] on the blank screen.

  7. Verify the final docket text; if correct, click [Next] to submit your document(s).
     

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.C.:
FRBP: 1007(f)

 

Uploading a Creditor Matrix

 

Uploading a Creditor Matrix
Last Updated: June 6, 2005

The creditor matrix must be in ASCII text format, usually a .txt file, before it can be successfully uploaded.  Refer to the procedure “How to Convert a Creditor Matrix to a .txt File.”  All other file types within CM/ECF will be portable document format (PDF) files.  

Important!  You can upload creditors only once per case.

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the matrix on your computer.

  2. Log into CM/ECF

    .

  3. Select Bankruptcy.

  4. Select Creditor Maintenance.

  5. Select Upload a Creditor Matrix File.

  6. Enter the case number (e.g., xx-xxxxx).

  7. Browse

    to select the creditor mailing list (.txt file).

  8. Click on the submit button.

  9. Verify number of creditors.