E-Orders FAQ

  • What is E-Orders?

    E-Orders is a program that allows attorneys and trustees to submit proposed orders electronically, and provides judges with the ability to review and sign these orders.

  • What are the benefits of E-Orders?

    There are several benefits:

    • Attorneys and trustees can check the status of proposed orders that have been uploaded.
    • Attorneys and trustees can replace an uploaded order with a revised order when necessary.
    • E-Orders is built into CM/ECF. Attorneys and trustees will already be familiar with the interface and will not have to learn new software to submit orders to the court.
    • The U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina are already using versions of E-Orders. Attorneys who practice in either of those districts will already be familiar with the proposed order formatting requirements and upload procedures. This will also allows us to provide a more uniform and consistent experience across all three districts.
  • When does E-Orders go into effect?

    E-Orders will go live on October 1st, 2012.

  • What are the formatting requirements for proposed orders submitted through E-Orders?

    Proposed orders should be submitted with 3 inches of blank space at the top of the first page of the order. You should also include the words "END OF DOCUMENT" just below the last paragraph on the last page of the order.

    Here is a sample proposed order demonstrating the formatting requirements for E-Orders:  Sample Proposed Order

    A Parties To Be Served list should be included as the last page of a proposed order: Sample Parties To Be Served list.

  • What changes will I need to make?

    There are 2 changes you will need to make when E-Orders goes live:

    1. Where you go to upload proposed orders
      • Proposed orders will be submitted using the Order Upload link available on the Bankruptcy and Adversary main menus.
    2. How you format proposed orders
      • Leave 3 inches of blank space at the top of the first page of the order.
      • Include the text "END OF DOCUMENT" below the last paragraph on the last page of the order.
      • You can view a sample proposed order here.
    3. A Parties To Be Served list should be included as the last page of a proposed order
  • You said E-Orders was built into CM/ECF. Don't we already submit proposed orders through CM/ECF?

    Yes, currently proposed orders are filed through CM/ECF. However, currently they are submitted just like any other document in CM/ECF (i.e., motions, responses, statements, etc.). This has several disadvantages such as taking up space on the docket sheet, less flexibility when processing orders, and lack of a means to track an order's progression through the system.

    Uploading orders to E-Orders will look very similar to the way you upload orders now. This is because both E-Orders and the current method of submitting proposed orders use CM/ECF as the underlying mechanism for browsing and uploading orders. What differentiates E-Orders over the current method are the enhanced logistics involved in processing your order – from upload to review to signature to docket – and the benefits those logistics provide to both the court and the user.