Opening a Voluntary Petition
*Note: It is recommended, but not required, that the following documents be filed seperately
These documents are located under the Miscellansous Link
Certificate of Credit Counseling, Certificate of Financial Management Course, Employee Income Records, Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means Test Calculation (Ch. 7), Statement of Monthly Income and Disposable Monthly Income (Ch. 13)
Tax Document MUST be filed separately. (do not include tax documents as part of the petition image)
Statement of Social Security Number (B21) should not be combined with other images and Must be filed separately.
NOTE: When entering the necessary information in the Party Information Screen, DO NOT USE ALL Capital Letters or Punctuation.
Electronic Filing Steps
STEP 1 Click on BANKRUPTCY on the CM/ECF Main Menu or place the mouse on Bankruptcy on the CM/ECF Menu Bar to receive the cascading menu selections.
STEP 2 The BANKRUPTCY EVENTS screen displays, Select Open a Voluntary BK case
STEP 3 The CASE DATA screen display statistical fields.
Case type defaults to BK
Date field cannot be changed
Select the Chapter from the pick list box
If you are not filing a Joint Petition, the default value remains N for Joint Petition
Change the default value to Y (Yes) if you are filing a Joint Petition
Deficiencies
N - if all schedules filed
Y - if any required schedules missing
Click [Next] to continue.
STEP 4 Search for a Debtor screen displays.
To prevent duplicate person records, a search of the database for the filer is recommended. Search can be done by:
Social Security Number( ex. 200-22-1111)
Tax Identification Number (ex. 00-0000000)
Last Name or Business Name.(ex. Smith)
First Name
Middle Name
(The system will respond faster if you use the SSN, TIN or Bar ID)
Enter the last name or the first few characters of the last name to search(Do not use all capital letters or punctuation). The entire business name is stored in the Last/Business name field. The field size is 200 characters
Click on the [Search] button to continue.
STEP 5 If there are no matches, the system will return a No Person Found message. If the party is not already in the database, click on Create New Party.
If the party is already in the database, select it by clicking on it with the mouse. (If name and address match (exact) click on [Select name from list]
NOTE: A name search while creating a new party may find more than one record having the same name as entered. Clicking on each of the names will display a window showing the party’s address information for verification.
If none of the addresses are correct for this party click on the [Create new party] button to add a new person record with this address.
STEP 6 The DEBTOR INFORMATION screen displays.
Enter the debtor’s Name and Address/s, Address #1, (should be the asset address), any additional addresses (e.g. P.O. Box) can be entered in Address #2 and Address #3.
SSN will need to be entered, if it was not used to search for the party
Do Not enter the Debtor’s Phone Number, Fax Number or E-mail address. Do not enter any information in the Party Text box
Select the debtor’s County of residence from the pick list.
Type the first letter of the county name for a faster search.
STEP 7 If there are any Aliases, select the ALIAS button. The Alias screen displays, complete the Aliases information screen, select alias type
Click on the [Add aliases] button.
NOTE: If the party has more than 5 aliases, click on the [Alias] button again and repeat the process as many times as needed.
STEP 8 Once the new party information has been completed, Click [Submit]
If a required field was not completed,a popup warning box. will display. Click OK to proceed.
STEP 9 The Divisional Office information will display. Click [NEXT]
It will default to Harrisburg or Wilkes Barre depending on which county of residence you entered for the Debtor. If the default is incorrect, go back to the previous screen and check the county you selected and change it if incorrect, Click [Next]
STEP 10 If this were a joint filing, a JOINT DEBTOR PARTY screen would display. Process the joint debtor the same way the debtor was added.
If appropriate, use the short cut to Copy Previous Party’s Address within this process. If the address is different uncheck the box at the Party Search results screen.
STEP 11 The STATISTICAL DATA screen displays.
Prior Filing within 8 years, Select yes or no
Select the Type of Debtor by clicking in the appropriate box (check one (1) box)
Fee Status values are PAID(paying in full), Installment (paying in installments), Fee not Paid (Application to Waive fee) or IFP filing fee waived) . If the petition is accompanied by an Application to Pay Filing Fees in Installments, choose INSTALLMENT from the pick list.
Designate the Nature of Debt as Consumer or Business.
Asset designation will be made by the system.
Select the range of Estimated Creditors from the pick list.
Select the correct dollar range for Estimated Assets.
Select the correct dollar range for Estimated Debts.
Click [Next] to continue.
STEP 12 The Filing Fee Information Screen Displays
Paying in Installments, click in the Fee Box and enter the amount of the installment, Click [Next]
CAUTION!!! If you are paying in installments, at the statistical data screen (Step 11) the Fee Status should be changed from Paid to Installments
The PDF DOCUMENT SELECTION displays
See instructions for Attaching a PDF File
Click [Next] to continue.
STEP 13 Summary of Schedules Screen displays, complete the required fields, Click, [Next]
For a chapter 7 case a screen will display requesting information for Schedules and for Form B22A
For a chapter 13 case a screen will display requesting Information for Schedules
For chapter 11 case a screen will display requesting information for Schedules
Click [Next]
STEP 14 Open a Voluntary Bankruptcy Case screen displays,Click [Next]
Presumption Arises selection box displays, Click in the box to make the appropriate selection, Click [Next]
STEP 15 Is this a pro bono case?
Click on the down arrow to make the appropriate selection. Click [Next]
STEP 16 The Modify as Appropriate screen displays,NO MODIFICATION IS NECESSARY, Click [Next]
STEP 17 The FINAL TEXT EDITING screen displays.Click [Next] to continue.
STEP 18 When paying in full or in installments the Electronic Payment screen displays. The Electronic Payment screen does NOT display when FEE NOT PAID is selected.
STEP 19 By selecting Pay Now, the Internet Payments Due screen displays, Check the Fees to Pay, Click [Next] on the next screen, click on Pay Now. Online Payment Screen displays, complete all fields that have a red (*) and click Continue with Plastic Card Payment. The Authorize Payment screen displays. If you would like a receipt of your payment, enter your E-mail address. Click in the Authorization Box
Submit Payment. If you forget to check the Authorization box, the screen will come up again. Your Request is being processed screen displays. A Transaction Number will display, click on Close Window
NOTE: If you have any outstanding fees, the Payment Screen will appear with a Fee Summary each time you file a document. This will continue until all fees are paid.
STEP 20 The NOTICE OF Bankruptcy Case Filing screen is then generated.
Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing hyperlink appears at the top of the Notice of Electronic Filing. Clicking on this hyperlink reveals a notice summarizing the pertinent details and participants of this case.
This certification was created in addition to the standard electronic notice. It can be used as an official notice of stay to stop foreclosures and other creditor actions. It can be saved or printed at the time of filing.
This Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing is available for future viewing and printing from the Query module.
Process MATRIX and docket as separate event. Click on the links below for instructions, first upload the creditors, then docket the matrix
Instructions for Uploading Creditors
Instructions for Docketing a Matrix
If paying the filing fee in installments, proceed to the next step (STEP 21).
STEP 21 APPLICATION TO PAY INSTALLMENTS.
Click on BANKRUPTCY on the CM/ECF Menu Bar or place the mouse on Bankruptcy on the CM/ECF Menu Bar to receive the cascading menu selections.
Select MOTIONS/APPLICATIONS/Contested Matters
Enter case ,Click [Next]
Click in the drop down box or type in the blank box above the available events to select Pay Filing Fee in Installments, Click [Next]
Select the party at the Select The Party Screen, Click, [Next]
STEP 22 Click on Browse to attach the pdf file to your docket event
Attachments to Document ,click YES in the radio button to Browse for the pdf of the Proposed Order
See instructions for Attaching a PDF File
Click [Next]
Refer to an existing event screen displays, click [Next]
STEP 23 The Modify as Appropriate screen displays, click [Next]
STEP 24 The FINAL TEXT EDITING screen displays.
STEP 25 The Notice of Electronic Filing screen displays