Local Bankruptcy Rules United States Bankruptcy Court ...

1 Local Bankruptcy Rules United States Bankruptcy Court District of Massachusetts AUGUST 1, 2016. United States Bankruptcy Court United States Bankruptcy Court United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern Division Central Division Western Division John W. McCormack Post Harold Donohue Federal United States Courthouse Office and Court House Building and Courthouse 300 State Street 5 Post Office Square 595 Main Street Springfield, MA 01105-2925. Boston, MA 02109-3945 Worcester, MA 01608-2076 (413) 785-6900. (617) 748-5300 (508) 770-8900. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Part I. Commencement of Case: Proceedings Relating to Petition and Order for 1. Rule 1001-1. Title .. 1. Rule 1002-1. Status Conferences .. 1. Rule 1006-1. Filing Fees .. 2. Rule 1006-2. Fees-Installment Payments; In Forma Pauperis .. 2. Rule 1006-3. Refund for Duplicate Electronic Filing Fees .. 3. Rule 1007-1. Lists, Schedules and Statements, and Other Documents Required .. 3. Rule 1009-1.

2 Amendments .. 5. Rule 1015-1. Joint Administration of Cases Pending in or Same Court .. 6. Rule 1016-1. Death of Debtor (Chapter 7, 11 and 12).. 7. Rule 1017-1. Motions for Conversion or Dismissal in Chapter 11; Submission of Motions and Oppositions to Motions; Hearing .. 9. Part II. Officers and Administration; Notices; Meetings; Examinations; Elections; Attorneys and Accountants .. 11. Rule 2002-1. Notice to Parties .. 11. Rule 2002-2. Notices to the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts .. 12. Rule 2002-4. Addresses .. 12. Rule 2002-5. Content of Notices of Sale .. 12. Rule 2003-1. Creditors' Committee .. 13. Rule Appointment of Patient Care Ombudsman in A Health Care Business Case .. 14. Rule 2014-1. Application to Employ Professional Persons .. 15. Rule 2016-1. Application for 17. Rule 2082-1. Confirmation of Chapter 12 Plans .. 21. Rule 2090-2. Disciplinary 21. Rule 2091-1. Withdrawal of Appearance.

3 21. i Part III. Claims and Distribution to Creditors and Equity Interest Holders; 21. Rule 3001-1. Proofs of Claim in No Asset Cases .. 21. Rule 3002-1. Deadline for Asserting Administrative Claims Pursuant to 11 503(b)(9);. Reclamation of Goods .. 21. Rule 3007-1. Objections to Claims .. 22. Rule 3011-1. Procedure Following Final Distribution .. 23. Rule 3015-1. Chapter 13 Cases .. 24. Rule 3017-1. Approval of Disclosure Statements in Chapter 11 Cases Other Than Small Business Cases .. 24. Rule 3017-2. Filing of Plan and Disclosure Statement in Small Business Chapter 11. Reorganization 25. Rule 3022-1. Closing Chapter 11 25. Part IV. The Debtor: Duties and Benefits .. 27. Rule 4001-1. Motions for Relief From Stay; Submission of Motions and Oppositions to Motions .. 27. Rule 4001-2. Use of Cash Collateral, Obtaining Credit and Stipulations Relating to Same .. 30. Rule 4001-3. Permitted Billing and Settlement Communications .. 33.

4 Rule 4002-1. Duties of Debtor .. 34. Rule 4003-1. Avoidance of Judicial 35. Rule 4008-1. Reaffirmation Agreements .. 36. Part V. Bankruptcy Courts and Clerks .. 36. Rule 5001-1. Divisions of Court , Case Assignments and Filing of Papers .. 36. Rule 5001-2. Office of the 37. Rule 5003-1. Clerk's Authority to Enter Ministerial 37. Rule 5005-4. Facsimile Filings .. 38. Rule 5007-1. Record of Proceedings and Transcripts .. 38. Rule 5009-1. Closing Chapter 7 39. Rule 5011-1. Withdrawal of the Reference .. 39. Rule 5071-1. Continuances .. 39. ii Part VI. Collection and Liquidation of the Estate .. 40. Rule 6004-1. Sale of Estate Property .. 40. Rule 6005-1. Appraisers, Brokers and Investment Bankers .. 49. Rule 6006-1. Motion for Assumption or Rejection of Executory Contract or Unexpired Lease. 49. Rule 6007-1. Abandonment of Estate Property .. 50. Rule 6012-1. Adequate Assurance of Payment for Utility Service .. 51. Part VII. Adversary Proceedings.

5 51. Rule 7003-1. Information to Accompany Complaint in Adversary Proceedings .. 51. Rule 7016-1. Pretrial Procedure .. 51. Rule 7024-2. Notification of Claim of Unconstitutionality .. 52. Rule 7026-1. General Provisions Governing Discovery .. 53. Rule 7027-1. Depositions .. 53. Rule 7033-1. 54. Rule 7036-1. Requests for Admission .. 55. Rule 7037-1. Failure to Make Discovery; Sanctions .. 55. Rule 7041-1. Dismissal of Complaints and Closing of Adversary Proceedings Inactive for Six Months .. 56. Rule 7052-1. Judgments-Preparation and 57. Rule 7055-1. Judgment by Default .. 57. Rule 7055-2. Dismissal for Want of Prosecution .. 58. Rule 7056-1. Summary Judgment .. 58. Rule 7067-1. Deposit and Investment of Registry Funds .. 58. Part VIII. Appeals (Reserved) .. 58. Part IX. General Provisions .. 58. Rule 9004-1. Font Size .. 58. Rule 9006-1. Extensions of Time for Discharge of Complaints and Objections to Exemptions . 59. Rule 9006-2.

6 Extension of Deadlines If A Divisional Clerk's Office Is Closed Due to An Emergency .. 59. iii Rule 9009-1. Official Local Forms .. 59. Rule 9009-2. Case 59. Rule 9010-1. Representation and Appearances .. 60. Rule 9010-2. Appearances As Counsel to the Debtor .. 61. Rule 9010-3. Withdrawal of Appearance .. 62. Rule 9011-1. Signing of Papers .. 63. Rule 9011-2. Disciplinary 63. Rule 9013-1. Motions .. 63. Rule 9013-3. Service of Pleadings and Notices .. 67. Rule 9015-1. Jury Trials .. 67. Rule 9018-1. Impoundment of 68. Rule 9019-1. Stipulations; Settlements .. 71. Rule 9022-1. Notice of Entry of Orders and Judgments .. 72. Rule 9027-1. Removal .. 72. Rule 9029-1. 72. Rule 9029-3. Applicability of District Court Local Rules .. 73. Rule 9036-1. Electronic Filing Rules .. 74. Rule 9037-1. Privacy Requirements, Recording and Broadcast Prohibitions .. 74. Rule 9070-1. Exhibits .. 75. Rule 9074-1. Appearances by Telephone or Videoconference.

7 75. Appendix 1 Appendix 1, Chapter 13 Rules .. 79. Rule 13-1. Applicability .. 79. Rule 13-2. Commencement of Case .. 79. Rule 13-3. Disclosure of Related Cases .. 80. Rule 13-4. Chapter 13 Plan .. 80. Rule 13-5. Service of Motions .. 81. Rule 13-6. Attorneys .. 81. Rule 13-7. Professional Fees; Prepetition Retainers .. 82. Rule 13-8. Objections to Confirmation .. 83. Rule 13-9. 11 341 Meeting of Creditors .. 84. iv Rule 13-10. Amendments to Plan Prior to Confirmation .. 84. Rule 13-11. 85. Rule 13-12. Amendments to Plan After Confirmation .. 85. Rule 13-13. Proofs of Claim and Objections .. 86. Rule 13-14. Sale of Estate Property .. 89. Rule 13-15. Borrowings or Refinancing of Estate Property; Loan Modification Agreements .. 90. Rule 13-16-1. Motions for Relief From 91. Rule 13-16-2. Stipulations Relating to Motions for Relief From Stay .. 93. Rule 13-16-3. Secured Claims After Relief From Automatic Stay .. 94. Rule 13-17. Motions to Dismiss or Convert.

8 95. Rule 13-18. Conversion From Chapters 11 or 7 to Chapter 96. Rule 13-19. Commencement and Continuation of Payments to the Chapter 13 Trustee;. Lessors and Secured Parties; Dismissal for Failure to Make Required Payments . 96. Rule 13-20. Distribution .. 97. Rule 13-21. Chapter 13 Trustee's Final 97. Rule 13-22. Discharge .. 97. Rule 13-23. Death of 98. Appendix 2 Expenses .. 101. Appendix 3 Fees .. 105. Appendix 4 Notices to the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 111. Appendix 5 Court Divisions and Clerk's Office .. 115. Appendix 6 Sample Case Management Procedures .. 119. Appendix 7 Mediation .. 127. Appendix 8 Electronic Filing Rules .. 133. Rule 1. Scope of Electronic 133. Rule 2. Eligibility, Registration, Passwords .. 133. Rule 3. Consequences of Electronic Filing .. 135. Rule 4. Entry of Court Orders .. 136. Rule 5. Attachments and 136. Rule 6. Sealed or Impounded Documents .. 136. Rule 7. Statements Under Oath; Retention Requirements.

9 136. v Rule 8. Signatures .. 137. Rule 9. Service of Document by Electronic Means .. 138. Rule 10. Notice of Court Orders and Judgments .. 138. Rule 11. Technical Failures .. 138. Rule 12. Public Access .. 139. Official Local Forms .. 141. Official Local Form 1 Matrix List of Creditors .. 145. Official Local Form 2a Notice of Intended Private Sale of Property, Solicitation of Counteroffers, Deadline for Submitting Objections and Higher Offers and Hearing Date .. 147. Official Local Form 2b Notice Of Intended Public Sale of Estate 153. Official Local Form 3 Pre-Confirmation Chapter 13 Plan and Cover Sheet .. 157. Official Local Form 3A Post-Confirmation Amended Chapter 13 Plan .. 167. Official Local Form 4 Order Confirming Chapter 13 Plan .. 177. Official Local Form 5 Order and Notice Fixing Deadline for Filing Proofs of Claim in Chapter 11 Cases .. 183. Official Local Form 6 Reaffirmation Agreement and Cover Sheet (Official Form 427).

10 187. Official Local Form 7 Declaration Re: Electronic Filing .. 203. Official Local Form 8 Chapter 13 Agreement Between Debtor and Counsel Rights and Responsibilities of Chapter 13 Debtors and Their Attorneys .. 207. Official Local Form 9 Motion Pursuant to 11 109(h)(3) for Extension of Time to File Credit Counseling Certificate .. 213. Official Local Form 10 Motion Brought Under 11 521(f) (Request for Debtor to File Federal Tax Information With the Court ) .. 217. Official Local Form 11 Motion Brought Under 11 521(g) Motion by Party in Interest for Access to Debtor's Federal Tax Information .. 221. Official Local Form 12 Motion for Entry of Chapter 13 Discharge .. 225. Official Local Form 13 Motion for Relief From Stay - Real Estate Worksheet .. 229. Official Local Form 14 Debtor(s)' Schedule of Disputed Payments in Opposition to Motion for Relief From Stay Postpetition Transaction History .. 237. Official Local Forms 15-1, 15-2 and 15-3.