Announcements

The Court has completed a video aimed at unrepresented parties, titled “Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney:  What You Need to Know!”, and available by clicking here.  This short video features retired Bankruptcy Judge Duncan W. Keir, and is highly recommended viewing for anyone considering filing bankruptcy without legal representation.  It provides crucial information on the dangers of proceeding unrepresented, low cost and no cost attorney options, the Debtor Assistance Project, and additional resources available on the Don’t Have a Lawyer page of the Court’s website. 

Amendments to Bankruptcy Rules 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036 and Official Form 122B (Chapter 11 Statement of Current Monthly Income) are effective December 1, 2021. The text of the amended rules/form and accompanying committee notes can be viewed here.  In addition, The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has approved new Local Bankruptcy Rules 1002-2, 1002-3, 3011-1, and 7007-1, amendments to Local Bankruptcy Rules 1009-1, 3007-1, 5001-2, and 5005-1, and deletion of Local Bankruptcy Rules 1007-3 and 2081-1 effective December 1, 2021.  Further, based on the amendments to Local Bankruptcy Rules 1002-3 and 5005-1, Administrative Orders 21-03 and 03-02 will be rescinded as unnecessary effective December 1, 2021. To view the Administrative Order implementing the amendments, a summary of the changes, and a redlined copy of the amended local rules, please click here.

The Court’s Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) resources webpage, available here, contains various SBRA Materials including an updated example Subchapter V Plan Report, example Subchapter V Initial Scheduling Order, and example Subchapter V Second Scheduling Order.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has amended its Complex Chapter 11 Case Procedures.  To view the Administrative Order implementing the amendments, please click here.

The Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure has approved publication for public comment proposed amendments to existing rules and forms, as well as several new rules and forms.  The proposed amendments include Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts III-VI; Rules 3002.1, 3011, and 8003; new Rule 9038; Official Bankruptcy Forms 101, 309E1, 309E2, and 417A; and new Official Forms 410C13-1N, 410C13-1R, 410C13-10C, 410C13-10NC, and 410C13-10R.  The proposed amendments, rules committee reports explaining the proposed changes, and instructions on how to submit comments are posted here. The public comment period closes on February 16, 2022.

Amendments to Appendix F of the Local Bankruptcy Rules are effective August 1, 2021.  To view the Administrative Order implementing the amendments and a redlined copy of Appendix F, please click here.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has completed the conversion to NextGen CM/ECF, and the system is available for all users.  All electronic filers must take several steps to file with the Court in NextGen CM/ECF, including linking their prior CM/ECF account with their upgraded PACER account.  Click here for more information.  Clerk's Office staff will be available during regular business hours to assist users having trouble logging onto NextGen.  The Court thanks the members of bar and all filers for their patience and support during the conversion process. 

The Court thanks those attorneys who continue to devote their time to the benefit of pro se debtors and the bankruptcy system in the District of Maryland.  Attorneys who annually take at least two Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service pro bono referrals or staff the Telephonic Debtor Assistance Project/Debtor Assistance Project for six hours every six months are eligible to be added to the Court’s Low Bono Lists, published on the Court’s website. Interested attorneys can find more information here on how to get listed. The Low Bono Lists are made available to debtors seeking bankruptcy counsel for a reduced or deferred fee. The revised Chapter 7 Low Bono List and Chapter 13 Low Bono List contain up-to-date attorney information.

Recent disclosures of widespread cybersecurity breaches of both private sector and government computer systems have prompted the federal courts to add new security procedures to protect highly sensitive documents (“HSDs”) filed with the courts.  HSDs contain information that is so sensitive and confidential that additional precautions beyond sealing the document from public view on the Court’s CM/ECF system is required.  Factors used to determine whether a document constitutes an HSD include whether the case involves: national security; foreign sovereign interests; criminal activity related to cybersecurity; intellectual property, trade secrets, or sensitive commercial information likely to be of interest to foreign powers; terrorism; investigation of public officials; or the reputational interests of the United States.  The following types of documents are generally not considered HSDs: Social Security records, administrative immigration records, information about minors, documents related to domestic abuse, and most other sealed filings in bankruptcy cases.

In order to provide appropriate safeguards for HSDs, they must be filed in paper and not under seal through the Court’s electronic case filing system (CM/ECF).  For HSD filing instructions, or if you believe you previously filed an HSD document with the Court, please contact the Clerk’s Office at (410) 962-2688 or (301) 344-8018 for further instructions.

The new and improved Bankruptcy Court website launched on December 7, 2020.  This multi-year project substantively overhauled and reorganized the website to be more intuitive and helpful to viewers.  It includes improvements to the look and feel of the site with cleaner lines, the use of “mega menus” for easy navigation, greatly improved mobile access, and a host of other improvements, updates and additions.  The Court thanks representatives from the Bankruptcy Bar Association and the MSBA’s Consumer Bankruptcy Section for collaborating on the content and design of the new site.  Comments or feedback on the new site are appreciated and can be provided here.