Involuntary Petition Filing  

Last Updated: December 1, 2017

Filing Requirements:

• Involuntary Petition Against An Individual (Official Form B105).

• Involuntary Petition Against a Non-Individual (Official From B205)

• Filing Fee (cannot be paid in installments).

The following is the conventional way to open a new involuntary case (not using case upload).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log into CM/ECF.

2. Select [Bankruptcy].

3. Select [Open Involuntary Case].
   
   Note:  Enter data in CM-ECF exactly as it appears on the PDF of the Involuntary Petition.

1. • Do not enter a case number.

   • Select appropriate chapter (7 or 11).

   • Joint Petition defaults to "n."

   • Origin:  Select Original.

4. Search for a debtor screen:

1. • Enter debtor's business name/last name or Social Security Number or Tax ID/EIN number to search for debtor's name in the ECF database.

   • Party search results:  

   • • Even if debtor's name appears, ALWAYS "Create new party".
       
       Note: Please do NOT use all capital letters for debtor's name and information.

5. Debtor information screen:

1. • Enter complete name of debtor.

   • Enter complete Social Security Number or Tax ID / EIN number.
     
     

   • Enter current mailing address.
     
     

   • Select County.
     
     Note:  Please do NOT enter debtor phone number or email address.

   • 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 before submission; and if correct, click Submit.

6. Search for petitioning creditor(s) screen:

1. • Enter last name (upper and lower case) to search for first Petitioning Creditor in the ECF database.

   • Party search results:

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

     • If information is the same, click on "Select name from list" button.

     • If name does not appear, or is not an exact match, click on "Create new party."
       
       Note: Please do NOT use all capital letters for petitioning creditor name and information.

7. Petitioning Creditors information screen: (This screen appears for selected name or creating new party).

   • Complete/Update all appropriate fields for the petitioning creditor.

   • • Enter complete name.

     • NOT REQUIRED: Petitioning Creditor(s) Social Security Number or Tax ID/EIN number.

     • Enter current mailing address.

     • Select County.
       
       Note:  Please do NOT enter Petitioning Creditor(s) phone number or e-mail address.

     • Select the "Alias" button if Petitioning Creditor has alias(es).

     • • Complete all appropriate fields for alias(es).

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

     • Review Petitioning Creditor information before submission; and if correct, click Submit.

   • Repeat steps 5 and 6 for ALL Petitioning Creditor(s). When all Petitioning Creditors have been added, click "End Petitioning Creditor Selection."

8. Divisional Office - bypass by clicking [Next].

9. Statistical Information Screen:

1. • Fee Status defaults to "Paid".

   • Select "business" or "consumer" for Nature of debt.

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

   • Select Nature of business (if applicable)

   • Review information; click [Next].

10. Browse to select the Involuntary Petition (PDF file); Click [Next].
    
    Important: PDF copy of Involuntary Petition should contain redacted Social Security Number, if provided.  

11. To pay via ACH or credit card, leave the receipt field blank and select [Next] to continue filing. The credit card screen will appear at the end of the event.    

12. Modify text, if applicable.

13. Verify filing entry is correct before submitting the "Final Docket Text".
    
    NOTE:  You can start over at any time prior to submitting final screen.

14. Attorney filers may want to save or print the Notice of Electronic Filing.