Open Involuntary Case

Judge/Trustee Assignment

Request for Issuance of Involuntary Summons

Below are screen instructions on how to open and attach the Involuntary Petition. Use the petition as your guide to enter ECF data.  Check the hyperlinks for more helpful information.

1. Select Bankruptcy menu.
2. Select Open Involuntary BK Case.
3. Open New Involuntary Bankruptcy Case screen:
   • Office: San Diego
   • Chapter: Select 7 or 11 
   • Click Submit.
4. Search for Petitioning Creditor (petition cred)
   • Enter social security number, tax identification number, last name or business name to search for petitioning creditor name in the CM/ECF database.
   • From the Party Search Results screen:
   • • Petitioning Creditor name does not appear

       • Click " Create new party" button.
         
         Complete all appropriate fields for the petitioning creditor (see the petition cover sheet for information)

       • Enter complete name.
       • Include mailing address
       • Indicate county (San Diego or Imperial)
       • Add attorney, if applicable
       • • Check box "The user opening the case is the filing attorney for this party," if applicable.
         • Click "Attorney" button to add attorney if filer is not the attorney for Petitioning Creditor.

        

     • Petitioning Creditor name appears
       • Click "Select name from the list" button. 
       • Verify Petitioning Creditor information and mailing address
       • Add attorney, if applicable.
       • • Check box "The user opening the case is the filing attorney for this party," if applicable.
         • Click "Attorney" button to add attorney if filer is not the attorney for Petitioning Creditor

        

     • Petitioning Creditor name appears but mailing address is incorrect
       • Click "Select name from the list" button. 
       • Enter correct mailing address.
       • • Indicate county (San Diego or Imperial)
       • Add attorney, if applicable.
       • • Check box "The user opening the case is the filing attorney for this party," if applicable.
         • Click "Attorney" button to add attorney if filer is not the attorney for Petitioning Creditor

        

   • Verify once more for correct party information and Submit. 
   • Repeat these steps to add additional Petitioning Creditors or select "End petition. cred. selection." 
5. Search for Debtor.
   • Enter social security number, tax identification number, last name or business name to search for alleged debtor name in the CM/ECF database. 
   • From the Party search Results screen:
   • • Debtor name does not appear Note: This screen allows multiple Social Security or Tax ID numbers to be entered for the debtor.

       Use the Add/Create New Party only when party is not on the Party Filer pick list. From the Select the Party screen: Click on Add/Create New Party hyperlink. The Search for Party screen appears. Enter social security number, tax identification number or last/business name (upper and lower case) to search for new party name in the ECF database. The Party Search Results appears. Party name appears: select name and verify party name information in pop-up window. Party information is correct, click Select name from list button. Party name appears but information is incorrect, click on Create New Party. The Party Information screen appears. Complete or update all appropriate fields for the party filer. Select appropriate Role for new party filer such as Creditor (cr:cr). Party name does not appear, click on Create New Party. The Party Information screen appears. Complete or update all appropriate fields for the party filer. Select appropriate Role for new party filer such as Creditor (cr:cr). Once this is complete you will return to the Select the Party screen, which will list the party filer name.

       Quick Note Making any changes in Add/Create New Party screen will only affect this case.  Remember to change the ROLE accordingly.

     • Debtor name appears
       • Select the name from the list.
       • Verify debtor information, mailing address, redacted social security number, etc. from the pop up window
       • Select the "Alias" button if debtor has aliases.
       • • Complete all fields for aliases.
         • Select the appropriate role for the alias (ie: aka, dba, fdba, fka)
       • Review the aliases by clicking on the "Review" button.
       • • If alias' information incorrect, uncheck alias, click "Return to Party screen" button, and re-enter information or add additional Aliases via the "Alias" button.
       • Review the alleged debtor's information once more in the Alleged Debtor Information screen and submit.

        

     • Debtor name appears but mailing address is incorrect
       • Select the name from the list.
       • Enter correct mailing address.
       • • Indicate county (San Diego or Imperial)
       • Select the "Alias" button if debtor has aliases.
       • • Complete all fields for aliases.
         • Select the appropriate role for the alias (ie: aka, dba, fdba, fka)
       • Review the aliases by clicking on the "Review" button.
       • • If alias' information incorrect, uncheck alias, click "Return to Party screen" button, and re-enter information or add additional Aliases via the "Alias" button.
       • Review the alleged debtor's information once more in the Alleged Debtor Information screen and submit.
   • Select the appropriate Statistical Information: for:
   1. • Chapter 7
        1. Nature of debt - consumer or business.
        2. Type of Debtor - individual, corporation, etc.
           • If Corporation, Partnership or Other is selected, select a Nature of business type.

         

      • Chapter 11
        1. Nature of debt - consumer or business.
        2. Type of Debtor - individual, corporation, etc.
           • If Corporation, Partnership or Other is selected, select a Nature of business type.

         

6. Browse, verify and Attach supportive documents (PDF file).

   From the first Browser screen: Click on the Yes button at Attachments to Documents. Click the "Next" button. In the second Browser screen: Browse, verify and attach supportive document (PDF file). Select Category of document such as Declaration, Exhibit, etc. or type description of document. Click on Add to List. Repeat steps 1 - 3 until all supportive documents are attached. When done, click on Next to continue procedure.

   Quick Note NEVER attach a document that can be filed under Notices & Hearing.

   Locate the document (PDF or TXT). Right-mouse click on the correct filename. Select Open from the drop down menu. This will launch the PDF or TXT file's application. Verify the document. Close the document by clicking on the X in the upper-right hand corner of the Adobe or NotePad application. Click on the Open button in ECF to attach the document in the Browse field.

   Quick Note The court quality assures all incoming files and verifies for /s/signatures, missing pages, correct document to selected event, case number, readable file, etc.

7. Verify filing fee.
8. Modify text, if applicable.
9. Verify final docket text before submitting onto case docket.
10. Print the Notice of Electronic Filing. It's your receipt.

    Print to PDF Click on File on the application's menu bar. Click on Print from the drop down menu. The Print Dialog Box appears. Select Acrobat PDF Writer as your current printer selection and press Print. The Save PDF File As screen appears. Name your PDF file. Click in the Save in: Window to choose the directory to save your PDF file. Click on the Save button to print to PDF. Print a paper copy Click on File on the application's menu bar. Click on Print from the drop down menu. The Print Dialog Box appears. Select your current printer and press the Print button.

    Quick Note Keep original signed document along with the Notice of Electronic Filing at your office.

11. Make note of the assigned case number. 
12. Continue procedure with Judge/Trustee Assignment for the involuntary bankruptcy case.