On December 1, 2014 the Court's CM/ECF System and Filing Instructions will be modified for the Amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Official Forms and Filing Fee Changes.

Amendments to Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure

On April 25, 2014, the Supreme Court approved amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that take effect on December 1, 2014 and govern in all proceedings in bankruptcy cases thereafter commenced and, insofar as just and practicable, all proceedings then pending.

The amendments to the bankruptcy rules address the following:  1) petitions involving the same debtors filed in different courts; 2) time limits for serving a summons and complaint; 3) general pleadings and judgments and costs; 4) bankruptcy appeals; and 5) new trials and relief from a judgment or order.

The amended rules are located at: https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/pending-rules-and-forms-amendments

Amendments to Official Forms

At its September 2014 session, the Judicial Conference approved changes to several official forms to address the amended rules and ongoing Forms Modernization Project of the Bankruptcy Rules Advisory Committee which will take effect on December 1, 2014.

A complete list of the revised forms and instructions is located at:  https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms


New and Increased Filing Fees

At its September 2014 session, the Judicial Conference approved the following changes to the Bankruptcy Court miscellaneous fee schedule which will take effect on December 1, 2014.

• The fee assessed when a direct bankruptcy appeal is accepted by a court of appeals increases to $207.00.
• A fee in the amount of $25.00 will not be due upon filing a motion to make redactions to previously filed records in a bankruptcy case.
• Item 11 was amended to include a new exception:  The reopening fee must not be charged to redact a record already filed in a case, pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 907, if redaction is the only reason for reopening.

The Fee Schedule for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has been revised accordingly.  It is located at:
http://www.pamb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/Misc/Fee%20Schedule.pdf