Suggestions for Effective E-Filing
Below is a list of suggestions and tips for effective e-filing. We want the information on this page to be relevant and useful to you. If you have suggestions and tips for effective e-filing, let us know by sending an e-mail to ecfhelp [at] nmcourt [dot] fed [dot] us. As always, however, we are ready to help you when you call us for assistance with any e-filing issue. Call the CM-ECF Help Desk at (505) 348-2500 or call toll-free at (866) 291-6805 and select option 3.
Suggestions and Tips for Effective E-filing
- Use current and correct forms
- Upload the correct PDF file
- Use the SEARCH option to locate the correct docket event
- Refer to correct docket entry when filing a document that references an already-filed document
- Make sure debtor's name entered in CM-ECF matches name on petition
- Use current and correct debtor's petition signature page
- Document filed contains multiple motions (combo motion)
- Follow instructions for filing a Proof of Claim; see also Clerk's Tips
- Follow instructions for converting an interactive PDF file to a non-interactive PDF file
If you have questions or need additional assistance, please call the CM-ECF Help Desk at (505) 348-2500 or call toll-free at (866) 291-6805 and select option 3.
1. Use current and correct forms
Current official forms and local forms are available for download on the Forms page. Filers should be aware, however, that three of the official forms have been revised by the Court to accommodate practice in the District of New Mexico. The official forms replaced by local forms are listed below. Please note that use of the local forms is required by orders of the Court. You will find all of the local forms on the Forms page.
- Application to Pay Filing Fee in Installments and Order Approving Payment of Filing Fees in Installments (Official Form 3A or B3A), use NM Form 508 and NM Form 509
- Application for Waiver of Chapter 7 Filing Fee for Individuals Who Cannot Pay the Filing Fee in Full or in Installments (official form 3B or B3B), use NM OF 3B. Note: The court will prepare the order.
- Debtor's Certification of Completion of Instructional Course Concerning Financial Management (official form 23 or B23), use Certification of Completion of Postpetition Instructional Course in Personal Financial Management (official form 23), use NM Form 512
The Clerk's Office notifies practitioners of changes in the law, rules, official forms, local procedures and local forms via Clerk's Notices, which are sent by e-mail and posted on the website.
Tips:
- Review documents created using bankruptcy petition software to ensure that forms are up-to-date.
- Check the Forms page regularly for revised forms.
- Read the Clerk's Notices.
To receive Clerk's Notices via e-mail, please subscribe to the Clerk's Notices listserv.
2. Upload the correct PDF file
Be sure to ALWAYS preview the PDF file in CM-ECF just before you upload it. The incorrect PDF file is usually uploaded because the filer failed to open and view the PDF file just before selecting it via the "Browse" option in CM-ECF. This is a very important step.
To preview the PDF file:
- Click on the "Browse" button.
- Locate the PDF file in the "File Upload" browser window.
- Verify the PDF file is the correct document:
- Right-click on the filename.
- In the drop-down menu left-click on "Open" (or Open with Acrobat or other pdf reader) and view the document.
- When finished viewing the document, click the "X" in the upper-right corner of the pdf reader to close the document.
- If you chose the correct PDF file, double-click on the file to upload it.
- If you chose the wrong PDF file, repeat the above process until you locate the correct one.
Tips:
- Abort the transaction by clicking on one of the hyperlinks in the CM-ECF menu bar if the PDF file is wrong.
- Remember: once you submit a document electronically, it is filed and entered on the docket.
3. Use the SEARCH option to locate the correct docket event
Use of the correct docket event is critical to automated case progression. An incorrect event can have a negative effect on the case — delaying entry of debtor's discharge, causing failure to set or satisfy deadlines or causing no or wrong reference to another document.
Click on Search in the CM-ECF blue menu bar. Type in a key word for your event. Select the correct event from the Bankruptcy or Adversary even menu list in the search results.
Tips:
- When filing a petition, review the case opening flowcharts posted on the Procedures for Attorneys page.
4. Refer to correct docket entry when filing a document that references an already-filed document
When documents are properly "referred to" (linked), CM-ECF automatically adds the text from the already-filed document to the docket text of the document you are filing. This provides clarity on the docket.
For help with linking, read our instructions to Link Documents.
Tips:
- When you file an amended document, refer (link) to the original document.
- When you file a response, refer (link) it to the appropriate motion.
- When you file an objection to confirmation of a plan, refer (link) the objection to the appropriate plan.
5. Make sure debtor's name entered in CM-ECF matches name on petition
When entering debtor's name in CM-ECF during case opening, be sure to enter the name exactly as it appears on the petition.
When a search for the debtor's name yields results from a previous filing, carefully check to ensure that the debtor's name and address in the database match the name and address on the petition. If the name and address are not an exact match, create a new name and address record.
6. Use current and correct debtor's petition signature page
The Court has created three categories of signature pages for a debtor to use when a petition is filed electronically:
- Petition filed with all schedules and statements, i.e., a standard petition
- Petition filed without all all schedules and statements, i.e., a skeleton petition
- Schedules and statements filed after skeleton petition is filed
Within each category, a signature page has been created for each chapter — 7, 11, 12 and 13 — and type of debtor — individual, corporate or small business. There are 16 different signature pages available.
The Court has ordered that all petition filers use these local debtor signature pages. Most bankruptcy petition software vendors have incorporated the signature pages into their programs.
To locate the correct signature page, visit the Debtor's Signature Pages section of the Attorney forms page. You will see a table called "Debtor's Signature Pages for e-Filed Petitions."
Tips:
- Signature pages should be submitted as an attachment to the petition or schedules and statements.
7. Document filed contains multiple motions (combo motion)
As of March 2007, the Court does not accept two-part documents with two exceptions:
- Objections to Claims (where several claims can be objected to in one document), and
- Combining a notice of objection deadline and the notice of hearing in one document in certain limited situations. See procedure to File Notice of Objection Deadline and Notice of Hearing
Other documents should be filed using the specific docket event code and should not be combined. For example, this means:
- Do not file an objection to confirmation and the notice of hearing in the same document.
- Do not file a chapter 13 plan (or any other plan) that contains motions
- Do not file several motions as one document.
- Do not file a response to two different motions in the same document.
The Court cannot link orders to multi-part motions, thus multi-part documents are unacceptable. This is a limitation of the system, and we are hopeful that changes will be forthcoming. However, until the limitation has been correct, please do not file combination documents or multi-part motions.
If you have questions regarding how to file a specific document, please call the CM-ECF Help Desk at (505) 348-2500 or call toll-free at (866) 291-6805 and select option 3.
8. Follow instructions when filing a proof of claim; see also Clerk's Tips
- Instructions to File Proof of Claim or Amended Proof of Claim
- Clerk's Tips to Help Process Your Claims More Efficiently
If you have questions regarding how to file a proof of claim or an amended proof of claim, please call the CM-ECF Help Desk at (505) 348-2500 or call toll-free at (866) 291-6805 and select option 3.
9. Follow instructions for converting an interactive pdf file to a non-interactive pdf file.
- An interactive pdf file is also referred to as a fillable pdf file. The forms are usually available online for completion online. The advantage of fillable pdf files is that they can be completed online; the disadvantage is that they remain fillable until they are "flattened." Just follow the instructions below to flatten an interactive pdf file BEFORE filing it in CM-ECF. The most common interactive pdf files the Clerk's Office receives are (1) certificates of budget and credit counseling; (2) the debtor's certification of completion of a course in personal financial management; and (3) proofs of claim. Be sure to flatten these files before filing them.
- Instructions to Converting an Interactive PDF File to a Non-interactive PDF File
If you have questions regarding interactive pdf files or how to convert one, please call the CM-ECF Help Desk at (505) 348-2500 or call toll-free at (866) 291-6805 and select option 3.