Changes to Federal Bankruptcy Rules and Forms

Changes to Federal Bankruptcy Rules and Forms
Effective December 1, 2011

The following changes to and/or new Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and Official Bankruptcy Forms take effect December 1, 2011:

 Rule 1004.2 - Republication of a new rule requiring entity filing a chapter 15 petition to state the country of the debtor’s main interest, filer to list each country in which a case involving debtor is pending, and setting deadline for challenging the statement asserting the country of the debtor’s main interest.

 Rule 2003 - Requires the filing of a statement upon adjourning a meeting of creditors or equity security holders.

 Rule 2019 - Expands the scope of the rule’s disclosure requirements by requiring disclosure in chapter 9 and 11 cases by all committees or groups that consist of more than one creditor or equity security holder, as well as entities or that represent more than one creditor or equity security holder. It also authorizes the Court to require disclosure by an individual party in interest when knowledge of that party’s economic stake in the debtor would assist the Court in evaluating the party’s arguments.

 Rule 3001 - Prescribes in greater detail the support information required to accompany a proof of claim.

 Rule 3002.1 - New rule implements § 1323(b)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code which permits a chapter 13 debtor to cure a default and maintain payments of a home mortgage.

 Rule 4004 - Permits a party under limited circumstances to seek an extension of time to object to a debtor’s discharge after the time for objecting has expired.

 Rule 6003 - Clarifies that the requirement of a 21-day waiting period before a Court can enter certain orders at the beginning of a case, including an order approving employment of counsel, does not prevent the Court from specifying an effective date for the order that is earlier than the date of its issuance.

A complete list of the changes to and/or new Rules (Appellate, Bankruptcy, Criminal and Rules of
Evidence) that take effect December 1, 2011, is located on the U.S. Courts’ web site at:

www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies/FederalRulemaking/PendingRules/SupremeCourt042611.aspx.


 Form 1 (Voluntary Petition) - Implements new Bankruptcy Rule 1004.2.

 Forms 9A - 9I (Notices of Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors & Deadlines *341 Meeting Notice+) -Conforming to amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 2003(e).

 Form 10 (Proof of Claim) - Clarifies that, consistent with Rule 3001(c) and new Rule 3002.1, writings supporting a claim or evidencing perfection of a security interest—not just summaries—must be attached to the proof of claim. Three new forms have been created for claims secured by a security interest in the debtor’s principal residence.

 Form 10 (Attachment A) - Mortgage Proof of Claim Attachment

 Form 10 (Supplement 1) - Notice of Mortgage Payment Change

 Form 10 (Supplement 2) - Notice of Postpetition Mortgage Fees, Expenses, and Charges

 Form 25A (Plan of Reorganization in Small Business Case under Chapter 11) - Changes the effective date consistent with 2009 time-computation rules amendments.

You may view the proposed forms or obtain more information on the “Bankruptcy Forms
Pending Changes” page of the U.S. Courts’ web site at
http://www.uscourts.gov/FormsAndFees/Forms/BankruptcyForms/BankruptcyFormsPendingChanges.aspx