Electronic notice and service of pro se parties

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Pro se parties may now submit a petition electronically, and will be given an opportunity to consent to receive notice and service electronically via CM/ECF.  If a pro se party signs and files an Electronic Notice and Service Consent Form consenting to receive electronic notice and service, waiving the right to receive notice by United States mail, and waiving the right to personal service or service by United States mail in the bankruptcy case, you may send notice to and serve documents on that unrepresented party electronically through CM/ECF.  Before relying solely on electronic service and notice, you should check the docket to make sure that the pro se party has signed and filed an Electronic Notice and Service Consent Form.  A pro se party’s consent to receive notice and service electronically in a bankruptcy case DOES NOT mean that the pro se party has consented to electronic service of a Complaint initiating an adversary proceeding.  Please be aware of Fed.R.Civ.P. 5(b)(2)(E) that electronic service is not effective if the serving party learns that it did not reach the person to be served.