(a) FROM PRESIDING OVER A PROCEEDING, CONTESTED MATTER, OR
CASE. A bankruptcy judge’s disqualification is governed by 28
U.S.C. §455. The judge is disqualified from presiding over a pro-
ceeding or contested matter in which a disqualifying circum-
stance arises—and, when appropriate, from presiding over the en-
tire case.
(b) FROM ALLOWING COMPENSATION. The bankruptcy judge is dis-
qualified from allowing compensation to a relative or to a person
who is so connected with the judge as to make the judge’s allow-
ing it improper.
(As amended Apr. 29, 1985, eff. Aug. 1, 1985; Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug.
1, 1987; Apr. 2, 2024, eff. Dec. 1, 2024.)
Filing Papers and Sending Copies to the United States
Trustee
(a) FILINGPAPERS.
(1) With the Clerk. Except as provided in 28 U.S.C. §
1409, the
following papers required to be filed by these rules must be
filed with the clerk in the district where the case is pending:
• lists;
• schedules;
• statements;
• proofs of claim or interest;
• complaints;
• motions;
• applications;
• objections; and
• other required papers.
The clerk must not refuse to accept for filing any petition
or other paper solely because it is not in the form required
by these rules or by any local rule or practice.
(2) With a Judge of the Court. A judge may personally accept
for filing a paper listed in (1). The judge must note on it the
date of filing and promptly send it to the clerk.
(3) Electronic Filing and Signing.
(A) By a Represented Entity—Generally Required; Excep-
tions. An entity represented by an attorney must file elec-
tronically, unless nonelectronic filing is allowed by the
court for cause or is allowed or required by local rule.
(B) By an Unrepresented Individual—When Allowed or Re-
quired. An individual not represented by an attorney:
(i) may file electronically only if allowed by court
order or local rule; and
(ii) may be required to file electronically only by
court order, or by a local rule that includes reasonable
exceptions.
(C) Signing. A filing made through a person’s electronic-
filing account and authorized by that person, together
with the person’s name on a signature block, constitutes
the person’s signature.
(D) Same as a Written Paper. A paper filed electronically
is a written paper for purposes of these rules, the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure made applicable by these rules,
and §107.
(b) SENDINGCOPIESTOTHEUNITEDSTATESTRUSTEE.
(1) Papers Sent Electronically. All papers required to be sent
to the United States trustee may be sent by using the court’s
electronic-filing system in accordance with Rule 9036, unless a
court order or local rule provides otherwise.
(2) Papers Not Sent Electronically. If an entity other than the
clerk sends a paper to the United States trustee without using
the court’s electronic-filing system, the entity must promptly
file a statement identifying the paper and stating the manner
by which and the date it was sent. The clerk need not send a
copy of a paper to a United States trustee who requests in
writing that it not be sent.
(c) WHENAPAPERISERRONEOUSLYFILEDORDELIVERED.
(1) Paper Intended for the Clerk. If a paper intended to be filed
with the clerk is erroneously delivered to a person listed
below, that person must note on it the date of receipt and
promptly send it to the clerk:
• the United States trustee;
• the trustee;
• the trustee’s attorney;
• a bankruptcy judge;
• a district judge;
• the clerk of the bankruptcy appellate panel; or
• the clerk of the district court.
(2) Paper Intended for the United States Trustee. If a paper in-
tended for the United States trustee is erroneously delivered
to the clerk or to another person listed in (1), the clerk or that
person must note on it the date of receipt and promptly send
it to the United States trustee.
(3) Applicable Filing Date. In the interests of justice, the
court may order that the original receipt date shown on a
paper erroneously delivered under (1) or (2) be deemed the date
it was filed with the clerk or sent to the United States trustee.