Filing Case in ECF - Ch. 7/13 (Open a BK Case)
Last Updated: April 21, 2025

Manual Opening of a Bankruptcy Case

Note: It is important to complete all steps in this procedure.

1. Prepare Case Opening Documents - Save as a PDF

   1. Voluntary Petition

      1. Create a single PDF containing Petition, Schedules, and Matrix. 

         1. Document Order: Petition, Summary, Schedules A/B-J, Statement of Financial Affairs, Statement of Intent (if applicable), Attorney Fee Disclosure, and Matrix.

   2. Create separate PDFs of the following documents: Statement of Social Security Number; Certificate(s) of Credit Counseling; Statement of Monthly Income; and Employee Income Records.

A. New Bankruptcy: Initial Case Opening/Petition

1. Log into CM/ECF.

2. Select Bankruptcy > Select Open a BK Case.

   1. Leave Case Number Blank.

   2. Refer to jurisdictional map to determine Office. (Eau Claire or Madison)

3. Enter Case Information

   1. Select Bankruptcy Chapter (7, 11, 12 or 13).

   2. Select “yes” if Joint Petition (joint debtor).

      👉 NON-DEBTOR SPOUSE:

      Add a Non-Debtor Spouse as a party AFTER the case is open (but BEFORE Judge/Trustee Assignment)    

      1. DO NOT designate the case as a Joint Petition.

      2. The non-debtor spouse information is reported on Form 121 and should include the Social Security Number.

   3. Deficiencies: Select “yes” if case is deficient, i.e. missing schedules, employee income records, plan, etc.

   4. Origin: Defaults to Original.

4. Add Debtor

   1. Search for Debtor Party Record

      • Search by Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number or Debtor Name

      • Review Party Search Results:

      • • Compare search results with the case documents.

        • If Debtor Information is an EXACT Match, Click on “Select name from list” button.

        • If Debtor Name does not appear, or is not an exact match, Click on “Create new party.”

   2. Update Debtor Information screen: 

      • Existing Party Record:

        • Update Mailing Address and County

      • New Party Record:

        • Complete/Update All Appropriate Fields For the Debtor.

          • Debtor Name:

            • Enter Complete Name
              
              Note: DO NOT add "NMI" if the debtor has no middle initial. Instead, leave the middle initial blank.

          • Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number

            • Enter the Entire Number

            • Enter either an SSN/ITIN or a Tax ID/EIN, BUT NOT BOTH

            • The Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) must be entered in a nine-digit format as XXX-XX-XXXX to be accepted by CM/ECF.

            • If NO SSN Provided: Enter an SSN of all zeros (i.e., 000-00-0000) 

            • CM/ECF can store up to five SSNs per debtor, but only the first three are reported to JDAO.
              
              Note: PDF copy of Petition must contain redacted Social Security Number.

          • Mailing Address and County

            • When the debtor(s) currently reside out of district, but resided within the district for the majority of the last 180 days, enter the county that matches their current (out of district) mailing address.

   3. Add Aliases

      • Click Alias Button on Debtor Information Screen 

      • Enter Alias Information 

      • Click "Add aliases" button

5. Add Joint Debtor

   • To Add a Joint Debtor, Repeat Steps Under Add Debtor 

6. Statistical Information Screen:

   • Prior Filing within last 8 years. Select 'Yes' or 'No'

   • Fee Status: Select “Paid,” “Installments,” or "fee not paid"
     
     Note: Select "fee not paid" when filing an Application to Waive Filing Fee.

   • Nature of Debt: Select "business" or “consumer”
     
     Note: Chapter 9 and 12 must ALWAYS be entered as [b] business. If business, must also select "Nature of business."

   • Asset Designation. Chapter 7's are always entered as No Asset. Chapter 11, 12, 13 are entered as Asset.

   • Estimated Number of Creditors, Assets and Debts. Select the appropriate number or amount.

   • Type of Debtor: Such as individual, corporation, etc.

   • Nature of Business: Business or Consumer

   • Review information; Click Next.

7. Summary of Schedules Screen: Enter values from the corresponding schedules. Details

   • If the Summary of Schedules is not filed, leave blank.

8. Additional Data Screen: Attorney filers will Enter values from the corresponding schedules and means test. Details

9. Deficiency List Screen:
   
   Note: ONLY for cases missing schedules, plan, etc.

   • Select the appropriate box, (i.e. Schedules A/B-J, Statement of Financial Affairs, Disclosure of Attorney Compensation, Statement of Monthly Income, Employee Income Records).

10. Browse to select the Voluntary Petition (pdf file); Click Next.  
    
    Important: PDF copy of Voluntary Petition must contain the redacted Social Security Number.

11. Incomplete Filings Deadline: Keep Due Date (calculated automatically). Click Next.

12. Presumption of Abuse (Only for Chapter 7 individual cases with primarily consumer debts)

    • Select either Presumption of abuse does not arise, or Presumption of abuse arises from the list.

13. Filing Fee

    • Verify Filing Fee Amount & Payment Type

    • Enter Payment Type in Receipt Field: 

      • Check/Cash: Type in CHECK or CASH

      • Credit Card: Leave the receipt field blank. Select Next to continue filing. [

      •  

        • Separately file the Application to Waive Filing Fee.

14. Docket Text

    • Modify text, if applicable.

    • Verify filing entry is correct before submitting the “Final Docket Text.”

15. Completion of Case Opening

    • The Initial Case Opening concludes with the Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing Screen.

    • To Print, click the Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing hyperlink.

    • The Attorney filers may want to save the Notice of Electronic Filing.

B. New Bankruptcy Case: Add Creditors/Judge/Trustee

1. Creditor Matrix

   • Formatting Requirements

   • Converting Matrix to a Text File

   • Upload the Creditor Matrix.

   • Note: A Pro Se Filer can create a creditor matrix in person at the Bankruptcy Court using a link from our website found under:
     [For Debtors > When You File > Chapter 7 or 13 Checklist > Creditor Matrix Link]

2. Judge/Trustee Assignment

   • Assign the Judge/Trustee [Bankruptcy > Judge/Trustee Assignment].

C. New Bankruptcy: Required Documents

• Due At Case Filing

1. Statement of Social Security

   • File the Statement of Social Security Number. [Bankruptcy > Miscellaneous > Statement of Social Security Number]

2. Certificate of Credit Counseling

   • File the Certificate(s) of Credit Counseling or Certificate of Exigent Circumstances.
     [Bankruptcy > Miscellaneous > Certificate of Credit Counseling] or [Bankruptcy > Miscellaneous > Certification of Exigent Circumstances re: Credit Counseling]

• Due w/in 14-Days of Case Filing

1. Statement of Monthly Income

   • File the Statement of Monthly Income (unless included with the Petition).
     [Bankruptcy > Miscellaneous > Statement of Monthly Income (Chapter x)]

2. Employment Income Records

   • File the Employee Income Records.
     [Bankruptcy > Miscellaneous > Employee Income Records]

3. Chapter 13 Plan (ONLY Chapter 13 Cases)

   • File the Chapter 13 Plan.
     [Bankruptcy > Plan > Chapter 13 Plan]