Source: http://www.gasb.uscourts.gov/usbcGenOrders.htm
Timestamp: 2017-04-23 09:49:16
Document Index: 605341953

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2041', '§ 2045', '§ 1335', '§ 1335', '§ 1930', '§ 1326', '§ 1326', '§ 105', '§ 502', '§ 1326', '§ 1141', '§ 522', '§111', '§ 1328', '§522', '§522', '§1228', '§1328', '§1228', '§1328', '§1325', '§ 521', '§ 521', '§ 521', '§ 521', '§ 521', '§ 1322', '§ 1322', '§ 1322', '§330', '§341', '§330', '§ 1305', '§ 1305', '§ 2041', '§ 2045', '§521', '§521', '§ 1326', '§ 1326', '§ 105', '§ 502', '§ 1326', '§ 1326', '§ 1326']

General Orders, Southern District of Georgia
GENERAL ORDER 2017-1 [Order on Motion for Relief from Stay]
GENERAL ORDER 2016-2. [Electronic Case Files and Administrative Procedures]
GENERAL ORDER 2016-1 [Order Regarding Deposit and Investment of Registry Funds]
ADMINSTRATIVE ORDER 2016-1. Hurricane Matthew
GENERAL ORDER 2015-5. [Requiring Payment of Chap13 Filing Fees to Clerk]
GENERAL ORDER 2015-4. [Regarding Lease and Adequate Protection Payments]
GENERAL ORDER 2015-3. [Discharge Requirements]
GENERAL ORDER 2015-2. [Automatic Dismissals]
GENERAL ORDER 2015-1 [Revisions to Filing Mailing Matrix]
GENERAL ORDER 2013-1 (Vacating GO 2007-2, Chap 13 Plan Payments)
GENERAL ORDER 2012-1 (Implementing Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3002.1)
GENERAL ORDER 2010-3 (Attorney Compensation)
GENERAL ORDER 2010-2 (Order Permitting Chapter 13 Trustee to Approve)
GENERAL ORDER 2009-1 (Order Amending Time Deadlines in Local Rules and General Orders)
GENERAL ORDER 2008-3 (Regarding Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1007-I and Amended USBC Form 22A)
GENERAL ORDER 2008-2 (New rules and amendments take effect on December 1, 2008)
GENERAL ORDER 2007-7 (Order Extending Time to File Notice of Intent to Request Redaction)
GENERAL ORDER 2005-3 (Chapter 13 Plans after Oct. 17, 2005)
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NUMBER 2004-1(S)
GENERAL ORDER 2003-1 (All hearings are evidentiary)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2017-1
Order on Motion for Relief from Stay (Vacating General Order 2013-2)
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: that attorneys are required to utilize the court's Order on Motion for Relief from Stay (Local Form B-55) in Chapter 13 cases and consumer Chapter 7 cases. Modifications and/or nonconforming terms may be placed on in the "Other Provisions" section of the Local Form B-55 or attached as a separate page to the form. Use of Local Form B-55 is permitted, but not required, in Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and non-consumer Chapter 7 cases.
This order shall be effective April 20, 2017, and vacates General Order 2013-2.
Susan D. Barrett Chief, United States Bankruptcy Judge
Edward J. Coleman III United States Bankruptcy Judge
John S. Dalis United States Bankruptcy Judge
Dated this 30thday of November, 2016.
click here to view the pdf, including exhibits
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2016-2
Electronic Case Files and Administrative Procedures (Vacating General Order 2010-1)
Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 5005(a)(2), authorizes the Court to establish practices and procedures for filing, signing, and verifying documents by electronic means. Effective November 4, 2005, in the Southern District of Georgia, previous General Order 2005-7, Order Adopting Case Management/Electronic Case Files System (CM/ECF) and Local Bankruptcy Rules for Electronic Case Files allowed documents to be filed, signed, and verified by electronic and other means.
Effective October 1, 2010, absent good cause shown and the permission of the Court, attorneys in good standing admitted to practice before this Court, including attorneys admitted pro hac vice, were required to file, sign, and verify documents only by electronic means to the extent and in the manner authorized by previous General Order 2010-1, and the Administrative Procedures for Filing, Signing, and Verifying Pleadings and Papers by Electronic Means in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia ("Administrative Procedures"). IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:
1. The Court adopts revisions to the Administrative Procedures, set forth as Exhibit A, and CM/ECF Local Rules, set forth as Exhibit B, to account for changes in rules and policies. This Order vacates General Order 2010-1, and is effective December 1, 2016. 2. Absent a judicial waiver, all attorneys in good standing admitted to practice before this Court, including attorneys appearing pro hac vice, trustees or examiners serving in any case pending in the Court, and the United States trustee shall file, sign, and verify documents only by electronic means to the extent and in the manner authorized by this General Order, the Administrative Procedures, and CM/ECF Local Rules of the Court.
3. Creditors that file fifteen (15) or more proofs of claim during any 12-month period must file claims electronically. Attorneys who file claims for themselves, their firms, or on behalf of any other entity shall file all claims electronically, regardless of number. 4. Attorneys not admitted to practice in the Southern District of Georgia, and other non-attorney filers such as creditors, may request limited user access to file documents by electronic means to the extent and in the manner authorized by this General Order and the Administrative Procedures.
5. The official record of the Court as required by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 5003 shall be the electronic file maintained by the Court and such paper files as are permitted by the Administrative Procedures. 6. The Clerk's Office will implement and publish the Administrative Procedures, register attorneys, and issue individual logins and passwords consistent with those procedures to permit electronic filing and notice of pleadings and other documents. 7. The login and password used to electronically file or submit any document by a filer who is a registered participant in the Court's CM/ECF system shall constitute the signature of that filer for purposes of the application of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9011 and other applicable rules. The registered filer whose login and password are used to accomplish an electronic filing certifies that the filer and the filer's law firm, if applicable, have authorized the filing. 8. No filer shall knowingly permit or cause to permit his/her login or password to be used by anyone other than an authorized employee of his/her law firm. 9. The electronic filing of a pleading or other paper in accordance with the Court's Administrative Procedures shall constitute entry of that pleading or other paper on the docket kept by the Clerk under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. 10. Electronic filing does not alter the filing deadline. 11. The Clerk's Office shall enter all orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings of the Court, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures and CM/ECF Local Rules, which shall constitute entry of the orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings on the docket kept by the Clerk under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Any order filed with the electronic signature of a judge shall have the same force and effect as if the judge had affixed his or her signature to a paper order. 12. The Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) generated by CM/ECF constitutes service and notice of a document, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(E) and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9036, on registered CM/ECF users, with the exception of service of.a summons and complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7004. The three added days, pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(f), do not apply to deadlines to act or proceed after electronic service. For all remaining recipients of service or notice unable to receive a NEF, the filing party shall serve the pleading or paper upon all such entities in accordance with applicable bankruptcy rules. When mailing paper copies of documents that have been electronically filed, the filing party must include the NEF to provide the recipient with proof of the filing. 13. Receipt of a CM/ECF login and password constitutes a request for electronic service and electronic notice pursuant to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. 14. An attorney filing a Verified Pleading should thereafter maintain in his or her office the original Verified Pleading in its entirety for at least five (5) years after the conclusion of all appeals or the expiration of time for filing a timely appeal, whichever is later. The filing of a Verified Pleading constitutes a representation by the attorney who files it that the attorney has in his/her possession at the time of filing the fully executed original Verified Pleading and that he/she agrees to maintain it for the five (5) year period set forth above. A pleading or document that a person signs and thereby verifies, certifies, declares, affirms, or swears under oath or penalty of perjury concerning the truth of the matters set forth in that pleading or document is a "Verified Pleading." Susan D. Barrett Chief, United States Bankruptcy Judge Dated this 30thday of November, 2016.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2016-1
The Court, having determined that it is necessary to adopt local procedures to ensure uniformity in the deposit, investment, and tax administration of funds in the Court's Registry,
IT IS ORDERED that the following shall govern the receipt, deposit, and investment of registry funds:
No money shall be sent to the Court or its officers for deposit in the Court's registry without a court order signed by the presiding judge in the case or proceeding.
The party making the deposit or transferring funds to the Court's registry shall serve the order permitting the deposit or transfer on the Clerk of Court. C.
Unless provided for elsewhere in this Order, all monies ordered to be paid to the Court or received by its officers in any case pending or adjudicated shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States in the name and to the credit of this Court pursuant to 28 U .S.C. § 2041 through depositories designated by the Treasury to accept such deposit on its behalf. II. Investment of Registry Funds
Where, by order of the Court, funds on deposit with the Court are to be placed in some form of interest-bearing account or invested in a court-approved, interest-bearing instrument in accordance with Rule 67 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court Registry Investment System ("CRIS"), administered by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts under 28 U.S.C. § 2045, shall be the only investment mechanism authorized. B.
Interpleader funds deposited under 28 U.S.C. § 1335 meet the IRS definition of a "Disputed Ownership Fund" (DOF), a taxable entity that requires tax administration. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, interpleader funds shall be deposited in the DOF established within the CRIS and administered by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, which shall be responsible for meeting all DOF tax administration requirements. C.
The Director of Administrative Office of the United States Courts is designated as custodian for all CRIS funds. The Director or the Director's designee shall perform the duties of custodian. Funds held in the CRIS remain subject to the control and jurisdiction of the Court. D.
Money from each case deposited in the CRIS shall be "pooled" together with those on deposit with Treasury to the credit of other courts in the CRIS and used to purchase Government Account Series securities through the Bureau of Public Debt, which will be held at Treasury, in an account in the name and to the credit of the Director of Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The pooled funds will be invested in accordance with the principles of the CRIS Investment Policy as approved by the Registry Monitoring Group. E.
An account will be established in the CRIS Liquidity Fund titled in the name of the case giving rise to the deposit invested in the fund. Income generated from fund investments will be distributed to each case based on the ratio each account's principal and earnings has to the aggregate principal and income total in the fund after the CRIS fee has been applied. Reports showing the interest earned and the principal amounts contributed in each case will be prepared and distributed to each court participating in the CRIS and made available to litigants and/or their counsel. F.
For each interpleader case, an account shall be established in the CRIS Disputed Ownership Fund, titled in the name of the case giving rise to the deposit invested in the fund. Income generated from fund investments will be distributed to each case after the DOF fee has been applied and tax withholdings have been deducted from the fund. Reports showing the interest earned and the principal amounts contributed in each case will be available through the Fedlnvest/CMS application for each court participating in the CRIS and made available to litigants and/or their counsel. On appointment of an administrator authorized to incur expenses on behalf of the DOF in a case, the case DOF funds should be transferred to another investment account as directed by court order.
III. Fees and Taxes A.
The custodian is authorized and directed by this Order to deduct the CRIS fee of an annualized 10 basis points on assets on deposit for all CRIS funds, excluding the case funds held in the DOF, for the management of investments in the CRIS. According to the Court's Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, the CRIS fee is assessed from interest earnings to the pool before a pro rata distribution of earnings is made to court cases. B.
The custodian is authorized and directed by this Order to deduct the DOF fee of an annualized 20 basis points on assets on deposit in the DOF for management of investments and tax administration. According to the Court's Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, the DOF fee is assessed from interest earnings to the pool before a pro rata distribution of earnings is made to court cases. The custodian is further authorized and directed by this Order to withhold and pay federal taxes due on behalf of the DOF.
The Clerk of Court is further directed to develop a systematic method of redemption of all existing investments and their transfer to the CRIS.
Deposits to the CRIS DOF will not be transferred from any existing CRIS Funds. Only new deposits pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1335 from the effective date of this order will be placed in the CRIS DOF. C.
Parties not wishing to transfer certain existing registry deposits into the CRIS may seek leave to transfer them to the litigants or their designees on proper motion and approval of the judge assigned to the specific case.
This Order supersedes and abrogates all prior orders of this Court regarding the deposit and investment of registry funds, including General Order 2012-2. Dated this 17th day of November, 2016 Susan D. Barrett
Chief United Sattes Bankruptcy Judge
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2016-1
Inaccessibility of Clerk's Office During Hurricane Matthew
Due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Matthew in this district and the direct consequences thereof, the federal courthouses in Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia, and the offices of the Clerk of Court in those locations were closed on October 6 and 7, 2016. Additionally, the court experienced consistent technical difficulties with its electronic filing systems, starting at 6p.m. (EDT) on October 5, 2016, and lasting for the remainder of the week, rendering the Clerk's office inaccessible throughout the district within the meaning of Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(a)(3). Accordingly, it is ORDERED that because of the closing of the Savannah and Brunswick courthouses and the consistent technical failures throughout the district with the court's electronic filing systems, filing deadlines occurring on or after 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on October 5, 2016 through October 7, 2016, in the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia are extended in accordance with Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(a)(3). Dated this 19th day of October, 2016.
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GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2015-5
Order Requiring Payment of Chapter 13 Filing Fees Directly to Clerk and Order Vacating General Order 1995-3
Effective March 1, 2016, the filing fees for filing a case under Chapter 13 of Title 11 of the United States Code prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 1930 shall no longer be paid through the Chapter 13 plan.
It is hereby ORDERED that said filing fees shall be paid directly to the Clerk, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia, upon commencement of the Chapter 13 case provided; however, pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1006(b), said filing fees may upon application be paid in installments not to exceed 120 days from the date of filing of the Chapter 13 petition.
It is further ORDERED that General Order 1995-3 is VACATED. Dated this 20'" day of November, 2015.
United States Bankruptcy Judge Edward J. Coleman, III
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2015-4
Amended Order Regarding Lease and Adequate Protection Payments and Order Vacating General Order 2005-5
11 U.S.C.§ 1326(a) provides that Chapter 13 debtors shall make certain payments "directly" to certain lessors or creditors, "unless the Court orders otherwise."
After due consideration the Court enters this Order for the purpose of permitting debtors in their Plan to elect whether to (1) remit those payments "directly" or (2) remit those payments to the Trustee, earmarked for the purpose set forth by Congress. This action is based in part upon the following considerations and is authorized by § 1326 and § 105: 1. Judicial Economy. No mandatory provision, either allowing or prohibiting these payments to be handled by the Chapter 13 Trustee, can possibly meet the particular needs of every case. Failure to order in advance that debtors may elect the method most likely to permit their Plans to succeed will inevitably lead to countless motions to obtain this permission on a case-by-case basis, consuming untold hours of judicial and administrative resources and driving the cost of Chapter 13 proceeds to debtors, creditors, and counsel higher than can be justified . 2. Record-keeping and Evidentiary Considerations. Chapter 13 Trustees act as fiduciaries, and are uniquely qualified to receive and disburse funds, and to provide reliable records of all such payments. All parties in Chapter 13 cases justifiably rely heavily upon the integrity of these transactions and the records that the Trustee maintains and provides, at no additional cost, to all parties in interest. 3. Creditors' Interests Protected. In the case of adequate protection payments, because debtor's obligation to make these payments is not triggered until a claim is "allowed" and because claims are not "allowed" until filed (§ 502), it may be impossible for a debtor to know when to begin making such payments "directly". Payment to the Trustee of funds estimated to cover these claims will ensure debtors do not become delinquent under this provision simply because they lack any notice of an obligation to commence making them. 4. Hearing on Objections. Confirmation hearings will be conducted prior to the deadline for filing claims. As a result, the Court can timely adjudicate any dispute over the amount and method of payment of these claims at confirmation, should a timely objection to the Plan be filed by any creditor. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 1326 and 105, commencing October 17, 2005 , debtors are authorized to designate in their Chapter 13 Plans whether lease and adequate protection payments shall be made "directly" to the creditor or remitted to the Trustee. If these payments are remitted to the Trustee they shall be paid to the creditor designated in the Plan after a claim is allowed until confirmation or further order of this Court. Creditor's rights in these funds shall be governed by the terms of a confirmed Plan, or further order of Court after notice and time for objections.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that General Order 2005-5 is VACATED. Dated this 20th day off November, 2015.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2015-3
Discharge in Chapter 11, 12 and 13 Cases. A discharge cannot be entered for an individual debtor unless the debtor files a certification of eligibility for discharge. In Chapter 11 and 12 cases, the certification should be filed contemporaneously with a motion for discharge. In Chapter 13 cases, the certification should be filed within thirty (30) days after the filing of the trustee's notice of completion of plan payments. (a) Certifications. All certifications shall substantially conform to the proper local form and contain the following statements: (1) a statement concerning payment of domestic support obligations; (2) a statement concerning compliance with 11 U.S.C. §§ 1141(d)(5)(C), 1228(1), or 1328(h), and § 522(q); (3) in Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 cases, a statement concerning completion of an instructional course concerning personal financial management described in 11 U.S.C. §111; (4) in Chapter 13 cases, a statement concerning compliance with § 1328(f)'s requirement of no discharge if the debtor received a discharge in a prior bankruptcy case filed within the prescribed periods. (b) Service. The debtor shall serve the certification of eligibility for discharge on the United States Trustee, the trustee, all domestic support obligation recipients, and all parties in interest. Unless a party in interest timely files an objection to the certification of eligibility for discharge, the court may find without a hearing that there is no reasonable cause to believe that: (1) Section 522(q)(1) may be applicable to the debtor; and (2) There is pending any proceeding in which the debtor may be found guilty of a felony of the kind specified in §522(q)(1 )(A) or liable for a debt of the kind described in §522(q)(1 )(B). Hardship Discharge.
(a) Certifications. A motion for hardship discharge under §1228(b) or §1328(b) shall conform to the proper bcal form. In addition to the certifications listed above, the motion shall include the following statements:
(1) a factual statement showing entitlement to discharge under §1228(b) or §1328(b); and (2) a statement concerning satisfaction of the best interest of creditors test under §1325(a)(4).
(b) Service. The debtor shall serve the motion for hardship discharge on the United States Trustee, the trustee, all domestic support obligation recipients, and all parties in interest. This order shall be effective January 4, 2016. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that General Order 2007-8, filed October 17, 2007, is vacated. Dated this 20th day of November, 2015. Susan D. Barrett
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2015-2
11 U.S.C. § 521 (i) requires that an individual debtor file certain papers within forty-five (45) days of the filing of a petition or the case is automatically dismissed. In confirmed Chapter 13 cases where it appears that the debtor(s) has timely filed the required documents, the confirmation order will include language indicating that the case is not subject to dismissal under § 521 (i)(1 ), and that the debtor is not required to file any further document pursuant to § 521 (i)(2).
In individual Chapter 7 cases where it appears that the debtor has timely filed the required documents, no sooner than 45 days following the filing of the petition the Court will enter an order indicating that the case is not subject to dismissal under § 521 (i)(1 ), and that the debtor is not required to file any further document pursuant to § 521 (i)(2). This order shall be effective January 4th, 2016. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that General Order 2007-5, Automatic Dismissals, filed March 2, 2007, is vacated. Susan D. Barrett
Dated this 20th day of November, 2015. (click here to view PDF)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2015-1
This General Order establishes revisions to Clerk's Office procedures for the filing of creditor mailing matrices, schedules, and statements. 1) This order vacates General Order 2005-4 dated August 23, 2005. 2) Creditor Mailing Matrix. The accuracy and completeness of creditor mailing matrices are the shared responsibility of the debtor and debtor's attorney. The Court will rely on the creditor mailing matrix as submitted by the debtor and debtor's attorney. The creditor mailing matrix must be consistent with the schedules provided with the petition. Parties may review the Court's mailing matrix for any registered preferred addresses. If an incomplete or inaccurate mailing matrix is submitted, it is the debtor's responsibility to send notice of the meeting of creditors to the creditors not served by the Court, and then file a Certificate of Service with the Court.
3) Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 1007, schedules and statements shall be filed with the petition or within fourteen (14) days of the filing of the petition. If required schedules and statements are not filed within fourteen (14) days, the case will be dismissed with prejudice barring refiling of a petition for 180 days. For more information on procedural matters counsel may contact the Clerk's Office or visit the Court's web site at www.gas.uscourts.gov. Dated this 23rd day of October, 2015. Susan D. Barrett
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2013-1
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that when a Chapter 13 plan is filed, the Trustee will direct the debtor’s employer to withhold from debtor’s wages an amount equal to the proposed payments under the debtor’s plan. Debtor’s employer will act on the Trustee’s Notice to Commence Withholding as provided for in this Order. If the debtor does not wish to be subjected to wage withholding, a motion must be submitted with the petition for direct pay to the Trustee setting forth why wage withholding would not be in the best interest of the debtor, the creditors, or the Chapter 13 Trustee. Absent the filing of such a motion, withholding will commence the first pay period following the filing of the plan and service of the Notice to Commence Wage Withholding on the debtor’s employer. The debtor shall notify the Chapter 13 Trustee of any changes in employment and/or withholding subsequent to the filing of the plan whereby the Chapter 13 Trustee shall file an amended Notice to Commence Wage Withholding with the Court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that General Order 2007-2, Chapter 13 Plan Payments, filed March 2, 2007, is vacated.
United States Bankruptcy Judge (click here to view PDF)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2012-1
Implementing Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3002.1
This order is promulgated to provide for the uniform implementation of Rule 3002.1 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, which became effective on December 1, 2011. Pursuant to Rule 3002.1 (c), the holder of a claim that is secured by a security interest in the debtor's principal residence and is provided for in the debtor's plan under 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b)(5) shall file and serve on the debtor, debtor's counsel, and the trustee a notice itemizing all fees, expenses, or charges (1) that were incurred in connection with the claim after the bankruptcy case was filed, and (2) that the holder asserts are recoverable against the debtor or against the debtor's principal residence.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the chapter 13 trustee shall not pay any fees, expenses, or charges disclosed by a creditor pursuant to Rule 3002.1(c) unless the debtor's plan is modified after the filing of the notice to provide for payment of such fees, expenses, or charges. Rule 3002.1 (f) states that [w]ithin 30 days after the debtor completes all payments under the plan, the trustee shall file and serve on the holder of the claim [that is secured by a security interest in the debtor's principal residence and is provided for in the debtor's plan under 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b)(5)], the debtor, and debtor's counsel a notice stating that the debtor has paid in full the amount required to cure any default on the claim. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the chapter 13 trustee shall file the form notice attached hereto and entitled "Notice of Completion of Plan Payments and Notice of Final Cure Payment" within 30 days after the debtor's completion of plan payments.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that upon the granting of stay relief in favor of a creditor that holds a claim secured by a security interest in the debtor's principal residence and that is provided for in the debtor's plan under 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b)(5), further compliance with the requirements of Rule 3002.1 are waived as to such creditor and as to the chapter 13 trustee.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2010-3
To fulfill the requirements of 11 U.S.C. §330(a), the
Court periodically reviews the reasonableness of compensation
awarded by the Court to counsel representing Chapter 13 debtors.
Having conducted such periodic review, IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that:
1) General Order 2007-6 filed March 1, 2007, is vacated.
2) The Court has not reviewed the relevant factors to support
Chapter 13 fee awards in over three years. A hearing has
been held and evidence presented in the case of In re
McDonald, chap. 13 case no. 09-10284 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. Oct.
1, 2010). The evidence proves that the prevailing hourly
rate for counsel practicing in the Southern District of
Georgia for attorneys of comparable skill, expertise, and
reputation has increased over that period of time in a
The evidence also establishes that the provisions of the
("BAPCPA") amendments, effective October 17, 2005, have
had a material effect on the amount of time attorneys must
devote to the representation of a Chapter 13 debtor in a
professional manner consistent with the standards of
practice prevailing in this District.
3) Effective in all Chapter 13 cases filed on or after
January 1, 2011, a claim for attorney's fees for services
rendered and expenses advanced to a Chapter 13 debtor will
be deemed automatically approved by the Court, in the
absence of an objection, so long as said claim does not
exceed the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00). The
$3,000.00 fee contemplates appearance by counsel of record
for the debtor at the §341 meeting and all hearings.
4) Debtors' counsel are directed to file written statements
pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016(b)
disclosing the fee arrangement with their clients.
Debtors' attorneys may represent debtors for a lesser
amount in appropriate cases when the amount and nature of
the debts or other relevant factors result in the
expenditure of substantially less attorney time than a
In the event a debtor's attorney subsequently determines
that an award of $3,000.00 does not adequately compensate
the attorney for legal services rendered, the attorney may
petition for reasonable attorney's fees disclosing all
time expended in such representation from the beginning of
the case under the standards set forth in 11 U.S.C. §330
and Norman v. Housing Authority of the city of Montgomery,
836 F. 2d 1292 (11th Cir. 1988).
United States Bankruptcy Judge John S. Dalis
Dated this 22nd day of December, 2010.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2010-2
Order Permitting Chapter 13 Trustee to Approve
Real Estate Loan Modification and the Incurring of Debt
The Court recognizes that after the filing of a petition under chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code
it may be necessary for a debtor to enter into agreements with creditors to modify security interests
in real property of the debtor or to incur consumer debt to obtain goods or services necessary to the
debtor's performance under a chapter 13 plan . As set forth in 11 U. S. C. § 1305(c), where prior
approval of the trustee is practicable to obtain,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the case trustee is authorized, without further order of this
Court, to grant permission to the debtor to enter into agreements to modify a security interest in the
debtor's real property or to incur debt as set forth in 11 U. S. C. § 1305. Nothing in this General Order
is to prevent the trustee from denying a request from the debtor to so modify or to incur debt, or
prevent the debtor from filing a motion seeking Court approval of a debtor's request to so modify or
to incur debt. Applications depicting the approval of the chapter 13 trustee to so modify or to incur
debt may be filed with the Clerk 's office in accordance with the Court's filing procedures.
Debtor's Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing: time period of fifteen days is amended to
Regarding Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1007-I and Amended Bankruptcy Form 22A
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2007-7 (posted October 19, 2007; Amended per General Order 2009-1)
Dated this 1st day of March, 2007.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that any petition filed without payment of the appropriate fee, application to pay in installments, or application to proceed in forma pauperis shall be dismissed immediately. Dated this 1st day of March, 2007.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-3(posted Oct. 13, 2005; This existing order vacates certain existing General Orders, and adopts a new Chapter 13 Plan and Motion, and a new Modification to Chapter 13 Plan. These new standard Plan and Modification forms are required to be used in all Chapter 13 cases filed on or after October 17, 2005.)
The following General Orders of this Court are vacated:
General Order 12 (1994)
General Order 1995-2
General Order 1996-2
General Order 1997-1
General Order 2001-1
In all Chapter 13 cases filed on or after October 17, 2005, counsel for the
debtors are required to utilize the Chapter 13 Plan and Motion and, if applicable, the Modification to Chapter 13 Plan After Confirmation, promulgated and distributed in this District which is attached hereto and posted on the Court's website at www.gas.uscourts.gov. Counsel's signature on the petition and in any other pleadings in the case shall be deemed to constitute a certification by counsel that the text of the Plan or Modification is identical in
every respect to the terms of the standard form Plan or Modification.
If the debtor proposes a Plan or Modification which deviates from the
standard form, the Plan or Modification shall contain the following in all capital letters and underlined text:
SEE ATTACHED PAGE FOR NON-STANDARD PLAN PROViSIONS
Failure to comply with the terms of this Order shall be grounds for
immediate dismissal of debtor's case and imposition of sanctions on the attorney of record.
This 13th day of October, 2005.
Lamar W. Dais, Jr.
Chief United States Bankupcty Judge
United States Bankupcty Judge (click here to view PDF)
Back to Top AMENDED GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-1 [Negative Notice Procedures] (posted Apr. 25, 2005; This order amends General Order 2005-1 establishing negative notice procedures for certain pleadings.)
General Order Number 2005-1 entered on March 23, 2005, is amended to read as follows:
Motion for Relief from Co-Debtor Stay (Chapter 13)
Objection to Claim (Chapters 7, 11 and 13)
Motion to Redeem Property (Chapters 7 and 13)
Motion to Avoid Lien (Chapters 7 and 13)
Modification of Plan After Confirmation (Chapter 13)
Motion for Direct Pay (Chapter 13)
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that any party seeking relief of the nature set forth above file the applicable pleading and adhere to the service and notice procedures set forth on the Court’s website, www.gas.uscourts.gov , as those procedures now appear or may hereafter be modified.
This 22nd day of April, 2005.
Lamar W. Davis, Jr
(click here to view Negative Notice PDF)
Back to Top GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-1 ( Amended per General Order 2009-1 and amended per Amended General Order 2005-1)
IN RE: Matters of Chapter 13 Case Administration
ORDER DISCHARGING PREDECESSOR
TRUSTEE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE Sylvia Ford Brown and M. Elaina Massey, Standing Chapter 13 Trustees for the Southern District of Georgia filed a joint motion to discharge the predecessor Trustee at the same time as the successor Trustee. The Court has read and reviewed the motion and hereby finds that the motion has merit. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the joint motion is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that until further order of this Court, whenever this Court issues an order discharging a Standing Trustee, that same order shall act as a discharge of a predecessor Trustee if there has been one in the case. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the discharge of the predecessor Trustee shall occur contemporaneously with the discharge of the successor Trustee regardless whether the predecessor Trustee was mentioned in the order discharging the successor Trustee. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED and this Court specifically finds that the same type
discharge shall be granted to Barnee C. Baxter who is not a party to this motion, but serves as a Standing Trustee in the Southern District of Georgia.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 15th day of January, 2004
HONORABLE LAMAR W DAVIS, JR.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2003-1
United States Bankruptcy Judge James D. Walker, Jr.
United States Bankruptcy Judge Entered at Savannah, Georgia this 7th day of February, 2003.
(5) All responses from the Court granting leave shall state the following: Your request for leave of absence for the period beginning [date] and ending [date] is granted subject to and in accordance with the provisions of General Order Number 1995-5 of this Court.
Leaves of absence granted by any Judge or the Clerk of this Court are effective in all matters pending in this Court.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2013-2
Order on Motion for Relief
Having determined that district wide uniformity is necessary for the submission of an Order on Motion for Relief,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that attorneys are required to utilize the Order on Motion for Relief form which is attached hereto. This form shall be utilized without exception. Modifications and/or nonconforming terms may be placed only in the "Other Provisions" section of the Court approved form, or attached as a separate page to the form.
For a copy of the most recent version of the GASB Order on Motion for Relief from Stay form, please visit the court's Forms page at the following web address:
www.gasb.uscourts.gov/usbcForms.asp
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2012-2
The Court, having determined that it is necessary to adopt local procedures to ensure uniformity in the deposit and investment of funds in the Court's Registry, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the following shall govern the receipt, deposit and investment of registry funds: I. Receipt of Funds
A. No money shall be sent to the Court or its officers for deposit in the Court's registry without a court order signed by the presiding judge in the case or proceeding. B. The party making the deposit or transferring funds to the Court's registry shall serve the order permitting the deposit or transfer on the Clerk of Court. C. Unless provided for elsewhere in this Order, all monies ordered to be paid to the Court or received by its officers in any case pending or adjudicated shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States in the name and to the credit of this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2041 through depositories designated by the Treasury to accept such deposit on its behalf. II. Investment of Registry Funds A. Where, by order of the Court, funds on deposit with the Court are to be placed in some form of interest-bearing account, the Court Registry Investment System ("CRIS"), administered by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts under 28 U.S.C. § 2045, shall be the only investment mechanism authorized. B. The Director of Administrative Office of the United States Courts is designated as custodian for CRlS. The Director or the Director's designee shall perform the duties of custodian. Funds held in the CRIS remain subject to the control and jurisdiction of the Court. C. Money from each case deposited in the CRlS shall be "pooled" together with those on deposit with Treasury to the credit of other courts in the CRIS and used to purchase Government Account Series securities through the Bureau of Public Debt, which will be held at the Treasury, in an account in the name and to the credit of the Director of Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The pooled funds will be invested in accordance with the principals of the CRIS Investment Policy as approved by the Registry Monitoring Group. D. An account for each case will be established in the CRIS titled in the name of the case giving rise to the investment in the fund. Income generated from fund investments will be distributed to each case based on the ratio each account's principal and earnings has to the aggregate principal and income total in the fund. Reports showing the interest earned and the principal amounts contributed in each case will be prepared and distributed to each court participating in the CRIS and made available to litigants and/or their counsel. III. Deductions of Fees A. The custodian is authorized and directed by this Order to deduct the investment services fee for the management of investments in the CRIS and the registry fee for maintaining accounts deposited with the Court. B. The investment services fee is assessed from interest earnings to the pool according to the Court's Miscellaneous Fee Schedule and is to be assessed before a pro rata distribution of earnings to court cases. C. The registry fee is assessed by the custodian from each case's pro rata distribution of the earnings and is to be determined on the basis of the rates published by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts as approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States. IV. Transition from Former Investment Procedure A. The Clerk of Court is further directed to develop a systematic method of redemption of all existing investments and their transfer to the CRIS. B. Parties not wishing to transfer certain existing registry deposits into the CRIS may seek leave to transfer them to the litigants or their designees on proper motion and approval of the judge assigned to the specific case. C. This Order supersedes and abrogates all prior orders of this Court regarding the deposit and investment of registry funds. Dated this 4th day of December, 2012.
Vacated per General Order 2016-1 (CRIS).
General Order Number 2010 -1
Electronic Case Files and Administrative Procedures
Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 5005(a)(2), authorizes the Court to establish practices and
procedures for filing, signing, and verifying documents by electronic means.
1. Effective November 4, 2005, documents may be filed, signed, and verified by electronic and
other means to the extent and in the manner required and authorized by previous General Order 2005-7,
Order Adopting Case Management/Electronic Case Files System (CM/ECF) and Local Bankruptcy Rules
for Electronic Case Files.
2. Effective October 1, 2010, absent good cause shown and the permission of the Court,
attorneys in good standing admitted to practice before this Court, to include attorneys admitted pro hacvice, will file, sign, and verify documents only by electronic means to the extent and in the manner
authorized by this General Order, and the Administrative Procedures attached hereto as Exhibit A,
Administrative Procedures for Filing, Signing, and Verifying Pleadings and Papers by Electronic Means
in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia (Administrative Procedures).
3. Attorneys not admitted to practice in the Southern District of Georgia, and other non-attorney
filers such as creditors, may request limited user access to file documents by electronic means to the
extent and in the manner authorized by this General Order and the Administrative Procedures.
4. The official record of the Court as required by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 5003 shall be the electronic
file maintained by the Court and such paper files as are permitted by the Administrative Procedures.
5. The Clerk's Office will implement and publish the Administrative Procedures, register
attorneys, and issue individual logins and passwords consistent with those procedures to permit
electronic filing and notice of pleadings and other documents.
6. Pro se litigants who are not attorneys in good standing admitted to the Bar of this Court must
file documents with the Court in paper form.
7. The electronic filing of a petition, pleading, motion, or other paper by an attorney who is a
registered participant in the Court's Electronic Case Files System shall constitute the signature of that
attorney for purposes of the application of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9011 and other
applicable rules. The attorney whose login and password are used to accomplish an electronic filing
certifies that the attorney and the attorney's law firm have authorized the filing.
8. No attorney shall knowingly permit or cause to permit his/her login or password to be used by
anyone other than an authorized employee of his/her law firm.
9. The electronic filing of a pleading or other paper in accordance with the Court's
Administrative Procedures shall constitute entry of that pleading or other paper on the docket kept by the
Clerk under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
10. Electronic filing does not alter the filing deadline for that document.
11. The Clerk's Office shall enter all orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings of the Court in
accordance with the Administrative Procedures, which shall constitute entry of the orders, decrees,
judgments, and proceedings on the docket kept by the Clerk under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure. Any order filed with the electronic signature of a judge shall have the same force and effect as
if the judge had affixed his or her signature to a paper order.
12. An attorney filing a pleading or other paper electronically shall serve the Notice of
Electronic Filing (NEF) by electronic means and such service will be considered the equivalent of service
of the pleading or other paper by first class mail, postage prepaid. This form of service applies only to
recipients of the notice or service who are registered participants in the Electronic Case Files (ECF)
system or have agreed in writing with the filer to accept such service in lieu of service by first class mail.
For all remaining recipients of service or notice unable to receive an electronic notice, the filing party
shall serve the pleading or paper upon all such entities in accordance with applicable bankruptcy rules.
When mailing paper copies of documents that have been electronically filed, the filing party must include
the "Notice of Electronic Filing" to provide the recipient with proof of the filing.
13. Receipt of an Electronic Case Files (ECF) login and password constitutes a request for
electronic service and electronic notice pursuant to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
14. An attorney filing a Verified Pleading should thereafter ma inta in in his or her office the
original Verified Pleading in its entirety for at least five (5) years after the conclusion of all appeals or
the expirat ion of time for filing a timely appeal, whichever is later. The filing of a Verified Pleading
constitutes a representation by the attorney who files it that the attorney has in his or her possession at
the time of filing the fully executed original Verified Pleading and that he or she agrees to maintain it for
the five (5) year period set forth above. A pleading or document that a person signs and thereby verifies,
certifies, declares, affirms, or swears under oath or penalty of perjury concerning the truth of the matters
set forth in that pleading or document is a "Verified Pleading."
15. This Order vacates General Order 2005-7 (Order Adopting Case Management/Electronic
Case Files System (CM/ECF) and Local Bankruptcy Rules for Electronic Case Files (ECF) and General
Order 2007-4 (Amendment of ECF Local Rule 7 and Debtor's Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing).
16. This Order is effective October 1, 2010, and shall be published together with Exhibit A,
Administrative Procedures for Electronic Filing, and Exhibit B, ECF Local Rules for the Southern
Vacated by General Order 2016-2.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2007-8 ( Amended per General Order 2009-1)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2007-6 (posted March 1, 2007)
Order setting attorney compensation taking into account the effect BAPCPA has had on the amount of time attorneys must devote to the representation of a Chapter 13 debtor.
Vacated per General Order 2010-3.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2007-5 (posted March 1, 2007)
1. Order Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §521 (i) 2. Notice of Automatic Dismissal
3. Notice of Time to Object to a Finding of Debtor's Compliance with the Requirements of 11 U.S.C. §521(i)
(Please see General Order 2007-5 for more information)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2007-4 (posted March 1, 2007; Amended per General Order 2009-1)
Amendment of ECF Local Rule 7 and Debtor’s Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing. FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL ORDER 2007-4:
Vacated per General Order 2010-1.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2007-2 (posted March 1, 2007)
Vacated per General Order 2013-1.
The revised procedure for Salary Orders is that Debtor's must now complete an initial wage withholding order which must accompany the Chapter 13 plan. (click here to view PDF)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-7(posted Nov. 4, 2005)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-6(posted Oct. 28, 2005)
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-5 (posted Oct. 14, 2005; Order Regarding Lease and Adequate Protection Payments)
11 U.S.C. § 1326(11) provides that Chapter 13 debtors shall make certain payments "directly" to certain lessors or creditors, "unless the Court orders otherwise."
After due consideration the Count enters this Order for the purpose of permitting
debtors in their Plan to elect whether to (1) remit those payments "directly" or (2) remit those payments to the Trustee, earmarked for the purpose set forth by Congress.
This action is based in part upon the following considerations and is authorized by § 1326 and § 105:
1. Judicial Economy. No mandatory provision, either allowing or
prohibiting these payments to be handled by the Chapter 13 Trustee, can
possibly meet the particular needs of every case. Failure to order in
advance that debtors may elect the method most likely to permit their
Plans to succeed will inevitably lead to countless motions to obtain this
permission on a case-by-case basis, consuming untold hours of judicial
and administrative resources and driving the cost of Chapter 13 proceeds
to debtors, creditors, and counsel higher than can be justified.
2. Record-keeping and Evidentiary Considerations. Chapter 13 Trustees
act as fiduciaries, and are uniquely qualified to receive and disburse funds, and to provide reliable records of all such payments. All parties in Chapter 13 cases justifiably rely heavily upon the integrity of these transactions and the records that the Trustee maintains and provides, at no additional cost, to all parties in interest.
3. Creditors' Interests Protected. In the case of adequate protection
payments, because debtor's obligation to make these payments is not
triggered until a claim is "allowed" and because claims are not "allowed" until filed (§ 502), it may be impossible for a debtor to know
when to begin making such payments "directly". Payment to the Trustee
of funds estimated to cover these claims will ensure debtors do not
become delinquent under this provision simply because they lack any
notice of an obligation to commence making them. Creditors rights are
preserved under longstanding precedent of this Court. See In re Coplin,
1987 W. L 61929 (Bankr. S.D. Ga.). Coplin ensures that funds held by
a Trustee in a case that is dismissed are held for a sufficient period of
time, not expressly provided by the terms of § 1326(a)(2),so as to permit
creditors with an interest in those funds to make a claim to them See also In re Holly, 109 B.R. 524 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. 1989). Holly applied the Coplin decision to Chapter 13 cases in the event of conversion to
Chapter 7. Therefore, in the event of either dismissal or conversion of
Chapter 13 case, funds held to provide for adequate protection will be
applied to that purpose. The amendments to § 1326 do not negate this precedent.
4. Timely Hearing on Objections. Confirmation hearings will be
conducted prior to the deadline for filing claims. As a result, the Court
can timely adjudicate any dispute over the amount and method of
payment of these claims at confirmation, should a timely objection to the
Plan be filed by any creditor.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 1326 and 105,
commencing October 17, 2005, debtors are authorized to designate in their Chapter 13 Plans whether lease and adequate protection payments shall be made "directly" to the creditor or remitted to the Trustee. If these payments are remitted to the Trustee they shall be paid to the creditor
designated in the Plan after a claim is allowed until confirmation or further order of this Court. Creditor's rights in these funds shall be governed by the terms of a confirmed Plan, further order of Court, or in the case of a dismissal prior to confirmation, remitted to the creditor for whose benefit they were paid by Debtor and held during the pendency of the case.
This 14th day of October, 2005.
GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-4(posted Aug. 25, 2005; This order revises the Clerk's Office procedures for the filing of creditor mailing matrixes, effective August 29, 2005.)
This general order establishes revisions to clerk's office procedures for the filing of creditor mailing matrices. The following procedural change will be implemented effective Monday, August 29, 2005.
The accuracy and completeness of creditor mailing matrices are the shared responsibility of the debtor and debtor's attorney. The Court will rely on the creditor mailing matrix as submitted by the debtor and debtor's attorney. Attached as Exhibit 1 is the Certification of Creditor Mailing Matrix form which must be filed with the creditor mailing matrix. The creditor mailing matrix must be consistent with the schedules provided with the petition.
If an incomplete or inaccurate mailing matrix is submitted, it is the debtor's responsibility to send notice of the meeting of creditors to the creditors not served by the Court. Debtor must then file a Certificate of Service with the Court.
A list of preferred addresses is attached as Exhibit 2. Attorneys should periodically review the court's website at www.gas.uscourts.gov for revisions to this list.
Dated at Savannah, Georgia
This 23rd day of August, 2005.
Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Vacated per General Order 2015-1.
(click here to view PDF) GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 2005-2(posted Oct. 13, 2005)
The effect on cases in this district resulting from the adoption of amendments to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26.
Filing of Proofs of Claim on or after June 1, 1997.
New plan and modification forms for Chapter 13.
Vacated per General Order 2005-3. GENERAL ORDER 1995-3. [Payment in Installments]. In every Chapter 13 case filed in this District in which the debtor requests permission to pay filing fees in installments,
This 11th day of May, 1995. (click here to view pdf) GENERAL ORDER 1995-2. [Hearings on Confirmation].
Provisions made to provide for the payment of all timely governmental claims without delaying the administration of cases filed under Chapter 13.
The filiing of petitions not in conformity with Section 1930 or Bankruptcy Rule 1006.