EFFECTIVE Monday, June 27, 2022 - [NEW Limitations on Using Emergency Mailbox]

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2022-05, the electronic mailbox filing option referenced below MUST ONLY be used by a person who is not represented by a lawyer (self-represented) who needs to file with the Clerk of Court a voluntary bankruptcy petition and any documents required for filing the petition and cannot do so in person or by timely mailing the petition and documents to the Clerk of Court.

ONLY a voluntary bankruptcy petition and any required documents for filing along with the voluntary petition as indicated in the Clerk’s Filing Instructions, WILL be accepted for filing using the electronic mailbox.

ONLY required documents that are submitted electronically along with the voluntary petition, on the day the petition is electronically transmitted to the Clerk for filing, will be accepted for filing.  Any required document received in the electronic mailbox AFTER the voluntary petition is transmitted to the Clerk, will NOT be accepted for filing. All post-petition documents must be submitted via US Mail or in-person during normal business hours between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.

The Clerk will also REFUSE to accept for filing all other case documents (including motions, applications, objections, responses, pleadings, and requests for service from the Clerk’s Office) that are received in the electronic mailbox.

The voluntary petition and required documents (except for the creditor mailing matrix), must be submitted in PDF format to the Clerk by electronic mail (“electronic transmission”) to the following email address:  FLSB-EMERGENCY-FILINGS@flsb.uscourts.gov.

1. DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY SENT shall not be considered “FILED” until the filer receives an electronic reply from the Clerk confirming the filing.  Documents sent after 4:00 p.m. will be stamped "FILED" the next business day.

2. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE REQUIRED – any electronic transmission that requires a signature shall either be signed:

1. 1. with the original handwritten signature of the filer, then scanned and included in the electronic transmission to the Clerk, or

1. 2. electronically signed using “/s/” followed by the filer’s full name.

3. ORIGINAL SIGNATURE REQUIRED – The original petition or other original document(s) containing the original wet signature in ink of the filer must be received by the Clerk within seven (7) days from the date the petition and documents were electronically transmitted to the Clerk. Original petition and documents must be mailed or delivered in-person to one of the following divisional offices:

Miami - United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Florida, 301 North Miami Avenue, Ste. 150, Miami, FL 33128

Fort Lauderdale - United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Florida, 299 East Broward Blvd., Ste. 112, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

West Palm Beach - United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Florida, 1515 North Flagler Drive, 8^th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

4. PHOTO ID AND OTHER DOCUMENTS REQUIRED - Only an individual (self-represented) debtor may use the emergency electronic mailbox to file a voluntary petition and required documents.  The debtor must include a legible photocopy of a current government-issued photo identification along with the petition.  A person claiming authority through a power of attorney or a court-appointed guardian shall only file the voluntary petition and required documents in-person or by mail and must NOT use the emergency electronic mailbox.

5. PAYMENT OF FILING FEE – The filing fee for the voluntary petition must be received by the Clerk within seven (7) days from the date the petition is electronically transmitted to the Clerk for filing, by mailing a certified check or money order (cash is no longer an accepted as a form of payment – see Administrative Order 2021-09), in the exact amount, payable to Clerk, U.S. Court.  Fees may also be paid online by clicking a Pay.Gov link contained in the "Clerk's Confirmation" email to the filer.  The case number must be included on the certified check or money order. If the filer wishes to receive a receipt for the payment, the filer must include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with the payment.

6. CLERK’S DEFICIENCY NOTICE – The Clerk will issue a deficiency notice listing all missing documents and outstanding filing fees.  If any of the requirements of the Clerk’s Filing Instructions are not met by the established deadline(s), the Court, without further notice, may dismiss your case or deny the relief requested.

7. DEBTOR ELECTRONIC BANKRUPTCY NOTICING (DeBN) – A debtor may request to receive (free of charge) Court notices and orders via email, instead of U.S. mail through the DeBN program.  Debtor must submit Local Form Debtor’s Request to Receive Notices Electronically Under DeBN Program

8. CREDIT COUNSELING REQUIRED BEFORE FILING

DEBTORS MUST READ THIS BEFORE FILING A PETITION         [CLICK HERE]

9. Self-represented parties should first review the resources available on the Court website for individuals that Don't Have a Lawyer.  Questions regarding filing procedures in any division may contact by phone, the Clerk’s Office Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Miami: (305) 714-1800, Fort Lauderdale: (954) 769-5700, West Palm Beach: (561) 514-4100. Also, questions may be directed to the Clerk of Court by email to:  Webmaster_FLSB@flsb.uscourts.gov. 

Filing a [Chapter 7 Case]

Filing a [Chapter 13 Case]

BE ADVISED THAT CLERK'S OFFICE STAFF CANNOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE