U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama

Filing

A filing prepared in any aspect with generative AI must identify the program and certify that the filer checked factual and legal accuracy.

“Effective September 1, 2026, any pleadings, motion, or paper (whether moving, opposing, or in reply) prepared in any aspect by using a generative artificial intelligence (‘AI’) program must include or be accompanied by a disclosure and certification by the filer: • Identifying the AI program used, and • Certifying that the filer checked the document for factual and legal accuracy using print reporters, traditional legal databases, or other reliable means.”

Filing

After a debtor files a Rule 3002.1(e) motion to determine, a claim holder needs a court order to withdraw the related Rule 3002.1(c) notice.

“After a debtor has filed a Rule 3002.1(e) motion to determine in response to a Rule 3002. 1(c) notice of postpetition mortgage fees, expenses, and charges, the claim holder cannot withdraw the Rule 3002.1(c) notice except by court order and on such conditions as the court LAP may impose.”

Filing

Submit the HSD designation request and proposed material to the clerk in a sealed envelope marked “HIGHLY SENSITIVE DOCUMENT.”

“The request and the proposed HSD material shall be submitted to the clerk’s office in a sealed envelope marked ‘HIGHLY SENSITIVE DOCUMENT.’ The outside of the envelope shall be affixed with a copy of the HSD’s caption”

Filing

In Chapter 13 cases filed from April 1, 2023, debtors must arrange wage withholding or automatic TFS payments when filing the plan unless excused by the trustee or court.

“Unless excused by the trustee or the court, at the time they file their chapter 13 plan debtors shall either (a) file a request for their employer to withhold wages by check or through TFS Employer Pay in an amount equal to their monthly plan payment to be remitted to the trustee, or (b) set up automatic payments to the trustee through TFS Billpay System (www.tfsbillpay.com) in an amount equal to their monthly plan payment.”

Motions

Chapter 13 discharge motions filed on Local Form LBF283 may use negative notice.

“(c) Motions for discharge in chapter 13 filed using Local Form LBF283.”

Motions

For an agreed Chapter 7 stay-lift request, use the joint ECF motion event with creditor, debtor, and trustee signatures.

“The court has eliminated the ‘consent motion for relief from stay’ ECF event and created an ECF event called ‘Joint Motion for Approval of Agreement to Lift Stay in a Chapter 7 Case’ with wet or electronic signatures on behalf of the creditor, debtor, and Chapter 7 trustee. The event does not require a fee, and the parties are authorized to send a proposed order to chambers without a hearing, affidavit, or fact summary.”

Conferences

A lawyer seeking telephone participation should email the judge’s courtroom deputy with case numbers by 2 p.m. the day before the hearing.

“The judges ask that a lawyer who wishes to participate telephonically email that request (including the case numbers) to the judge’s courtroom deputy by 2 p.m. the day before the hearing.”

Conferences

The Chapter 13 trustee must provide at least 28 days’ notice when an original or amended plan is filed within 28 days of an unnotified confirmation hearing.

“However, if the debtor files and serves an original or amended plan (1) within 28 days of any confirmation hearing date (initial or continued) or (2) at any time before a pending confirmation date which has not been noticed to all creditors, then the chapter 13 trustee is directed to provide at least 28 days’ notice to creditors of the confirmation hearing date (and continuing it if necessary).”

Sealing

File a motion to seal through CM/ECF without attaching the document; after approval, use the “document under seal” event.

“A motion to file a document under seal shall be filed through the CM/ECF system without filing or attaching the subject document. If the motion is granted, a party may electronically file the document under seal by using the ‘document under seal’ event in the miscellaneous menu.”

Sealing

To redact Rule 9037(a) personal identifiers, file a Notice of Redaction with the redacted document attached.

“Any entity seeking to redact personal data identifiers as described in Bankruptcy Rule 9037(a) -- social security or taxpayer identification numbers, birth dates, names of non-debtor minors, or financial account numbers -- from a filed document.may file a Notice of Redaction (‘Notice’) using the ECF event ‘Notice of Redaction’ with the redacted document included as the attachment.”

Sealing

To redact information beyond Rule 9037(a) personal identifiers, file a motion in an open case.

“Any request to redact information other than the personal data identifiers described in Bankruptcy Rule 9037(a) shall be made by motion in an open case.”