March 25, 2008 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that the ECF (Electronic Case Filing) system will be unavailable Sunday, March 30, between 8:00 AM and midnight for a software upgrade.

February 14, 2008 - Application for Approval as Third-Party Notice Provider
Any entities that are interested in entering into separate arrangements with creditors for delivery services comparable to those provided through the Bankruptcy Notice Center program's National Creditor Registration Service (NCRS) may apply for approval as a third-party notice provider.  Please fax the completed application to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Court, Bankruptcy Court Administration Division (BCAD) at (202) 502-1511.  A list of approved notice providers will be posted on the Judiciary's public website at www.uscourts.gov.  If you have any questions regarding the status of your application, please contact BCAD at (202) 502-1540.

January 17, 2008 - Statutory Increase in Chapter 11 Quarterly Fees
Effective January 1, 2008, quarterly fees on disbursements paid by chapter 11 debtors have increased due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008.  Bankruptcy Form B200 has been revised to incorporate the new fees.

December 26, 2007 – Closing of Clerk's Office
Administrative Order No. 2007-4 has been signed closing the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern and Northern Divisions, on December 31, 2007 at noon.  The order also extends the time to timely file a pleading or paper until the next business day.

December 19, 2007 – Closing of Clerk's Office
Administrative Order No. 2007-3 has been signed closing the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern and Northern Divisions, on December 24, 2007.  The order also extends the time to timely file a pleading or paper until the next business day.

November 23, 2007 - CM/ECF Scheduled Maintenance
Please be advised the CM/ECF system will be going offline for an upgrade on Friday, November 30 between 3PM and 5PM for a software upgrade.

October 4, 2007 - Investiture Ceremony for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Scott W. Dales
The investiture ceremony of Scott W. Dales as U. S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Michigan is on Friday, October 5, 2007, at 2:00 pm.  The ceremony will be held in Courtroom C, One Division Ave., N, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a reception immediately following. Please note that a live video feed to accommodate overflow seating in Grand Rapids will be available in the courtroom of the Hon. James D. Gregg (Courtroom B). In addition, a live video feed will also be available for viewing at the Marquette divisional office located at the U.S. Post Office and Federal Building, 202 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor Courtroom, Marquette, Michigan.

September 26, 2007 - Former US Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Heitman
Judge Gregg regrets to inform you that former bankruptcy judge Marvin Heitman, Western District of Michigan, Northern Division, passed away early this morning. Judge Heitman served with great distinction as a United States Bankruptcy Judge until 1987. After he left the bench, he engaged in the private practice of law in Marquette, Michigan. During his tenure as a bankruptcy judge, he handled a number of large and significant cases, including In re Upper Peninsula Shipbuilding Company. He will be remembered as a great judge and attorney.

In accordance with Judge Heitman's expressed desire, there will be no memorial service. The family has not yet designated any charity to which contributions in his memory may be made. For those of you who knew Judge Heitman or practiced before him, letters or cards of condolences may be sent to:

Mrs. Jackie Heitman
907 West Magnetic
Marquette, MI 49855

September 24, 2007 - 2008 Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference
The 2008 Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 7-10, and is open to all attorneys admitted to practice in the Sixth Circuit. Please plan to attend this exciting conference where you will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with federal judges from across the Sixth Circuit and attend a first class educational program, approved for CLE credit. Please see the flier for further information

August 9, 2007 - Open House in honor of David Scalici
David G. Scalici, Calendar Clerk for Judge Gregg, will be retiring after 30 years of service with the U.S. Courts. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court is hosting an open house in his honor on Thursday, September 13, 2007 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The open house will take place at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, One Division Avenue, Second Floor, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Please feel free to stop by and share stories, congratulate Dave, and have some refreshments as we bid our friend and co-worker good-bye.

June 25, 2007 - Applications to Pay Filing Fees in Installments
The Judges of this court have determined that applications to pay filing fees in installments must indicate an installment schedule of four equal monthly installments, not to exceed 120 days from the date of filing. In addition, pursuant to LBR 1006(b), any unpaid filing fees from a prior bankruptcy proceeding will result in the denial of the application to pay filing fees in installments. Accordingly, please conform future applications to such a payment schedule to avoid a delay/denial of debtors' installment fee applications.

June 21, 2007 - Court Rotation Announcement
As many of you already know, the Sixth Circuit has designated Scott Dales to replace Judge Stevenson as the third bankruptcy judge in this district. However, Mr. Dales cannot actually be appointed until his background checks are completed.

The three-year rotation for the Lansing, Marquette and Traverse City courts ends this December. Ordinarily, Judge Gregg would have assumed responsibility for the Marquette calendar and I would have assumed responsibility for the Lansing calendar beginning next year. However, Judge Gregg and I have decided that the Lansing assignment will give Mr. Dales the best opportunity to familiarize himself with the court and its procedures. Therefore, Judge Gregg will continue with the Traverse City calendar and I will continue with the Marquette calendar for the time being.

It is possible that no further change will be made to the rotation until another 3 years have passed. However, no final decision will be made until Mr. Dales has been appointed and the three of us have had an opportunity to talk.

- Judge Jeffrey R. Hughes

June 7, 2007 - 19th Annual FBA Bankruptcy Section Seminar
The Federal Bar Association (Bankruptcy Section) for the Western District of Michigan will be conducting it's 19th annual bankruptcy seminar entitled "A New Bankruptcy World" on July 26, 27 & 28 at the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City, Michigan. Please see the flier for information regarding registration, educational sessions, hotel, etc.

April 19, 2007 - Bankruptcy Workshops
As part of its ongoing Civil Enforcement Initiative, the Office of the United States Trustee, together with the Chapter 7 and 13 trustees for the Western District of Michigan, will present free training workshops on how to prepare the "Means Test" Form B22A.  For more information and a copy of the registration form, please review the flier.

March 27, 2007 - Automatic Adjustment of Certain Dollar Amounts
On April 1, 2007, automatic adjustments to the dollar amounts stated in various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and one provision to Title 28 of the United States Code will become effective.  These amended dollar amounts will only apply to cases filed on or after April 1, 2007.  The seven Official Bankruptcy Forms affected will be amended April 1, 2007, and can be obtained via the Judiciary's website.  (Official Form 1, 6C, 6E, 7, 10, 22A and 22C).  Please see excerpts of the amended forms with changes along with the revised Federal Register (page 7082) for further details.

February 20, 2007- ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that due to scheduled maintenance, the ECF system will be unavailable Thursday, February 22, 2007, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

February 9, 2007 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that due to scheduled maintenance, the ECF system will be unavailable Monday, February 12, 2007, from 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM.

February 8, 2007 - Report Suspected Bankruptcy Fraud
As part of the Department of Justice's efforts to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse, and protect the bankruptcy system's integrity, the Executive Office of the U.S. Trustees has launched an Internet hotline, which allows the public to report suspected instances of bankruptcy fraud.

January 25, 2007 – Adoption of Revised Local Bankruptcy Rules
Administrative Order No. 2007-1 has been signed promulgating and adopting the recently revised local bankruptcy rules.  These newly updated local rules will go into effect February 1, 2007 and can be located for download on our local rules page.

January 23, 2007 - Bankruptcy Subpoena Forms
The bankruptcy subpoena forms - B-254 (Subpoena for Rule 2004 Examination), B-255 (Subpoena in an Adversary Proceeding), and B-256 (Subpoena in a Case Under the Bankruptcy Code) - have been updated to reflect the "electronic discovery" amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that took effect on December 1, 2006. The revised forms are posted at http://www.uscourts.gov/bkforms/bankruptcy_forms.html

January 17, 2007 - New Local Bankruptcy Rules Take Effect February 1, 2007
Effective February 1, 2007 the court's updated local rules will take effect.  The newest rules are available in PDF for download on our local rules page, in addition to the existing rules.

January 16, 2007 - Credit Card Security Code
Effective February 1, 2007, use of the credit card security code will be required when paying filing fees in CM/ECF.  This field adds additional protection for credit card holders.  This security code is usually 3 digits on the back of the credit card.

December 29, 2006 - National Day of Mourning
To honor the memory of former President Gerald R. Ford, Tuesday, January 2, 2007 has been declared a National Day of Mourning with all U.S. government offices, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, closed.  All matters currently scheduled for hearing before Hon. Jeffrey R. Hughes on that date in Marquette will be heard on Thursday, January 4, 2007.  The times for each hearing will remain unchanged. Due to the public viewing and funeral procession in downtown Grand Rapids, and security surrounding this affair, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Grand Rapids will also be closed Wednesday, January 3, 2007.  Court offices in Marquette will remain open on Wednesday.

Read the Administrative Order for more information.

December 20, 2006 - Filing Fee Increases
The Judicial Conference has approved changes to various filing fees which will become effective January 1, 2007.  Please see the updated fee schedule for details.

December 8, 2006 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that due to a system upgrade, the ECF system will be unavailable on Monday, December 11, 2006, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

December 1, 2006 - Judicial Liaison Program
On January 1, 2007 the Bankruptcy Judges of the Western District of Michigan will initiate a Performance Appraisal process inviting comments from all Court users, including attorneys who practice in the Western District, professionals involved in bankruptcy cases, and the general public.  For more information about this program, please read the official announcement.

November 16, 2006 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that the Court's ECF system will be unavailable today, November 16, 2006, starting at 5 PM until 6 PM for necessary system maintenance.

November 2, 2006 - Notice of Vacancy for Bankruptcy Judge Position
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan has a bankruptcy Judge position available. See the vacancy announcement for more information.

November 2, 2006 - Pay.gov Maintenance
Pay.gov will be upgrading the internet credit card payment system beginning the week of November 23, 2006.  As a result, all CM/ECF users making fee payments by internet credit card through Pay.gov must use a browser that supports 128 bit encryption.  Listed below is a list, provided by Pay.gov, containing supported versions of browsers.

Minimum browser requirements to support 128 bit encryption:
  IE 6.0 (Recommended)
  Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or greater
  Mozilla 1.7 or greater
  Netscape 7.x
  Safari 1.2 (for MAC users)  

Not Recommended:
  IE 5.5 or lower

October 4, 2006 - Administrative Order 2006-2 Re: ECF Downtime
In order to comply with the statistical requirements of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), an upgrade to the Court's Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system must be made. ECF will be unavailable commencing at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, 2006 until completion of this necessary upgrade. Administrative Order 2006-2 was signed on October 4, 2006, extending the time period for the filing of pleadings or other papers until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2006.

September 27, 2006 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
The Court’s Electronic Filing (ECF) system will be unavailable on Friday, October 13, 2006, starting at 5:00 PM due to a major upgrade to version 3.1.  Access to ECF will be restored on Monday, October 16, 2006 for business as usual.  This 3.1 upgrade is necessary to accommodate statistical requirements of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), which becomes effective October 17, 2006.  All practitioners are advised that documents which need to be filed on Friday, October 13, 2006, must be filed by 5:00 PM.

As a result of this new ECF version, attorneys will need to upgrade their bankruptcy software programs by October 16, 2006.  Older versions of petition software will not work with version 3.1.  Likewise, any bankruptcy software modified for version 3.1 cannot be used with the current ECF version of 3.0.  If you are unable to upgrade your bankruptcy software by October 16, you may still electronically file cases as instructed in your initial training class. 

September 27, 2006 - Amendment to Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1007
The Judicial Conference has approved an amendment to Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1007.  The amendment provides debtors a 15-day grace period within which to file a certificate showing completion of a credit counseling course.  In addition, the Judicial Conference has also approved proposed revisions to several Official Forms.  These changes include Official Form 1, which implements the proposed amendment to Interim Rule 1007.   The proposed amendments to the Official Forms may be viewed at www.uscourts.gov/bankform.  The effective date of the revised Official Forms is October 1, 2006.

September 20, 2006 - Bankruptcy Workshops
As part of its ongoing Civil Enforcement Initiative, the Office of the United States Trustee, together with the Chapter 7 and 13 trustees for the Western District of Michigan, will present free training workshops on how to prepare the "Means Test" Form B22A.  For more information and a copy of the registration form, please review the flier.

August 18, 2006 - Comments Invited on Proposed Local Rules
The Committee on Local Rules has completed a review and revision of the Local Bankruptcy Rules. Those proposed revised Rules are now available from our Local Rules Page on this website. The Court solicits comments from the general public and the bar.

August 16, 2006 - Electronic Case Filing (ECF) Server Upgrade
Please be advised that due to the upgrade of the Court's server, the Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system will be unavailable starting at 5:00 PM on Friday, August 18, 2006 until Monday, August 21, 2006 at 6:00 AM.

August 11, 2006 - New Version of Pay.Gov
Starting on August 14, 2006, a new version of Pay.gov, 3.4, will be implemented.  Under the new version, electronic filers will see a new field when paying filing fees.  This new field is titled ‘Security Code’ and is located under the ‘Card Number’ field.  Although this field may be utilized, it is NOT a requirement for paying fees.

August 1, 2006 - Electronic Case Filing (ECF) Maintenance
Please be advised that the Court's ECF system will be undergoing routine maintenance and will be unavailable Tuesday, August 1, 2006 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

July 7, 2006 - ECF Downtime
The Court's Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system will be unavailable until Saturday, July 8, 2006
due to unscheduled maintenance.

June 21, 2006 - 18th Annual FBA Bankruptcy Section Seminar
The 18th Annual FBA Bankruptcy Seminar will be held August 17-19 at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan.  Registration forms are available here.  Contact Lori L. Purkey at (269) 383-5847 mailto:purkey@millercanfield.com or Steve Rayman at (269) 345-5156 mailto:slr@raymanstone.com for more information.

June 6, 2006 - Administrative Order 2006-1 Re: ECF Downtime
Due to a major upgrade to version 3.0, the Court's Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system will be unavailable starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2006 until the upgrade is completed.  Administrative Order 2006-1 was signed June 6, 2006 allowing for the extension of time for pleadings or documents due June 26, 2006. 

June 2, 2006 – Courtroom Technology Training
The Court is offering training to familiarize attorneys, who practice in this district, on the use of courtroom technology as it relates to evidence presentation (i.e. use of overhead projector, document camera, white board/smart board, document annotation systems, evidence monitors, etc).  Two sessions are being offered:  July 17 and July 24, starting at 10:00 AM.  The length of the class is expected to last approximately 45 minutes – 1 hour.  Training will be conducted in Judge Stevenson’s Courtroom at One Division Ave, NW, 2^nd Floor.  The Court is strongly recommending that attorneys, who are not familiar with this type of technology and who anticipate utilizing these devices, attend one of these two sessions.

June 2, 2006 – New Local Reaffirmation Agreement Form
A new reaffirmation agreement form (B 240-miwb) is now to be submitted in all cases assigned to the Honorable Jo Ann C. Stevenson.  This new local reaffirmation agreement form is located under the local forms link.

April 6, 2006 – ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that the ECF (Electronic Case Filing) system will be unavailable for approximately twelve hours starting at 12:00 AM, April 9, 2006 due to a needed performance upgrade to accommodate the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. 

March 30, 2006 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that due to a server room upgrade, the ECF (Electronic Case Filing) system will be going offline Thursday, March 30 starting at 3:30PM. for approximately one hours.

March 16, 2005 - Filing Fee Increases
The enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 includes the increase of bankruptcy filing fees for Chapter 7 and Chapter13 proceedings.  The new filing fees will be effective April 9, 2006.

March 15, 2005 - PACER Downtime
Please be advised the that due to maintenance, PACER will be unavailable Wednesday, March 15 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

March 14, 2006 - Notice Re: E-Order Program
Judge Gregg is now utilizing the same electronic order signing module (E:Orders) that Judge Stevenson has been using.  Changes have been made to the E:Order program, which entail new requirements as to the submission of proposed orders.  Please be sure to review these new requirements as these are effective immediately.

March 10, 2006 - Pay.gov Maintenance
Pay.gov will be undergoing system maintenance on Sunday, March 12 from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM and on Sunday, March 19 from 12:00 AM to 6:00 AM.  During this time, pay.gov may be unavailable for processing transactions, however, this maintenance will not affect the Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system.

January 27, 2006 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that the ECF (Electronic Case Filing) system will be unavailable Wednesday, February 15, starting at 5:00 p.m. for approximately three hours due to system maintenance.

January 27, 2006 - Change of Address for Chapter 13 Trustee Brett N. Rodgers
The office of Chapter 13 Trustee Brett N. Rodgers has moved and is now located at 50 Louis Street NW, Ste 700, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.  Phone number and fax number remain same.

January 4, 2006 - Notice Re: Mail sent to Court's Grand Rapids Office
The court will no longer be utilizing its post office box of 3310.  All mail intended for the Court’s Grand Rapids office must be mailed to the following:   
                                          U.S. Bankruptcy Court
                                          One Division Ave., N.W.
                                          Room 200
                                          Grand Rapids, MI 49503. 
Although the post office will forward mail sent to the post office box for approximately a one-year period, please note that mail forwarded to One Division will take an additional day of mail service for the court to receive. 

January 4, 2006 - ECF (Electronic Case Filing) System Downtime
Please be advised that the ECF (Electronic Case Filing) system will be unavailable Thursday, January 5, starting at 3:30 p.m. for approximately three hours due to system maintenance.