Clerk's Office
Clerk’s Office staff can assist you with general administrative functions. For example, staff can answer administrative questions about your case, complete copy requests, perform records searches, and provide general information about the court. Employees are prohibited from providing information which may be characterized as legal advice, assisting with the preparation of bankruptcy forms, discussing the legal aspects of your case with you (known as ex parte communication), and functioning as a case participant’s advocate before the Court. Telephones are answered from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday local time, except on federal holidays and other days when the Intake Counter is closed as designated by the court from time to time.
Toll Free: (866) 639-4615
Local: (850) 521-5001
CMECF_HelpDesk@flnb.uscourts.gov
Chambers
Chambers staff is prohibited from providing information that may be characterized as legal advice, assisting with preparation of bankruptcy forms, discussing the legal aspects of your case with you (known as ex parte communication), and functioning as a case participant’s advocate before the Court.
- Chief Bankruptcy Judge Karen K. Specie (Florida Northern District)
- Chief Bankruptcy Judge Jerry C. Oldshue (Alabama Southern District for Florida Northern Cases)
- Bankruptcy Judge Henry A. Callaway (Alabama Southern District for Florida Northern Cases)
Case Administrator Assignments
Cases in the Northern District of Florida are randomly assigned to Case Administrators throughout the district shortly after filing. The name of the Case Administrator to whom a case is assigned is located at the top of the docket report in CM/ECF. For information on contacting a Case Administrator, please call toll free (866) 639-4615 or (850) 521-5001.
Divisional Locations
McVCIS (Multi-Court Voice Case Information System)
(866) 222-8029 (Toll Free)
Select 1 for English, 2 for Spanish
Select 3 to choose the state group that includes Florida
Select State Code 3 (Florida)
Select District Code 1 (Northern)
Case information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A case number, complete name, or a Social Security number/individual taxpayer identification number is required to obtain case information. The information available from the automated system includes the following:
- Case number
- Name(s) of debtor(s), or principal parties
- Case filing date
- Case chapter
- Debtor's attorney's name and phone number
- Trustee's name
- Assigned judge's name
- Discharge and closing dates
- 341(a) meeting date, time, and location
- Case status
- Whether the case has assets
- Case disposition
Emergency Filing Service (EFS)
What is the Emergency Filing Service (EFS)?
The EFS allows self-represented parties to submit certain types of documents through email when the Clerk’s Office is closed. The function of the EFS is to preserve a file date. Documents submitted in accordance with this procedure will be deemed filed on the date and at the time indicated on the email.
Important Notice: Documents submitted via the EFS will not be reviewed, processed, or docketed by Clerk’s Office staff until the next business day. New case numbers will not be issued outside of normal business hours. Please plan ahead accordingly.
What types of documents may be submitted through the EFS?
The following categories of documents may be submitted for filing via the EFS:
• Filings that result in the issuance of a new case number (e.g., bankruptcy petitions, adversary proceeding complaints, and miscellaneous proceeding case initiating documents);
• Filings that satisfy a deadline that requires filing action; and
• Filings that continue a deadline that expires on the current day.
When is the EFS available for use?
The EFS may be utilized when the Clerk’s Office is closed. The Clerk’s Office is open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. local time on business days, which means the EFS is available outside of those hours (i.e., between 4:01 p.m. and 8:59 a.m. local time the next business day). In addition, the EFS is available all day on weekends, holidays, and on other days when the Clerk’s Office is closed, e.g., inclement weather closures. The EFS may be utilized by registered CM/ECF filers if directed to do so by the Court due to a case management software malfunction.
May I use the EFS while the Clerk’s Office is open?
No; the use of the EFS is strictly prohibited while the Clerk’s Office is open. Documents submitted through the EFS between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. local time on regular business days when the Clerk’s Office is open will be discarded without notice.
How must documents submitted via the EFS be formatted?
Each document submitted through the EFS must:
• contain a title that clearly indicates the nature and intent of the filing;
• conform to applicable federal rules and the local rules of this Court concerning formatting and content;
• contain the signature and printed name and address of the filer; and
• be submitted in portable document format (.pdf).
Documents submitted in accordance with this procedure will be deemed filed on the date and at the time indicated on the email. All other documents will be discarded without notice.
May I receive a case number outside of normal business hours if I file a new petition through the EFS?
No; this procedure will NOT allow you to receive a new case number outside of normal business hours. The EFS only allows a filer to preserve a file date. Documents submitted for filing will not be processed by Clerk’s Office staff until the next business day when the court is open. Please plan ahead accordingly; do not wait until the last minute to file a new petition.
Will filing through the EFS give me what I need to halt a foreclosure sale scheduled for the next business morning?
No; this service does not provide an opportunity to receive a case number and evidence of filing a bankruptcy petition in order to halt a foreclosure sale scheduled during the next business morning. All new bankruptcy petitions submitted through the EFS will be processed by Clerk’s Office staff the next business day. While the file date of the petition in CM/ECF will match the date of the EFS email, a case number will not be generated in time for a morning foreclosure sale. Please plan ahead accordingly.
Will messages found in the body of my email be docketed into CM/ECF along with my .pdf attachments?
No; only the .pdf file(s) attached to the email will be docketed in CM/ECF after a quality control review is performed to determine the nature of the filing(s). The email will be discarded after docketing.
How do I obtain the EFS email address for filing approved documents?
Call 866-639-4615 after 4:01 p.m. and before 9:00 a.m. local time (i.e., outside of normal business hours) and listen to the recorded instructions.