On December 1, 2008, a number of form/procedural changes will become effective, and on December 19, 2008 the requirements of the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 will become effective. See the letter from the clerk for complete details on these form and procedural changes.
The Bankruptcy court has revised Exhibit One to Standing Order One to remove the requirement to serve the United States Trustee with a paper copy of new petitions. The requirement to serve paper copies of new petitions on the case trustees still stands.
The Court has entered Standing Order No. 13 to assist in providing a streamlined process for creditors requesting notice to a preferred address. The procedures and forms established through this Order are specifically designed for creditors filing notice in the Northern District of preferred addresses under 11 U.S.C. § 342(f).
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110 - 161, December 26, 2007) contains a provision requested by the Department of Justice that increased the quarterly fees on disbursements paid by Chapter 11 debtors in United States trustee regions. Section 213 of Title II of the Act raises the quarterly fees in all disbursement bands and creates three new upper bands. See the Letter from the Clerk for complete details and a reference chart to the new fees that went into effect on January 1, 2008.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has approved an increase in the rates for production of transcripts of federal court proceedings, effective immediately. See attachment for a list of the new rates.
Through Standing Order 07-04, the Iowa Northern Bankruptcy Court adopted the administrative procedures and local form necessary to effectuate the filing of a certified motion for discharge in a Chapter 13 case. The proper filing of this form fulfills the debtor certification requirements for financial management training, as set forth in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). Pursuant to 11 U.S.C.
