About EDSS

The Bankruptcy Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS) allows eligible individuals to submit PDF documents electronically to the Bankruptcy Court for filing in an existing bankruptcy or adversary case as an alternative to mailing or delivering documents to the Clerk's Office.

EDSS is for individuals submitting documents on their own behalf. It may not be used by attorneys or to submit documents on behalf of another person, a business, governmental entity, or other organization or entity.

Who Can Use EDSS?

You may use EDSS if:

• You are an individual submitting documents on your own behalf;
• You have a case number for an existing bankruptcy or adversary case; and
• You have a working email address.

Who Cannot Use EDSS?

EDSS may not be used:

• By an attorney representing a client; 
• By a bankruptcy petition preparer; 
• By an employee, officer, owner, agent, or other representative submitting documents on behalf of a corporation, partnership, LLC, governmental entity, or other organization or entity; or 
• By anyone otherwise required to file electronically through CM/ECF.

Corporate and partnership parties must be represented by counsel as required by SDTX BLR 1002-1. Attorneys and other ECF users must file electronically through CM/ECF.

EDSS CANNOT BE USED TO OPEN A NEW BANKRUPTCY OR ADVERSARY CASE.

Bankruptcy petitions and adversary complaints cannot be submitted through EDSS. You must already have a bankruptcy or adversary case number to use this system. Any bankruptcy petition or adversary complaint submitted through EDSS will not be processed and no bankruptcy or adversary case will be opened.

Before You Submit

Please review your documents and the information you enter carefully before submitting. Once you submit a document through EDSS, you cannot cancel, withdraw, change, or replace the submission, even if it has not yet been filed on the docket. To withdraw a prior submission or correct a document, you must submit a new document through EDSS explaining what you are requesting. Contacting the Clerk's Office does not cancel or withdraw a submission.

• PDF format: Documents must be submitted in PDF format. Pictures or photographs of documents are not accepted unless converted to PDF. Each PDF must be less than 2 MB and must be readable and capable of being opened by the Court. (Apple devices | Android devices)
• Signatures: Documents must include your handwritten signature where required. See SDTX LBR 5005-1(a)-(b). 
• Privacy: You are responsible for complying with the privacy protection requirements of Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037. Before submitting your documents, review them carefully and redact (remove or cover) personal information that should not appear in the public court record, such as full Social Security numbers, full account numbers, birth dates, and the names of minor children. 
• Case information: Verify that the case number and debtor name or case style you provide identify the same bankruptcy or adversary case. The Clerk's Office cannot determine which case you intended if the information does not match. 
• Purpose of submission: Your submission must clearly identify its purpose so the Clerk's Office can determine how it should be filed. If you are asking the Court to take action or grant relief, your submission should include a written request explaining what you are asking the Court to do. Clerk's Office staff cannot provide legal advice or tell you what type of document to file or what relief to request. 
• Filing fees: If your document requires a filing fee, review the Court's current filing fees and payment information before submitting. https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/FeeSchedule 
• Court rules: Documents submitted through EDSS must comply with the Bankruptcy Code, Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Local Bankruptcy Rules, and other applicable Court rules and procedures. 

Documents Related to Deadlines and Hearings

• Documents concerning a scheduled hearing must be submitted through EDSS no later than 10:00 a.m. three (3) business days before the scheduled hearing, unless a different response deadline has been established by notice, applicable rule, or Court order.
• You may not set or schedule a deadline or a hearing in a document you submit through EDSS. Only the court can set or schedule a deadline or hearing.
• Failure to meet an applicable deadline may result in denial of any relief requested in the document.

What Happens After You Submit?

Documents submitted through EDSS are reviewed by the Clerk's Office before they are filed on the case docket. Submissions are reviewed and processed in the order they are received, and processing time may depend on number of submissions and staff availability. Please allow time for the Clerk's Office to review and process your submission. You will be notified when your submission has been accepted and filed or if it has been rejected.

If your submission is accepted:

The Clerk's Office will electronically file the document in CM/ECF. The document will be considered filed as of the date and time it was received through EDSS. You will receive confirmation at the email address you provided when your document has been filed.

The confirmation or Notice of Electronic Filing you receive tell you that your document has been filed. They do not necessarily mean that all parties who are required to receive your document have been served. You remain responsible for complying with any applicable service and notice requirements.

Service of Documents

Submitting or filing a document through EDSS does not necessarily satisfy your responsibility to serve the document on other parties. Depending on the type of document you file, applicable rules or Court procedures may require you to provide a copy to certain parties and file a certificate of service showing whom you served, when you served them, and how they were served.

The Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) you receive after your document is filed identifies recipients who received electronic notice through CM/ECF. Do not assume that the Court or the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) will serve your document on other parties. You are responsible for determining whether your document must be served, who must receive it, the method of service required, and whether a certificate of service must be filed. Review the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the Court's Bankruptcy Local Rules, the Bankruptcy CM/ECF Administrative Procedures, and the assigned judge's procedures for applicable service requirements.

Clerk's Office staff cannot tell you whom you are legally required to serve or determine whether your service satisfies applicable legal requirements.

If your submission is rejected:

The Clerk's Office will send you an email explaining why the submission was not accepted for filing and, when applicable, what must be corrected before you resubmit it.

Submitting a document through EDSS does not mean that the document has been filed. Your document is not officially docketed until it has been accepted and electronically filed by the Clerk's Office.

If you submit a document for the wrong case, you are responsible for taking the appropriate action to amend or withdraw the document filed in error.

Important Information

Some documents filed with the Court are signed under penalty of perjury. By signing and submitting a document, you are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is true and correct.

Federal law provides criminal penalties for bankruptcy crimes, including knowingly making false statements or claims, concealing assets, or filing false information. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 152 and 3571, which provide penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, a potential fine of up to $250,000, or both.

Need Help?

Clerk's Office staff can answer questions about EDSS and Court procedures but cannot provide legal advice, tell you what document to file, or tell you what relief to request.

EDSS requires the ability to use a computer, scan documents, and create and upload PDF files. Clerk's Office staff cannot provide assistance with your personal computer or equipment. If you are unable to prepare and submit PDF documents electronically, you may mail or deliver your documents to the Clerk's Office.

See https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/address-hours-phone-information.

For questions or technical issues related to EDSS, contact the Bankruptcy ECF Help Desk at 713-250-5500 or bankruptcy_ecf_helpdesk@txs.uscourts.gov. Help Desk hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Submit Documents Through EDSS

Do not use this form to submit a bankruptcy petition or adversary complaint or attempt to open a new bankruptcy or adversary case.