As I have discussed here and at the National Bankruptcy Forum, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (which covers Detroit, Bay City, and Flint) has recently enacted a number of changes to its local court rules.  As part of an effort to clarify these changes (explained in more detail here), the Court posted an "Important Notice Regarding Time Period Changes Effective December 1, 2009, Including 14-Day Deadlines for Filing Schedules, Statements, Chapter 13 Plans, and Bankruptcy Appellate Briefs" on its website on November 25, 2009.  The notice states:  "Among the time computation amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that will take effect on December 1, 2009, are changes to 12 rules that will result in a reduction by one day (from 15 to 14 days) of the time to take action. The affected rules are Bankruptcy Rules 1007, 1019, 1020, 2015, 2015.1, 2016, 3015, 4001, 4002, 6004, 6007, and 8009. Please take note of these changes and particularly of the new 14-day deadline for filing schedules, statements, and other documents under Rule 1007(c); for filing a chapter 13 plan under Rule 3015(b); and for filing appellate briefs under Rule 8009(a)."

Other recent procedural changes related to Chapter 13 proceedings include revised local forms issued by the Court on December 1, 2009.

Detroit bankruptcy lawyers must be aware of these notices as well as other local rules and practices in the Eastern District, while bankruptcy attorneys in other jurisdictions should review their local court rules for similar changes.  The Eastern District of Michigan’s recent notices emphasize both the procedural complexity of bankruptcy cases and the need for competent counsel.

-Drew Broaddus