It is a bankruptcy petition filed by one or more creditors against a corporate or individual debtor alleging that the debtor is not paying its bills as they become due and that the debtor should be subjected to bankruptcy proceedings. For further information see 11U.S.C. 303.

https://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/BankruptcyBasics.aspx

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eSR is an online tool to help you prepare a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 petition when you have decided to file bankruptcy without an attorney.

eSR program is free. You pay only the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fee. Avoid mistakes with eSR’s guided step-by-step process that allows you at least 45 days to complete your petition. Your personal information is accessible only to you using a unique login and password. eSR is accessible 24 hours a day from any Internet-enabled computer. There is no software to download or purchase.

No, eSR is not available for bankruptcy petition preparers or attorneys. Attorneys must register for electronic filing and file electronically under Local Rule 5005-1. Documents that a bankruptcy petition preparer prepares must be filed at the bankruptcy court’s public service counter or by sending them to the clerk’s office through U.S. mail mail and must be accompanied by the required documents disclosing that a bankruptcy petition preparer was used.

No, eSR is free. Although you must pay the required filing fee for a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case, there is no additional cost to use eSR.

No one should charge you for using eSR. If you are asked to pay for using eSR, please report the request to the court by calling the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office at (312) 408-5000.

To use eSR, create an account with the your email address and password. This can be done by visiting the eSR homepage. Answer questions about your property, income, and debts. After submitting the petition, the court will send you a confirmation email. You must complete and sign the Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing (Self-Represented Individual) (Form G-20), the Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Official Form 121), and any other required documents.

You must also obtain credit counseling from a court-approved credit counseling agency. For additional information on court-approved credit counseling agencies click here.

The following documents and required filing fee should be delivered, mailed, or emailed (in PDF format) to the bankruptcy court. A bankruptcy petition is NOT considered “filed” and does not receive a case number until these documents are filed:

• Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing (Self-Represented Individual) (Form G-20)
• Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Official Form 121)
• Credit Counseling Certificate, if available
• Copy of a government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, U.S. passport, state ID)
• Filing fee or an Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments (Official Form 103A) or an Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived (Official Form 103B)

A bankruptcy case WILL BE DISMISSED if these required documents are not filed.

Individuals who live in the Northern District of Illinois filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. eSR is not for filings by corporations or other business entities.

eSR can be accessed from any computer or tablet with an Internet connection by visiting our eSR homepage or by clicking here.

Complete Contact Us to obtain an email reply, or call the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office at (312) 408-5000. You may reach us Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except federal holidays.
The bankruptcy court cannot provide legal advice

No, eSR is available only for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.

You must have an Internet-enabled computer or tablet with the pop-up blockers disabled. eSR will not work from a smart phone. You will also need Adobe Reader, version 8 or higher. Recommended browsers are the latest version of Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Safari. You must also have a printer.

You have at least 45 days to complete the eSR petition. It may be done at one time or over several sessions. If you do not submit the petition package to the court, it will be deleted 45 days after your last login.

Please consult the Bankruptcy Pro Se Help Desk or refer to the Guide for Individuals Filing a Bankruptcy without an Attorney located on our Filing Without an Attorney page on the court’s website at www.ilnb.uscourts.gov or contact our Bankruptcy Pro Se Help Desk for free legal advice from a licensed attorney.

Questions marked with an asterisk are required and will display an error message if left unanswered.

The Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing (Self-Represented Individual) (Form G-20) and Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Official Form 121).

The bankruptcy court is required to remain neutral. Employees of the Bankruptcy Clerk's Office are not attorneys.

You may contact the Bankruptcy Pro Se Help Desk or refer to the Guide for Individuals Filing a Bankruptcy without an Attorney located in the Filing Without an Attorney page on the court’s website. Click Here for more information.

If you need to make changes after you receive a confirmation number but before your bankruptcy petition is officially filed:

•  Contact the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office to return the petition package. You will receive an email confirming the petition package has been returned.
• Log back into the Electronic Self-Representation website by clicking here.
• Click on Continue a Petition Packet Tab and login.
• Click on drop down #6: Petition Package on the left side panel. Then click on the Review and Submit link.
• Click on the checkbox at the bottom of the page “To restore this petition and make it available for changes….”
• Click on Restore Package button.

After submitting your petition, you will receive an email confirming the electronic receipt of the bankruptcy petition. The bankruptcy petition will NOT be officially filed, and a case number will NOT be assigned until the court has received the items listed on the confirmation email. The documents are due within 10 days of the date of the confirmation email. The following options are available for submitting your required documents:

• Drop them off at Intake counter or in Drop-box at courthouse
• Email them in PDF format to prosebankruptcy_efiling@ilnb.uscourts.gov
• Mail them by U.S. mail to the clerk’s office at the courthouse