Beginning March 14, 2016, debtors can request to receive orders and court-generated notices by email rather than by U.S. mail.  This new free program is called Debtor Electronic Bankruptcy Noticing (DeBN).  Service requirements for other parties in a bankruptcy case do not change with DeBN.  The program will be available to all debtors with an open bankruptcy case.

DeBN offers debtors a number of advantages:

• Debtors receive court notices and orders (e.g., meeting of creditors notice, objection notices, notices of hearing, orders on motions for relief from stay, order of discharge, etc.) by email the same day they are filed by the court.  

• Debtors can access emailed court notices and orders from a computer or mobile device that has an Internet connection and a free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• There is no charge and no limit to the number of times emailed court notices and orders can be viewed.

To activate a DeBN account, a debtor must file a Debtor’s Electronic Noticing Request (DeBN) form (available on the court’s website).  Debtors can file a DeBN request form through their attorney electronically, or on their own by mail or over the counter at the Clerk’s Office where their case is filed.  Photo I.D. will be required if request is by mail or in person.  If both debtors in a joint case wish to request enrollment in DeBN, each debtor must file a separate request form.  Once a DeBN request has been filed, the debtor will receive an email with instructions for activating their DeBN account. 

To access the DeBN request form and for additional information, please visit the DeBN web pages on the court’s website at http://wiwb.uscourts.gov/debtor-electronic-bankruptcy-noticing-debn.