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File a Notice of Removal

Updated 11/11/2020

Process Overview

  • Open adversary proceeding, attaching Notice of Removal and Adversary Proceeding Cover Sheet.
  • Fee: $350, unless debtor is the plaintiff or trustee is requesting deferral.
  • File Process and Pleadings in Removed Matter.
  • Court will issue a Notice of Removed Matter and Scheduling Conference.

Forms

Adversary Proceeding Cover Sheet (Official Form 1040)

References

FRBP 9027

Step-by-Step Instructions

Open Adversary Proceeding Screen

  • Select Adversary > Open an AP.
  • Complaint - Select n.
  • Counsel for - Select whether you represent the plaintiff or defendant in the removed matter.

Search for a Plaintiff Screen

  • Search for an existing party record by entering plaintiff's name.  Click Search.
  • If no match is found, No person found displays.  Click Create new party.
  • If a possible match is found, parties with the same name display.  
  • Click a name and the party's information displays in a pop up window.
  • If the displayed information is an exact match, click Select name from list.  If you are not sure it is the same party, click Create new party.
  • If not an exact match, click Create new party.

Plaintiff Information screen - Complete the following fields.  Leave the other fields blank.

  • Last name, First name, Middle name - Enter exactly as they appear in the caption of the complaint.  Do not use all caps.
  • Generation (Jr., III, etc.) - Enter, if any.
  • Address 1, Address 2, Address 3
  • City, State, Zip 
  • Party Text - If applicable, enter extraneous party information, e.g. a Vermont insurance company, in her capacity as Commissioner of Financial Securities.
  • Role in Bankruptcy Case
  • Add additional attorney - The attorney opening this adversary proceeding is automatically added as the plaintiff's attorney.  Click to add additional attorneys.  
  • Alias - Add alias, if any. 
  • Click Review… and verify entered information is correct.  Click Return to Party Screen.
  • Click Submit.

Search for a Plaintiff Screen

  • Repeat until all plaintiffs have been added.  
  • When done, click End plaintiff selection.

Search for a Defendant Screen

  • Search for an existing party record by entering defendant's name.  Click Search.
  • If no match is found, No person found displays.  Click Create new party.
  • If a possible match is found, parties with the same name display.  
  • Click a name and the party's information displays in a pop up window.
  • If the displayed information is an exact match, click Select name from list.  If you are not sure it is the same party, click Create new party.
  • If not an exact match, click Create new party.

Defendant Information Screen

  • Last name, First name, Middle name - Enter exactly as they appear in the caption of the complaint.  Do not use all caps.
  • Generation (Jr., III, etc.) - Enter, if any.
  • Address 1, Address 2, Address 3 
  • City, State, Zip
  • Party Text - If appropriate, enter extraneous party information, e.g. a Vermont insurance company, in her capacity as Commissioner of Financial Securities.
  • Role in Bankruptcy Case
  • Attorney - Add attorney for defendant, if any.  If debtor is the defendant, you must add the debtor's attorney.
  • Alias - Add alias, if any. 
  • Click Review… and verify entered information is correct.  Click Return to Party Screen.
  • Click Submit.

Search for a Defendant Screen

  • Repeat until all defendants have been added.  
  • When done, click End defendant selection.

Case Association Screen

  • Lead case number - Enter case number of related bankruptcy case.
  • Association type - Adversary.

Case Assignment Screen

  • Click Next.

Statistical Information Screen

  • Party Code - Select appropriate option.
  • Rule 23 (class action) - Select appropriate option.
  • Jury demand - If a demand for jury trial is included in the complaint, select Plaintiff. If not, select None.
  • Demand ($000) - Enter in thousands (e.g. "5" for $5,000)
  • State law - Select appropriate option.
  • Nature of suit - Select 01 (Determination of removed claim or cause)

Select Event Screen

  • Select Notice of Removal

PDF Upload Screen

  • Click Browse/Choose File and upload PDF of Notice of Removal and Adversary Proceeding Cover Sheet.

State Court Prompts

  • Identify state court action being removed, e.g., Civil No. 19-00123, Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii.
  • Enter the name of the party removing the action, e.g., John Smith. 

Fee Policy Screen

  • Information regarding the court's policy regarding payment of filing fees display.  Read it carefully.

Fee Screen

  • If plaintiff is the debtor, enter 0.0 as the fee amount. 
  • If trustee is requesting deferral of the payment, enter 0.0 as the fee amount.
  • Otherwise, click Next to accept default fee amount of $350.00.
  • Click Next again at the blank screen.  

Final Docket Screen

  • Carefully review the final docket entry.

Sample docket entry: Adversary case 20-90005. ADVERSARY PROCEEDING OPENED. 01 (Determination of removed claim or cause): Notice of Removal: Civil No. 19-00123, Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii. Party removing the action: John Smith . Fee Amount $350. (01 (Determination of removed claim or cause))(Attorney, Test)

  • If incorrect, use your browser back button to the applicable screen to make corrections.
  • If correct, click Next to file your adversary proceeding.
  • If fees are due, a Summary of current charges displays in a separate window.  Click Pay Now or Continue Filing.  

Notice of Electronic Filing  

Next Steps

  • File Adversary Proceeding Cover Sheet, if not already attached to complaint.
  • File Process and Pleadings in Removed Matter.