Bankruptcy has serious long-term financial and legal consequences. It is a complicated legal procedure. Every case is unique, and specific questions about bankruptcy should be directed to a lawyer. The bankruptcy court is not permitted to provide legal advice. Self-represented filers are expected to follow and abide by the rules that govern the practice of law in the United States federal courts. Self-represented filers must comply with the United States Bankruptcy Code(link is external), the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure(link is external) and the local rules of this court.
eSR Features
What is Electronic Self-Representation (eSR)?
This system is designed for use by self-represented debtors to prepare their voluntary chapter 7 bankruptcy case petition, schedules, and statements electronically. The system allows you to electronically submit the forms to the clerk's office. When presented with the filing fee, signature pages, and the additional items to be completed, the clerk's office staff can then electronically open the case.
Who can use eSR?
IMPORTANT: The link provided on this page will file a bankruptcy case only in the Southern District of Alabama. DO NOT use it if you are not a resident of that district as described below. Your case may be dismissed if you use this district’s eSR program but are not a resident.
Residency Requirement: The person filing for bankruptcy must be an individual filing a chapter 7 case. The person filing for bankruptcy also must have resided or has had a residence, principal place of business, or principal assets in the following counties in the Southern District of Alabama for 180 days before the filing of the bankruptcy case or for a longer part of such 180 days than in any other district:
- Baldwin
- Choctaw
- Clarke
- Conecuh
- Dallas
- Escambia
- Hale
- Marengo
- Mobile
- Monroe
- Perry
- Washington
- Wilcox
Non-Residents: If the filer is not a resident of one of those counties, go to the website of the bankruptcy court for the district where you live. If that court does not have an eSR option, a non-court resource for filing chapter 7 bankruptcy by yourself is www.upsolve.org.