Important Notice to the Bar and Public Regarding General Order Concerning Proposed D.N.J. LBR 1015-1, Joint Administration of Cases

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO THE BAR AND PUBLIC
REGARDING GENERAL ORDER CONCERNING PROPOSED
D.N.J. LBR 1015-1, JOINT ADMINISTRATION OF CASES

Please be advised that the provisions of the attached General Order Concerning Proposed D.N.J. LBR 1015-1, Joint Administration of Cases will become effective February 1, 2016. The new Local Rule clarifies that a voluntary petition filed by a debtor may not be amended to add a spouse. The spouse must file a separate petition, and may move for joint administration under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1015(b)(1).  

  UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

GENERAL ORDER PENDING ADOPTION OF
D.N.J. LBR 1015-1, JOINT ADMINISTRATION OF CASES

The Court having determined the need for a General Order concerning the joint administration of cases, it is hereby:

ORDERED that pending adoption of D.N.J. LBR 1015-1, Joint Administration of Cases under the Court’s Annual Rule Making Cycle, a petition filed by an individual debtor may not be amended to add a spouse as a joint debtor.  The spouse may commence a voluntary case and then seek joint administration of the two related cases under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1015(b)(1).

This General Order is effective February 1, 2016.