United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts

1st Circuit Boston, Massachusetts

About This Court

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts is a unit of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, operating within the First Circuit. The court has jurisdiction over all bankruptcy cases and proceedings arising under Title 11 of the United States Code filed within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bankruptcy judges are appointed by the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and serve fourteen-year terms.

The court serves a geographically compact but economically significant district encompassing the entire state of Massachusetts. Cases range from individual consumer filings to large Chapter 11 corporate reorganizations, reflecting the district's diverse economic base that includes finance, technology, healthcare, and higher education sectors.

The court maintains two principal locations, one in Boston serving the eastern portion of the state and one in Worcester serving the western portion. Local rules, standing orders, and electronic filing requirements are administered through the court's CM/ECF system.

Handles cases filed under the federal Bankruptcy Code within the jurisdiction of the District of Massachusetts. Bankruptcy judges are appointed by the court of appeals for 14-year terms. Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

Divisions

Eastern Division (Boston), Western Division (Worcester)

Caseload

The District of Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court handles a substantial volume of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer cases along with notable Chapter 11 business reorganizations, often involving debtors in the healthcare, technology, and financial services sectors.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts to appear in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. Registration in the court's CM/ECF system is also required for electronic filing.

Clerk's Office

John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 1150, Boston, MA 02109

(617) 565-8950

Local Rules

85 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 12

Rule	Title
RULE 7003-1	INFORMATION TO ACCOMPANY COMPLAINT IN ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS
RULE 7016-1	PRETRIAL PROCEDURE
RULE 7026-1	GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING DISCOVERY
RULE 7027-1	DEPOSITIONS
RULE 7033-1	INTERROGATORIES
RULE 7036-1	REQUESTS FOR ADMISSION
RULE 7037-1	FAILURE TO MAKE DISCOVERY; SANCTIONS
RULE 7041-1	DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINTS AND CLOSING OF ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS INACTIVE FOR SIX MONTHS
RULE 7052-1	JUDGMENTS-PREPARATION AND ENTRY
RULE 7055-1	JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT
RULE 7056-1	SUMMARY JUDGMENT
RULE 7067-1	DEPOSIT AND INVESTMENT OF REGISTRY FUNDS

General Rules 69

Rule	Title
RULE 1001-1	SHORT TITLE; SCOPE AND EFFECT OF RULES
RULE 1002-1	STATUS CONFERENCES
RULE 1006-1	FILING FEES
RULE 1006-2	FEES-INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS; WAIVER OF FILING FEES
RULE 1006-3	REFUND FOR DUPLICATE ELECTRONIC FILING FEES
RULE 1007-1	LISTS, SCHEDULES, STATEMENTS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS; TIME LIMITS
RULE 1009-1	AMENDMENTS
RULE 1015-1	JOINT ADMINISTRATION OF CASES PENDING IN THE SAME COURT
RULE 1016-1	DEATH OF DEBTOR (CHAPTERS 7, 11, AND 12)
RULE 1017-1	MOTIONS FOR CONVERSION OR DISMISSAL IN CHAPTER 11; SUBMISSION OF MOTIONS AND OPPOSITIONS TO MOTIONS; HEARING
RULE 2002-1	NOTICE TO PARTIES
RULE 2002-2	NOTICES TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
RULE 2002-4	ADDRESSES
RULE 2002-5	LIMITATION ON NOTICES TO CREDITORS
RULE 2003-1	CREDITORS' COMMITTEE
RULE 2007.2-1	APPOINTMENT OF PATIENT CARE OMBUDSMAN IN A HEALTH CARE BUSINESS CASE
RULE 2014-1	APPLICATION TO EMPLOY PROFESSIONAL PERSONS
RULE 2016-1	APPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION
RULE 3001-1	PROOFS OF CLAIM IN NO ASSET CASES
RULE 3002-1	DEADLINE FOR FILING REQUESTS FOR ALLOWANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES PURSUANT TO 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(9)
RULE 3007-1	OBJECTIONS TO CLAIMS
RULE 3011-1	PROCEDURE FOLLOWING FINAL DISTRIBUTION IN CHAPTER 7 OR CHAPTER 13 CASES
RULE 3011-2	UNCLAIMED FUNDS
RULE 3015-1	CHAPTER 13 CASES
RULE 3015-2	CHAPTER 12 PLANS
RULE 3017-1	APPROVAL OF DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS IN CHAPTER 11 CASES OTHER THAN SMALL BUSINESS CASES AND CASES UNDER SUBCHAPTER V
RULE 3017.1-1	FILING OF PLAN AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IN SMALL BUSINESS CASES AND IN CERTAIN CASES UNDER SUBCHAPTER V OF CHAPTER 11
RULE 3020-1	CONFIRMATION ORDER REGARDING CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION OF INDIVIDUAL DEBTOR
RULE 3022-1	CLOSING CHAPTER 11 CASES
RULE 3022-2	ADMINISTRATIVE CLOSING OF INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER 11 CASE
RULE 4001-1	MOTIONS FOR RELIEF FROM STAY; MOTIONS TO CONTINUE OR IMPOSE STAY; MOTIONS CONFIRMING NO STAY IN EFFECT; SERVICE; HEARING
RULE 4001-2	USE OF CASH COLLATERAL, OBTAINING CREDIT, AND RELATED STIPULATIONS
RULE 4001-3	PERMITTED BILLING AND SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATIONS
RULE 4002-1	DUTIES OF THE DEBTOR
RULE 4003-1	AVOIDANCE OF JUDICIAL LIEN
RULE 4008-1	REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENTS
RULE 5001-1	DIVISIONS OF COURT, CASE ASSIGNMENTS, AND FILING OF PAPERS
RULE 5001-2	OFFICE OF THE CLERK
RULE 5003-1	CLERK'S AUTHORITY TO ENTER MINISTERIAL ORDERS
RULE 5005-4	ELECTRONIC FILING RULES
RULE 5007-1	RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSCRIPTS
RULE 5009-1	CLOSING CHAPTER 7 CASES
RULE 5011-1	WITHDRAWAL OF THE REFERENCE
RULE 5071-1	MOTIONS TO CONTINUE OR CANCEL HEARING OR TRIAL
RULE 6004-1	SALE OF ESTATE PROPERTY
RULE 6005-1	APPRAISERS, BROKERS, AND INVESTMENT BANKERS
RULE 6006-1	MOTIONS FOR ASSUMPTION OR REJECTION OF EXECUTORY CONTRACT OR UNEXPIRED LEASE; MOTIONS TO EXTEND DEADLINE
RULE 6007-1	ABANDONMENT OF ESTATE PROPERTY
RULE 6012-1	ADEQUATE ASSURANCE OF PAYMENT FOR UTILITY SERVICE
RULE 9001-1	DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
RULE 9004-1	GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF FORM
RULE 9005.1-1	NOTIFICATION OF CLAIM OF UNCONSTITUTIONALITY
RULE 9006-1	EXTENSIONS OF TIME FOR DISCHARGE COMPLAINTS AND OBJECTIONS TO EXEMPTIONS
RULE 9006-2	EXTENSION OF DEADLINES IF A DIVISIONAL OFFICE IS CLOSED DUE TO AN EMERGENCY
RULE 9009-1	OFFICIAL LOCAL FORMS AND OFFICIAL FORMS
RULE 9009-2	CASE MANAGEMENT
RULE 9011-1	SIGNING OF PAPERS
RULE 9013-1	MOTIONS
RULE 9013-3	SERVICE OF MOTIONS, PLEADINGS, OR DOCUMENTS, AND NOTICES OF HEARING
RULE 9015-1	JURY TRIALS
RULE 9018-1	IMPOUNDMENT
RULE 9019-1	STIPULATIONS; SETTLEMENTS
RULE 9027-1	REMOVAL
RULE 9029-1	APPLICATION OF LOCAL RULES
RULE 9029-2	APPLICABILITY OF UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT'S LOCAL RULES
RULE 9036-1	NOTICE AND SERVICE GENERALLY
RULE 9037-1	PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS; RECORDING AND BROADCAST PROHIBITIONS
RULE 9070-1	EXHIBITS
RULE 9074-1	APPEARANCES BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEO

Attorney Rules 4

Rule	Title
RULE 9010-1	REPRESENTATION AND APPEARANCES
RULE 9010-2	APPEARANCES AS ATTORNEY FOR THE DEBTOR
RULE 9010-3	WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE
RULE 9011-2	DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 1st Circuit

Bankruptcy Court, District of Maine Portland, Maine Bankruptcy Court, District of New Hampshire Concord, New Hampshire Bankruptcy Court, District of Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Court, District of Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island