Local Rule RULE 5005-2: Requirements for Papers, Attorneys, Parties, and Bankruptcy Petition Preparers.

RULE 5005-2. Requirements for Papers, Attorneys, Parties, and Bankruptcy Petition Preparers.

(a) Size and Format. Filings and attachments must conform to these specifications:

(1) be electronically filed in .pdf format, and self-represented litigants must use 8 ½ x 11-inch paper;

(2) be legible, whether typed or duplicated, in at least 12-point font size, except the master mailing list shall be in 10-point font size;

(3) have no less than one-inch margins, exclusive of page numbers;

(4) be consecutively paginated with page numbers on the bottom of the page;

(5) be double-spaced, except for quoted material and footnotes;

(6) be one-sided, not 2-sided;

(7) use a nationally recognized citation form (i.e., The Harvard Citator or the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD) Citation Manual);

(8) NOT be stapled but only be bound by paper or binder clip if filed by self-represented litigants.

(b) Identification of Attorney and Party. The following information must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page of each document or pleading presented for electronic filing, in the order specified, except that in multiparty or multi-attorney actions or proceedings, reference may be made to the signature page for the complete list of attorneys and parties represented:

(1) name of attorney (or, if self-represented litigant, the name of the litigant);

(2) office mailing address;

(3) telephone number;

(4) e-mail address;

(5) state bar I.D. number;

(6) specific identification of party represented by name and interest in litigation (i.e., Attorney for Debtor, Attorney for Plaintiff, etc.).

If a party does not have an address or telephone, the document shall set forth a work or third party's address or telephone number where the party may be contacted.

(c) Signature Compliance. The authorized CM/ECF user login and password required to submit documents to CM/ECF serve as the user's signature on all electronic documents filed with the Court. The login and password also serve as a signature for purposes of Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011, and for any other purpose for which a signature is required in connection with proceedings before the Court. Filing by electronic means requires that the signature of any person, individually or on behalf of an entity, shall conform to either a cursive signature on the signature line or a conformed signature using a /s/ and then the typewritten name. Examples follow of acceptable signatures:

/s/ (name of person filing document in cursive) (typed name of person); or /s/ Joseph P. Smith Joseph P. Smith A signature, whether original, photocopied, scanned, or conformed, shall constitute the person's verification that such person has read the contents of the pleading and certification that Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011(b) has been satisfied.

(d) Bankruptcy Petition Preparers. All bankruptcy petition preparers providing services to debtors filing documents before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana shall provide the name and physical address of an authorized agent for service of process, and shall provide a physical street address for their business.