United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Alabama

About This Court

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama is a unit of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, operating within the Eleventh Circuit. The court has jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases filed by individuals and businesses located within the northern portion of Alabama, administering cases under Titles 11 of the United States Code.

The Northern District of Alabama is one of three federal judicial districts in Alabama, alongside the Middle and Southern Districts. The district encompasses Birmingham, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, and surrounding counties, covering a geographically and economically diverse region that includes significant industrial, manufacturing, and commercial activity.

The court operates multiple divisions to serve the geographic breadth of the district, with the main clerk's office located in Birmingham. Cases in the Northern District of Alabama span all chapters of the Bankruptcy Code, including Chapter 7 liquidations, Chapter 11 reorganizations, and Chapter 13 wage-earner plans.

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

Divisions

Northern Division (Birmingham), Southern Division (Birmingham), Eastern Division (Anniston), Western Division (Tuscaloosa), Northeastern Division (Decatur)

Caseload

The Northern District of Alabama has historically carried one of the higher bankruptcy filing volumes in the nation, with a particularly significant proportion of Chapter 13 consumer cases. The Birmingham division handles the largest share of filings within the district.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama to appear in the bankruptcy court. Electronic filing registration through the court's CM/ECF system is also required for attorneys.

Clerk's Office

Robert S. Vance Federal Building, 1800 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203

(205) 714-4000

Local Rules

The Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

General Rules 29

Rule	Title
Admin. Order 19-03	Delegation of 11 U.S.C. Section 1183 Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 Trustee Appointing Authority
Admin. Order 20-09	Administrative Order Adopting Interim Bankruptcy Rules as Amended by the CARES Act
Admin. Order 21-01	Administrative Order – Procedures for Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents
Admin. Order 24-01	Administrative Order – Procedures for Requesting, Filing, and Management of Sensitive Documents
Admin. Order 25-02	Order Appointing Rachel L. Webber as Acting Clerk of Court
Admin. Order 25-04	Order Appointing Acting Clerk of Court and Acting Chief Deputy Clerk II
Admin. Order 26-01	Order Appointing Clerk of Court
Admin. Order 26-02	Order Terminating Appointments of Acting Clerk of Court and Acting Chief Deputy Clerk II
Administrative Order 10-08	Extension of Deadlines That Expired While CM/ECF Was Unavailable
Administrative Order 20-02	Order Adopting Interim Bankruptcy Rules for Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019
Administrative Order 20-06	Order Temporarily Suspending Requirement to Obtain Original Signatures from Debtors for Electronic Filings
Administrative Order 20-10	Order Extending the Provisions of Administrative Order 20-06
Administrative Order 21-02	Administrative Order Rescinding Administrative Orders 20-04, and 20-06 (As Extended by Administrative Order 20-10)
Administrative Order 21-05	Administrative Order Rescinding Administrative Order 21-02
Administrative Order 23-01	Administrative Order (I) Rescinding Administrative Order 20-04 and Administrative Order 20-06, (II) Reinstating Wet Signature Requirement, and (III) Establishing Alternative Requirements for Use of Digital Signature Software
Administrative Order 2025-03	Administrative Order Concerning Federal Government Shutdown
Administrative Order No. 05-06	Administrative Order – Debtors Asserting an Exception to the Limitation of the Automatic Stay Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(l) and Procedure for Receiving Rent Deposits
Administrative Order No. 05-07	Administrative Order – Procedures for Criminal Referrals
Administrative Order No. 08-01	Administrative Order Regarding New Electronic Transcript Policy
Administrative Order No. 09-01	Administrative Order Revoking Administrative Order 07-03 and Administrative Order 07-07
Administrative Order No. 12-02	Administrative Order – Adoption of Rule 1007-I
Administrative Order No. 15-03	Administrative Order – Appointment of the Clerk for the Northern District of Alabama
Administrative Order No. 15-09	Administrative Order Requiring the Filing of a Summary of Schedules Upon Filing Schedules and Amended Schedules
Administrative Order No. 15-10	Administrative Order Regarding Chapter 13 Debtor's Certifications Regarding Domestic Support Obligations and Section 522(q)
Administrative Order No. 16-05	Administrative Order Regarding Deposit and Investment of Registry Funds
Administrative Order No. 16-06	Administrative Order Regarding the Filing of Final Reports and Accounts in Cases Converted from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7
Administrative Order No. 20-004	Administrative Order – Court Operations During COVID-19 Outbreak
Administrative Order No. 24-02	Administrative Order – Appointment of the Clerk for the Northern District of Alabama
Administrative Order No. 25-01	Administrative Order Regarding Filing of Claims by Debtor or Trustee (Northern Division Only)

Other Courts in the 11th Circuit

Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Alabama Montgomery, Alabama Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Georgia Macon, Georgia Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Florida Tallahassee, Florida Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Alabama Mobile, Alabama Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida Miami, Florida Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Georgia Savannah, Georgia