Local Rule Rule 2016-1: Compensation of Professionals
Bankr. N.D. Iowa — General rule
Rule 2016‐1 Compensation of Professionals
(a) Chapter 7 Trustee Fees and Expenses
(1) Chapter 7 Trustee Fees Unless the Court orders otherwise either before or after the filing of the trustee's final report, a chapter 7 trustee is excused from the fee itemization requirements of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016(a) if the request for compensation is $2,500 or less.
(2) Chapter 7 Trustee Reimbursed Expenses Unless the Court orders otherwise either before or after the filing of the trustee's final report, a chapter 7 trustee is excused from the expense itemization requirements of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016(a) if the request for reimbursement is $500 or less. However, the trustee must verify in the expense reimbursement request that the non-itemized expenses were actual and necessary expenses in the trustee's service to the estate and that the request does not include overhead expenses.
(b) Attorney for Debtor ‐ Chapter 13 The Court has issued a Standing Order re: Chapter 13 Attorney Fee Requests. The attorney for debtor in a chapter 13 case is excused from the application requirements of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016(a) and the notice requirement of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2002(a)(6) if the request for compensation is less than the base amount established by the Court at the time of confirmation of the plan. The base amount figure is listed in the Standing Order and applies to all attorney compensation through the first confirmation of a plan (See Standard Allowable Amount in Chapter 13 Attorney Fee Request Standing Order). The base amount is updated annually by standing order and published on the Court's website. The standing trustee shall ascertain from the attorney's fee disclosure statement whether the attorney's application for fees is less than the base amount, and if so, the agreed compensation shall be awarded in the proposed order of confirmation. Any additional request for fees for work done after confirmation requires a fee application under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016(a) or a "Certification of A La Carte Fees" as stated in Chapter 13 Attorney Fee Request Standing Order.
(c) Bankruptcy Petition Preparers A "Disclosure of Compensation of Bankruptcy Petition Preparer" (Director's Form 2800) shall be submitted in every case prepared by petition preparers.