Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools can assist parties in preparing documents for filing with the court and are not prohibited in the Eastern District of California Bankruptcy Court. However, use of these tools presents inherent risk as they often generate documents that are incomplete, misrepresent the law, or even refer to nonexistent legal references. Parties, both attorneys and pro se debtors, who use AI to generate documents for filing with the court must be aware of these risks and are required to verify the accuracy of documents by checking references carefully before filing. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of Federal Rules Bankruptcy Procedure 9011.
For further information regarding the risks, responsibilities, and potential ramifications associated with using AI in preparing legal documents and the duty to read and to think, please see the Ninth Circuit’s pertinent decision here.
The Debtor Drop Box is an online tool available to help you (the debtor) save the time and the expense of traveling to one of our courthouses by submitting your bankruptcy petition and other documents online. Go to Debtor Drop Box to access this tool to upload your court documents for filing.
Effective immediately, petitions will not be accepted through the Debtor Drop Box for debtors or joint debtors whose address falls outside of the Eastern District of California. Debtors who have physical or mailing addresses outside the Eastern District of California who file in this district must file their petitions in person or by mail at our Sacramento or Fresno courthouse.
The name on the Debtor Drop Box account must match the name of the debtor or joint debtor in order to be accepted. Petitions submitted by third parties will be rejected and will not be filed or receive a case number.