5005-2. Signatures

(a) Documents that are submitted for filing by mail, over the counter, or via drop box must: (i) bear the original ("wet") signatures of all Signatories (as defined in subsection (b), below); or (ii) bear a copy of an original ("wet") signature that has been electronically scanned or transmitted by facsimile.  Consistent with B.L.R. 5005-1(b), all attorneys practicing in this court, including those admitted pro hac vice, must file all documents using the court's Electronic Case Filing System (the "ECF System").

(b) A document filed through the ECF System shall bear the typed name of each person purporting to have signed the document (a "Signatory") and shall be deemed signed by a person when the document identifies that person as a Signatory and the filing complies with either subsection (b)(i), (ii), or (iii).  Any filing in accordance with any of these methods shall bind the Signatory as if the document were physically signed and filed, and shall function as the Signatory’s signature, whether for purposes of Rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, to attest to the truthfulness of an affidavit or declaration, or for any other purpose.

(i) In the case of a Signatory who is a Registered Participant (as defined in B.L.R. 5005-1(a)), such document shall be deemed signed, regardless of the existence of a physical signature on the document, provided that such document is filed using the user ID and password of the Signatory.

(ii) In the case of a Signatory who is a Registered Participant but whose user ID and password are not used to file the document via the ECF System, the Registered Participant who files the document bearing the Signatory's signature may verify the validity of such signature by obtaining - prior to filing the document - (1) a digital signature via any commercially available digital signature software that (aa) provides signature authentication; and (bb) maintains an audit log or trail that can be provided upon request by any party or upon court order; or (2) the Signatory's written concurrence in the filing of the document or pleading bearing their signature, in which case the filing of the document constitutes the filer's attestation that such concurrence has been obtained from each of the Registered Participant Signatories, which shall serve in lieu of their signatures on the filed document or pleading.

(iii) In the case of a Signatory who is not a Registered Participant, such as a debtor, a pro se party, or an attorney who is not a Registered Participant, the Registered Participant who files the document bearing the Signatory's signature may verify the validity of such signature by obtaining - prior to filing the document - (1) a digital signature via any commercially available digital signature software that (aa) provides signature authentication; and (bb) maintains an audit log or trail that can be provided upon request by any party or upon court order; (2) an original ink signature, (3) a copy of the original ink signature that has been electronically scanned, or (4) a copy of the original ink signature transmitted by facsimile

(c) The provisions of subsection (b)(iii) of this Rule notwithstanding, in appropriate circumstances the Court may require that filers collect and retain original ink signatures of parties who are not Registered Participants.

(d) The filing of a document or pleading constitutes the filer's attestation that they have complied with this B.L.R. 5005-2.  Filers shall maintain records sufficient to prove their compliance with subsections (a), (b)(ii), and/or (b)(iii) hereof for a period of 1 year following the closure of the case or proceeding in which the document or pleading was filed.