A. General
1. Except in Chapter 11 cases, in which certain scheduled claims are “deemed filed” a creditor desiring to receive distributions in a bankruptcy case must file a timely proof of claim.

2. A proof of claim is a written statement that sets forth the creditor’s claim. It must conform substantially to Official Form 10, which can be found in the Bankruptcy Rules. While completing the proof of claim form is not difficult, it must be done carefully to avoid mistakes that could give the trustee or the debtor grounds to defeat the claim.

3. In most cases, the Court will have sent to creditors a proof of claim form with the initial Notice of Commencement of Case.

4. With the implementation of mandatory electronic case filing (ECF) in most districts, proofs of claim must be filed electronically if filed by counsel, unless the lawyer has obtained an exemption.

B. Definition of Claim
1. A “claim” in bankruptcy is defined as:
“(A) a right to payment, whether or not reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured; or
(B) a right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured. 
2. A “Debt” is defined in bankruptcy as “a liability on a claim.” 
3. Claims “arise” for bankruptcy purposes when all “transactions” or acts necessary for liability occur. 
4. A claim arises regardless of whether the claim is contingent, liquidated, or matured when the petition is filed. 

C. Filing Proofs of Claim
1. As noted above, proofs of claim must substantially conform to Official Form 10.
2. The creditor or the creditor’s agent must sign the proof of claim. 
3. Copies of the documents evidencing the claim, and evidence of perfection of any security interest claimed, must be attached to the proof of claim. 
4. The bar date establishes the date by which proofs of claim must be filed against the estate. The bar date is similar to a statute of limitations and must be strictly observed. 
5. For non governmental creditors, claims must be filed within 90 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. The bar date for governmental claims is 180 days after the date of the order for relief. 
6. In Chapter 11 cases, the court fixes the bar date for filing proofs of claim and notice of such deadline must be given to all creditors and parties in interest. 
7. A creditor may seek leave for an extension of time to file a late proof of claim due to inadvertence, mistake, or carelessness amounting to “excusable neglect” as well as due to intervening circumstances beyond the parties’ control. 

D. Secured Claims
1. “Secured claims” include “liens,” “security,” “security agreements” and “secured claims.” 
2. An allowed claim secured by a lien on property in which the estate has an interest, or that is subject to setoff, is a “secured claim” to the extent of the value of the creditor’s interest in the estate’s interest in the property, or the amount subject to setoff. A secured claim carries the right to “adequate protection” of collateral. 
3. Secured creditors are not required to file proofs of claim. The secured creditor holding a pre-bankruptcy lien need not file a proof of claim to preserve its status as a secured creditor, and the lien will pass through the bankruptcy case unaffected regardless of whether the secured creditor files a proof of claim. When there is a pre-petition arrearage, the secured creditor may wish to file a proof of claim to establish its claim for treatment in a Chapter 11 or 13 plan. Similarly, where the claim is only partially secured, the creditor may wish to file a proof of claim to establish a claim for the unsecured portion of its debt.
4. Common Mistakes
a. Failure to provide proof of debt. Rule 3001(c) requires that evidence of all claims based on a writing be filed with the proof of claim form. Most claims have some documentary evidence that should be filed with the proof of claim.
b. Misuse of check boxes. Official Form No. 10 contains boxes to check only for secured and priority claims. An unsecured claim without priority status under the Bankruptcy Code is the default, and there is no box to check for unsecured, non-priority claims. Creditors should only claim secured or priority status if there is a good faith basis to do so.
b. Failure to provide proof of perfection of security interest. The nature of the proof required depends upon the requirements for perfection of a security interest in the underlying collateral. For example, the creditor should provide copies of certificates of title for motor vehicles and manufactured homes, a copy of the recorded deed of trust for real estate, and copies of the recorded UCC-1 financing statement(s) for security interests in other personal property. If the documentation is lengthy, a summary may be provided.
c. Improper claim of priority status. Priority claims as prescribed by the Bankruptcy Code are paid before other claims, which is a considerable advantage. Creditors often claim priority status when they are not legally entitled to do so. A creditor should not file a proof of claim form alleging priority status without a good faith basis to do so.
d. Late Filed Claims. With few exceptions, claims filed after the bar date are subject to disallowance. Creditors who learn of a bankruptcy filing should file promptly a proof of claim even if they do not receive official notice from the Court.
e. Failure to indicate amended claim. Duplicate proofs of claim are a recurring problem for bankruptcy trustees. The proof of claim contains a box to check if a proof of claim replaces or amends a previously filed proof of claim. Creditors often file replacement or amended proofs of claim without checking the “replace” or “amends” box. This creates obvious confusion because it is not clear whether the latest claim is a new, separate claim. If the box is not checked, the debtor or the trustee may object on the grounds that one of the claims is a duplicate of the other, and an inattentive creditor may find that the preferred claim is disallowed. Checking the “amends” or “replace” box makes it clear that there is only one claim. It may be helpful to explain the reason for the amendment on the face of the proof of claim or in an attachment.

E. Allowance of Claims and Objections
1. If a proof of claim is timely and properly filed, it is “deemed allowed” unless a party in interest objects. 
2. Claims scheduled as undisputed, fixed or liquidated in Chapters 9 and 11 are deemed allowed even if no proof of claim is filed. 
3. A “party in interest” may object to the proof of claim. The objection becomes a “contested matter.” If the objection is joined with a demand for relief of the kind specified in Bankruptcy Rule 7001, it becomes an adversary proceeding. At least 30 days notice of a hearing is required on an objection to a proof of claim. 
4. Once filed, a proof of claim constitutes “prima facie evidence of the validity and amount of the claim”. As a result, the party objecting to a properly filed proof of claim has the initial burden of presenting sufficient probative evidence to overcome the prima facie effect of the proof of claim. 
5. Once the objector has produced “sufficient evidence to place the claimant’s entitlement at issue”, the burden of proof then shifts to the creditor to establish the validity and amount of its claim. The claimant bears the ultimate burden of establishing a valid claim by a preponderance of the evidence. 
6. Neither the Bankruptcy Code nor the Bankruptcy Rules establish an absolute deadline for filing an objection to a claim. In Chapter 7 cases, objections should be filed prior to any distribution by the Chapter 7 trustee. In Chapter 11 cases, the plan of reorganization will often include a deadline to object to claims.

F. Effect of Filing a Proof of Claim.
1. A proof of claim supersedes the claim as scheduled by the debtor. 
2. A claim is “deemed allowed” unless and until an objection is filed. 
3. Only creditors holding allowed claims are entitled to vote on the confirmation of a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. If a party objects to a claim prior to the claimant voting on a plan of reorganization, the claimant is ineligible to vote on the plan. On request of the claimant, the Bankruptcy Court, after notice and a hearing, can temporarily allow the claim for voting purposes in an amount that the Bankruptcy Court deems proper. 
4. A creditor must hold an allowed claim in order to receive a distribution under a Chapter 7, a Chapter 13, or a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. A properly executed and filed proof of claim establishes a creditor’s allowed claim, unless a party in interest objects. 
5. There is some risk for a creditor in filing a proof of claim because the creditor is generally deemed to have submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court for purposes of the claim and issues related to the treatment and payment of the claim. This may not be desirable in all circumstances. It may result in a waiver of the right to a jury trial.

G. Objections

(1) An objection to claim is a “contested matter” under FRBP 9014. Except to the
extent otherwise provided in this rule, an objection to claim must comply with
LBR 9013-1 and be titled “Motion for Order Disallowing Claim” unless the
objection is to become an adversary proceeding pursuant to FRBP 3007(b).
(2) A claim objection must include the number, if any, assigned to the disputed claim
on the court’s claims register.
(3) A separate objection must be filed to each proof of claim unless:
(A) The objection pertains to multiple claims filed by the same creditor;
(B) The objection is an omnibus claim objection; or
(C) The court orders otherwise.
(4) An omnibus claim objection asserts the same type of objection to claims filed by
different creditors (e.g., claims improperly filed as priority claims, duplicate claims,
claims filed after the bar date, etc., as described in FRBP 3007(d)). In addition to
the requirements set forth in FRBP 3007(e), an omnibus claim objection must:
(A) Identify the name of each claimant and the claim number in the caption of
the objection; and
(B) Include as exhibits the documents supporting each claim objection
organized and indexed by claim number.
(5) If more than 20 objections in a case are noticed for hearing on a single calendar,
the objector must comply with the supplemental procedures contained in the Court
Manual available from the clerk and on the court’s website.
(b) Notice and Hearing.
(1) A claim objection must be set for hearing on notice of not less than 30 days.
(2) The claim objection must be served on the claimant at the address disclosed by the claimant in its proof of claim and at such other addresses and upon such parties as
may be required by FRBP 7004 and other applicable rules.
(3) Notice of the objection on or conforming to court-mandated form F 3007-1.3,
Notice of Objection to Claim must be served with the claim objection. The notice
must advise the claimant of the date, time, and place of hearing, and state:
(A) A response must be filed and served not later than 14 days prior to the date
of hearing set forth in the notice; and
(B) If a response is not timely filed and served, the court may grant the relief
requested in the objection without further notice or hearing.
(4) The court will conduct a hearing on a claim objection to which there is a timely
response.
(5) If the claimant timely files and serves a response, the court, in its discretion, may
treat the initial hearing as a status conference if it determines that the claim objection involves disputed fact issues or will require substantial time for presentation of evidence or argument.
(6) If the claimant does not timely file and serve a response, the court may sustain the
objection and grant the motion for order disallowing the claim without a hearing.
(A) The objector must file a declaration attesting that no response was served
upon the objector. The declaration must identify the docket number and filing date of the objection to claim, notice, and proof of service of the notice and objection to claim, and be served on the claimant.
(B) The objector must also lodge a proposed order prepared and served in accordance with LBR 9021-1 which provides for service of the entered order on the claimant and counsel, if any, and the United States trustee.
(c) Evidence Required.
(1) An objection to claim must be supported by admissible evidence sufficient to
overcome the evidentiary effect of a properly documented proof of claim executed
and filed in accordance with FRBP 3001. The evidence must demonstrate that the
proof of claim should be disallowed, reduced, subordinated, re-classified, or
otherwise modified.
(2) A copy of the complete proof of claim, including attachments or exhibits, must be
attached to the objection to claim, together with the objector’s declaration stating
that the copy of the claim attached is a true and complete copy of the proof of
claim on file with the court, or, if applicable, of the informal claim to which
objection is made.
(3) If the complete proof of claim is not readily available from the court file, the
objector may formally request a copy from the holder of the claim by serving the
creditor with a notice in substantially the same form as court-approved form.

H. Notice of Request for a Copy of Proof of Claim.
F 3007-1.2, Notice of Request for a Copy of Proof of Claim.
(A) The request must advise the holder of the claim that failure to supply a complete copy of the proof of claim, including all attached documentation, within 30 days of the notice may constitute grounds for objection to the claim based on the claimant’s failure to provide requested documentation to support the claim.
(B) If an objection is filed on this basis, it must be accompanied by a declaration providing evidence that the proof of claim was not readily available from the court file or otherwise.
(4) If the basis for the objection is that the proof of claim was filed after the bar date,
the objection must include a copy of each of the following:
(A) The bar date order, if any;
(B) The notice of bar date; and
(C) Proof of service of the notice of bar date.
(5) If the basis for the objection is that there are duplicate proofs of claim, the objection must include a complete copy of each proof of claim.

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