The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio offers online payment of court fees. Payment of court fees (e.g., filing fees and installment payments, copies, recordings of hearings) may be paid online via debit card, PayPal, or ACH (electronic payment from a business or personal checking or savings account). There is a minimum payment of $0.10 when using this service. Credit cards are not accepted by our court’s program.

The Online Payments program cannot be used for Chapter 13 plan payments or other payments that are payable to a trustee. Those payments must be paid directly to a trustee.

Authorized and registered CM/ECF filers – including attorneys, claimants, creditors, and other registered users - must continue to submit payment of court filing fees directly in CM/ECF when filing a document with the court. Online payment is for payment of fees that previously could only be paid by mail or at the intake counter (e.g., copy and certified copy fees). Authorized and registered CM/ECF filers may use the Online Payments program to pay these fees.

To make a payment, payers must know the debtor’s name, case number, type of fee being paid, and amount to be paid. More information regarding filing fees can be found here. Those who need to confirm this information are encouraged to contact the Clerk’s Office prior to making a payment:

Please review this training document for step-by-step instructions on how to use this free Online Payments program.

Notice Regarding All Payments (Debit Card, PayPal, and ACH)

• Payments received by the court before 3:00 p.m. will be docketed (entered on the docket of the case in the electronic case management system) the same business day.
• Payments received after 3:00 p.m. will be docketed the following business day by 9:00 a.m.
• Individuals are encouraged to make payments prior to the due date to ensure timely docketing by the court.
• Receiving a receipt from the court is not a guarantee that the payment has settled with the financial institution processing the payment.

Notice Regarding Financial Institution Rejection of ACH Payments and Assessment of Court Fees

• If a banking institution or the payer stops a payment before it is completed in the financial system, the payer will receive a notice from the court of the unsuccessful payment.
• If a payment is unsuccessful due to insufficient funds or a closed account or because the payer has cancelled the payment, the payer is required to submit the original payment amount due, plus a service fee of $53.00, within five (5) business days from the date of the court’s notice. The resolving payment may be made using the Online Payments program or may be mailed or delivered in person to a court location.
• If a transaction is unsuccessful due to mis-keying/a data entry error (verified by the banking institution as an account which cannot be located), the payer has the opportunity to re-submit the original payment amount, without penalty, within five (5) business days from the date of the court’s notice. However, if the second payment attempt is unsuccessful, a fee of $53.00 may be assessed to the payer, in addition to the original amount owed.

Notice Regarding Financial Institution Settlement of ACH Payments

• Financial institution settlement of ACH payments may be delayed after the payment has been accepted by the court Online Payments program. Individuals are encouraged to contact their financial institution for details.