General Order 26-03 "Amendment to Local Rules regarding Chapter 13 Fees" has been issued to effectuate general Chapter 13 fee increases. Appendix B to the court's Local Rules is revised. Additionally, the court's Á La Carte ("ALC") fee schedule and application is updated to also increase several ALC fee amounts.  This order is available on the General Orders page of our public website.

As a result of this order, Local Forms NEB 3015-2(A)-Chapter 13 Plan and 2016-1 App B-2-Certification of Á La Carte ("ALC") Fees and Expenses have been updated and are available on the Nebraska Local Forms page.

This General Order increases standard attorney fee in Chapter 13 cases to $4,800 ($5,000 including expenses). This is the third fee increase in six years and is a 20% increase from the original "No Look Fee" of $4,000 set in 2019. We also raised several Á La Carte (ALC) fees by upwards of 20%. In setting the fee amounts in consumer cases, we had to balance the impact of inflation on the practitioner with affordability and access to justice for the consumer client. We also considered the rates allowed in the market area. The $4,800 fee is at the top of the standard Chapter 13 fees across the 8th Circuit, except one district. That district does not allow ALC fees. We also strive to make practice easier in this district and are open to considering other changes to make you all more productive and profitable. For example, many surrounding districts conduct hearings on lengthy "Chapter 13 days", requiring attorneys to attend in person. We eliminated that practice long ago. We allow attorneys to appear at most hearings telephonically. We authorized stipulated confirmation orders in Chapter 13 cases and encourage their use when appropriate. Our most recent local rules reduce the service requirements for motions and make filing a limited matrix easier.

The General Order also revises the Chapter 13 Plan to comply with 8th Circuit policy on fee applications.