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11 U.S.C. § 101 — Definitions
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 8
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
1 See Adjustment of Dollar Amounts notes below.
Sec.
102.
Rules of construction.
103.
Applicability of chapters.
104.
Adjustment of dollar amounts.
105.
Power of court.
106.
Waiver of sovereign immunity.
107.
Public access to papers.
108.
Extension of time.
109.
Who may be a debtor.
110.
Penalty for persons who negligently or fraud-
ulently prepare bankruptcy petitions.
111.
Nonprofit budget and credit counseling agen-
cies; financial management instructional
courses.
112.
Prohibition on disclosure of name of minor
children.
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2005—Pub. L. 109–8, title I, § 106(e)(2), title II, § 233(b),
Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 41, 74, added items 111 and 112.
1994—Pub. L. 103–394, title III, § 308(b), Oct. 22, 1994, 108
Stat. 4137, added item 110.
§ 101. Definitions
In this title the following definitions shall
apply:
(1) The term ‘‘accountant’’ means account-
ant authorized under applicable law to prac-
tice public accounting, and includes profes-
sional accounting association, corporation, or
partnership, if so authorized.
(2) The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means—
(A) entity that directly or indirectly owns,
controls, or holds with power to vote, 20 per-
cent or more of the outstanding voting secu-
rities of the debtor, other than an entity
that holds such securities—
(i) in a fiduciary or agency capacity
without sole discretionary power to vote
such securities; or
(ii) solely to secure a debt, if such entity
has not in fact exercised such power to
vote;
(B) corporation 20 percent or more of
whose outstanding voting securities are di-
rectly or indirectly owned, controlled, or
held with power to vote, by the debtor, or by
an entity that directly or indirectly owns,
controls, or holds wit
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Page 8
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
1 See Adjustment of Dollar Amounts notes below.
Sec.
102.
Rules of construction.
103.
Applicability of chapters.
104.
Adjustment of dollar amounts.
105.
Power of court.
106.
Waiver of sovereign immunity.
107.
Public access to papers.
108.
Extension of time.
109.
Who may be a debtor.
110.
Penalty for persons who negligently or fraud-
ulently prepare bankruptcy petitions.
111.
Nonprofit budget and credit counseling agen-
cies; financial management instructional
courses.
112.
Prohibition on disclosure of name of minor
children.
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2005—Pub. L. 109–8, title I, § 106(e)(2), title II, § 233(b),
Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 41, 74, added items 111 and 112.
1994—Pub. L. 103–394, title III, § 308(b), Oct. 22, 1994, 108
Stat. 4137, added item 110.
§ 101. Definitions
In this title the following definitions shall
apply:
(1) The term ‘‘accountant’’ means account-
ant authorized under applicable law to prac-
tice public accounting, and includes profes-
sional accounting association, corporation, or
partnership, if so authorized.
(2) The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means—
(A) entity that directly or indirectly owns,
controls, or holds with power to vote, 20 per-
cent or more of the outstanding voting secu-
rities of the debtor, other than an entity
that holds such securities—
(i) in a fiduciary or agency capacity
without sole discretionary power to vote
such securities; or
(ii) solely to secure a debt, if such entity
has not in fact exercised such power to
vote;
(B) corporation 20 percent or more of
whose outstanding voting securities are di-
rectly or indirectly owned, controlled, or
held with power to vote, by the debtor, or by
an entity that directly or indirectly owns,
controls, or holds with power to vote, 20 per-
cent or more of the outstanding voting secu-
rities of the debtor, other than an entity
that holds such securities—
(i) in a fiduciary or agency capacity
without sole discretionary power to vote
such securities; or
(ii) solely to secure a debt, if such entity
has not in fact exercised such power to
vote;
(C) person whose business is operated
under a lease or operating agreement by a
debtor, or person substantially all of whose
property is operated under an operating
agreement with the debtor; or
(D) entity that operates the business or
substantially all of the property of the debt-
or under a lease or operating agreement.
(3) The term ‘‘assisted person’’ means any
person whose debts consist primarily of con-
sumer debts and the value of whose nonexempt
property is less than $150,000.1
(4) The term ‘‘attorney’’ means attorney,
professional law association, corporation, or
partnership, authorized under applicable law
to practice law.
(4A) The term ‘‘bankruptcy assistance’’
means any goods or services sold or otherwise
provided to an assisted person with the express
or implied purpose of providing information,
advice, counsel, document preparation, or fil-
ing, or attendance at a creditors’ meeting or
appearing in a case or proceeding on behalf of
another or providing legal representation with
respect to a case or proceeding under this
title.
(5) The term ‘‘claim’’ means—
(A) right to payment, whether or not such
right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, un-
liquidated,
fixed,
contingent,
matured,
unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, eq-
uitable, secured, or unsecured; or
(B) 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 judg-
ment,
fixed,
contingent,
matured,
unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured, or
unsecured.
(6) The term ‘‘commodity broker’’ means fu-
tures commission merchant, foreign futures
commission merchant, clearing organization,
leverage transaction merchant, or commodity
options dealer, as defined in section 761 of this
title, with respect to which there is a cus-
tomer, as defined in section 761 of this title.
(7) The term ‘‘community claim’’ means
claim that arose before the commencement of
the case concerning the debtor for which prop-
erty of the kind specified in section 541(a)(2) of
this title is liable, whether or not there is any
such property at the time of the commence-
ment of the case.
(7A) The term ‘‘commercial fishing oper-
ation’’ means—
(A) the catching or harvesting of fish,
shrimp, lobsters, urchins, seaweed, shellfish,
or other aquatic species or products of such
species; or
(B) for purposes of section 109 and chapter
12, aquaculture activities consisting of rais-
ing for market any species or product de-
scribed in subparagraph (A).
(7B) The term ‘‘commercial fishing vessel’’
means a vessel used by a family fisherman to
carry out a commercial fishing operation.
(8) The term ‘‘consumer debt’’ means debt
incurred by an individual primarily for a per-
sonal, family, or household purpose.
(9) The term ‘‘corporation’’—
(A) includes—
(i) association having a power or privi-
lege that a private corporation, but not an
individual or a partnership, possesses;
(ii) partnership association organized
under a law that makes only the capital
subscribed responsible for the debts of
such association;
(iii) joint-stock company;
(iv) unincorporated company or associa-
tion; or
(v) business trust; but
Page 9
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
(B) does not include limited partnership.
(10) The term ‘‘creditor’’ means—
(A) entity that has a claim against the
debtor that arose at the time of or before the
order for relief concerning the debtor;
(B) entity that has a claim against the es-
tate of a kind specified in section 348(d),
502(f), 502(g), 502(h) or 502(i) of this title; or
(C) entity that has a community claim.
(10A) The term ‘‘current monthly income’’—
(A) means the average monthly income
from all sources that the debtor receives (or
in a joint case the debtor and the debtor’s
spouse receive) without regard to whether
such income is taxable income, derived dur-
ing the 6-month period ending on—
(i) the last day of the calendar month
immediately preceding the date of the
commencement of the case if the debtor
files the schedule of current income re-
quired by section 521(a)(1)(B)(ii); or
(ii) the date on which current income is
determined by the court for purposes of
this title if the debtor does not file the
schedule of current income required by
section 521(a)(1)(B)(ii); and
(B)(i) includes any amount paid by any en-
tity other than the debtor (or in a joint case
the debtor and the debtor’s spouse), on a reg-
ular basis for the household expenses of the
debtor or the debtor’s dependents (and in a
joint case the debtor’s spouse if not other-
wise a dependent); and
(ii) excludes—
(I) benefits received under the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.);
(II) payments to victims of war crimes or
crimes against humanity on account of
their status as victims of such crimes;
(III) payments to victims of inter-
national terrorism or domestic terrorism,
as those terms are defined in section 2331
of title 18, on account of their status as
victims of such terrorism; and
(IV) any monthly compensation, pension,
pay, annuity, or allowance paid under title
10, 37, or 38 in connection with a disability,
combat-related injury or disability, or
death of a member of the uniformed serv-
ices, except that any retired pay excluded
under this subclause shall include retired
pay paid under chapter 61 of title 10 only
to the extent that such retired pay exceeds
the amount of retired pay to which the
debtor would otherwise be entitled if re-
tired under any provision of title 10 other
than chapter 61 of that title.
(11) The term ‘‘custodian’’ means—
(A) receiver or trustee of any of the prop-
erty of the debtor, appointed in a case or
proceeding not under this title;
(B) assignee under a general assignment
for the benefit of the debtor’s creditors; or
(C) trustee, receiver, or agent under appli-
cable law, or under a contract, that is ap-
pointed or authorized to take charge of prop-
erty of the debtor for the purpose of enforc-
ing a lien against such property, or for the
purpose of general administration of such
property for the benefit of the debtor’s credi-
tors.
(12) The term ‘‘debt’’ means liability on a
claim.
(12A) The term ‘‘debt relief agency’’ means
any person who provides any bankruptcy as-
sistance to an assisted person in return for the
payment of money or other valuable consider-
ation, or who is a bankruptcy petition pre-
parer under section 110, but does not include—
(A) any person who is an officer, director,
employee, or agent of a person who provides
such assistance or of the bankruptcy peti-
tion preparer;
(B) a nonprofit organization that is ex-
empt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(C) a creditor of such assisted person, to
the extent that the creditor is assisting such
assisted person to restructure any debt owed
by such assisted person to the creditor;
(D) a depository institution (as defined in
section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act) or any Federal credit union or State
credit union (as those terms are defined in
section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act),
or any affiliate or subsidiary of such deposi-
tory institution or credit union; or
(E) an author, publisher, distributor, or
seller of works subject to copyright protec-
tion under title 17, when acting in such ca-
pacity.
(13) The term ‘‘debtor’’ means person or mu-
nicipality concerning which a case under this
title has been commenced.
(13A) The term ‘‘debtor’s principal resi-
dence’’—
(A) means a residential structure if used as
the principal residence by the debtor, includ-
ing incidental property, without regard to
whether that structure is attached to real
property; and
(B) includes an individual condominium or
cooperative unit, a mobile or manufactured
home, or trailer if used as the principal resi-
dence by the debtor.
(14) The term ‘‘disinterested person’’ means
a person that—
(A) is not a creditor, an equity security
holder, or an insider;
(B) is not and was not, within 2 years be-
fore the date of the filing of the petition, a
director, officer, or employee of the debtor;
and
(C) does not have an interest materially
adverse to the interest of the estate or of
any class of creditors or equity security
holders, by reason of any direct or indirect
relationship to, connection with, or interest
in, the debtor, or for any other reason.
(14A) The term ‘‘domestic support obliga-
tion’’ means a debt that accrues before, on, or
after the date of the order for relief in a case
under this title, including interest that ac-
crues on that debt as provided under applica-
ble nonbankruptcy law notwithstanding any
other provision of this title, that is—
(A) owed to or recoverable by—
(i) a spouse, former spouse, or child of
the debtor or such child’s parent, legal
guardian, or responsible relative; or
Page 10
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
(ii) a governmental unit;
(B) in the nature of alimony, maintenance,
or support (including assistance provided by
a governmental unit) of such spouse, former
spouse, or child of the debtor or such child’s
parent, without regard to whether such debt
is expressly so designated;
(C) established or subject to establishment
before, on, or after the date of the order for
relief in a case under this title, by reason of
applicable provisions of—
(i) a separation agreement, divorce de-
cree, or property settlement agreement;
(ii) an order of a court of record; or
(iii) a determination made in accordance
with applicable nonbankruptcy law by a
governmental unit; and
(D) not assigned to a nongovernmental en-
tity, unless that obligation is assigned vol-
untarily by the spouse, former spouse, child
of the debtor, or such child’s parent, legal
guardian, or responsible relative for the pur-
pose of collecting the debt.
(15) The term ‘‘entity’’ includes person, es-
tate, trust, governmental unit, and United
States trustee.
(16) The term ‘‘equity security’’ means—
(A) share in a corporation, whether or not
transferable or denominated ‘‘stock’’, or
similar security;
(B) interest of a limited partner in a lim-
ited partnership; or
(C) warrant or right, other than a right to
convert, to purchase, sell, or subscribe to a
share, security, or interest of a kind speci-
fied in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this para-
graph.
(17) The term ‘‘equity security holder’’
means holder of an equity security of the debt-
or.
(18) The term ‘‘family farmer’’ means—
(A) individual or individual and spouse en-
gaged in a farming operation whose aggre-
gate debts do not exceed $10,000,000 1 and not
less than 50 percent of whose aggregate non-
contingent, liquidated debts (excluding a
debt for the principal residence of such indi-
vidual or such individual and spouse unless
such debt arises out of a farming operation),
on the date the case is filed, arise out of a
farming operation owned or operated by
such individual or such individual and
spouse, and such individual or such indi-
vidual and spouse receive from such farming
operation more than 50 percent of such indi-
vidual’s or such individual and spouse’s
gross income for—
(i) the taxable year preceding; or
(ii) each of the 2d and 3d taxable years
preceding;
the taxable year in which the case con-
cerning such individual or such individual
and spouse was filed; or
(B) corporation or partnership in which
more than 50 percent of the outstanding
stock or equity is held by one family, or by
one family and the relatives of the members
of such family, and such family or such rel-
atives conduct the farming operation, and
(i) more than 80 percent of the value of
its assets consists of assets related to the
farming operation;
(ii) its aggregate debts do not exceed
$10,000,000 1 and not less than 50 percent of
its aggregate noncontingent, liquidated
debts (excluding a debt for one dwelling
which is owned by such corporation or
partnership and which a shareholder or
partner maintains as a principal residence,
unless such debt arises out of a farming
operation), on the date the case is filed,
arise out of the farming operation owned
or operated by such corporation or such
partnership; and
(iii) if such corporation issues stock,
such stock is not publicly traded.
(19) The term ‘‘family farmer with regular
annual income’’ means family farmer whose
annual income is sufficiently stable and reg-
ular to enable such family farmer to make
payments under a plan under chapter 12 of this
title.
(19A) The term ‘‘family fisherman’’ means—
(A) an individual or individual and spouse
engaged in a commercial fishing operation—
(i) whose aggregate debts do not exceed
$1,500,000 1 and not less than 80 percent of
whose aggregate noncontingent, liquidated
debts (excluding a debt for the principal
residence of such individual or such indi-
vidual and spouse, unless such debt arises
out of a commercial fishing operation), on
the date the case is filed, arise out of a
commercial fishing operation owned or op-
erated by such individual or such indi-
vidual and spouse; and
(ii) who receive from such commercial
fishing operation more than 50 percent of
such individual’s or such individual’s and
spouse’s gross income for the taxable year
preceding the taxable year in which the
case concerning such individual or such in-
dividual and spouse was filed; or
(B) a corporation or partnership—
(i) in which more than 50 percent of the
outstanding stock or equity is held by—
(I) 1 family that conducts the commer-
cial fishing operation; or
(II) 1 family and the relatives of the
members of such family, and such family
or such relatives conduct the commer-
cial fishing operation; and
(ii)(I) more than 80 percent of the value
of its assets consists of assets related to
the commercial fishing operation;
(II) its aggregate debts do not exceed
$1,500,000 1 and not less than 80 percent of
its aggregate noncontingent, liquidated
debts (excluding a debt for 1 dwelling
which is owned by such corporation or
partnership and which a shareholder or
partner maintains as a principal residence,
unless such debt arises out of a commer-
cial fishing operation), on the date the
case is filed, arise out of a commercial
fishing operation owned or operated by
such corporation or such partnership; and
(III) if such corporation issues stock,
such stock is not publicly traded.
Page 11
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
2 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
(19B) The term ‘‘family fisherman with reg-
ular annual income’’ means a family fisher-
man whose annual income is sufficiently sta-
ble and regular to enable such family fisher-
man to make payments under a plan under
chapter 12 of this title.
(20) The term ‘‘farmer’’ means (except when
such term appears in the term ‘‘family farm-
er’’) person that received more than 80 percent
of such person’s gross income during the tax-
able year of such person immediately pre-
ceding the taxable year of such person during
which the case under this title concerning
such person was commenced from a farming
operation owned or operated by such person.
(21) The term ‘‘farming operation’’ includes
farming, tillage of the soil, dairy farming,
ranching, production or raising of crops, poul-
try, or livestock, and production of poultry or
livestock products in an unmanufactured
state.
(21A) The term ‘‘farmout agreement’’ means
a written agreement in which—
(A) the owner of a right to drill, produce,
or operate liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons on
property agrees or has agreed to transfer or
assign all or a part of such right to another
entity; and
(B) such other entity (either directly or
through its agents or its assigns), as consid-
eration, agrees to perform drilling, rework-
ing, recompleting, testing, or similar or re-
lated operations, to develop or produce liq-
uid or gaseous hydrocarbons on the prop-
erty.
(21B) The term ‘‘Federal depository institu-
tions regulatory agency’’ means—
(A) with respect to an insured depository
institution (as defined in section 3(c)(2) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) for
which no conservator or receiver has been
appointed, the appropriate Federal banking
agency (as defined in section 3(q) of such
Act);
(B) with respect to an insured credit union
(including an insured credit union for which
the National Credit Union Administration
has been appointed conservator or liqui-
dating agent), the National Credit Union Ad-
ministration;
(C) with respect to any insured depository
institution for which the Resolution Trust
Corporation has been appointed conservator
or receiver, the Resolution Trust Corpora-
tion; and
(D) with respect to any insured depository
institution for which the Federal Deposit In-
surance Corporation has been appointed con-
servator or receiver, the Federal Deposit In-
surance Corporation.
(22)
The
term
‘‘financial
institution’’
means—
(A) a Federal reserve bank, or an entity
that is a commercial or savings bank, indus-
trial savings bank, savings and loan associa-
tion, trust company, federally-insured credit
union, or receiver, liquidating agent, or con-
servator for such entity and, when any such
Federal reserve bank, receiver, liquidating
agent, conservator or entity is acting as
agent or custodian for a customer (whether
or not a ‘‘customer’’, as defined in section
741) in connection with a securities contract
(as defined in section 741) such customer; or
(B) in connection with a securities con-
tract (as defined in section 741) an invest-
ment company registered under the Invest-
ment Company Act of 1940.
(22A)
The
term
‘‘financial
participant’’
means—
(A) an entity that, at the time it enters
into a securities contract, commodity con-
tract, swap agreement, repurchase agree-
ment, or forward contract, or at the time of
the date of the filing of the petition, has one
or more agreements or transactions de-
scribed in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6)
of section 561(a) with the debtor or any other
entity (other than an affiliate) of a total
gross
dollar
value
of
not
less
than
$1,000,000,000 in notional or actual principal
amount
outstanding
(aggregated
across
counterparties) at such time or on any day
during the 15-month period preceding the
date of the filing of the petition, or has gross
mark-to-market positions of not less than
$100,000,000
(aggregated
across
counterparties) in one or more such agree-
ments or transactions with the debtor or
any other entity (other than an affiliate) at
such time or on any day during the 15-month
period preceding the date of the filing of the
petition; or
(B) a clearing organization (as defined in
section 402 of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation Improvement Act of 1991).
(23) The term ‘‘foreign proceeding’’ means a
collective judicial or administrative pro-
ceeding in a foreign country, including an in-
terim proceeding, under a law relating to in-
solvency or adjustment of debt in which pro-
ceeding the assets and affairs of the debtor are
subject to control or supervision by a foreign
court, for the purpose of reorganization or liq-
uidation.
(24)
The
term
‘‘foreign
representative’’
means a person or body, including a person or
body appointed on an interim basis, authorized
in a foreign proceeding to administer the reor-
ganization or the liquidation of the debtor’s
assets or affairs or to act as a representative
of such foreign proceeding.
(25) The term ‘‘forward contract’’ means—
(A) a contract (other than a commodity
contract, as defined in section 761) for the
purchase, sale, or transfer of a commodity,
as defined in section 761(8) of this title, or
any similar good, article, service, right, or
interest which is presently or in the future
becomes the subject of dealing in the for-
ward contract trade, or product or byproduct
thereof, with a maturity date more than two
days after the date the contract is entered
into, including, but not limited to, a repur-
chase or reverse repurchase transaction
(whether or not such repurchase or reverse
repurchase transaction is a ‘‘repurchase
agreement’’, as defined in this section) 2 con-
Page 12
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
signment, lease, swap, hedge transaction, de-
posit, loan, option, allocated transaction,
unallocated transaction, or any other simi-
lar agreement;
(B) any combination of agreements or
transactions referred to in subparagraphs
(A) and (C);
(C) any option to enter into an agreement
or transaction referred to in subparagraph
(A) or (B);
(D) a master agreement that provides for
an agreement or transaction referred to in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), together with
all supplements to any such master agree-
ment, without regard to whether such mas-
ter agreement provides for an agreement or
transaction that is not a forward contract
under this paragraph, except that such mas-
ter agreement shall be considered to be a
forward contract under this paragraph only
with respect to each agreement or trans-
action under such master agreement that is
referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C);
or
(E) any security agreement or arrange-
ment, or other credit enhancement related
to any agreement or transaction referred to
in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D), includ-
ing any guarantee or reimbursement obliga-
tion by or to a forward contract merchant or
financial participant in connection with any
agreement or transaction referred to in any
such subparagraph, but not to exceed the
damages in connection with any such agree-
ment or transaction, measured in accord-
ance with section 562.
(26) The term ‘‘forward contract merchant’’
means a Federal reserve bank, or an entity the
business of which consists in whole or in part
of entering into forward contracts as or with
merchants in a commodity (as defined in sec-
tion 761) or any similar good, article, service,
right, or interest which is presently or in the
future becomes the subject of dealing in the
forward contract trade.
(27) The term ‘‘governmental unit’’ means
United States; State; Commonwealth; Dis-
trict; Territory; municipality; foreign state;
department, agency, or instrumentality of the
United States (but not a United States trustee
while serving as a trustee in a case under this
title), a State, a Commonwealth, a District, a
Territory, a municipality, or a foreign state;
or other foreign or domestic government.
(27A) The term ‘‘health care business’’—
(A) means any public or private entity
(without regard to whether that entity is or-
ganized for profit or not for profit) that is
primarily engaged in offering to the general
public facilities and services for—
(i) the diagnosis or treatment of injury,
deformity, or disease; and
(ii)
surgical,
drug
treatment,
psy-
chiatric, or obstetric care; and
(B) includes—
(i) any—
(I) general or specialized hospital;
(II) ancillary ambulatory, emergency,
or surgical treatment facility;
(III) hospice;
(IV) home health agency; and
(V) other health care institution that
is similar to an entity referred to in sub-
clause (I), (II), (III), or (IV); and
(ii) any long-term care facility, includ-
ing any—
(I) skilled nursing facility;
(II) intermediate care facility;
(III) assisted living facility;
(IV) home for the aged;
(V) domiciliary care facility; and
(VI) health care institution that is re-
lated to a facility referred to in sub-
clause (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (V), if that
institution is primarily engaged in offer-
ing room, board, laundry, or personal as-
sistance with activities of daily living
and incidentals to activities of daily liv-
ing.
(27B) The term ‘‘incidental property’’ means,
with respect to a debtor’s principal residence—
(A) property commonly conveyed with a
principal residence in the area where the
real property is located;
(B) all easements, rights, appurtenances,
fixtures, rents, royalties, mineral rights, oil
or gas rights or profits, water rights, escrow
funds, or insurance proceeds; and
(C) all replacements or additions.
(28) The term ‘‘indenture’’ means mortgage,
deed of trust, or indenture, under which there
is outstanding a security, other than a voting-
trust certificate, constituting a claim against
the debtor, a claim secured by a lien on any of
the debtor’s property, or an equity security of
the debtor.
(29) The term ‘‘indenture trustee’’ means
trustee under an indenture.
(30) The term ‘‘individual with regular in-
come’’ means individual whose income is suffi-
ciently stable and regular to enable such indi-
vidual to make payments under a plan under
chapter 13 of this title, other than a stock-
broker or a commodity broker.
(31) The term ‘‘insider’’ includes—
(A) if the debtor is an individual—
(i) relative of the debtor or of a general
partner of the debtor;
(ii) partnership in which the debtor is a
general partner;
(iii) general partner of the debtor; or
(iv) corporation of which the debtor is a
director, officer, or person in control;
(B) if the debtor is a corporation—
(i) director of the debtor;
(ii) officer of the debtor;
(iii) person in control of the debtor;
(iv) partnership in which the debtor is a
general partner;
(v) general partner of the debtor; or
(vi) relative of a general partner, direc-
tor, officer, or person in control of the
debtor;
(C) if the debtor is a partnership—
(i) general partner in the debtor;
(ii) relative of a general partner in, gen-
eral partner of, or person in control of the
debtor;
(iii) partnership in which the debtor is a
general partner;
Page 13
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
(iv) general partner of the debtor; or
(v) person in control of the debtor;
(D) if the debtor is a municipality, elected
official of the debtor or relative of an elected
official of the debtor;
(E) affiliate, or insider of an affiliate as if
such affiliate were the debtor; and
(F) managing agent of the debtor.
(32) The term ‘‘insolvent’’ means—
(A) with reference to an entity other than
a partnership and a municipality, financial
condition such that the sum of such entity’s
debts is greater than all of such entity’s
property, at a fair valuation, exclusive of—
(i) property transferred, concealed, or re-
moved with intent to hinder, delay, or de-
fraud such entity’s creditors; and
(ii) property that may be exempted from
property of the estate under section 522 of
this title;
(B) with reference to a partnership, finan-
cial condition such that the sum of such
partnership’s debts is greater than the ag-
gregate of, at a fair valuation—
(i) all of such partnership’s property, ex-
clusive of property of the kind specified in
subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph; and
(ii) the sum of the excess of the value of
each
general
partner’s
nonpartnership
property, exclusive of property of the kind
specified in subparagraph (A) of this para-
graph, over such partner’s nonpartnership
debts; and
(C) with reference to a municipality, finan-
cial condition such that the municipality
is—
(i) generally not paying its debts as they
become due unless such debts are the sub-
ject of a bona fide dispute; or
(ii) unable to pay its debts as they be-
come due.
(33)
The
term
‘‘institution-affiliated
party’’—
(A) with respect to an insured depository
institution (as defined in section 3(c)(2) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), has the
meaning given it in section 3(u) of the Fed-
eral Deposit Insurance Act; and
(B) with respect to an insured credit union,
has the meaning given it in section 206(r) of
the Federal Credit Union Act.
(34) The term ‘‘insured credit union’’ has the
meaning given it in section 101(7) of the Fed-
eral Credit Union Act.
(35) The term ‘‘insured depository institu-
tion’’—
(A) has the meaning given it in section
3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
and
(B) includes an insured credit union (ex-
cept in the case of paragraphs (21B) and
(33)(A) of this subsection).
(35A)
The
term
‘‘intellectual
property’’
means—
(A) trade secret;
(B) invention, process, design, or plant
protected under title 35;
(C) patent application;
(D) plant variety;
(E) work of authorship protected under
title 17; or
(F) mask work protected under chapter 9
of title 17;
to the extent protected by applicable non-
bankruptcy law.
(36) The term ‘‘judicial lien’’ means lien ob-
tained by judgment, levy, sequestration, or
other legal or equitable process or proceeding.
(37) The term ‘‘lien’’ means charge against
or interest in property to secure payment of a
debt or performance of an obligation.
(38) The term ‘‘margin payment’’ means, for
purposes of the forward contract provisions of
this title, payment or deposit of cash, a secu-
rity or other property, that is commonly
known in the forward contract trade as origi-
nal margin, initial margin, maintenance mar-
gin, or variation margin, including mark-to-
market payments, or variation payments.
(38A) The term ‘‘master netting agree-
ment’’—
(A) means an agreement providing for the
exercise of rights, including rights of net-
ting, setoff, liquidation, termination, accel-
eration, or close out, under or in connection
with one or more contracts that are de-
scribed in any one or more of paragraphs (1)
through (5) of section 561(a), or any security
agreement or arrangement or other credit
enhancement related to one or more of the
foregoing, including any guarantee or reim-
bursement obligation related to 1 or more of
the foregoing; and
(B) if the agreement contains provisions
relating to agreements or transactions that
are not contracts described in paragraphs (1)
through (5) of section 561(a), shall be deemed
to be a master netting agreement only with
respect to those agreements or transactions
that are described in any one or more of
paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 561(a).
(38B) The term ‘‘master netting agreement
participant’’ means an entity that, at any
time before the date of the filing of the peti-
tion, is a party to an outstanding master net-
ting agreement with the debtor.
(39) The term ‘‘mask work’’ has the meaning
given it in section 901(a)(2) of title 17.
(39A) The term ‘‘median family income’’
means for any year—
(A) the median family income both cal-
culated and reported by the Bureau of the
Census in the then most recent year; and
(B) if not so calculated and reported in the
then current year, adjusted annually after
such most recent year until the next year in
which median family income is both cal-
culated and reported by the Bureau of the
Census, to reflect the percentage change in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Con-
sumers during the period of years occurring
after such most recent year and before such
current year.
(40) The term ‘‘municipality’’ means polit-
ical subdivision or public agency or instru-
mentality of a State.
(40A) The term ‘‘patient’’ means any indi-
vidual who obtains or receives services from a
health care business.
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TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
3 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘or’’. See 2010 Amendment
note below.
(40B) The term ‘‘patient records’’ means any
record relating to a patient, including a writ-
ten document or a record recorded in a mag-
netic, optical, or other form of electronic me-
dium.
(41) The term ‘‘person’’ includes individual,
partnership, and corporation, but does not in-
clude governmental unit, except that a gov-
ernmental unit that—
(A) acquires an asset from a person—
(i) as a result of the operation of a loan
guarantee agreement; or
(ii) as receiver or liquidating agent of a
person;
(B) is a guarantor of a pension benefit pay-
able by or on behalf of the debtor or an affil-
iate of the debtor; or
(C) is the legal or beneficial owner of an
asset of—
(i) an employee pension benefit plan that
is a governmental plan, as defined in sec-
tion 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986; or
(ii) an eligible deferred compensation
plan, as defined in section 457(b) of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986;
shall be considered, for purposes of section
1102 of this title, to be a person with respect to
such asset or such benefit.
(41A) The term ‘‘personally identifiable in-
formation’’ means—
(A) if provided by an individual to the
debtor in connection with obtaining a prod-
uct or a service from the debtor primarily
for personal, family, or household purposes—
(i) the first name (or initial) and last
name of such individual, whether given at
birth or time of adoption, or resulting
from a lawful change of name;
(ii) the geographical address of a phys-
ical place of residence of such individual;
(iii) an electronic address (including an
e-mail address) of such individual;
(iv) a telephone number dedicated to
contacting such individual at such phys-
ical place of residence;
(v) a social security account number
issued to such individual; or
(vi) the account number of a credit card
issued to such individual; or
(B) if identified in connection with 1 or
more of the items of information specified in
subparagraph (A)—
(i) a birth date, the number of a certifi-
cate of birth or adoption, or a place of
birth; or
(ii) any other information concerning an
identified individual that, if disclosed, will
result in contacting or identifying such in-
dividual physically or electronically.
(42) The term ‘‘petition’’ means petition
filed under section 301, 302, 303 and 3 1504 of this
title, as the case may be, commencing a case
under this title.
(42A)
The
term
‘‘production
payment’’
means a term overriding royalty satisfiable in
cash or in kind—
(A) contingent on the production of a liq-
uid or gaseous hydrocarbon from particular
real property; and
(B) from a specified volume, or a specified
value, from the liquid or gaseous hydro-
carbon produced from such property, and de-
termined
without
regard
to
production
costs.
(43) The term ‘‘purchaser’’ means transferee
of a voluntary transfer, and includes imme-
diate or mediate transferee of such a trans-
feree.
(44) The term ‘‘railroad’’ means common car-
rier by railroad engaged in the transportation
of individuals or property or owner of track-
age facilities leased by such a common carrier.
(45) The term ‘‘relative’’ means individual
related by affinity or consanguinity within
the third degree as determined by the common
law, or individual in a step or adoptive rela-
tionship within such third degree.
(46) The term ‘‘repo participant’’ means an
entity that, at any time before the filing of
the petition, has an outstanding repurchase
agreement with the debtor.
(47)
The
term
‘‘repurchase
agreement’’
(which definition also applies to a reverse re-
purchase agreement)—
(A) means—
(i)
an
agreement,
including
related
terms, which provides for the transfer of
one or more certificates of deposit, mort-
gage related securities (as defined in sec-
tion 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934), mortgage loans, interests in mort-
gage related securities or mortgage loans,
eligible bankers’ acceptances, qualified
foreign government securities (defined as a
security that is a direct obligation of, or
that is fully guaranteed by, the central
government of a member of the Organiza-
tion for Economic Cooperation and Devel-
opment), or securities that are direct obli-
gations of, or that are fully guaranteed by,
the United States or any agency of the
United States against the transfer of funds
by the transferee of such certificates of de-
posit, eligible bankers’ acceptances, secu-
rities, mortgage loans, or interests, with a
simultaneous agreement by such trans-
feree to transfer to the transferor thereof
certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’
acceptance, securities, mortgage loans, or
interests of the kind described in this
clause, at a date certain not later than 1
year after such transfer or on demand,
against the transfer of funds;
(ii) any combination of agreements or
transactions referred to in clauses (i) and
(iii);
(iii) an option to enter into an agree-
ment or transaction referred to in clause
(i) or (ii);
(iv) a master agreement that provides
for an agreement or transaction referred
to in clause (i), (ii), or (iii), together with
all supplements to any such master agree-
ment, without regard to whether such
master agreement provides for an agree-
ment or transaction that is not a repur-
chase agreement under this paragraph, ex-
Page 15
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
cept that such master agreement shall be
considered to be a repurchase agreement
under this paragraph only with respect to
each agreement or transaction under the
master agreement that is referred to in
clause (i), (ii), or (iii); or
(v) any security agreement or arrange-
ment or other credit enhancement related
to any agreement or transaction referred
to in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), including
any guarantee or reimbursement obliga-
tion by or to a repo participant or finan-
cial participant in connection with any
agreement or transaction referred to in
any such clause, but not to exceed the
damages in connection with any such
agreement or transaction, measured in ac-
cordance with section 562 of this title; and
(B) does not include a repurchase obliga-
tion under a participation in a commercial
mortgage loan.
(48) The term ‘‘securities clearing agency’’
means person that is registered as a clearing
agency under section 17A of the Securities Ex-
change Act of 1934, or exempt from such reg-
istration under such section pursuant to an
order of the Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion, or whose business is confined to the per-
formance of functions of a clearing agency
with respect to exempted securities, as defined
in section 3(a)(12) of such Act for the purposes
of such section 17A.
(48A) The term ‘‘securities self regulatory
organization’’ means either a securities asso-
ciation registered with the Securities and Ex-
change Commission under section 15A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or a national
securities exchange registered with the Secu-
rities and Exchange Commission under section
6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(49) The term ‘‘security’’—
(A) includes—
(i) note;
(ii) stock;
(iii) treasury stock;
(iv) bond;
(v) debenture;
(vi) collateral trust certificate;
(vii) pre-organization certificate or sub-
scription;
(viii) transferable share;
(ix) voting-trust certificate;
(x) certificate of deposit;
(xi) certificate of deposit for security;
(xii) investment contract or certificate
of interest or participation in a profit-
sharing agreement or in an oil, gas, or
mineral royalty or lease, if such contract
or interest is required to be the subject of
a registration statement filed with the Se-
curities and Exchange Commission under
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
or is exempt under section 3(b) of such Act
from the requirement to file such a state-
ment;
(xiii) interest of a limited partner in a
limited partnership;
(xiv) other claim or interest commonly
known as ‘‘security’’; and
(xv) certificate of interest or participa-
tion in, temporary or interim certificate
for, receipt for, or warrant or right to sub-
scribe to or purchase or sell, a security;
but
(B) does not include—
(i) currency, check, draft, bill of ex-
change, or bank letter of credit;
(ii) leverage transaction, as defined in
section 761 of this title;
(iii) commodity futures contract or for-
ward contract;
(iv) option, warrant, or right to sub-
scribe to or purchase or sell a commodity
futures contract;
(v) option to purchase or sell a com-
modity;
(vi) contract or certificate of a kind
specified in subparagraph (A)(xii) of this
paragraph that is not required to be the
subject of a registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion and is not exempt under section 3(b)
of the Securities Act of 1933 from the re-
quirement to file such a statement; or
(vii) debt or evidence of indebtedness for
goods sold and delivered or services ren-
dered.
(50) The term ‘‘security agreement’’ means
agreement that creates or provides for a secu-
rity interest.
(51) The term ‘‘security interest’’ means lien
created by an agreement.
(51A)
The
term
‘‘settlement
payment’’
means, for purposes of the forward contract
provisions of this title, a preliminary settle-
ment payment, a partial settlement payment,
an interim settlement payment, a settlement
payment on account, a final settlement pay-
ment, a net settlement payment, or any other
similar payment commonly used in the for-
ward contract trade.
(51B) The term ‘‘single asset real estate’’
means real property constituting a single
property or project, other than residential real
property with fewer than 4 residential units,
which generates substantially all of the gross
income of a debtor who is not a family farmer
and on which no substantial business is being
conducted by a debtor other than the business
of operating the real property and activities
incidental thereto.
(51C) The term ‘‘small business case’’ means
a case filed under chapter 11 of this title in
which the debtor is a small business debtor
and has not elected that subchapter V of chap-
ter 11 of this title shall apply.
(51D) The term ‘‘small business debtor’’—
(A) subject to subparagraph (B), means a
person engaged in commercial or business
activities (including any affiliate of such
person that is also a debtor under this title
and excluding a person whose primary activ-
ity is the business of owning single asset
real estate) that has aggregate noncontin-
gent liquidated secured and unsecured debts
as of the date of the filing of the petition or
the date of the order for relief in an amount
not more than $2,000,000 1 (excluding debts
owed to 1 or more affiliates or insiders) not
less than 50 percent of which arose from the
commercial or business activities of the
debtor; and
Page 16
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
4 So in original.
(B) does not include—
(i) any member of a group of affiliated
debtors under this title that has aggregate
noncontingent liquidated secured and un-
secured debts in an amount greater than
$2,000,000 1 (excluding debt owed to 1 or
more affiliates or insiders);
(ii) any debtor that is a corporation sub-
ject to the reporting requirements under
section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Ex-
change Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m, 78o(d));
or
(iii) any debtor that is an affiliate of a
corporation described in clause (ii).
(52) The term ‘‘State’’ includes the District
of Columbia and Puerto Rico, except for the
purpose of defining who may be a debtor under
chapter 9 of this title.
(53) The term ‘‘statutory lien’’ means lien
arising solely by force of a statute on specified
circumstances or conditions, or lien of distress
for rent, whether or not statutory, but does
not include security interest or judicial lien,
whether or not such interest or lien is pro-
vided by or is dependent on a statute and
whether or not such interest or lien is made
fully effective by statute.
(53A) The term ‘‘stockbroker’’ means per-
son—
(A) with respect to which there is a cus-
tomer, as defined in section 741 of this title;
and
(B) that is engaged in the business of ef-
fecting transactions in securities—
(i) for the account of others; or
(ii) with members of the general public,
from or for such person’s own account.
(53B) The term ‘‘swap agreement’’—
(A) means—
(i) any agreement, including the terms
and conditions incorporated by reference
in such agreement, which is—
(I) an interest rate swap, option, fu-
ture, or forward agreement, including a
rate floor, rate cap, rate collar, cross-
currency rate swap, and basis swap;
(II) a spot, same day-tomorrow, tomor-
row-next, forward, or other foreign ex-
change, precious metals, or other com-
modity agreement;
(III) a currency swap, option, future, or
forward agreement;
(IV) an equity index or equity swap,
option, future, or forward agreement;
(V) a debt index or debt swap, option,
future, or forward agreement;
(VI) a total return, credit spread or
credit swap, option, future, or forward
agreement;
(VII) a commodity index or a com-
modity swap, option, future, or forward
agreement;
(VIII) a weather swap, option, future,
or forward agreement;
(IX) an emissions swap, option, future,
or forward agreement; or
(X) an inflation swap, option, future,
or forward agreement;
(ii) any agreement or transaction that is
similar to any other agreement or trans-
action referred to in this paragraph and
that—
(I) is of a type that has been, is pres-
ently, or in the future becomes, the sub-
ject of recurrent dealings in the swap or
other derivatives markets (including
terms and conditions incorporated by
reference therein); and
(II) is a forward, swap, future, option,
or spot transaction on one or more rates,
currencies, commodities, equity securi-
ties, or other equity instruments, debt
securities or other debt instruments,
quantitative measures associated with
an occurrence, extent of an occurrence,
or contingency associated with a finan-
cial,
commercial,
or
economic
con-
sequence, or economic or financial indi-
ces or measures of economic or financial
risk or value;
(iii) any combination of agreements or
transactions referred to in this subpara-
graph;
(iv) any option to enter into an agree-
ment or transaction referred to in this
subparagraph;
(v) a master agreement that provides for
an agreement or transaction referred to in
clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), together with
all supplements to any such master agree-
ment, and without regard to whether the
master agreement contains an agreement
or transaction that is not a swap agree-
ment under this paragraph, except that
the master agreement shall be considered
to be a swap agreement under this para-
graph only with respect to each agreement
or transaction under the master agree-
ment that is referred to in clause (i), (ii),
(iii), or (iv); or
(vi) any security agreement or arrange-
ment or other credit enhancement related
to any agreements or transactions referred
to in clause (i) through (v), including any
guarantee or reimbursement obligation by
or to a swap participant or financial par-
ticipant in connection with any agreement
or transaction referred to in any such
clause, but not to exceed the damages in
connection with any such agreement or
transaction, measured in accordance with
section 562; and
(B) is applicable for purposes of this title
only, and shall not be construed or applied
so as to challenge or affect the characteriza-
tion, definition, or treatment of any swap
agreement under any other statute, regula-
tion, or rule, including the Gramm-Leach-
Bliley Act, the Legal Certainty for Bank
Products Act of 2000, the securities laws (as
such term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and the
Commodity Exchange Act.
(53C) The term ‘‘swap participant’’ means an
entity that, at any time before the filing of
the petition, has an outstanding swap agree-
ment with the debtor.
(56A) 4 The term ‘‘term overriding royalty’’
means an interest in liquid or gaseous hydro-
Page 17
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
carbons in place or to be produced from par-
ticular real property that entitles the owner
thereof to a share of production, or the value
thereof, for a term limited by time, quantity,
or value realized.
(53D) The term ‘‘timeshare plan’’ means and
shall include that interest purchased in any
arrangement, plan, scheme, or similar device,
but not including exchange programs, whether
by membership, agreement, tenancy in com-
mon, sale, lease, deed, rental agreement, li-
cense, right to use agreement, or by any other
means, whereby a purchaser, in exchange for
consideration, receives a right to use accom-
modations, facilities, or recreational sites,
whether improved or unimproved, for a spe-
cific period of time less than a full year during
any given year, but not necessarily for con-
secutive years, and which extends for a period
of more than three years. A ‘‘timeshare inter-
est’’ is that interest purchased in a timeshare
plan which grants the purchaser the right to
use and occupy accommodations, facilities, or
recreational sites, whether improved or unim-
proved, pursuant to a timeshare plan.
(54) The term ‘‘transfer’’ means—
(A) the creation of a lien;
(B) the retention of title as a security in-
terest;
(C) the foreclosure of a debtor’s equity of
redemption; or
(D) each mode, direct or indirect, absolute
or conditional, voluntary or involuntary, of
disposing of or parting with—
(i) property; or
(ii) an interest in property.
(54A) The term ‘‘uninsured State member
bank’’ means a State member bank (as defined
in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act) the deposits of which are not insured by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
(55) The term ‘‘United States’’, when used in
a geographical sense, includes all locations
where the judicial jurisdiction of the United
States extends, including territories and pos-
sessions of the United States.
(Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2549; Pub. L.
97–222, § 1, July 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 235; Pub. L.
98–353, title III, §§ 391, 401, 421, July 10, 1984, 98
Stat. 364, 366, 367; Pub. L. 99–554, title II, §§ 201,
251, 283(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3097, 3104, 3116;
Pub. L. 100–506, § 1(a), Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2538;
Pub. L. 100–597, § 1, Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3028;
Pub. L. 101–311, title I, § 101, title II, § 201, June
25, 1990, 104 Stat. 267, 268; Pub. L. 101–647, title
XXV, § 2522(e), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4867; Pub.
L. 102–486, title XXX, § 3017(a), Oct. 24, 1992, 106
Stat. 3130; Pub. L. 103–394, title I, § 106, title II,
§§ 208(a), 215, 217(a), 218(a), title III, § 304(a), title
V, § 501(a), (b)(1), (d)(1), Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat.
4111, 4124, 4126–4128, 4132, 4141–4143; Pub. L.
106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 112(c)(3), (4)], Dec. 21,
2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–393, 2763A–394; Pub. L.
109–8, title I, § 102(b), (k), title II, §§ 211, 226(a),
231(b), title III, § 306(c), title IV, §§ 401(a), 414,
432(a), title VIII, § 802(b), title IX, § 907(a)(1), (b),
(c), title X, §§ 1004, 1005, 1007(a), title XI, § 1101(a),
(b), title XII, § 1201, Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 32, 35,
50, 66, 73, 80, 104, 107, 110, 145, 170, 175, 186, 187, 189,
192; Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 12, 2006, 120
Stat. 2695; Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2010,
124 Stat. 3557; Pub. L. 116–51, § 2, Aug. 23, 2019, 133
Stat. 1075; Pub. L. 116–52, § 2, Aug. 23, 2019, 133
Stat. 1076; Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(a)(1), Aug. 23, 2019,
133 Stat. 1085; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII,
§ 1736, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1819; Pub. L. 116–136,
div. A, title I, § 1113(a)(4)(A), (b)(1)(A), (2)(A)(i),
Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 311, 312; Pub. L. 117–151,
§ 2(a), June 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 1298.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
LEGISLATIVE STATEMENTS
Section 101(2) defines ‘‘affiliate.’’ The House amend-
ment contains a provision that is a compromise be-
tween the definition in the House-passed version of
H.R. 8200 and the Senate amendment in the nature of a
substitute to H.R. 8200. Subparagraphs (A) and (B) are
derived from the Senate amendment and subparagraph
(D) is taken from the House bill, while subparagraph
(C) represents a compromise, taking the House position
with respect to a person whose business is operated
under a lease or an operating agreement by the debtor
and with respect to a person substantially all of whose
property is operated under an operating agreement by
the debtor and with respect to a person substantially
all of whose property is operated under an operating
agreement by the debtor and the Senate position on
leased property. Thus, the definition of ‘‘affiliate’’ ex-
cludes persons substantially all of whose property is
operated under a lease agreement by a debtor, such as
a small company which owns equipment all of which is
leased to a larger nonrelated company.
Section 101(4)(B) represents a modification of the
House-passed bill to include the definition of ‘‘claim’’ a
right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance
if such breach gives rise to a right to payment. This is
intended to cause the liquidation or estimation of con-
tingent rights of payment for which there may be an
alternative equitable remedy with the result that the
equitable remedy will be susceptible to being dis-
charged in bankruptcy. For example, in some States, a
judgment for specific performance may be satisfied by
an alternative right to payment, in the event perform-
ance is refused; in that event, the creditor entitled to
specific performance would have a ‘‘claim’’ for purposes
of a proceeding under title 11.
On the other hand, rights to an equitable remedy for
a breach of performance with respect to which such
breach does not give rise to a right to payment are not
‘‘claims’’ and would therefore not be susceptible to dis-
charge in bankruptcy.
In a case under chapter 9 to title 11, ‘‘claim’’ does not
include a right to payment under an industrial develop-
ment bond issued by a municipality as a matter of con-
venience for a third party.
Municipalities are authorized, under section 103(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended [title
26], to issue tax-exempt industrial development revenue
bonds to provide for the financing of certain projects
for privately owned companies. The bonds are sold on
the basis of the credit of the company on whose behalf
they are issued, and the principal, interest, and pre-
mium, if any, are payable solely from payments made
by the company to the trustee under the bond inden-
ture and do not constitute claims on the tax revenues
or other funds of the issuing municipalities. The mu-
nicipality merely acts as the vehicle to enable the
bonds to be issued on a tax-exempt basis. Claims that
arise by virtue of these bonds are not among the claims
defined by this paragraph and amounts owed by private
companies to the holders of industrial development
revenue bonds are not to be included among the assets
of the municipality that would be affected by the plan.
Section 101(6) defines ‘‘community claim’’ as provided
by the Senate amendment in order to indicate that a
community claim exists whether or not there is com-
munity property in the estate as of the commencement
of the case.
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TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
Section 101(7) of the House amendment contains a
definition of consumer debt identical to the definition
in the House bill and Senate amendment. A consumer
debt does not include a debt to any extent the debt is
secured by real property.
Section 101(9) of the Senate amendment contained a
definition of ‘‘court.’’ The House amendment deletes
the provision as unnecessary in light of the pervasive
jurisdiction of a bankruptcy court under all chapters of
title 11 as indicated in title II of the House amendment
to H.R. 8200.
Section 101(11) defines ‘‘debt’’ to mean liability on a
claim, as was contained in the House-passed version of
H.R. 8200. The Senate amendment contained language
indicating that ‘‘debt’’ does not include a policy loan
made by a life insurance company to the debtor. That
language is deleted in the House amendment as unnec-
essary since a life insurance company clearly has no
right to have a policy loan repaid by the debtor, al-
though such company does have a right of offset with
respect to such policy loan. Clearly, then, a ‘‘debt’’
does not include a policy loan made by a life insurance
company. Inclusion of the language contained in the
Senate amendment would have required elaboration of
other legal relationships not arising by a liability on a
claim. Further the language would have required clari-
fication that interest on a policy loan made by a life in-
surance company is a debt, and that the insurance com-
pany does have right to payment to that interest.
Section 101(14) adopts the definition of ‘‘entity’’ con-
tained in the Senate-passed version of H.R. 8200. Since
the Senate amendment to H.R. 8200 deleted the U.S.
trustee, a corresponding definitional change is made in
chapter 15 of the House amendment for U.S. trustees
under the pilot program. Adoption by the House
amendment of a pilot program for U.S. trustees under
chapter 15 requires insertion of ‘‘United States trustee’’
in many sections. Several provisions in chapter 15 of
the House amendment that relate to the U.S. trustee
were not contained in the Senate amendment in the na-
ture of a substitute.
Section 101(17) defines ‘‘farmer,’’ as in the Senate
amendment with an income limitation percentage of 80
percent instead of 75 percent.
Section 101(18) contains a new definition of ‘‘farming
operation’’ derived from present law and the definition
of ‘‘farmer’’ in the Senate amendment. This definition
gives a broad construction to the term ‘‘farming oper-
ation’’.
Section 101(20) contains a definition of ‘‘foreign rep-
resentative’’. It clarifies the House bill and Senate
amendment by indicating that a foreign representative
must be duly selected in a foreign proceeding.
Section 101(35) defines ‘‘security’’ as contained in the
Senate amendment. H.R. 8200 as adopted by the House
excluded certain commercial notes from the definition
of ‘‘security’’, and that exclusion is deleted.
Section 101(40) defines ‘‘transfer’’ as in the Senate
amendment. The definition contained in H.R. 8200 as
passed by the House included ‘‘setoff’’ in the definition
of ‘‘transfer’’. Inclusion of ‘‘setoff’’ is deleted. The ef-
fect is that a ‘‘setoff’’ is not subject to being set aside
as a preferential ‘‘transfer’’ but will be subject to spe-
cial rules.
SENATE REPORT NO. 95–989
Section 101 of title 11 contains 40 definitions:
Paragraph (1) defines ‘‘accountant’’ as an accountant
authorized under applicable law to practice accounting.
The term includes a professional accounting associa-
tion, corporation, or partnership if applicable law au-
thorizes such a unit to practice accounting.
Paragraph (2) defines ‘‘affiliate.’’ An affiliate is an
entity with a close relationship to the debtor. It in-
cludes a 20 percent parent or subsidiary of the debtor,
whether a corporate, partnership, individual, or estate
parent.
The use of ‘‘directly or indirectly’’ in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) is intended to cover situations in which
there is an opportunity to control, and where the exist-
ence of that opportunity operates as indirect control.
‘‘Affiliate’’ is defined primarily for use in the defini-
tion of insider, infra, and for use in the chapter 11 reor-
ganization cases. The definition of ‘‘affiliate’’ does not
include an entity acting in a fiduciary or agency capac-
ity if the entity does not have the sole discretionary
power to vote 20 percent of the voting securities but
hold them solely as security and have not exercised the
power to vote. This restriction applies to a corporate
affiliate under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).
Subsections (C) and (D) of paragraph (2) define affil-
iate also as those persons and entities whose business
or substantially all of whose property is operated under
a lease or operating agreement by a debtor and whose
business or property is more than 50 percent under the
control of the debtor.
The definition of ‘‘attorney’’ in paragraph (3) is simi-
lar to the definition of accountant.
Paragraph (4) defines ‘‘claim.’’ The effect of the defi-
nition is a significant departure from present law.
Under present law, ‘‘claim’’ is not defined in straight
bankruptcy. Instead it is simply used, along with the
concept of provability in section 63 of the Bankruptcy
Act [section 103 of former title 11], to limit the kinds
of obligations that are payable in a bankruptcy case.
The term is defined in the debtor rehabilitation chap-
ters of present law far more broadly. The definition in
paragraph (4) adopts an even broader definition of
claim than is found in the present debtor rehabilitation
chapters. The definition is any right to payment,
whether or not reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliq-
uidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, dis-
puted, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unse-
cured. The definition also includes as a claim an equi-
table right to performance that does not give rise to a
right to payment. By this broadest possible definition
and by the use of the term throughout the title 11, es-
pecially in subchapter I of chapter 5, the bill con-
templates that all legal obligations of the debtor, no
matter how remote or contingent, will be able to be
dealt with in the bankruptcy case. It permits the
broadest possible relief in the bankruptcy court.
Paragraph (5) defines ‘‘commodity broker’’ by ref-
erence to various terms used and defined in subchapter
IV of chapter 7, Commodity Broker Liquidation. The
terms are described in connection with section 761,
infra.
Paragraph (6) defines ‘‘community claim’’ for those
eight States that have community property laws. The
definition is keyed to the liability of the debtor’s prop-
erty for a claim against either the debtor or the debt-
or’s spouse. If the debtor’s property is liable for a claim
against either, that claim is a community claim.
Paragraph (7) defines ‘‘consumer debt’’. The defini-
tion is adapted from the definition used in various con-
sumer protection laws. It encompasses only a debt in-
curred by an individual primarily for a personal, fam-
ily, or household purpose.
The definition of ‘‘corporation’’ in paragraph (8) is
similar to the definition in current law, section 1(8)
[section 1(8) of former title 11]. The term encompasses
any association having the power or privilege that a
private corporation, but not an individual or partner-
ship, has; partnership associations organized under a
law that makes only the capital subscribed responsible
for the debts of the partnership; joint-stock company;
unincorporated company or association; and business
trust. ‘‘Unincorporated association’’ is intended specifi-
cally to include a labor union, as well as other bodies
that come under that phrase as used under current law.
The exclusion of limited partnerships is explicit, and
not left to the case law.
Paragraph (9) defines ‘‘court’’ as the bankruptcy
judge in the district in which the case is pending except
in municipal adjustment and railroad reorganization
cases, where ‘‘court’’ means the Federal district judge.
Paragraph (10) [enacted as (9)] defines ‘‘creditor’’ to
include holders of prepetition claims against the debt-
or. However, it also encompasses certain holders of
claims that are deemed to arise before the date of the
filing of the petition, such as those injured by the re-
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TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
jection of an executory contract or unexpired lease,
certain investment tax credit recapture claim holders,
‘‘involuntary gap’’ creditors, and certain holders of the
right of setoff. The term also includes the holder of a
prepetition community claim. A guarantor of or surety
for a claim against the debtor is also a creditor, be-
cause he holds a contingent claim against the debtor
that becomes fixed when he pays the creditor whose
claim he has guaranteed or insured.
Paragraph (11) [enacted as (10)] defines ‘‘custodian.’’
There is no similar definition in current law. It is de-
fined to facilitate drafting, and means a prepetition liq-
uidator of the debtor’s property, such as an assignee for
the benefit of creditors, a receiver of the debtor’s prop-
erty, or administrator of the debtor’s property. The
definition of custodian to include a receiver or trustee
is descriptive, and not meant to be limited to court of-
ficers with those titles. The definition is intended to in-
clude other officers of the court if their functions are
substantially similar to those of a receiver or trustee.
‘‘Debt’’ is defined in paragraph (12) [enacted as (11)]
as a liability on a claim. The terms ‘‘debt’’ and ‘‘claim’’
are coextensive: a creditor has a ‘‘claim’’ against the
debtor; the debtor owes a ‘‘debt’’ to the creditor. This
definition of ‘‘debt’’ and the definition of ‘‘claim’’ on
which it is based, proposed 11 U.S.C. 101(4), does not in-
clude a transaction such as a policy loan on an insur-
ance policy. Under that kind of transaction, the debtor
is not liable to the insurance company for repayment;
the amount owed is merely available to the company
for setoff against any benefits that become payable
under the policy. As such, the loan is not a claim (it is
not a right to payment) that the company can assert
against the estate; nor is the debtor’s obligation a debt
(a liability on a claim) that will be discharged under
proposed 11 U.S.C. 523 or 524.
Paragraph (13) [enacted as (12)] defines ‘‘debtor.’’
Debtor means person or municipality concerning which
a case under title II has been commenced. This is a
change in terminology from present law, which identi-
fies the person by or against whom a petition is filed in
a straight bankruptcy liquidation case as the ‘‘bank-
rupt’’, and a person or municipality that is proceeding
under a debtor rehabilitation chapter (chapters VIII
through XIII of the Bankruptcy Act) [chapters 8
through 13 of former title 11] as a ‘‘debtor.’’ The term
‘‘debtor’’ is used for both kinds of cases in this bill, for
ease of reference in chapters 1, 3, and 5 (which apply to
straight bankruptcy and reorganization cases).
Paragraph (14) [enacted as (13)] defines ‘‘disinterested
person.’’ The definition is adapted from section 158 of
chapter X of current law [section 558 of former title 11],
though it is expanded and modified in some respects. A
person is a disinterested person if the person is not a
creditor, equity security holder, or insider; is not and
was not an investment banker of the debtor for any
outstanding security of the debtor (the change from un-
derwriter in current law to investment banker is to
make the term more descriptive and to avoid conflict
with the definition of underwriter in section 2(11) of the
Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77b(11)); has not been
an investment banker for a security of the debtor with-
in 3 years before the date of the filing of the petition
(the change from five years to three years here con-
forms the definition with the statute of limitations in
the Securities Act of 1933) [15 U.S.C. 77m], or an attor-
ney for such an investment banker; is not an insider of
the debtor or of such an investment banker; and does
not have an interest materially adverse to the estate.
‘‘Entity’’ is defined, for convenience, in paragraph
(15) [enacted as (14)], to include person, estate, trust,
and governmental unit. It is the most inclusive of the
various defined terms relating to bodies or units.
Paragraph (16) defines ‘‘equity security.’’ The term
includes a share or stock in a corporation, a limited
partner’s interest in a limited partnership, and a war-
rant or right to subscribe to an equity security. The
term does not include a security, such as a convertible
debenture, that is convertible into equity security, but
has not been converted.
Paragraph (17) [enacted as (15)] defines ‘‘equity secu-
rity holder’’ for convenience as the holder of an equity
securing of the debtor.
Paragraph (18) [enacted as (17)] defines ‘‘farmer’’. It
encompasses only those persons for whom farming op-
erations contribute 75 percent or more of their total in-
come.
Paragraphs (19) and (20) define ‘‘foreign proceeding’’
and ‘‘foreign representative’’. A foreign proceeding is a
proceeding in another country in which the debtor has
some substantial connection for the purpose of liqui-
dating the estate of the debtor or the purpose of finan-
cial rehabilitation of the debtor. A foreign representa-
tive is the representative of the estate in a foreign pro-
ceeding, such as a trustee or administrator.
Paragraph (21) defines ‘‘governmental unit’’ in the
broadest sense. The definition encompasses the United
States, a State, Commonwealth, District, Territory,
municipality, or foreign state, and a department, agen-
cy, or instrumentality of any of those entities. ‘‘De-
partment, agency, or instrumentality’’ does not include
an entity that owes its existence to State action, such
as the granting of a charter or a license but that has
no other connection with a State or local government
or the Federal Government. The relationship must be
an active one in which the department, agency, or in-
strumentality is actually carrying out some govern-
mental function.
Paragraph (22) defines ‘‘indenture.’’ It is similar to
the definition of indenture in the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939 [15 U.S.C. 77ccc(7)]. An indenture is the instru-
ment under which securities, either debt or equity, of
the debtor are outstanding.
Paragraph (23) defines ‘‘indenture trustee’’ as the
trustee under an indenture.
Paragraph (24) defines ‘‘individual with regular in-
come.’’ The effect of this definition, and of its use in
section 109(e), is to expand substantially the kinds of
individuals that are eligible for relief under chapter 13,
Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular In-
come. Chapter XIII [chapter 13 of former title 11] is now
available only for wage earners. The definition encom-
passes all individuals with incomes that are suffi-
ciently stable and regular to enable them to make pay-
ments under a chapter 13 plan. Thus, individuals on
welfare, social security, fixed pension incomes, or who
live on investment incomes, will be able to work out
repayment plans with their creditors rather than being
forced into straight bankruptcy. Also, self-employed
individuals will be eligible to use chapter 13 if they
have regular incomes.
However, the definition excludes certain stock-
brokers and commodity brokers, in order to prohibit
them from proceeding under chapter 13 and avoiding
the customer protection provisions of chapter 7.
‘‘Insider’’, defined in paragraph (25), is a new term.
An insider is one who has a sufficiently close relation-
ship with the debtor that his conduct is made subject
to closer scrutiny than those dealing at arms length
with the debtor. If the debtor is an individual, then a
relative of the debtor, a partnership in which the debt-
or is a general partner, a general partner of the debtor,
and a corporation controlled by the debtor are all insid-
ers. If the debtor is a corporation, then a controlling
person, a relative of a controlling person, a partnership
in which the debtor is a general partner, and a general
partner of the debtor are all insiders. If the debtor is a
partnership, then a general partner of or in the debtor,
a relative of a general partner in the debtor, and a per-
son in control are all insiders. If the debtor is a munici-
pality, then an elected official of the debtor is an in-
sider. In addition, affiliates of the debtor and managing
agents are insiders.
The definition of ‘‘insolvent’’ in paragraph (26) is
adopted from section 1(19) of current law [section 1(19)
of former title 11]. An entity is insolvent if its debts are
greater than its assets, at a fair valuation, exclusive of
property exempted or fraudulently transferred. It is the
traditional bankruptcy balance sheet test of insol-
vency. For a partnership, the definition is modified to
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TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
account for the liability of a general partner for the
partnership’s debts. The difference in this definition
from that in current law is in the exclusion of exempt
property for all purposes in the definition of insolvent.
Paragraph (27) defines ‘‘judicial lien.’’ It is one of
three kinds of liens defined in this section. A judicial
lien is a lien obtained by judgment, levy, sequestration,
or other legal or equitable process or proceeding.
Paragraph (28) defines ‘‘lien.’’ The definition is new
and is very broad. A lien is defined as a charge against
or interest in property to secure payment of a debt or
performance of an obligation. It includes inchoate
liens. In general, the concept of lien is divided into
three kinds of liens: judicial liens, security interests,
and statutory liens. Those three categories are mutu-
ally exclusive and are exhaustive except for certain
common law liens.
Paragraph (29) defines ‘‘municipality.’’ The definition
is adapted from the terms used in the chapter IX (mu-
nicipal bankruptcy) [chapter 9 of former title 11]
amendment to the Bankruptcy Act enacted in 1976
(Pub. L. 94–260). That amendment spoke in terms of
‘‘political subdivision or public agency or instrumen-
tality of a State’’. Bankruptcy Act Sec. 84 [section 404
of former title 11]. The term municipality is defined by
those three terms for convenience. It does not include
the District of Columbia or any territories of the
United States.
‘‘Person’’ is defined in paragraph (30). The definition
is a change in wording, but not in substance, from the
definition in section 1(23) of the Bankruptcy Act [sec-
tion 1(23) of former title 11]. The definition is also simi-
lar to the one contained in 1 U.S.C. sec. 1, but is re-
peated here for convenience and ease of reference. Per-
son includes individual partnership, and corporation.
The exclusion of governmental units is made explicit in
order to avoid any confusion that may arise if, for ex-
ample, a municipality is incorporated and thus is le-
gally a corporation as well as governmental unit. The
definition does not include an estate or a trust, which
are included only in the definition of ‘‘entity’’ in pro-
posed 11 U.S.C. 101(14).
‘‘Petition’’ is defined for convenience in paragraph
(31). Petition is a petition under section 301, 302, 303, or
304 of the bankruptcy code—that is, a petition that
commences a case under title 11.
Paragraph (32) defines purchaser as a transferee of a
voluntary transfer, such as a sale or gift, and includes
an immediate or mediate transferee of a purchaser.
The definition of ‘‘railroad’’ in paragraph (33) is de-
rived from section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act [section
205 of former title 11]. A railroad is a common carrier
by railroad engaged in the transportation of individuals
or property, or an owner of trackage facilities leased by
such a common carrier. The effect of the definition and
the use of the term in section 109(d) is to eliminate the
limitation now found in section 77 of the Bankruptcy
Act that only railroads engaged in interstate commerce
may proceed under the railroad reorganization provi-
sions. The limitation may have been inserted because
of a doubt that the commerce power could not reach
intrastate railroads. Be that as it may, this bill is en-
acted under the bankruptcy power.
Paragraph (34) defines ‘‘relative’’ as an individual re-
lated by affinity or consanguinity within the third de-
gree as determined by the common law, and includes
individuals in a step or adoptive relationship. The defi-
nition is similar to current law, but adds the latter
phrase. This definition should be applied as of the time
when the transaction that it concerns took place. Thus,
a former spouse is not a relative, but if, for example,
for purposes of the preference section, proposed 11
U.S.C. 547(b)(4)(B), the transferee was a spouse of the
debtor at the time of the transfer sought to be avoided,
then the transferee would be relative and subject to the
insider rules, even if the transferee was no longer mar-
ried to the debtor at the time of the commencement of
the case or at the time of the commencement of the
preference recovery proceeding.
Paragraph (35) defines ‘‘security.’’ The definition is
new and is modeled on the most recent draft of the
American Law Institute’s proposed securities code,
with some exceptions. The interest of a limited partner
in a limited partnership is included in order to make
sure that everything that is defined as an equity secu-
rity is also a ‘‘security.’’ The definition, as with the
definition of ‘‘entity’’, ‘‘insider’’, and ‘‘person’’, is open-
ended because the term is not susceptible of precise
specification. Thus the courts will be able to use the
characterization provided in this definition to treat
with new kinds of documents on a flexible basis.
Paragraphs (36) and (37) defined ‘‘security agreement’’
and ‘‘security interest.’’ A security interest is one of
the kinds of liens. It is a lien created by an agreement.
Security agreement is defined as the agreement cre-
ating the security interest. Though these terms are
similar to the same terms in the Uniform Commercial
Code, article IX, they are broader. For example, the
U.C.C. does not cover real property mortgages. Under
this definition, such a mortgage is included, as are all
other liens created by agreement, even though not cov-
ered by the U.C.C. All U.C.C. security interests and se-
curity agreements are, however, security interests and
security agreements under this definition. Whether a
consignment or a lease constitutes a security interest
under the bankruptcy code will depend on whether it
constitutes a security interest under applicable State
or local law.
Paragraph (38) defines another kind of lien, ‘‘statu-
tory lien.’’ The definition, derived from current law,
states that a statutory lien is a lien arising solely by
force of statute on specified circumstances or condi-
tions and includes a lien of distress for rent (whether
statutory, common law, or otherwise). The definition
excludes judicial liens and security interests, whether
or not they are provided for or are dependent on a stat-
ute, and whether or not they are made fully effective
by statute. A statutory lien is only one that arises
automatically, and is not based on an agreement to
give
a
lien
or
on
judicial
action.
Mechanics’,
materialmen’s, and warehousemen’s liens are examples.
Tax liens are also included in the definition of statu-
tory lien.
‘‘Stockbroker’’ is defined in paragraph (39) as a per-
son engaged in the business of effecting transactions in
securities for the account of others or with members of
the general public from or for such person’s own ac-
count, if the person has a customer, as defined. Thus,
the definition, derived from a combination of the defi-
nitions of ‘‘broker’’ and ‘‘dealer’’ in the Securities Ex-
change Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78c], encompasses both
brokers and dealers. The definition is used in section
109 and in subchapter III of chapter 7, Stockholder Liq-
uidation. The term does not encompass an employee
who acts for a principal that ‘‘effects’’ transaction or
deals with the public, because such an employee will
not have a ‘‘customer’’.
Paragraph (40) defines ‘‘transfer.’’ It is derived and
adapted, with stylistic changes, from section 1(30) of
the Bankruptcy Act [section 1(30) of former title 11]. A
transfer is a disposition of an interest in property. The
definition of transfer is as broad as possible. Many of
the potentially limiting words in current law are de-
leted, and the language is simplified. Under this defini-
tion, any transfer of an interest in property is a trans-
fer, including a transfer of possession, custody, or con-
trol even if there is no transfer of title, because posses-
sion, custody, and control are interests in property. A
deposit in a bank account or similar account is a trans-
fer.
Editorial Notes
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The
Social
Security
Act,
referred
to
in
par.
(10A)(B)(ii)(I), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620,
which is classified generally to chapter 7 (§ 301 et seq.)
of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For com-
plete classification of this Act to the Code, see section
1305 of Title 42 and Tables.
Page 21
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in
pars. (12A)(B) and (41)(C), is classified generally to Title
26, Internal Revenue Code.
Section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, re-
ferred to in pars. (12A)(D), (21B)(A), (33)(A), (35)(A), and
(54A), is classified to section 1813 of Title 12, Banks and
Banking.
Sections 101 and 206(r) of the Federal Credit Union
Act, referred to in pars. (12A)(D), (33)(B), and (34), are
classified to sections 1752 and 1786(r), respectively, of
Title 12, Banks and Banking.
The Investment Company Act of 1940, referred to in
par. (22)(B), is title I of act Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, 54
Stat. 789, which is classified generally to subchapter I
(§ 80a–1 et seq.) of chapter 2D of Title 15, Commerce and
Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see section 80a–51 of Title 15 and Tables.
Section 402 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corpora-
tion Improvement Act of 1991, referred to in par.
(22A)(B), is classified to section 4402 of Title 12, Banks
and Banking.
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in
pars. (47)(A)(i), (48), (48A), and (53B)(B), is act June 6,
1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified principally
to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and
Trade. Sections 3, 6, 15A, and 17A of the Act are classi-
fied to sections 78c, 78f, 78o–3 and 78q–1, respectively, of
Title 15. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see section 78a of Title 15 and Tables.
The Securities Act of 1933, referred to in par.
(49)(A)(xii), is act May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, 48 Stat.
74, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 77a et
seq.) of chapter 2A of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Section 3(b) of the Act is classified to section 77c(b) of
Title 15. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see section 77a of Title 15 and Tables.
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, referred to in par.
(53B)(B), is Pub. L. 106–102, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1338.
For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title of 1999 Amendment note set out under sec-
tion 1811 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and Tables.
The Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of 2000,
referred to in par. (53B)(B), is title IV of H.R. 5660, as
enacted by Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5), Dec. 21, 2000, 114
Stat. 2763, 2763A–457, which is classified to sections 27
to 27f of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classifica-
tion of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2000
Amendment note set out under section 1 of Title 7 and
Tables.
The Commodity Exchange Act, referred to in par.
(53B)(B), is act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, 42 Stat. 998, which
is classified generally to chapter 1 (§ 1 et seq.) of Title
7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act
to the Code, see section 1 of Title 7 and Tables.
CODIFICATION
Pub. L. 116–52, effective Aug. 23, 2019, and Pub. L.
116–92, effective Dec. 20, 2019, made similar amend-
ments, striking out subpar. (B) of par. (10A) and enact-
ing almost identical subpars. (B). The text of par.
(10A)(B) is based on the text enacted by Pub. L. 116–52.
AMENDMENTS
2022—Par. (51D)(B)(i). Pub. L. 117–151, § 2(a)(1), in-
serted ‘‘under this title’’ after ‘‘affiliated debtors’’.
Par. (51D)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 117–151, § 2(a)(2), substituted
‘‘a corporation described in clause (ii).’’ for ‘‘an issuer
(as defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c)).’’
2020—Par.
(10A)(B)(ii)(V).
Pub.
L.
116–136,
§ 1113(b)(2)(A)(i), struck out subcl. (V) which read as fol-
lows: ‘‘Payments made under Federal law relating to
the national emergency declared by the President
under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.) with respect to the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID–19).’’
Pub. L. 116–136, § 1113(b)(1)(A), added subcl. (V).
Par. (51D)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 116–136, § 1113(a)(4)(A),
amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl.
(iii) read as follows: ‘‘any corporation that—
‘‘(I) is subject to the reporting requirements under
section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m, 78o(d)); and
‘‘(II) is an affiliate of a debtor.’’
2019—Par. (10A)(B). Pub. L. 116–92 added subpar. (B)
almost identical to that added by Pub. L. 116–52 and
struck out former subpar. (B). See Codification note
above.
Pub. L. 116–52 added subpar. (B) and struck out
former subpar. (B) which read as follows: ‘‘includes any
amount paid by any entity other than the debtor (or in
a joint case the debtor and the debtor’s spouse), on a
regular basis for the household expenses of the debtor
or the debtor’s dependents (and in a joint case the debt-
or’s spouse if not otherwise a dependent), but excludes
benefits received under the Social Security Act, pay-
ments to victims of war crimes or crimes against hu-
manity on account of their status as victims of such
crimes, and payments to victims of international ter-
rorism (as defined in section 2331 of title 18) or domes-
tic terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of title 18) on
account of their status as victims of such terrorism.’’
See Codification note above.
Par. (18). Pub. L. 116–51 substituted ‘‘$10,000,000’’ for
‘‘$3,237,000’’ in two places.
Par. (51C). Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(a)(1)(A), inserted ‘‘and
has not elected that subchapter V of chapter 11 of this
title shall apply’’ after ‘‘is a small business debtor’’.
Par. (51D)(A). Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(a)(1)(B)(i), substituted
‘‘single asset real estate’’ for ‘‘or operating real prop-
erty or activities incidental thereto’’ and ‘‘not less
than 50 percent of which arose from the commercial or
business activities of the debtor; and’’ for ‘‘for a case in
which the United States trustee has not appointed
under section 1102(a)(1) a committee of unsecured credi-
tors or where the court has determined that the com-
mittee of unsecured creditors is not sufficiently active
and representative to provide effective oversight of the
debtor; and’’.
Par. (51D)(B). Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(a)(1)(B)(ii), sub-
stituted ‘‘does not include—’’ for ‘‘does not include’’,
inserted cl. (i) designation before ‘‘any member’’, and
added cls. (ii) and (iii).
2010—Par. (13A)(A). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(A)(i), in-
serted ‘‘if used as the principal residence by the debt-
or’’ after ‘‘a residential structure’’.
Par. (13A)(B). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(A)(ii), inserted
‘‘if used as the principal residence by the debtor’’ be-
fore period at end.
Par. (35)(B). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(B), substituted
‘‘paragraphs (21B) and (33)(A)’’ for ‘‘paragraphs (23) and
(35)’’.
Par. (40B). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(C), substituted
‘‘record relating to a patient, including a written docu-
ment or a’’ for ‘‘written document relating to a patient
or a’’.
Par. (42). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(D), which directed
substitution of ‘‘303 and 1504’’ for ‘‘303, and 304’’, was ex-
ecuted by making the substitution for ‘‘303, or 304’’ to
reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Par. (51B). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(E), inserted
‘‘thereto’’ before period at end.
Par. (51D)(A). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(1)(F), inserted ‘‘of
the filing’’ after ‘‘as of the date’’.
2006—Par. (22)(A). Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1)(A), struck
out ‘‘(domestic or foreign)’’ after ‘‘an entity’’ and in-
serted ‘‘(whether or not a ‘customer’, as defined in sec-
tion 741)’’ after ‘‘custodian for a customer’’.
Par. (22A)(A). Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1)(B), inserted
‘‘(aggregated across counterparties)’’ after ‘‘principal
amount outstanding’’ and substituted ‘‘at such time or
on any day during the 15-month period preceding the
date of the filing of the petition’’ for ‘‘on any day dur-
ing the previous 15-month period’’ in two places.
Par. (25)(A). Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1)(C), inserted ‘‘, as
defined in section 761’’ after ‘‘commodity contract’’ and
substituted ‘‘repurchase or reverse repurchase trans-
action (whether or not such repurchase or reverse re-
purchase transaction is a ‘repurchase agreement’, as
defined in this section)’’ for ‘‘repurchase transaction,
reverse repurchase transaction,’’.
Page 22
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
Par. (53B)(A)(i)(II). Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1)(D)(i)(I),
substituted ‘‘, precious metals, or other commodity’’
for ‘‘or precious metals’’.
Par.
(53B)(A)(i)(VIII).
Pub.
L.
109–390,
§ 5(a)(1)(D)(i)(III), substituted ‘‘option, future, or for-
ward agreement’’ for ‘‘weather derivative, or weather
option’’.
Par.
(53B)(A)(i)(IX),
(X).
Pub.
L.
109–390,
§ 5(a)(1)(D)(i)(II), (IV), added subcls. (IX) and (X).
Par. (53B)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1)(D)(ii), in-
serted ‘‘or other derivatives’’ after ‘‘dealings in the
swap’’ in subcl. (I) and substituted ‘‘future, option, or
spot transaction’’ for ‘‘future, or option’’ in subcl. (II).
Par. (53B)(B). Pub. L. 109–390, § 5(a)(1)(E), substituted
‘‘the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Legal Certainty for
Bank Products Act of 2000, the securities laws (as such
term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Ex-
change Act of 1934) and the Commodity Exchange Act’’
for ‘‘the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, the
Commodity Exchange Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley
Act, and the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of
2000’’.
2005—Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(1), substituted ‘‘In this title
the following definitions shall apply:’’ for ‘‘In this
title—’’ in introductory provisions.
Pars. (1), (2). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (3). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 226(a)(1), added par. (3).
Par. (4). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (4A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 226(a)(2), added par. (4A).
Pars. (5) to (7). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pars. (7A), (7B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1007(a)(1), added pars. (7A) and (7B).
Pars. (8) to (10). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (10A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 102(b), added par. (10A).
Pars. (11), (12). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (12A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(8), which directed the
substitution of a period for a semicolon at end, could
not be executed because par. (12A) ended in a period
after amendment by Pub. L. 109–8, § 226(a)(3). See below.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), inserted ‘‘The term’’ after par.
designation.
Pub. L. 109–8, §§ 211(1), 226(a)(3), added par. (12A) and
struck out former par. (12A) which read as follows:
‘‘ ‘debt for child support’ means a debt of a kind speci-
fied in section 523(a)(5) of this title for maintenance or
support of a child of the debtor;’’.
Par. (13). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (13A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 306(c)(1), added par. (13A).
Par. (14). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 414, amended par. (14) generally. Prior
to amendment, par. (14) consisted of subpars. (A) to (E)
defining ‘‘disinterested person’’.
Par. (14A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 211(2), added par. (14A).
Pars. (15) to (17). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (18). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (18)(A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1005, substituted ‘‘for—
‘‘(i) the taxable year preceding; or
‘‘(ii) each of the 2d and 3d taxable years preceding;
the taxable year’’ for ‘‘for the taxable year preceding
the taxable year’’.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1004(1), substituted ‘‘$3,237,000’’ for
‘‘$1,500,000’’ and ‘‘not less than 50 percent’’ for ‘‘not less
than 80 percent’’.
Par. (18)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1004(2), substituted
‘‘$3,237,000’’ for ‘‘$1,500,000’’ and ‘‘50 percent’’ for ‘‘80
percent’’.
Par. (19). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pars. (19A), (19B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1007(a)(2), added pars. (19A) and (19B).
Pars. (20) to (21B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (22). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(b)(1), added par. (22) and struck out
former par. (22) which consisted of introductory provi-
sions and subpars. (A) and (B) defining ‘‘financial insti-
tution’’.
Par. (22A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(b)(2), added par. (22A).
Pars. (23), (24). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 802(b), added pars. (23) and (24) and
struck out former pars. (23) and (24) which read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(23) ‘foreign proceeding’ means proceeding, whether
judicial or administrative and whether or not under
bankruptcy law, in a foreign country in which the debt-
or’s domicile, residence, principal place of business, or
principal assets were located at the commencement of
such proceeding, for the purpose of liquidating an es-
tate, adjusting debts by composition, extension, or dis-
charge, or effecting a reorganization;
‘‘(24) ‘foreign representative’ means duly selected
trustee, administrator, or other representative of an es-
tate in a foreign proceeding;’’.
Par. (25). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(a)(1)(A), substituted ‘‘means—’’ for
‘‘means’’, designated subsequent provisions as subpar.
(A), substituted ‘‘, or any other similar agreement’’ for
‘‘, or any combination thereof or option thereon’’, and
added subpars. (B) to (E).
Par. (26). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(b)(3), added par. (26) and struck out
former par. (26) which read as follows: ‘‘ ‘forward con-
tract merchant’ means a person whose business con-
sists in whole or in part of entering into forward con-
tracts as or with merchants in a commodity, as defined
in section 761(8) of this title, or any similar good, arti-
cle, service, right, or interest which is presently or in
Page 23
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
the future becomes the subject of dealing in the for-
ward contract trade;’’.
Par. (27). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (27A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1101(a)(2), added par. (27A). Former
par. (27A) redesignated (27B).
Pub. L. 109–8, § 306(c)(2), added par. (27A).
Par. (27B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1101(a)(1), redesignated par. (27A) as
(27B).
Pars. (28) to (34). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (35). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (35)(B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(3), substituted ‘‘para-
graphs (23) and (35)’’ for ‘‘paragraphs (21B) and (33)(A)’’.
Par. (35A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (4), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for ‘‘; and’’ at end.
Pars. (36), (37). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (38). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (4), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for ‘‘; and’’ at end.
Pars. (38A), (38B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(c), added pars. (38A) and (38B).
Par. (39). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), inserted ‘‘The term’’
after par. designation.
Par. (39A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 102(k), added par. (39A).
Par. (40). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pars. (40A), (40B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1101(b), added pars. (40A) and (40B).
Par. (41). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (41A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 231(b), added par. (41A).
Pars. (42) to (45). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (46). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(a)(1)(B), substituted ‘‘at any time
before’’ for ‘‘on any day during the period beginning 90
days before the date of’’.
Par. (47). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(a)(1)(C), amended par. (47) gen-
erally. Prior to amendment, par. (47) read as follows:
‘‘ ‘repurchase agreement’ (which definition also applies
to a reverse repurchase agreement) means an agree-
ment, including related terms, which provides for the
transfer of certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’ ac-
ceptances, or securities that are direct obligations of,
or that are fully guaranteed as to principal and interest
by, the United States or any agency of the United
States against the transfer of funds by the transferee of
such certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’ accept-
ances, or securities with a simultaneous agreement by
such transferee to transfer to the transferor thereof
certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’ acceptances, or
securities as described above, at a date certain not
later than one year after such transfers or on demand,
against the transfer of funds;’’.
Par. (48). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(a)(1)(D), inserted ‘‘, or exempt
from such registration under such section pursuant to
an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission,’’
after ‘‘1934’’.
Par. (48A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 401(a), added par. (48A).
Pars. (49) to (51A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (51B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (5), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and ‘‘who is not a
family farmer’’ after ‘‘income of a debtor’’ and sub-
stituted a period for ‘‘thereto having aggregate non-
contingent, liquidated secured debts in an amount no
more than $4,000,000;’’.
Pars. (51C), (51D). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 432(a), added pars. (51C) and (51D) and
struck out former par. (51C) which read as follows:
‘‘ ‘small business’ means a person engaged in commer-
cial or business activities (but does not include a per-
son whose primary activity is the business of owning or
operating real property and activities incidental there-
to) whose aggregate noncontingent liquidated secured
and unsecured debts as of the date of the petition do
not exceed $2,000,000;’’.
Pars. (52) to (53A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted
‘‘The term’’ after par. designation and substituted a pe-
riod for semicolon at end.
Par. (53B). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(a)(1)(E), amended par. (53B) gen-
erally. Prior to amendment, par. (53B) consisted of in-
troductory provisions and subpars. (A) to (C) defining
‘‘swap agreement’’.
Par. (53C). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (53D). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (54). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(8), substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(6), added par. (54) and struck out
former par. (54) which read as follows: ‘‘The term
‘transfer’ means every mode, direct or indirect, abso-
lute or conditional, voluntary or involuntary, of dis-
posing of or parting with property or with an interest
in property, including retention of title as a security
interest and foreclosure of the debtor’s equity of re-
demption;’’.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), inserted ‘‘The term’’ after par.
designation.
Par. (54A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(8), which directed the
substitution of a period for semicolon at end, could not
be executed because par. (54A) ended in a period after
amendment by Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(4). See below.
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(4), (7), substituted ‘‘The term’’ for
‘‘the term’’, realigned left margin, and substituted a
period for ‘‘; and’’ at end.
Par. (55). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), (8), inserted ‘‘The
term’’ after par. designation and substituted a period
for semicolon at end.
Par. (56A). Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(8), which directed the
substitution of a period for semicolon ‘‘in each of para-
graphs (40) through (55)’’ at end, was executed to par.
(56A), to reflect the probable intent of Congress, be-
cause par. (56A) follows par. (53C) in text.
Page 24
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1201(2), inserted ‘‘The term’’ after par.
designation.
2000—Par. (22). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I,
§ 112(c)(3)], amended par. (22) generally. Prior to amend-
ment par. (22) read as follows: ‘‘ ‘financial institution’
means a person that is a commercial or savings bank,
industrial savings bank, savings and loan association,
or trust company and, when any such person is acting
as agent or custodian for a customer in connection
with a securities contract, as defined in section 741 of
this title, such customer;’’.
Par. (54A). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(5) [title I, § 112(c)(4)],
added par. (54A).
1994—Par. (3). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(1), redesignated
par. (3) as (21B) and inserted it after par. (21A).
Par. (6). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(b)(1)(A), substituted
‘‘section 761’’ for ‘‘section 761(9)’’ after ‘‘customer, as
defined in’’.
Par. (12A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 304(a), added par. (12A).
Par. (21B). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(1), redesignated
par. (3) as (21B).
Par. (22). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(b)(1)(B), substituted
‘‘section 741’’ for ‘‘section 741(7)’’.
Par. (33)(A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(d)(1)(A)(i), struck
out ‘‘(12 U.S.C. 1813(u))’’ after ‘‘section 3(u) of the Fed-
eral Deposit Insurance Act’’.
Par. (33)(B). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(d)(1)(A)(ii), struck
out ‘‘(12 U.S.C. 1786(r))’’ after ‘‘Act’’.
Par. (34). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(d)(1)(B), struck out ‘‘(12
U.S.C. 1752(7))’’ after ‘‘Act’’.
Par. (35). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(b)(1)(C), (d)(1)(C),
struck out ‘‘(12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2))’’ after ‘‘Act’’ in sub-
par. (A) and substituted ‘‘paragraphs (21B)’’ for ‘‘para-
graphs (3)’’ in subpar. (B).
Par. (35A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(4), redesignated
par. (56) defining ‘‘intellectual property’’ as (35A) and
inserted it after par. (35).
Par. (39). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(5), redesignated par.
(57) defining ‘‘mask work’’ as (39) and inserted it after
par. (38). Former par. (39) redesignated (51A).
Par. (41). Pub. L. 103–394, § 106, amended par. (41) gen-
erally. Prior to amendment, par. (41) read as follows:
‘‘ ‘person’ includes individual, partnership, and corpora-
tion, but does not include governmental unit, Provided,
however, That any governmental unit that acquires an
asset from a person as a result of operation of a loan
guarantee agreement, or as receiver or liquidating
agent of a person, will be considered a person for pur-
poses of section 1102 of this title.’’
Par. (42A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 208(a)(1), added par. (42A).
Par. (48). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(d)(1)(D), struck out ‘‘(15
U.S.C. 78q–1)’’ after ‘‘Act of 1934’’ and ‘‘(15 U.S.C.
78c(12))’’ after ‘‘such Act’’.
Par. (49)(A)(xii). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(d)(1)(E)(i),
struck out ‘‘(15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.)’’ after ‘‘Act of 1933’’
and ‘‘(15 U.S.C. 77c(b))’’ after ‘‘such Act’’.
Par. (49)(B). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(b)(1)(D), (d)(1)(E)(ii),
substituted ‘‘section 761’’ for ‘‘section 761(13)’’ in cl. (ii)
and struck out ‘‘(15 U.S.C. 77c(b))’’ after ‘‘Act of 1933’’
in cl. (vi).
Par. (51A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(2), redesignated
par. (39) as (51A) and inserted it after par. (51).
Par. (51B). Pub. L. 103–394, § 218(a), added par. (51B).
Par. (51C). Pub. L. 103–394, § 217(a), added par. (51C).
Par. (53A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), (b)(1)(E), redes-
ignated par. (54) defining ‘‘stockbroker’’ as (53A) and
substituted ‘‘section 741’’ for ‘‘section 741(2)’’ in subpar.
(A).
Par. (53B). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), redesignated
par. (55) defining ‘‘swap agreement’’ as (53B).
Par. (53C). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), redesignated
par. (56) defining ‘‘swap participant’’ as (53C).
Par. (53D). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), (d)(1)(F), redes-
ignated par. (57) defining ‘‘timeshare plan’’ as (53D) and
substituted semicolon for period at end.
Par. (54). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), redesignated par.
(54) defining ‘‘stockbroker’’ as (53A).
Par. (55). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), redesignated par.
(55) defining ‘‘swap agreement’’ as (53B).
Pub. L. 103–394, § 215, inserted ‘‘spot foreign exchange
agreement,’’ after ‘‘forward foreign exchange agree-
ment,’’.
Par. (56). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), redesignated par.
(56) defining ‘‘swap participant’’ as (53C).
Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(4), redesignated par. (56) defin-
ing ‘‘intellectual property’’ as (35A) and inserted it
after par. (35).
Par. (56A). Pub. L. 103–394, § 208(a)(2), added par. (56A)
and inserted it after par. defining ‘‘swap participant’’.
Par. (57). Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(3), redesignated par.
(57) defining ‘‘timeshare plan’’ as (53D).
Pub. L. 103–394, § 501(a)(5), redesignated par. (57) defin-
ing ‘‘mask work’’ as (39) and inserted it after par. (38).
1992—Par. (21A). Pub. L. 102–486 added par. (21A).
1990—Par. (3). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(4), added par.
(3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).
Pars. (4) to (23). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(3), redesig-
nated pars. (3) to (22) as (4) to (23), respectively. Former
par. (23) redesignated (24).
Par. (24). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(3), redesignated par.
(23) as (24). Former par. (24) redesignated (25).
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(1), inserted ‘‘as defined in section
761(8) of this title, or any similar good, article, service,
right, or interest which is presently or in the future be-
comes the subject of dealing in the forward contract
trade,’’
after
‘‘transfer
of
commodity,’’
and
‘‘, including, but not limited to, a repurchase trans-
action, reverse repurchase transaction, consignment,
lease, swap, hedge transaction, deposit, loan, option, al-
located transaction, unallocated transaction, or any
combination thereof or option thereon’’ after ‘‘entered
into’’.
Par. (25). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(3), redesignated par.
(24) as (25). Former par. (25) redesignated (26).
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(2), substituted ‘‘a commodity, as
defined in section 761(8) of this title, or any similar
good, article, service, right, or interest which is pres-
ently or in the future becomes the subject of dealing in
the forward contract trade’’ for ‘‘commodities’’.
Pars. (26) to (32). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(3), redesig-
nated pars. (25) to (31) as (26) to (32), respectively.
Former par. (32) redesignated (36).
Par. (33). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(2), added par. (33).
Former par. (33) redesignated (37).
Par. (34). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(2), added par. (34).
Former par. (34) redesignated (38).
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(4), added par. (34). Former par.
(34) redesignated (36).
Par. (35). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(2), added par. (35).
Former par. (35) redesignated (39).
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(4), added par. (35). Former par.
(35) redesignated (37).
Par. (36). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(32) as (36). Former par. (36) redesignated (40).
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (34) as (36).
Former par. (36) redesignated (38).
Pars. (37) to (48). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesig-
nated pars. (33) to (44) as (37) to (48), respectively.
Former pars. (45) to (48) redesignated (49) to (52), re-
spectively.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated pars. (35) to (46)
as (37) to (48), respectively. Former pars. (47) and (48)
redesignated (49) and (50), respectively.
Pars. (49), (50). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesig-
nated pars. (45) and (46) as (49) and (50), respectively.
Former pars. (49) and (50) redesignated (53) and (54) de-
fining ‘‘stockbroker’’, respectively.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated pars. (47) and (48)
as (49) and (50), respectively. Former pars. (49) and (50)
redesignated (51) and (52), respectively.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 101(2), added pars. (49) and (50).
Former pars. (49) and (50) redesignated (51) and (52), re-
spectively.
Par. (51). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(47) as (51). Former par. (51) redesignated (55) defining
‘‘swap agreement’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (49) as (51).
Former par. (51) redesignated (53).
Pub. L. 101–311, § 101(1), redesignated par. (49) as (51).
Former par. (51) redesignated (53).
Par. (52). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(48) as (52). Former par. (52) redesignated (56) defining
‘‘swap participant’’.
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TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (50) as (52).
Former par. (52) redesignated (54) defining ‘‘transfer’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 101(1), redesignated par. (50) as (52).
Former par. (52) redesignated (54).
Par. (53). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(49) as (53). Former par. (53) redesignated (57) defining
‘‘timeshare plan’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (51) as (53).
Former par. (53) redesignated (55) defining ‘‘United
States’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 101(1), redesignated par. (51) as (53).
Former par. (53) redesignated (55).
Par. (54). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(50) as (54) defining ‘‘stockbroker’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (52) as (54)
defining ‘‘transfer’’. Former par. (54) redesignated (56)
defining ‘‘intellectual property’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 101(1), redesignated par. (52) as (54).
Par. (55). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(51) as (55) defining ‘‘swap agreement’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (53) as (55)
defining ‘‘United States’’. Former par. (55) redesignated
(57) defining ‘‘mask work’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 101(1), redesignated par. (53) as (55).
Par. (56). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(52) as (56) defining ‘‘swap participant’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (54) as (56)
defining ‘‘intellectual property’’.
Par. (57). Pub. L. 101–647, § 2522(e)(1), redesignated par.
(53) as (57) defining ‘‘timeshare plan’’.
Pub. L. 101–311, § 201(3), redesignated par. (55) as (57)
defining ‘‘mask work’’.
1988—Par. (31). Pub. L. 100–597 inserted ‘‘and a munici-
pality’’ after ‘‘partnership’’ in subpar. (A) and added
subpar. (C).
Pars. (52), (53). Pub. L. 100–506 added pars. (52) and
(53).
1986—Par. (14). Pub. L. 99–554, § 201(1), substituted
‘‘governmental unit, and United States trustee’’ for
‘‘and governmental unit’’.
Pars. (17), (18). Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), (3), added pars.
(17) and (18) and redesignated former pars. (17) and (18)
as (19) and (20), respectively.
Par. (19). Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(1), (2), redesignated
former par. (17) as (19) and inserted ‘‘(except when such
term appears in the term ‘family farmer’)’’. Former
par. (19) redesignated (21).
Pars. (20) to (25). Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), redesignated
former pars. (18) to (23) as (20) to (25), respectively.
Former pars. (24) and (25) redesignated (26) and (27), re-
spectively.
Par. (26). Pub. L. 99–554, § 201(2), inserted ‘‘(but not a
United States trustee while serving as a trustee in a
case under this title)’’.
Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), redesignated former par. (24) as
(26). Former par. (26) redesignated (28).
Pars. (27) to (42). Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), redesignated
former pars. (25) to (40) as (27) to (42), respectively.
Former pars. (41) and (42) redesignated (43) and (44), re-
spectively.
Par. (43). Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), redesignated former
par. (41) as (43). Former par. (43) redesignated (45).
Par. (43)(A)(xv). Pub. L. 99–554, § 283(a)(1), substituted
‘‘security’’ for ‘‘secuity’’.
Pars. (44) to (50). Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), redesignated
former pars. (42) to (48) as (44) to (50), respectively.
Former par. (49) redesignated (51).
Par. (51). Pub. L. 99–554, § 283(a)(2), substituted a pe-
riod for the semicolon at the end thereof.
Pub. L. 99–554, § 251(2), redesignated former par. (49) as
(51).
1984—Par. (2)(D). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(a), struck out
‘‘or all’’ after ‘‘business’’.
Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(b), substituted a semi-
colon for the colon at end of subpar. (B).
Par. (9)(B). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(c), inserted reference
to section 348(d).
Par. (14). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(d), inserted ‘‘and’’ after
‘‘trust,’’.
Pars. (19) to (21). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(3), (4), added
par. (19) and redesignated former pars. (19), (20), and (21)
as (20), (21), and (24), respectively.
Pars. (22), (23). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), (5), added
pars. (22) and (23) and redesignated former pars. (22) and
(23) as (25) and (26), respectively.
Pars. (24) to (26). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), redesig-
nated former pars. (21) to (23) as (24) to (26), respec-
tively. Former pars. (24) to (26) redesignated (27) to (29),
respectively.
Par. (27). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(e), (j)(2), redesignated
former par. (24) as (27) and substituted ‘‘stockbroker’’
for ‘‘stock broker’’. Former par. (27) redesignated (30).
Par. (28). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), redesignated
former par. (25) as (28). Former par. (28) redesignated
(31).
Par. (29). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(f), (j)(2), redesignated
former par. (26) as (29) and, in subpar. (B)(ii), sub-
stituted ‘‘nonpartnership’’ and ‘‘(A)’’ for ‘‘separate’’
and ‘‘(A)(ii)’’, respectively, wherever appearing. Former
par. (29) redesignated (32).
Pars. (30) to (32). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), redesig-
nated former pars. (27) to (29) as (30) to (32), respec-
tively. Former pars. (30) to (32) redesignated (33) to (35),
respectively.
Par. (33). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(g), (j)(2), redesignated
former par. (30) as (33) and amended definition of ‘‘per-
son’’ generally, thereby inserting proviso relating to
consideration of certain governmental units as persons
for purposes of section 1102 of this title. Former par.
(33) redesignated (36).
Par. (34). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), redesignated
former par. (31) as (34). Former par. (34) redesignated
(37).
Pars. (35), (36). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), redesignated
former pars. (32) and (33) as (35) and (36), respectively.
Former pars. (35) and (36), as added by Pub. L. 98–353,
§ 391(2), redesignated (38) and (39), respectively.
Pub. L. 98–353, § 391, added pars. (35) and (36), and re-
designated former pars. (35) and (36) as (37) and (38)
which were again redesignated as (40) and (41), respec-
tively.
Par. (37). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(2), redesignated
former par. (34) as (37). Former par. (37) redesignated
successively as (39) and again as (42).
Par. (38). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(2), 421(j)(2), added par.
(35) and redesignated such par. (35) as (38). Former par.
(38) redesignated successively as (40) and again as (43).
Par. (39). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(2), 421(j)(2), added par.
(36) and redesignated such par. (36) as (39). Former par.
(39) redesignated successively as (41) and again as (45).
Par. (40). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(1), 421(j)(2), redesig-
nated successively former par. (35) as (37) and again as
(40). Former par. (40) redesignated successively as (42)
and again as (46).
Par. (41). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(1), 401(1), 421(h), (j)(2),
redesignated successively former par. (36) as (38) and
again as (41), and, in subpar. (B)(vi), substituted ‘‘cer-
tificate of a kind specified in subparagraph (A)(xii)’’ for
‘‘certificate specified in clause (xii) of subparagraph
(A)’’ and substituted ‘‘required to be the subject of a
registration statement’’ for ‘‘the subject of such reg-
istration statement’’. Former par. (41) redesignated
successively as (43), again as (44), and again as (48).
Par. (42). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(1), 421(j)(2), redesig-
nated successively former par. (37) as (39) and again as
(42).
Par. (43). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(1), 421(j)(2), redesig-
nated successively former par. (38) as (40) and again as
(43).
Pub. L. 98–353, § 401, redesignated former par. (43),
originally par. (41), as (44), and added another par. (43)
which was redesignated (47).
Par. (44). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(6), added par. (44).
Former par. (44) originally was par. (41) and was redes-
ignated successively as (43), again as (44), and again as
(48).
Pars. (45), (46). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(1), 421(j)(1), redes-
ignated successively former pars. (39) and (40) as (41)
and (42), and again as (45) and (46), respectively.
Par. (47). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 401(2), 421(j)(1), added par.
(43) and redesignated such par. (43) as (47).
Par. (48). Pub. L. 98–353, §§ 391(1), 401(1), 421(i), (j)(1),
redesignated successively former par. (41) as (43), again
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TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
as (44), and again as (48), and substituted ‘‘and fore-
closure of the debtor’s equity of redemption; and’’ for
the period at the end.
Par. (49). Pub. L. 98–353, § 421(j)(7), added par. (49).
1982—Par. (35). Pub. L. 97–222, § 1(a)(2), added par. (35).
Former par. (35) redesignated (36).
Par. (36). Pub. L. 97–222, § 1(a)(1), (b), (c), redesignated
par. (35) as (36) and substituted ‘‘is required to be the
subject of a registration statement’’ for ‘‘is the subject
of a registration statement’’ in subpar. (A)(xii) and sub-
stituted ‘‘forward contract’’ for ‘‘forward commodity
contract’’ in subpar. (B)(iii). Former par. (36) redesig-
nated (37).
Pars. (37) to (39). Pub. L. 97–222, § 1(a)(1), redesignated
pars. (36) to (38) as (37) to (39), respectively. Former par.
(39) redesignated (40).
Pars. (40), (41). Pub. L. 97–222, § 1(a)(1), (d), redesig-
nated former par. (39) as (40) and restructured its provi-
sions by dividing the former introductory provisions
into subpars. (A) and (B) and by redesignating former
subpars. (A) and (B) as cls. (i) and (ii), respectively, of
subpar. (B). Former par. (40) redesignated (41).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2022 AMENDMENT; RETROACTIVE
APPLICATION
Pub. L. 117–151, § 2(h)(2), June 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 1299,
provided that: ‘‘The amendments made by subsections
(a), (d), (e), and (f) [amending this section and sections
1182, 1183, and 1191 of this title, respectively] shall
apply with respect to any case that—
‘‘(A) is commenced under title 11, United States
Code, on or after March 27, 2020; and
‘‘(B) with respect to a case that was commenced on
or after March 27, 2020 and before the date of enact-
ment of this Act [June 21, 2022], is pending on the
date of enactment of this Act.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2020 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title I, § 1113(b)(1)(D)(i), Mar.
27, 2020, 134 Stat. 312, provided that: ‘‘The amendments
made by subparagraphs (A) and (B) [amending this sec-
tion and section 1325 of this title] shall apply to any
case commenced before, on, or after the date of enact-
ment of this Act [Mar. 27, 2020].’’
Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title I, § 1113(b)(2)(B), Mar. 27,
2020, 134 Stat. 312, as amended by Pub. L. 117–5, § 2(a)(2),
Mar. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 249, provided that: ‘‘The amend-
ments made by subparagraph (A) [amending this sec-
tion and sections 1325 and 1329 of this title] shall take
effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act [Mar. 27, 2020].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2019 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 116–54, § 5, Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1087, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [see Short Title of 2019 Amend-
ment note set out under this section] and the amend-
ments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 23, 2019].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 109–390, § 7, Dec. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 2700, pro-
vided that: ‘‘The amendments made by this Act [see
Short Title of 2006 Amendment note set out under this
section] shall not apply to any cases commenced under
title 11, United States Code, or appointments made
under any Federal or State law, before the date of the
enactment of this Act [Dec. 12, 2006].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2005 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 109–8, title XV, § 1501, Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat.
216, provided that:
‘‘(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise provided
in this Act, this Act [see Tables for classification] and
the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 20,
2005].
‘‘(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in
this Act and paragraph (2), the amendments made by
this Act shall not apply with respect to cases com-
menced under title 11, United States Code, before the
effective date of this Act.
‘‘(2) CERTAIN LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO DEBTORS.—
The amendments made by sections 308, 322, and 330
[amending sections 104, 522, 727, 1141, 1228, and 1328 of
this title] shall apply with respect to cases com-
menced under title 11, United States Code, on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 20, 2005].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 103–394, title VII, § 702, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat.
4150, provided that:
‘‘(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), this Act [see Tables for classification] shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act
[Oct. 22, 1994].
‘‘(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—(1) Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this
Act shall not apply with respect to cases commenced
under title 11 of the United States Code before the date
of the enactment of this Act.
‘‘(2)(A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to
the amendment made by section 111 [amending section
524 of this title].
‘‘(B) The amendments made by sections 113 and 117
[amending sections 106 and 330 of this title] shall apply
with respect to cases commenced under title 11 of the
United States Code before, on, and after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
‘‘(C) Section 1110 of title 11, United States Code, as
amended by section 201 of this Act, shall apply with re-
spect to any lease, as defined in such section 1110(c) as
so amended, entered into in connection with a settle-
ment of any proceeding in any case pending under title
11 of the United States Code on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
‘‘(D) The amendments made by section 305 [amending
sections 1123, 1222, and 1322 of this title] shall apply
only to agreements entered into after the date of enact-
ment of this Act.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 102–486, title XXX, § 3017(c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106
Stat. 3131, provided that:
‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amend-
ments made by this section [amending this section and
section 541 of this title] shall take effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act [Oct. 24, 1992].
‘‘(2) The amendments made by this section shall not
apply with respect to cases commenced under title 11 of
the United States Code before the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 100–597, § 12, Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 3030, pro-
vided that:
‘‘(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), this Act and the amendments made by this
Act [enacting sections 927 to 929 of this title, amending
this section and sections 109, 901, 902, 922, 926, and 943 of
this title, and renumbering section 927 of this title as
930] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of
this Act [Nov. 3, 1988].
‘‘(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The amendments
made by this Act shall not apply with respect to cases
commenced under title 11 of the United States Code be-
fore the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 3,
1988].’’
Pub. L. 100–506, § 2, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2539, pro-
vided that:
‘‘(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), this Act and the amendments made by this
Act [amending this section and section 365 of this title]
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this
Act [Oct. 18, 1988].
Page 27
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
‘‘(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The amendments
made by this Act shall not apply with respect to any
case commenced under title 11 of the United States
Code before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct.
18, 1988].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT
Effective date and applicability of amendment by sec-
tion 201 of Pub. L. 99–554 dependent upon the judicial
district involved, see section 302(d), (e) of Pub. L.
99–554, set out as a note under section 581 of Title 28,
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Amendment by section 251 of Pub. L. 99–554 effective
30 days after Oct. 27, 1986, but not applicable to cases
commenced under this title before that date, see sec-
tion 302(a), (c)(1) of Pub. L. 99–554.
Amendment by section 283 of Pub. L. 99–554 effective
30 days after Oct. 27, 1986, see section 302(a) of Pub. L.
99–554.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 552, formerly § 553, July 10,
1984, 98 Stat. 392, as renumbered by Pub. L. 98–531, § 1(2),
Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2704, provided that:
‘‘(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section the
amendments made by this title [see Tables for classi-
fication] shall become effective to cases filed 90 days
after the date of enactment of this Act [July 10, 1984].
‘‘(b) The amendments made by section 426(b) [amend-
ing section 303 of this title] shall become effective upon
the date of enactment of this Act.
‘‘(c) The amendments made by subtitle J [enacting
section 1113 of this title], shall become effective as pro-
vided in section 541(c) [set out as an Effective Date note
under section 1113 of this title].’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2023 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 118–24, § 1, Dec. 19, 2023, 137 Stat. 128, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [amending provisions set out as a note
under section 707 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Na-
tional Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act
of 2023’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2022 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 117–151, § 1, June 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 1298, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section, sections
104, 109, 1182, 1183, and 1191 of this title, and section 589a
of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and en-
acting provisions set out as notes under this section,
sections 104 and 109 of this title, and section 589a of
Title 28] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Threshold
Adjustment and Technical Corrections Act’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2021 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 117–5, § 1, Mar. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 249, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [amending section 1329 of this title and
provisions set out as notes under this section and sec-
tions 1182 and 1329 of this title] may be cited as the
‘COVID–19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act of 2021’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2019 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 116–54, § 1, Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1079, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting subchapter V of chap-
ter 11 of this title, amending this section, sections 103,
322, 326, 347, 363, 364, 523, 524, 547, 557, 1102, and 1146 of
this title, and sections 586, 589b, 1409, and 1930 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and enacting pro-
visions set out as a note under this section] may be
cited as the ‘Small Business Reorganization Act of
2019’.’’
Pub. L. 116–53, § 1, Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1078, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending provisions set out as
a note under section 707 of this title] may be cited as
the ‘National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Exten-
sion Act of 2019’.’’
Pub. L. 116–52, § 1, Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1076, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section] may be
cited as the ‘Honoring American Veterans in Extreme
Need Act of 2019’ or the ‘HAVEN Act’.’’
Pub. L. 116–51, § 1, Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1075, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section] may be
cited as the ‘Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2015 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 114–107, § 1, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2223, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending provisions set out as
a note under section 707 of this title] may be cited as
the ‘National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Exten-
sion Act of 2015’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2011 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 112–64, § 1, Dec. 13, 2011, 125 Stat. 766, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [amending provisions set out as a note
under section 707 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Na-
tional Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act
of 2011’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2010 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 111–327, § 1, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3557, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section, sections
103, 105 to 107, 109 to 111, 303, 308, 348, 362, 363, 505, 507,
521 to 524, 526, 527, 541, 554, 704, 707, 723, 724, 726, 901, 1104,
1106, 1111, 1112, 1127, 1129, 1141, 1145, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1307,
1308, 1322, 1325, 1511, 1519, 1521, and 1529 of this title, sec-
tion 157 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure,
sections 158, 159, and 586 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judi-
cial Procedure, and provisions set out as a note under
section 507 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Bank-
ruptcy Technical Corrections Act of 2010’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2009 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 111–16, § 1, May 7, 2009, 123 Stat. 1607, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 109, 322, 332, 342, 521,
704, 749, and 764 of this title, sections 983, 1514, 1963,
2252A, 2339B, 3060, 3432, 3509, and 3771 of Title 18, Crimes
and Criminal Procedure, section 7 of the Classified In-
formation Procedures Act set out in the Appendix to
Title 18, section 853 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and
sections 636, 1453, and 2107 of Title 28, Judiciary and Ju-
dicial Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a
note under section 109 of this title] may be cited as the
‘Statutory Time-Periods Technical Amendments Act of
2009’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2008 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 110–438, § 1, Oct. 20, 2008, 122 Stat. 5000, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending section 707 of this title
and enacting provisions set out as a note under section
707 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Guard
and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2006 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 109–439, § 1, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3285, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending section 1325 of this
title] may be cited as the ‘Religious Liberty and Chari-
table Donation Clarification Act of 2006’.’’
Pub. L. 109–390, § 1, Dec. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 2692, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section, sections
362, 546, and 741 of this title, sections 1787, 1821, 4403,
and 4404 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and section
78eee of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and enacting
provisions set out as notes under this section] may be
cited as the ‘Financial Netting Improvements Act of
2006’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2005 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 109–8, § 1(a), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 23, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [see Tables for classification] may be
cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Con-
sumer Protection Act of 2005’.’’
Pub. L. 109–8, title III, § 332(a), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat.
103, provided that: ‘‘This section [amending section 303
of this title and section 157 of Title 18, Crimes and
Criminal Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Involuntary
Bankruptcy Improvement Act of 2005’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2004 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 108–369, § 1, Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1749, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 1201 to 1208
Page 28
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 101
and 1221 to 1231 of this title and enacting and amending
provisions set out as notes under section 1201 of this
title] may be cited as the ‘Family Farmer Bankruptcy
Relief Act of 2004’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2003 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 108–73, § 1, Aug. 15, 2003, 117 Stat. 891, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 1201 to 1208 and 1221
to 1231 of this title and enacting and amending provi-
sions set out as notes under section 1201 of this title]
may be cited as the ‘Family Farmer Bankruptcy Relief
Act of 2003’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 2002 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 107–377, § 1, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3115, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 1201 to 1208
and 1221 to 1231 of this title, and enacting and amending
provisions set out as notes under section 1201 of this
title] may be cited as the ‘Protection of Family Farm-
ers Act of 2002’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 1998 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 105–183, § 1, June 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 517, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 544, 546, 548,
707, and 1325 of this title and enacting provisions set
out as notes under section 544 of this title] may be
cited as the ‘Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation
Protection Act of 1998’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 1994 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 103–394, § 1(a), Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4106, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [see Tables for classification]
may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 1990 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 101–581, § 1, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2865, and
Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXI, § 3101, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat.
4916, provided respectively that such Act and such title
[amending sections 523 and 1328 of this title and enact-
ing provisions set out as a note under section 523 of this
title] may be cited as the ‘‘Criminal Victims Protec-
tion Act of 1990’’.
SHORT TITLE OF 1988 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 100–334, § 1, June 16, 1988, 102 Stat. 610, pro-
vided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting section 1114 of this
title, amending section 1129 of this title, enacting pro-
visions set out as a note under section 1114 of this title,
and amending and repealing provisions set out as notes
under section 1106 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Re-
tiree Benefits Bankruptcy Protection Act of 1988’.’’
SHORT TITLE OF 1984 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 361, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 361,
provided that: ‘‘This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 361–363) of
title III of Pub. L. 98–353, amending sections 362, 365,
and 541 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Leasehold
Management Bankruptcy Amendments Act of 1983’.’’
SAVINGS PROVISION
Pub. L. 109–8, title IX, § 912, as added Pub. L. 109–390,
§ 5(d), Dec. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 2698, provided that: ‘‘The
meanings of terms used in this title [see Tables for
classification] are applicable for the purposes of this
title only, and shall not be construed or applied so as
to challenge or affect the characterization, definition,
or treatment of any similar terms under any other
statute, regulation, or rule, including the Gramm-
Leach-Bliley Act [Pub. L. 106–102, see Short Title of
1999 Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title
12, Banks and Banking], the Legal Certainty for Bank
Products Act of 2000 [7 U.S.C. 27 to 27f], the securities
laws (as such term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(47)]),
and the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.].’’
SEPARABILITY
Pub. L. 103–394, title VII, § 701, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat.
4150, provided that: ‘‘If any provision of this Act [see
Tables for classification] or amendment made by this
Act or the application of such provision or amendment
to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitu-
tional, the remaining provisions of and amendments
made by this Act and the application of such other pro-
visions and amendments to any person or circumstance
shall not be affected thereby.’’
Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 551, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 391,
provided that: ‘‘If any provision of this title [title III
(§§ 301–553) of Pub. L. 98–353, see Tables for classifica-
tion] or any amendment made by this title, or the ap-
plication thereof to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the provisions of every other part, and their
application shall not be affected thereby.’’
CONSTRUCTION
Pub. L. 109–8, title X, § 1007(e), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat.
188, provided that: ‘‘Nothing in this section [amending
this section and sections 109, 1203, and 1206 of this title]
shall change, affect, or amend the Fishery Conserva-
tion and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.).’’
Pub. L. 109–8, title XI, § 1101(c), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat.
189, provided that: ‘‘The amendments made by sub-
section (a) of this section [amending this section] shall
not affect the interpretation of section 109(b) of title 11,
United States Code.’’
NONLIMITATION OF INFORMATION
Pub. L. 109–8, title I, § 102(e), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 33,
provided that: ‘‘Nothing in this title [see Tables for
classification] shall limit the ability of a creditor to
provide information to a judge (except for information
communicated ex parte, unless otherwise permitted by
applicable law), United States trustee (or bankruptcy
administrator, if any), or trustee.’’
JUDICIAL EDUCATION
Pub. L. 109–8, title XII, § 1226, Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat.
199, provided that: ‘‘The Director of the Federal Judi-
cial Center, in consultation with the Director of the
Executive Office for United States Trustees, shall de-
velop materials and conduct such training as may be
useful to courts in implementing this Act [see Short
Title of 2005 Amendment note above] and the amend-
ments made by this Act, including the requirements re-
lating to the means test under section 707(b), and reaf-
firmation agreements under section 524, of title 11 of
the United States Code, as amended by this Act.’’
Court Rules and Judicial Documents
ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS
The dollar amounts specified in this section were ad-
justed by notices of the Judicial Conference of the
United States pursuant to section 104 of this title as
follows:
By notice dated Jan. 31, 2022, 87 F.R. 6625, effective
Apr. 1, 2022, in par. (3), dollar amount ‘‘204,425’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘226,850’’; in par. (18), dollar amount
‘‘10,000,000’’ was adjusted to ‘‘11,097,350’’ each time it ap-
peared; in par. (19A), dollar amount ‘‘2,044,225’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘2,268,550’’ each time it appeared; and, in par.
(51D), dollar amount ‘‘2,725,625’’ was adjusted to
‘‘3,024,725’’ each time it appeared. See notice of the Ju-
dicial Conference of the United States set out as a note
under section 104 of this title.
By notice dated Feb. 5, 2019, 84 F.R. 3488, effective
Apr. 1, 2019, in par. (3), dollar amount ‘‘192,450’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘204,425’’; in par. (18), dollar amount
‘‘4,153,150’’ was adjusted to ‘‘4,411,400’’ each time it ap-
peared; in par. (19A), dollar amount ‘‘1,924,550’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘2,044,225’’ each time it appeared; and, in par.
(51D), dollar amount ‘‘2,566,050’’ was adjusted to
‘‘2,725,625’’ each time it appeared.
By notice dated Feb. 16, 2016, 81 F.R. 8748, effective
Apr. 1, 2016, in par. (3), dollar amount ‘‘186,825’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘192,450’’; in par. (18), dollar amount
‘‘4,031,575’’ was adjusted to ‘‘4,153,150’’ each time it ap-
Page 29
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 102
peared; in par. (19A), dollar amount ‘‘1,868,200’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘1,924,550’’ each time it appeared; and, in par.
(51D), dollar amount ‘‘2,490,925’’ was adjusted to
‘‘2,566,050’’ each time it appeared.
By notice dated Feb. 12, 2013, 78 F.R. 12089, effective
Apr. 1, 2013, in par. (3), dollar amount ‘‘175,750’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘186,825’’; in par. (18), dollar amount
‘‘3,792,650’’ was adjusted to ‘‘4,031,575’’ each time it ap-
peared; in par. (19A), dollar amount ‘‘1,757,475’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘1,868,200’’ each time it appeared; and, in par.
(51D), dollar amount ‘‘2,343,300’’ was adjusted to
‘‘2,490,925’’ each time it appeared.
By notice dated Feb. 19, 2010, 75 F.R. 8747, effective
Apr. 1, 2010, in par. (3), dollar amount ‘‘164,250’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘175,750’’; in par. (18)(A), (B)(ii), dollar amount
‘‘3,544,525’’ was adjusted to ‘‘3,792,650’’ each time it ap-
peared; in par. (19A)(A)(i), (B)(ii)(II), dollar amount
‘‘1,642,500’’ was adjusted to ‘‘1,757,475’’ each time it ap-
peared; and, in par. (51D)(A), (B), dollar amount
‘‘2,190,000’’ was adjusted to ‘‘2,343,300’’ each time it ap-
peared.
By notice dated Feb. 7, 2007, 72 F.R. 7082, effective
Apr. 1, 2007, in par. (3), dollar amount ‘‘150,000’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘164,250’’; in par. (18), dollar amount
‘‘3,237,000’’ was adjusted to ‘‘3,544,525’’ each time it ap-
peared; in par. (19A), dollar amount ‘‘1,500,000’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘1,642,500’’ each time it appeared; and, in par.
(51D), dollar amount ‘‘2,000,000’’ was adjusted to
‘‘2,190,000’’ each time it appeared. In par. (18), Pub. L.
116–51
subsequently
substituted
‘‘10,000,000’’
for
‘‘3,237,000’’ both places it appeared, see 2019 Amendment
note above.
§ 102. Rules of construction
In this title—
(1) ‘‘after notice and a hearing’’, or a similar
phrase—
(A) means after such notice as is appro-
priate in the particular circumstances, and
such opportunity for a hearing as is appro-
priate in the particular circumstances; but
(B) authorizes an act without an actual
hearing if such notice is given properly and
if—
(i) such a hearing is not requested timely
by a party in interest; or
(ii) there is insufficient time for a hear-
ing to be commenced before such act must
be done, and the court authorizes such act;
(2) ‘‘claim against the debtor’’ includes
claim against property of the debtor;
(3) ‘‘includes’’ and ‘‘including’’ are not lim-
iting;
(4) ‘‘may not’’ is prohibitive, and not permis-
sive;
(5) ‘‘or’’ is not exclusive;
(6) ‘‘order for relief’’ means entry of an order
for relief;
(7) the singular includes the plural;
(8) a definition, contained in a section of this
title that refers to another section of this
title, does not, for the purpose of such ref-
erence, affect the meaning of a term used in
such other section; and
(9) ‘‘United States trustee’’ includes a des-
ignee of the United States trustee.
(Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2554; Pub. L.
98–353, title III, § 422, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 369;
Pub. L. 99–554, title II, § 202, Oct. 27, 1986, 100
Stat. 3097.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
LEGISLATIVE STATEMENTS
Section 102 specifies various rules of construction but
is not exclusive. Other rules of construction that are
not set out in title 11 are nevertheless intended to be
followed in construing the bankruptcy code. For exam-
ple, the phrase ‘‘on request of a party in interest’’ or a
similar phrase, is used in connection with an action
that the court may take in various sections of the
Code. The phrase is intended to restrict the court from
acting sua sponte. Rules of bankruptcy procedure or
court decisions will determine who is a party in inter-
est for the particular purposes of the provision in ques-
tion, but the court will not be permitted to act on its
own.
Although ‘‘property’’ is not construed in this section,
it is used consistently throughout the code in its broad-
est sense, including cash, all interests in property, such
as liens, and every kind of consideration including
promises to act or forbear to act as in section 548(d).
Section 102(1) expands on a rule of construction con-
tained in H.R. 8200 as passed by the House and in the
Senate amendment. The phrase ‘‘after notice and a
hearing’’, or a similar phrase, is intended to be con-
strued according to the particular proceeding to mean
after such notice as is appropriate in the particular cir-
cumstances, and such opportunity, if any, for a hearing
as is appropriate in the particular circumstances. If a
provision of title 11 authorizes an act to be taken
‘‘after notice and a hearing’’ this means that if appro-
priate notice is given and no party to whom such notice
is sent timely requests a hearing, then the act sought
to be taken may be taken without an actual hearing.
In very limited emergency circumstances, there will
be insufficient time for a hearing to be commenced be-
fore an action must be taken. The action sought to be
taken may be taken if authorized by the court at an ex
parte hearing of which a record is made in open court.
A full hearing after the fact will be available in such an
instance.
In some circumstances, such as under section 1128,
the bill requires a hearing and the court may act only
after a hearing is held. In those circumstances the
judge will receive evidence before ruling. In other cir-
cumstances, the court may take action ‘‘after notice
and a hearing,’’ if no party in interest requests a hear-
ing. In that event a court order authorizing the action
to be taken is not necessary as the ultimate action
taken by the court implies such an authorization.
Section 102(8) is new. It contains a rule of construc-
tion indicating that a definition contained in a section
in title 11 that refers to another section of title 11 does
not, for the purposes of such reference, take the mean-
ing of a term used in the other section. For example,
section 522(a)(2) defines ‘‘value’’ for the purposes of sec-
tion 522. Section 548(d)(2) defines ‘‘value’’ for purposes
of section 548. When section 548 is incorporated by ref-
erence in section 522, this rule of construction makes
clear that the definition of ‘‘value’’ in section 548 gov-
erns its meaning in section 522 notwithstanding a dif-
ferent definition of ‘‘value’’ in section 522(a)(2).
SENATE REPORT NO. 95–989
Section 102 provides seven rules of construction.
Some are derived from current law; others are derived
from 1 U.S.C. 1; a few are new. They apply generally
throughout proposed title 11. These are terms that are
not appropriate for definition, but that require an ex-
planation.
Paragraph (1) defines the concept of ‘‘after notice and
a hearing.’’ The concept is central to the bill and to the
separation of the administrative and judicial functions
of bankruptcy judges. The phrase means after such no-
tice as is appropriate in the particular circumstances
(to be prescribed by either the Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure or by the court in individual circumstances
that the Rules do not cover. In many cases, the Rules
will provide for combined notice of several pro-
ceedings), and such opportunity for a hearing as is ap-
propriate in the particular circumstances. Thus, a
hearing will not be necessary in every instance. If there
is no objection to the proposed action, the action may
go ahead without court action. This is a significant
change from present law, which requires the affirma-
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
In this title the following definitions shall apply:
(1) The term “accountant” means accountant authorized under applicable law to practice public accounting, and includes professional accounting association, corporation, or partnership, if so authorized.
(2) The term “affiliate” means—
(A) entity that directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with power to vote, 20 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of the debtor, other than an entity that holds such securities—
(i) in a fiduciary or agency capacity without sole discretionary power to vote such securities; or
(ii) solely to secure a debt, if such entity has not in fact exercised such power to vote;
(B) corporation 20 percent or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held with power to vote, by the debtor, or by an entity that directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with power to vote, 20 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of the debtor, other than an entity that holds such securities—
(i) in a fiduciary or agency capacity without sole discretionary power to vote such securities; or
(ii) solely to secure a debt, if such entity has not in fact exercised such power to vote;
(C) person whose business is operated under a lease or operating agreement by a debtor, or person substantially all of whose property is operated under an operating agreement with the debtor; or
(D) entity that operates the business or substantially all of the property of the debtor under a lease or operating agreement.
(3) The term “assisted person” means any person whose debts consist primarily of consumer debts and the value of whose nonexempt property is less than $150,000.11 See Adjustment of Dollar Amounts not
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 11 U.S.C. § 101
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** A discharge under section 727, 1141, 1192 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. 1228(a), 1228(b), or 1328(b) of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt—
(1) for a tax or a customs duty—
(A) of the kind and for the periods specified in section 507(a)(3) or 507(a)(8) of this title, whether or not a claim for such tax was filed or allowed;
(B) with respect to which a return, or equivalent report or notice, if required—
(i) was not filed or given; or
(ii) was filed or given after the date on which such return, report, or notice was last due, under applicable law or under any extension, and after two years before the date of the filing of the petition; or
(C) with respect to which the debtor made a fraudulent return or willfully attempted in any manner to evade or defeat such tax;
(2) for money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit, to the extent obtained by—
(A) false pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud, other than a statement respecting the debtor’s or an insider’s financial condition;
(B) use of a statement in writing—
(i) that is materially false;
(ii) respecting the debtor’s or an insider’s financial condition;
(iii) on which the creditor to whom the debtor is liable for such money, property, services, or credit reasonably relied; and
(iv) that the debtor caused to be made or published with intent to deceive; or
(C)
(i) for purposes of subparagraph (A)—
(I) consumer debts owed to a single creditor and aggregating more than $500 22 See Adjustment of Dollar Amounts notes below. for luxury goods or services incurred by an individual debtor on or within 90 days before the order for relief under this title are pr
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 11 U.S.C. § 523
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 11 U.S.C. § 523. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 140
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
§ 523
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
2 See Adjustment of Dollar Amounts notes below.
amount ‘‘600’’ was adjusted to ‘‘650’’ each time it ap-
peared; in subsec. (n), dollar amount ‘‘1,171,650’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘1,245,475’’; in subsec. (p), dollar amount
‘‘146,450’’ was adjusted to ‘‘155,675’’; and, in subsec. (q),
dollar amount ‘‘146,450’’ was adjusted to ‘‘155,675’’.
By notice dated Feb. 19, 2010, 75 F.R. 8747, effective
Apr. 1, 2010, in subsec. (d)(1), dollar amount ‘‘20,200’’ was
adjusted to ‘‘21,625’’; in subsec. (d)(2), dollar amount
‘‘3,225’’ was adjusted to ‘‘3,450’’; in subsec. (d)(3), dollar
amounts ‘‘525’’ and ‘‘10,775’’ were adjusted to ‘‘550’’ and
‘‘11,525’’, respectively; in subsec. (d)(4), dollar amount
‘‘1,350’’ was adjusted to ‘‘1,450’’; in subsec. (d)(5), dollar
amounts ‘‘1,075’’ and ‘‘10,125’’ were adjusted to ‘‘1,150’’
and ‘‘10,825’’, respectively; in subsec. (d)(6), dollar
amount ‘‘2,025’’ was adjusted to ‘‘2,175’’; in subsec.
(d)(8), dollar amount ‘‘10,775’’ was adjusted to ‘‘11,525’’;
in subsec. (d)(11)(D), dollar amount ‘‘20,200’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘21,625’’; in subsec. (f)(3)(B), dollar amount
‘‘5,475’’ was adjusted to ‘‘5,850’’; in subsec. (f)(4)(B), dol-
lar amount ‘‘550’’ was adjusted to ‘‘600’’ each time it ap-
peared; in subsec. (n), dollar amount ‘‘1,095,000’’ was ad-
justed to ‘‘1,171,650’’; in subsec. (p)(1), dollar amount
‘‘136,875’’ was adjusted to ‘‘146,450’’; and, in subsec.
(q)(1),
dollar
amount
‘‘136,875’’
was
adjusted
to
‘‘146,450’’.
By notice dated Feb. 7, 2007, 72 F.R. 7082, effective
Apr. 1, 2007, in subsec. (d)(1), dollar amount ‘‘18,450’’ was
adjusted to ‘‘20,200’’; in subsec. (d)(2), dollar amount
‘‘2,950’’ was adjusted to ‘‘3,225’’; in s
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 11 U.S.C. § 523
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 11 U.S.C. § 523. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** When used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires—
(1) The term “security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, security-based swap, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security”, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.
(2) The term “person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-stock company, a trust, any unincorporated organization, or a government or political subdivision thereof. As used in this paragraph the term “trust” shall include only a trust where the interest or interests of the beneficiary or beneficiaries are evidenced by a security.
(3) The term “sale” or “sell” shall include every contract of sale or disposition of a security or interest in a security, for value. The term “offer to sell”, “offer for sale”, or “offer” shall include every attempt or offer to dispose of, or solicitation of an offer to buy, a security or interes
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 77b
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 77b. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 119
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 77b
7025, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The
President.
CHAPTER 2A—SECURITIES AND TRUST
INDENTURES
SUBCHAPTER I—DOMESTIC SECURITIES
Sec.
77a.
Short title.
77b.
Definitions; promotion of efficiency, competi-
tion, and capital formation.
77b–1.
Swap agreements.
77c.
Classes of securities under this subchapter.
77d.
Exempted transactions.
77d–1.
Requirements with respect to certain small
transactions.
77e.
Prohibitions relating to interstate commerce
and the mails.
77f.
Registration of securities.
77g.
Information required in registration state-
ment.
77h.
Taking effect of registration statements and
amendments thereto.
77h–1.
Cease-and-desist proceedings.
77i.
Court review of orders.
77j.
Information required in prospectus.
77k.
Civil liabilities on account of false registra-
tion statement.
77l.
Civil liabilities arising in connection with
prospectuses and communications.
77m.
Limitation of actions.
77n.
Contrary stipulations void.
77o.
Liability of controlling persons.
77p.
Additional remedies; limitation on remedies.
77q.
Fraudulent interstate transactions.
77r.
Exemption from State regulation of securi-
ties offerings.
77r–1.
Preemption of State law.
77s.
Special powers of Commission.
77t.
Injunctions and prosecution of offenses.
77u.
Hearings by Commission.
77v.
Jurisdiction of offenses and suits.
77w.
Unlawful representations.
77x.
Penalties.
77y.
Jurisdiction of other Government agencies
over securities.
77z.
Separability.
77z–1.
Private securities litigation.
77z–2.
Application of safe harbor for forward-look-
ing statements.
77z–2a.
Conflicts of interest relating to certain
securitizations.
77z–3.
General exemptive authority.
77z
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 15 U.S.C. § 77b
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 77b. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
When used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires—
(1) Any term defined in section 2 of the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77b](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77b&num=0&edition=prelim)], and not otherwise defined in this section shall have the meaning assigned to such term in such section 2 [[15 U.S.C. 77b](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77b&num=0&edition=prelim)].
(2) The terms “sale”, “sell”, “offer to sell”, “offer for sale”, and “offer” shall include all transactions included in such terms as provided in paragraph (3) of section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77b(a)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77b/a&num=0&edition=prelim)], except that an offer or sale of a certificate of interest or participation shall be deemed an offer or sale of the security or securities in which such certificate evidences an interest or participation if and only if such certificate gives the holder thereof the right to convert the same into such security or securities.
(3) The term “prospectus” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in paragraph (10) of section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77b(a)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77b/a&num=0&edition=prelim)], except that in the case of securities which are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77a&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], such term shall not include any communication (A) if it is proved that prior to or at the same time with such communication a written statement if any required by [section 77f
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 77ccc
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 77ccc. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 177
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 77ccc
(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title III, § 301, as added Aug.
3, 1939, ch. 411, 53 Stat. 1149.)
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
SHORT TITLE OF 1990 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 101–550, title IV, § 401, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat.
2721, provided that: ‘‘This title [amending sections
77ccc to 77eee, 77iii to 77rrr, and 77vvv of this title] may
be cited as the ‘Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990’.’’
§ 77bbb. Necessity for regulation
(a) Practices adversely affecting public
Upon the basis of facts disclosed by the reports
of the Securities and Exchange Commission
made to the Congress pursuant to section 78jj of
this
title
and
otherwise
disclosed
and
ascertained, it is hereby declared that the na-
tional public interest and the interest of inves-
tors in notes, bonds, debentures, evidences of in-
debtedness, and certificates of interest or par-
ticipation therein, which are offered to the pub-
lic, are adversely affected—
(1) when the obligor fails to provide a trust-
ee to protect and enforce the rights and to rep-
resent the interests of such investors, notwith-
standing the fact that (A) individual action by
such investors for the purpose of protecting
and enforcing their rights is rendered imprac-
ticable by reason of the disproportionate ex-
pense of taking such action, and (B) concerted
action by such investors in their common in-
terest through representatives of their own se-
lection is impeded by reason of the wide dis-
persion of such investors through many
States, and by reason of the fact that informa-
tion as to the names and addresses of such in-
vestors generally is not available to such in-
vestors;
(2) when the trustee does not have adequate
rights and powers, or adequate duties and re-
sponsibilities
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 15 U.S.C. § 77ccc
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 77ccc. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
No action shall be maintained to enforce any liability created under section 77k or 77l(a)(2) of this title unless brought within one year after the discovery of the untrue statement or the omission, or after such discovery should have been made by the exercise of reasonable diligence, or, if the action is to enforce a liability created under section 77l(a)(1) of this title, unless brought within one year after the violation upon which it is based. In no event shall any such action be brought to enforce a liability created under section 77k or 77l(a)(1) of this title more than three years after the security was bona fide offered to the public, or under section 77l(a)(2) of this title more than three years after the sale.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 77m
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 77m. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 151
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 77n
such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 10 of 1950, §§ 1, 2,
eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set out under
section 78d of this title.
§ 77l. Civil liabilities arising in connection with
prospectuses and communications
(a) In general
Any person who—
(1) offers or sells a security in violation of
section 77e of this title, or
(2) offers or sells a security (whether or not
exempted by the provisions of section 77c of
this title, other than paragraphs (2) and (14) of
subsection (a) of said section), by the use of
any means or instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or of
the mails, by means of a prospectus or oral
communication, which includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading
(the purchaser not knowing of such untruth or
omission), and who shall not sustain the bur-
den of proof that he did not know, and in the
exercise of reasonable care could not have
known, of such untruth or omission,
shall be liable, subject to subsection (b), to the
person purchasing such security from him, who
may sue either at law or in equity in any court
of competent jurisdiction, to recover the consid-
eration paid for such security with interest
thereon, less the amount of any income received
thereon, upon the tender of such security, or for
damages if he no longer owns the security.
(b) Loss causation
In an action described in subsection (a)(2), if
the person who offered or sold such security
proves that any portion or all of the amount re-
coverable under subsection (a)(2) represents
other than the depreciation in val
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 15 U.S.C. § 77m
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 77m. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Reports by issuer of security; contents** Every issuer of a security registered pursuant to section 78l of this title shall file with the Commission, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate for the proper protection of investors and to insure fair dealing in the security—
(1) such information and documents (and such copies thereof) as the Commission shall require to keep reasonably current the information and documents required to be included in or filed with an application or registration statement filed pursuant to section 78l of this title, except that the Commission may not require the filing of any material contract wholly executed before July 1, 1962.
(2) such annual reports (and such copies thereof), certified if required by the rules and regulations of the Commission by independent public accountants, and such quarterly reports (and such copies thereof), as the Commission may prescribe.
Every issuer of a security registered on a national securities exchange shall also file a duplicate original of such information, documents, and reports with the exchange. In any registration statement, periodic report, or other reports to be filed with the Commission, an emerging growth company need not present selected financial data in accordance with section 229.301 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, for any period prior to the earliest audited period presented in connection with its first registration statement that became effective under this chapter or the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section77a&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] and, with respect to any such statement or reports, an emerging growth company may not be
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 78m
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 78m. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.