§ 343. Examination of the debtor

Statutory text

The debtor shall appear and submit to examination under oath at the meeting of creditors under section 341(a) of this title. Creditors, any indenture trustee, any trustee or examiner in the case, or the United States trustee may examine the debtor. The United States trustee may administer the oath required under this section.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1978
Pub. L. 95–598 · 92 Stat. 2549
Enacted · 11 U.S.C. § 343
Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2565
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2565
1984
Pub. L. 98–353 title III § 436 · 98 Stat. 333
Substituted · 11 U.S.C. § 343
Pub. L. 98–353 substituted “examine” for “examiner”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 98–353 substituted “examine” for “examiner”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 436. Section 343 of title 11 of the United States Code is amended by striking out “examiner” the last place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof “examine”.
1986
Bankruptcy Judges, United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986
Pub. L. 99–554 title II § 213 · 100 Stat. 3088
Amended · 11 U.S.C. § 343
Pub. L. 99–554 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The debtor shall appear and submit to examination under oath at the meeting of creditors under section 341(a) of this title. Creditors, any indenture trustee, or any trustee or examiner in the case may examine the debtor.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 99–554 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The debtor shall appear and submit to examination under oath at the meeting of creditors under section 341(a) of this title. Creditors, any indenture trustee, or any trustee or examiner in the case may examine the debtor.”
Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 213. EXAMINATION OF THE DEBTOR. Section 343 of title 11, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “§ 343. Examination of the debtor “The debtor shall appear and submit to examination under oath at the meeting of creditors under section 341(a) of this title. Creditors, any indenture trustee, any trustee or examiner in the case, or the United States trustee may examine the debtor. The United States trustee may administer the oath required under this section.”.
Effective date note
Effective date and applicability of amendment by 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.

2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes

senate report no. 95–989

This section, derived from section 21a of the Bankruptcy Act [section 44(a) of former title 11], requires the debtor to appear at the meeting of creditors and submit to examination under oath. The purpose of the examination is to enable creditors and the trustee to determine if assets have improperly been disposed of or concealed or if there are grounds for objection to discharge. The scope of the examination under this section will be governed by the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, as it is today. See rules 205(d), 10–213(c), and 11–26. It is expected that the scope prescribed by these rules for liquidation cases, that is, “only the debtor’s acts, conduct, or property, or any matter that may affect the administration of the estate, or the debtor’s right to discharge” will remain substantially unchanged. In reorganization cases, the examination would be broader, including inquiry into the liabilities and financial condition of the debtor, the operation of his business, and the desirability of the continuance thereof, and other matters relevant to the case and to the formulation of the plan. Examination of other persons in connection with the bankruptcy case is left completely to the rules, just as examination of witnesses in civil cases is governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1984–1986 · 2 rounds

1986

Pub. L. 99–554 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The debtor shall appear and submit to examination under oath at the meeting of creditors under section 341(a) of this title. Creditors, any indenture trustee, or any trustee or examiner in the case may examine the debtor.”

1984

Pub. L. 98–353 substituted “examine” for “examiner”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Effective date and applicability of amendment by 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.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) of Pub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Participation by Bankruptcy Administrator at Meetings of Creditors and Equity Security Holders

A bankruptcy administrator or the bankruptcy administrator’s designee may examine debtor at meeting of creditors and may administer oath required by this section, see section 105 of Pub. L. 103–394, set out as a note under section 341 of this title.

Credits

1978–1986 · 3 acts

1978Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2565
1984Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 436, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 370
1986Pub. L. 99–554, title II, § 213, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3099.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2565; Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 436, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 370; Pub. L. 99–554, title II, § 213, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3099.)