| First Meeting of Creditors |
| Under the Bankruptcy Code, the United States trustee must convene and preside at a meeting of creditors, which is often referred to as the section 341 meeting. This must occur within a reasonable time after the order for relief in a case.More... |
| Estate Property |
| The commencement of a voluntary, joint, or involuntary bankruptcy petition automatically creates an "estate." The estate is comprised of all the property that is described in section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code. It includes all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property, wherever located, as of the commencement of the case. To determine a debtor's rights in property, a court examines state law.More... |
| Dischargeable Debts |
| Dischargeable debts are those debts that can be discharged through bankruptcy proceedings. A debtor is no longer personally liable to pay for dischargeable debts after the bankruptcy proceedings are concluded.More... |
| Case Commencement |
| Under the Bankruptcy Code, a voluntary or involuntary case is commenced by filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. A Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy case may be initiated by a voluntary filing by the debtor or by an involuntary filing by the debtor's creditors. Cases under all other chapters may be initiated only by a voluntary petition. More... |
| Securities Investor Protection Act |
| The Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) was designed to create a new form of liquidation proceeding. SIPA created the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a nonprofit, private membership corporation to which most registered brokers and dealers are required to belong. The SIPC fund constitutes an insurance program. The fund is designed to protect the customers of brokers or dealers subject to SIPA from loss in case of financial failure of the member. The fund is supported by assessments upon its members. More... |


