Brian Hemphill
Last updated: October 23rd, 2020
People involved in the bankruptcy system often refer to the “Bankruptcy Code”, or simply, “the Code”. The Bankruptcy Code is the set of federal laws that governs all bankruptcy cases in the United States.
The Code is found in Title 11 of the United States Code. It is divided into several Chapters. The first three Chapters (1, 3 and 5) deal with the general bankruptcy rules and procedures. The remaining Chapters (7, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15) deal with specific types of bankruptcy proceedings. Each Chapter has several Sections.
- Chapter 1 – General Provisions (Sections 101 – 112)
- Chapter 3 – Case Administration (Sections 301 – 366)
- Chapter 5 – Creditors, the Debtor and the Estate (Sections 501 – 562)
- Chapter 7 – Liquidation (Sections 701 – 784)
- Chapter 9 – Adjustment of Debts of a Municipality (Sections 901 – 946)
- Chapter 11 – Reorganization (Sections 1101 – 1174)
- Chapter 12 – Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer or Fisherman with Regular Annual Income (Sections 1201 – 1231)
- Chapter 13 – Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income (Sections 1301 – 1330)
- Chapter 15 – Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases (Sections 1501 – 1532)
A copy of the text of Bankruptcy Code is available online through Cornell University’s Legal Information Institute and the United States Government Printing Office.
Contact an experienced attorney to help you understand your options in bankruptcy.