US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

11 U.S.C. § 321

Eligibility to serve as trustee

(a)
A person may serve as trustee in a case under this title only if such person is—
(1)
an individual that is competent to perform the duties of trustee and, in a case under chapter 7, 12, or 13 of this title, resides or has an office in the judicial district within which the case is pending, or in any judicial district adjacent to such district; or
(2)
a corporation authorized by such corporation’s charter or bylaws to act as trustee, and, in a case under chapter 7, 12, or 13 of this title, having an office in at least one of such districts.
(b)
A person that has served as an examiner in the case may not serve as trustee in the case.
(c)
The United States trustee for the judicial district in which the case is pending is eligible to serve as trustee in the case if necessary.

Pub. L. 95–59892 Stat. 2561Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 42898 Stat. 369Pub. L. 99–554, title II100 Stat. 3098(, , ; , , ; , §§ 206, 257(c), , , 3114.)

Historical and Revision Notes

legislative statements

Section 321 indicates that an examiner may not serve as a trustee in the case.

senate report no. 95–989

Section 321 is adapted from current Bankruptcy Act § 45 [section 73 of former title 11] and Bankruptcy Rule 209. Subsection (a) specifies that an individual may serve as trustee in a bankruptcy case only if he is competent to perform the duties of trustee and resides or has an office in the judicial district within which the case is pending, or in an adjacent judicial district. A corporation must be authorized by its charter or bylaws to act as trustee, and, for chapter 7 or 13 cases, must have an office in any of the above mentioned judicial districts.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 99–554, § 257(c)1986—Subsec. (a). , inserted reference to chapter 12 in two places.

Pub. L. 99–554, § 206Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 98–3531984—Subsec. (b). substituted “the case” for “a case” after “an examiner in”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

section 206 of Pub. L. 99–554Pub. L. 99–554section 581 of Title 28Effective date and applicability of amendment by dependent upon the judicial district involved, see section 302(d), (e) of , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

section 257 of Pub. L. 99–554Pub. L. 99–554Amendment by effective 30 days after , but not applicable to cases commenced under this title before that date, see section 302(a), (c)(1) of .

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

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