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

11 U.S.C. § 322

Qualification of trustee

(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b)(1), a person selected under section 701, 702, 703, 1104, 1163, 1183, 1202, or 1302 of this title to serve as trustee in a case under this title qualifies if before seven days after such selection, and before beginning official duties, such person has filed with the court a bond in favor of the United States conditioned on the faithful performance of such official duties.
(b)
(1)
The United States trustee qualifies wherever such trustee serves as trustee in a case under this title.
(2)
The United States trustee shall determine—
(A)
the amount of a bond required to be filed under subsection (a) of this section; and
(B)
the sufficiency of the surety on such bond.
(c)
A trustee is not liable personally or on such trustee’s bond in favor of the United States for any penalty or forfeiture incurred by the debtor.
(d)
A proceeding on a trustee’s bond may not be commenced after two years after the date on which such trustee was discharged.

Pub. L. 95–59892 Stat. 2562Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 42998 Stat. 369Pub. L. 99–554, title II100 Stat. 3098Pub. L. 103–394, title V, § 501(d)(3)108 Stat. 4143Pub. L. 111–16, § 2(2)123 Stat. 1607Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(a)(3)133 Stat. 1085(, , ; , , ; , §§ 207, 257(d), , , 3114; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

legislative statements

Section 322(a) is modified to include a trustee serving in a railroad reorganization under subchapter IV of chapter 11.

senate report no. 95–989

A trustee qualifies in a case by filing, within five days after selection, a bond in favor of the United States, conditioned on the faithful performance of his official duties. This section is derived from the Bankruptcy Act section 50b [section 78(b) of former title 11]. The court is required to determine the amount of the bond and the sufficiency of the surety on the bond. Subsection (c), derived from Bankruptcy Act section 50i [section 78(i) of former title 11], relieves the trustee from personal liability and from liability on his bond for any penalty or forfeiture incurred by the debtor. Subsection (d), derived from section 50m [section 78(m) of former title 11], fixes a two-year statute of limitations on any action on a trustee’s bond. Finally, subsection (e) dispenses with the bonding requirement for the United States trustee.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–542019—Subsec. (a). inserted “1183,” after “1163,”.

Pub. L. 111–162009—Subsec. (a). substituted “seven days” for “five days”.

Pub. L. 103–3941994—Subsec. (a). substituted “1202, or 1302” for “1302, or 1202”.

Pub. L. 99–554, § 257(d)section 1202 of this title1986—Subsec. (a). , inserted reference to .

Pub. L. 99–554, § 207(1), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (b)(1), a person” for “A person”.

Pub. L. 99–554, § 207(2)Subsec. (b). , amended subsec. (b) generally, adding par. (1), designating existing provisions as par. (2), substituting “The United States trustee” for “The court”, “(A) the amount” for “(1) the amount”, and “(B) the sufficiency” for “(2) the sufficiency”.

Pub. L. 98–3531984—Subsec. (b)(1). inserted “required to be”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–54section 5 of Pub. L. 116–54section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective 180 days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–16section 7 of Pub. L. 111–16section 109 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–394section 702 of Pub. L. 103–394section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective , and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

section 207 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 .