Who is the Official Receiver?

The Official Receiver is an officer of the court and a civil servant in The Insolvency Service. It is usual to be appointed an Official Receiver nearest to the court in which you were declared bankrupt.

When you file for bankruptcy the court notifies the Official Receiver, who is then charged with administering your bankruptcy which will involve protecting your estate and investigating your conduct and affairs. The Official Receiver will also be manager and receiver of your estate until (and if) a trustee is appointed.

What is the difference between The Official Receiver and The Trustee?

The Official Receiver is responsible for protecting your estate and investigating your affairs. A trustee will be responsible for taking possession of assets, selling them and distributing the proceeds to your creditors on  a pro-rata basis.

A trustee will only be appointed by the Official Receiver if there are significant assets. In some circumstances the Official Receiver may become the Trustee.

The Official Receiver is resposible for investigating your conduct and affairs in several ways, including:

•  - Initial assessment of your statement of affairs (your account of your debts)
•  - Conducting an interview with you to fully ascertain your status.

•  - Liaising with the bankruptcy trustee if applicable.
•  - Continuing to investigate and evaluate your financial status for the duration of your bankruptcy term.

You will usually be contacted by your Official Receiver within two working days of your bankruptcy order. You may be required to attend an interview at the Official Receiver's office anywhere up to ten days after initial contact. This is usually only necessary if your case is complex or when there are more serious matters to investigate. Generally a telephone interview will be sufficient.

You may not always liaise with the Official Receiver directly. A member of staff may be appointed by the Official Receiver to aid in dealing with your case.

For more information on filing for bankruptcy or alternative debt solutions, please click on the relevant links below.

What is bankruptcy?

The bankruptcy process

The history of bankruptcy

Will bankruptcy remove ALL of my debts?

Bankruptcy FAQs

Being discharged from bankruptcy

Bankruptcy for Expats

Bankruptcy Myths

Famous Bankrupts

IVAs

IVA Extraction

Debt Management

Debt Consolidation

Trust Deeds (Scottish Residents Only)

Alternatively, to discuss bankruptcy or any other debt solutions, please call 1Stop Money on 0800 012 4039 or fill in the online form and a 1Stop Money broker will contact you as soon as possible.

1Stop Money  - your first stop for finding the debt solution you need.