Official Receiver & Trustee In Bankruptcy

Updated for 2026

The Role of the Official Receiver

Official Receivers are civil servants who work within the Insolvency Service, a government agency. When a bankruptcy order is made, an Official Receiver is appointed to oversee your case.

The Official Receiver is primarily responsible for:

• Investigating your financial affairs and conduct. Any evidence of irregularity or criminal activity will be thoroughly investigated.
• Obtaining immediate control of your property and assets of value.
• Contacting all your creditors and inviting them to prove any claim for a debt held against you.
• Registering the bankruptcy with the Land Registry.

You are required to fully cooperate with the Official Receiver at all times. Failure to do so can have serious consequences, ranging from a delay in your bankruptcy discharge to a recommendation for a public examination in court.

How bankruptcy applications work

If you are applying for your own bankruptcy, you now do so online through the GOV.UK bankruptcy service. The application is considered by an adjudicator within the Insolvency Service, not a court. The current fee for a bankruptcy application is £680. For more detail on the application process, see our guide on the bankruptcy petition.

Where a creditor petitions to make you bankrupt, the case is still heard in court. You can read more about this in our guide on bankruptcy hearings.

The interview process

The Official Receiver will require you to complete a questionnaire covering your income, expenses, assets and debts. This is similar to the Statement of Affairs you would have already completed if you petitioned for your own bankruptcy.

The Official Receiver (or a member of their staff) will normally interview you by phone. You will usually be required to attend an interview in person at the Official Receiver’s office if:

• You have been made bankrupt before.
• You have recently been trading in business.
• There are concerns about your financial conduct.

Powers of the Official Receiver

The Official Receiver has a wide range of powers and can, where appropriate, arrange for:

• Your mail to be redirected to their office.
• A court order for seizure of your passport.
• Your bank accounts to be frozen.

The Official Receiver also advertises the bankruptcy order in The Gazette, the official public record for insolvency notices in the United Kingdom. Your details will also appear on the Individual Insolvency Register, which is publicly searchable.

The Role of the Trustee in Bankruptcy

Within 12 weeks of the bankruptcy order, the Official Receiver can arrange for a meeting of creditors to appoint a Trustee. The appointed Trustee is normally a licensed Insolvency Practitioner. If no Trustee is appointed, the Official Receiver takes on the role of Trustee themselves.

When the Trustee is appointed, all your assets vest into their control. The Trustee is primarily responsible for:

• Identifying and gathering all your assets, including any interest in property and savings.
• Disposing of your property, ensuring a fair price is obtained for the benefit of your creditors.
• Assessing whether you can afford to make payments from your income towards your debts through an Income Payments Agreement (IPA) or Income Payments Order (IPO).
• Distributing the proceeds from the sale of your assets fairly among your creditors.
• Investigating certain debts that cannot be written off by bankruptcy.

It is worth knowing that certain assets are protected. For example, your pension is generally safe from the Trustee, and essential household items and tools needed for work are usually exempt. Your car may also be kept if it is of low value and needed for work or essential travel.

What happens after bankruptcy?

Most people are discharged from bankruptcy after 12 months, at which point most of your debts are written off. However, the Trustee’s work may continue beyond your discharge if assets still need to be realised.

If you are concerned about the restrictions that apply during bankruptcy, our guide on important considerations and restrictions explains what you can and cannot do. You may also wish to understand the circumstances under which a bankruptcy annulment could apply.

Is bankruptcy the right option for you?

Bankruptcy is not the only way to deal with unmanageable debt. Depending on your circumstances, one of the following alternatives may be more suitable:

• Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): a formal agreement to repay a portion of your debts over a fixed period, typically five or six years.
• Debt Relief Order (DRO): available if you owe less than £30,000, have limited assets and low disposable income.
• Debt Management Plan (DMP): an informal arrangement to repay your debts at a reduced monthly amount.
• County Court Administration Order (CCAO): available if you have a county court judgment and your total debts are under £5,000.

For a full comparison of your options, see our alternatives to bankruptcy page.

The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. If you are struggling with debt, we recommend speaking to a qualified debt adviser who can assess your individual circumstances. You can contact a free debt advice service such as StepChange or Citizens Advice.