Title 11BankruptcyRelease 119-73

§1107 Rights, powers, and duties of debtor in possession

Title 11 › Chapter CHAPTER 11— - REORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › § 1107

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A person who keeps control of the debtor’s business during the case has the same rights, powers, and must do the same jobs a trustee would, unless the court or trustee rules limit them. They cannot get paid under section 330, and they do not have to do the duties listed in sections 1106(a)(2), (3), and (4). Even though section 327 usually limits who can be hired, someone is not barred from being employed just because they worked for or represented the debtor before the case began (see section 327(a)).

Full Legal Text

Title 11, §1107

Bankruptcy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to any limitations on a trustee serving in a case under this chapter, and to such limitations or conditions as the court prescribes, a debtor in possession shall have all the rights, other than the right to compensation under section 330 of this title, and powers, and shall perform all the functions and duties, except the duties specified in section 1106(a)(2), (3), and (4) of this title, of a trustee serving in a case under this chapter.
(b)Notwithstanding section 327(a) of this title, a person is not disqualified for employment under section 327 of this title by a debtor in possession solely because of such person’s employment by or representation of the debtor before the commencement of the case.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Legislative Statements

The House amendment adopts section 1107(b) of the Senate amendment which clarifies a point not covered by the House bill.

senate report no. 95–989

This section places a debtor in possession in the shoes of a trustee in every way. The debtor is given the rights and powers of a chapter 11 trustee. He is required to perform the functions and duties of a chapter 11 trustee (except the investigative duties). He is also subject to any limitations on a chapter 11 trustee, and to such other limitations and conditions as the court prescribes cf. Wolf v. Weinstein, 372 U.S. 633, 649–650 (1963).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–353 substituted “on a trustee serving in a case” for “on a trustee”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) of Pub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

11 U.S.C. § 1107

Title 11Bankruptcy

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73