Title 11 — BankruptcyRelease 119-73
§555 Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a securities contract
Title 11 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - CREDITORS, THE DEBTOR, AND THE ESTATE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - THE ESTATE › § 555
Summary
Allows stockbrokers, banks, financial participants, and securities clearing agencies to liquidate, end, or speed up a securities contract (as defined in section 741) when a condition like those listed in section 365(e)(1) occurs. Courts, bankruptcy rules, or agencies cannot stop or limit that action in cases under this title, unless an order is specifically allowed under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 or another law enforced by the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Contractual right" means rights set out in rules or bylaws of clearing organizations, exchanges, markets, trading facilities, or similar boards, and rights that arise under common law, the law merchant, or normal business practice.
Full Legal Text
Title 11, §555
Bankruptcy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The exercise of a contractual right of a stockbroker, financial institution, financial participant, or securities clearing agency to cause the liquidation, termination, or acceleration of a securities contract, as defined in section 741 of this title, because of a condition of the kind specified in section 365(e)(1) of this title shall not be stayed, avoided, or otherwise limited by operation of any provision of this title or by order of a court or administrative agency in any proceeding under this title unless such order is authorized under the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 or any statute administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. As used in this section, the term “contractual right” includes a right set forth in a rule or bylaw of a derivatives clearing organization (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), a multilateral clearing organization (as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991), a national securities exchange, a national securities association, a securities clearing agency, a contract market designated under the Commodity Exchange Act, a derivatives transaction execution facility registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or a board of trade (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), or in a resolution of the governing board thereof, and a right, whether or not in writing, arising under common law, under law merchant, or by reason of normal business practice.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 91–598, Dec. 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 1636, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 2B–1 (§ 78aaa et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78aaa of Title 15 and Tables. The Commodity Exchange Act, referred to in text, is act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, 42 Stat. 998, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 1 (§ 1 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1 of Title 7 and Tables. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 102–242, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2236, as amended. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
of 1991 Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and Tables.
Amendments
2005—Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(g)(1), substituted “Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a securities contract” for “Contractual right to liquidate a securities contract” in section catchline. Pub. L. 109–8, § 907(g)(2), (o)(7), in first sentence, inserted “financial participant,” after “financial institution,” and substituted “liquidation, termination, or acceleration” for “liquidation”, and substituted second sentence for former second sentence which read as follows: “As used in this section, the term ‘contractual right’ includes a right set forth in a rule or bylaw of a national securities exchange, a national securities association, or a securities clearing agency.” 1994—Pub. L. 103–394 substituted “section 741 of this title” for “section 741(7)” and struck out “(15 U.S.C. 78aaa et seq.)” after “Act of 1970”. 1984—Pub. L. 98–353 inserted “, financial institution,” after “stockbroker”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2005 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–8 effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before such
Effective Date
, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–394 effective Oct. 22, 1994, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before Oct. 22, 1994, see section 702 of Pub. L. 103–394, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
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. § 555
Title 11 — Bankruptcy
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73