Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§156 Knowing Disregard of Bankruptcy Law or Rule
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 9— BANKRUPTCY › § 156
Summary
If a bankruptcy case or related proceeding is thrown out because a paid preparer knowingly ignored bankruptcy laws or the bankruptcy rules, that preparer can be fined, sent to jail for up to 1 year, or both. Bankruptcy petition preparer — a paid person (not the debtor’s lawyer or that lawyer’s employee) who prepares papers for Title 11 filings. Document for filing — the petition or other paper the debtor files in a bankruptcy or district court.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §156
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In this section—
(1)the term “bankruptcy petition preparer” means a person, other than the debtor’s attorney or an employee of such an attorney, who prepares for compensation a document for filing; and
(2)the term “document for filing” means a petition or any other document prepared for filing by a debtor in a United States bankruptcy court or a United States district court in connection with a case under title 11.
(b)If a bankruptcy case or related proceeding is dismissed because of a knowing attempt by a bankruptcy petition preparer in any manner to disregard the requirements of title 11, United States Code, or the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the bankruptcy petition preparer shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b), are set out in the Appendix to Title 11, Bankruptcy.
Amendments
2005—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–8, in first par., inserted “(1) the term” before “ ‘bankruptcy petition preparer’ ” and substituted “; and” for period at end and, in second par., inserted “(2) the term” before “ ‘document for filing’ ” and substituted “title 11” for “this title”.
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 Title 11, Bankruptcy, 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 Title 11.
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 22, 1994, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under Title 11, Bankruptcy, before Oct. 22, 1994, see section 702 of Pub. L. 103–394, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1994 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 11.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 156
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60