Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-110
§3015 Discovery as to Debtor’s Financial Condition
Title 28 › PART VI — PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS › CHAPTER 176 — FEDERAL DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURE › SUBCHAPTER A — DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 3015
Summary
The United States can ask for information and documents about a debtor’s financial condition in cases under subchapter B or C, using the same discovery rules courts use in debt lawsuits. For cases under subchapter B, the government can do this only if it is reasonably likely the debt is more than $50,000.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §3015
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), in an action or proceeding under subchapter B or C, the United States may have discovery regarding the financial condition of the debtor in the manner in which discovery is authorized by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in an action on a claim for a debt.
(b)Limitation.—
Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to an action or proceeding under subchapter B unless there is a reasonable likelihood that the debt involved exceeds $50,000.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (a), are set out in the Appendix to this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 180 days after Nov. 29, 1990, and applicable with respect to certain actions for debts owed the United States pending in court on that
Effective Date
, see section 3631 of Pub. L. 101–647, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 3015
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110