Care and support

Official Receiver

An Official Receiver is appointed by the Secretary of State and is an officer of the court. The Official Receiver has responsibility for administering your bankruptcy and protecting your assets from the date of the bankruptcy order. He or she will also act as trustee of your bankruptcy estate unless an insolvency practitioner is appointed to do this instead.

The Official Receiver (or trustee) is also responsible for investigating your financial affairs before and during your bankruptcy. He or she may report to the court and has to report to your creditors. The Official Receiver must also report any matters which indicate that you may have committed criminal offences in connection with your bankruptcy, that your behaviour has been dishonest, or you have been in some way to blame for your bankruptcy.

They will assess what you need to live on, decide how you can repay your creditors, which of your assets you can keep and which must be sold to pay your debts.

Bankruptcy may not therefore be the best choice for you if you are a homeowner or have savings or expensive items of value. If this applies to you, look at the alternatives to bankruptcy section.

It is essential to co-operate with the Official Receiver, otherwise you could find your discharge being delayed or other serious action being taken against you. The court and Official Receiver have wide powers to deal with debtors who will not co-operate with them, such as by trying to hide assets, selling them to third parties at below their value or refusing to disclose financial details or documents.

Detailed information about the Official Receiver is available at www.insolvency.gov.uk

The Official Receivers office in Hertfordshire is

1st floor, Trident House, 42-48 Victoria Street, St ALBANS, Herts, AL1 3HR

Tel: 01727 832233

Fax: 01727 732400

e-mail: stalbans.or@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk

If you have an illness or disability that make's it difficult for you to attend the Official Receiver's office in person then it may be possible for the interview to be conducted over the phone.