Role of the Trustee
The United States trustee is
required to establish, maintain, and supervise a panel of private
trustees eligible to serve as trustees under chapter 7. A trustee in
chapter 7 cases is a private individual appointed by the United States
Trustee. Any individual who is competent to perform the duties of a
trustee and reside or have an office in the judicial or adjacent
judicial district is eligible to be appointed as a trustee.
To avoid delay in administration of
the case, an interim trustee is appointed by the court from the panel of
private trustees promptly after filing of the petition and entry of the
order for relief. The interim trustee will become permanent trustee if
no objection is made prior to or at the 341(a) Meeting of Creditors.
The trustee has the responsibility
to administer the bankruptcy estate, which consists of all of the
debtor’s non-exempt property as of the date of filing. General duties
of the trustee include the following:
 | Collecting
and reducing to money the property of the estate and closing the
estate as expeditiously as possible; |
| Accounting
for all property received; |
| Investigating
the financial affair of debtors; |
| If
property is available for distribution, examining proofs of claim
and objecting to the allowance of an improper claim; |
| If
advisable, opposing the debtor’s discharge; |
| Furnishing
requested information concerning the estate in its administration to
parties in interest; |
| If
the debtor’s business is authorized to be operated, providing the
court and appropriate governmental agencies with tax returns,
operating statements, and such other information as the court
requires; and |
| Filing
a final report and account with the court and with the United States
Trustee. |
