Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 11 - BANKRUPTCY · CHAPTER 3— CASE ADMINISTRATION · SUBCHAPTER I— COMMENCEMENT OF A CASE · § 301

§ 301. Voluntary cases

384 words·~2 min read·/usc/title-11/section-301

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)A voluntary case under a chapter of this title is commenced by the filing with the bankruptcy court of a petition under such chapter by an entity that may be a debtor under such chapter.
(b)The commencement of a voluntary case under a chapter of this title constitutes an order for relief under such chapter.
(Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2558; Pub. L. 109–8, title V, § 501(b), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 118.)
Historical and Revision Notes
legislative statements
Sections 301, 302, 303, and 304 are all modified in the House amendment to adopt an idea contained in sections 301 and 303 of the Senate amendment requiring a petition commencing a case to be filed with the bankruptcy court. The exception contained in section 301 of the Senate bill relating to cases filed under chapter 9 is deleted. Chapter 9 cases will be handled by a bankruptcy court as are other title 11 cases.
senate report no. 95–989
Section 301 specifies the manner in which a voluntary bankruptcy case is commenced. The debtor files a petition under this section under the particular operative chapter of the bankruptcy code under which he wishes to proceed. The filing of the petition constitutes an order for relief in the case under that chapter. The section contains no change from current law, except for the use of the phrase “order for relief” instead of “adjudication.” The term adjudication is replaced by a less pejorative phrase in light of the clear power of Congress to permit voluntary bankruptcy without the necessity for an adjudication, as under the 1898 act [former title 11], which was adopted when voluntary bankruptcy was a concept not thoroughly tested.
Connections10 cite this · traces to 1
6 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 95–598
  • 92 Stat. 2558
  • Pub. L. 109–8, title V, § 501(b)
  • 119 Stat. 118
  • Pub. L. 109–8
  • section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 301
Voluntary cases
Fed. Reg.×4
Stat.×2
U.S.C.×2
C.F.R.×1
IRM×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 95–598
Stat.92 Stat. 2558
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109–8, title V, § 501(b)
Stat.119 Stat. 118
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109–8
Cites 7 · showing 6Cited by 10 across 5 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.