The United States Bankruptcy Trustee appoints an interim trustee upon the filing of a chapter 7 case. Unless the creditors exercise their right to elect a different permanent trustee at the Section 341(a) meeting of creditors, the interim trustee automatically becomes the permanent trustee. Then the permanent trustee serves as trustee until the case is closed.

You generally can not request a different trustee—except in the rare situation in which you have a previous relationship with the trustee that the bankruptcy court would recognize as a disqualifying conflict of interest.

In Georgia, as in other states, the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee appoints an interim trustee when a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is filed. This interim trustee manages the debtor's estate temporarily. If the creditors do not elect a different trustee during the Section 341(a) meeting of creditors, which is a mandatory meeting for the debtor, the interim trustee then becomes the permanent trustee for the duration of the bankruptcy process. The role of the trustee is to liquidate any non-exempt assets, distribute the proceeds to creditors, and ensure the bankruptcy process is administered fairly. A debtor in Georgia typically does not have the option to request a different trustee. However, if there is a conflict of interest, such as a prior relationship between the debtor and the trustee that could affect the impartiality of the trustee, the debtor may raise this issue with the bankruptcy court, which has the discretion to determine if a new trustee should be appointed.