A bankruptcy trustee is a person or entity who is independent of the bankruptcy court and is appointed to oversee your bankruptcy case. A bankruptcy trustee is appointed in most every case—except in Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 9 municipality cases. The bankruptcy trustee is responsible for reviewing your bankruptcy forms, investigating and verifying your financial information, and making sure your bankruptcy filing is not fraudulent.
In Connecticut, as in other states, a bankruptcy trustee is an independent party appointed to manage the bankruptcy process for most types of bankruptcy cases, excluding Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 9 municipality cases. The trustee's role is to review the debtor's bankruptcy forms, investigate the financial information provided, and ensure that the bankruptcy filing is legitimate and free of fraud. The trustee also has the authority to sell nonexempt property to pay creditors, challenge creditor claims, and pursue actions against third parties who may have property of the debtor or who owe the debtor money. The appointment of a trustee and their duties are governed by federal bankruptcy law, specifically the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, as the bankruptcy process is under federal jurisdiction. However, state law, including Connecticut's statutes, can influence certain aspects of the process, such as exemptions and the handling of specific types of assets.