What is a “debtor in possession” and what is required of it in a Chapter 11 case?
A “debtor in possession” is the debtor in a Chapter 11 case in which a trustee has not been appointed. As a debtor in possession, the debtor is legally charged with the rights, duties, and obligations of a trustee in dealing with the debtor’s property and operating the debtor’s business for the benefit of its creditors and interest holders. As a debtor in possession, the debtor must abide by the rules and standards of Chapter 11 and the orders of the bankruptcy court. The failure of a debtor in possession to perform its obligations and duties may result in the appointment of a trustee, a court order terminating the debtor’s business, the conversion of the case to Chapter 7, or the dismissal of the case. A debtor ceases to be a debtor in possession when a plan is confirmed by the court.
