Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 14 (ss. 399-410) applied (with modifications) (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, arts. 8(4)(5)(8)(9), 10(2)(3)(6), Sch. 4 Pt. II, Sch. 7
C2Third Group of Parts (Pts. 12-19) applied to limited liability partnerships (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (6.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1090, reg. 5, Schs. 3, 4 (as amended: (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/355, art. 10; (1.10.2005) by S.I. 2005/1989, reg. 3, Sch. 2 (with reg. 4); (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pts. 2, 3; and (16.2.2021) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/60), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with reg. 3(2)))
C3Pts. 12-19 applied (with modifications) in part (E.W.) (2.1.2013) by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3013), reg. 1, Sch. para. 1(2)(a)(3)-(7) (as amended (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 3 para. 49(3) (with ss. 2(2), 5(2)); (7.7.2020) by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/710), regs. 1, 4 (with reg. 6) (which affecting legislation is revoked and this amendment reversed (13.8.2020) by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/856), regs. 1(2), 2); and (13.8.2020 immediately after the coming into force of S.I. 2020/856, reg. 2) by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/856), regs. 1(3), 5 (with reg. 7))
C4Pts. 12-19 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2014) by The Industrial and Provident Societies and Credit Unions (Arrangements, Reconstructions and Administration) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/229), arts. 1, 4(c), Sch. 3 (as amended (13.3.2018) by The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/208), regs. 1(3), 15(4)(b); and (18.7.2020) by The Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions (Arrangements, Reconstructions and Administration) (Amendment) and Consequential Amendments Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/744), arts. 1, 8)
C5Third Group of Parts (Pts. 12-19) applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (8.7.2021) by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/716), reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 3 (with reg. 5) (as amended (4.1.2024) by S.I. 2023/1399, regs. 1(2), 4)
(1)For the purposes of this Act the official receiver, in relation to any bankruptcy [F1, winding up [F2, individual voluntary arrangement, debt relief order or application for such an order]], is any person who by virtue of the following provisions of this section or section 401 below is authorised to act as the official receiver in relation to that bankruptcy [F1, winding up [F2, individual voluntary arrangement, debt relief order or application for such an order]].
(2)The Secretary of State may (subject to the approval of the Treasury as to numbers) appoint persons to the office of official receiver, and a person appointed to that office (whether under this section or section 70 of the M1Bankruptcy Act 1914)—
(a)shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament such salary as the Secretary of State may with the concurrence of the Treasury direct,
(b)shall hold office on such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of State may with the concurrence of the Treasury direct, and
(c)may be removed from office by a direction of the Secretary of State.
(3)Where a person holds the office of official receiver, the Secretary of State shall from time to time attach him either to the High Court or to [F3the county court.]
(4)Subject to any directions under subsection (6) below, an official receiver attached to a particular court is the person authorised to act as the official receiver in relation to every bankruptcy [F1, winding up [F4, individual voluntary arrangement, debt relief order or application for such an order]] falling within the jurisdiction of that court.
(5)The Secretary of State shall ensure that there is, at all times, at least one official receiver attached to the High Court and at least one attached to [F5the county court]; but he may attach the same official receiver to [F6both] courts.
(6)The Secretary of State may give directions with respect to the disposal of the business of official receivers, and such directions may, in particular—
(a)authorise an official receiver attached to one court to act as the official receiver in relation to any case or description of cases falling within the jurisdiction of [F7the other] court;
(b)provide, where there is more than one official receiver authorised to act as the official receiver in relation to cases falling within the jurisdiction of any court, for the distribution of their business between or among themselves.
(7)A person who at the coming into force of section 222 of the M2Insolvency Act 1985 (replaced by this section) is an official receiver attached to a court shall continue in office after the coming into force of that section as an official receiver attached to that court under this section.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 399(1)(4) substituted (1.4.2004) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 269, 279, Sch. 23 para. 14(a)(b) (with s. 249(6)); S.I. 2003/2093, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-8 (as amended by S.I. 2003/2332, art. 2))
F2Words in s. 399(1) substituted (24.2.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.2009) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 108(3), 148(5), Sch. 20 para. 7(2); S.I. 2009/382, art. 2
F3Words in s. 399(3) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 93(h); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F4Words in s. 399(4) substituted (24.2.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.2009) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 108(3), 148(5), Sch. 20 para. 7(3); S.I. 2009/382, art. 2
F5Words in s. 399(5) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 93(i)(i); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F6Word in s. 399(5) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 93(i)(ii); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
F7Words in s. 399(6)(a) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 93(j); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S. 399 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1986/1999, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. II
S. 399 applied (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 48, s. 119(8) (with s. 6(8)); S.I. 1994/86, art. 2
Marginal Citations
(1)In addition to any functions conferred on him by this Act, a person holding the office of official receiver shall carry out such other functions as may from time to time be conferred on him by the Secretary of State.
(2)In the exercise of the functions of his office a person holding the office of official receiver shall act under the general directions of the Secretary of State and shall also be an officer of the court in relation to which he exercises those functions.
(3)Any property vested in his official capacity in a person holding the office of official receiver shall, on his dying, ceasing to hold office or being otherwise succeeded in relation to the bankruptcy or winding up in question by another official receiver, vest in his successor without any conveyance, assignment or transfer.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C7S. 400 applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/1999, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. II
(1)The Secretary of State may, if he thinks it expedient to do so in order to facilitate the disposal of the business of the official receiver attached to any court, appoint an officer of his department to act as deputy to that official receiver.
(2)Subject to any directions given by the Secretary of State under section 399 or 400, a person appointed to act as deputy to an official receiver has, on such conditions and for such period as may be specified in the terms of his appointment, the same status and functions as the official receiver to whom he is appointed deputy.
Accordingly, references in this Act (except section 399(1) to (5)) to an official receiver include a person appointed to act as his deputy.
(3)An appointment made under subsection (1) may be terminated at any time by the Secretary of State.
(4)The Secretary of State may, subject to the approval of the Treasury as to numbers and remuneration and as to the other terms and conditions of the appointments, appoint officers of his department to assist official receivers in the carrying out of their functions.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C8S. 401 applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/1999, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. II