District of Columbia Bankruptcy Trustees
The District of Columbia bankruptcy trustees are responsible for overseeing bankruptcy cases. They are responsible for managing the assets of the debtor, ensuring creditors are paid as much as possible, and administering the bankruptcy process according to the law to protect the bankruptcy estate.
The Bankruptcy Estate and the Trustee
A bankruptcy estate is created when you file for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy estate is a legal concept that refers to all of your property. For example, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, cryptocurrency, and even intellectual property. The bankruptcy trustee must protect the bankruptcy estate.
The way I describe the bankruptcy estate to my students is by showing them a pot and saying, “Put everything into the pot.” Now, remove the exempt assets. What’s left are non-exempt assets subject to distribution.
Chapter 7 versus Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustees
The responsibilities of a bankruptcy trustee remain consistent across different bankruptcy chapters, but their specific duties vary between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.
In Chapter 7, the trustee is responsible for liquidating the debtor’s non-exempt assets and distributing the proceeds to creditors. In Chapter 13, the trustee’s role also includes overseeing the debtor’s plan payments. Assets could also be liquidated when Chapter 13 if the debtor chooses to or can’t afford to keep non-exempt assets.
It is important to distinguish the bankruptcy trustee from the Office of the U.S. Trustee, a Department of Justice agency responsible for supervising trustees to ensure they fulfill their duties. Unlike the U.S. Trustee, who is a federal government employee, the bankruptcy trustee operates as a private individual.
Below is the list of trustees for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the District of Columbia.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees
Marc E. Albert
1775 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 785-9100
Fax: (202) 785-9163
Wendell W. Webster
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 402
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202)659-8510
William D. White
8205 Pettit Court
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: (703) 770-9265
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee
Rebecca A. Herr
185 Admiral Cochrane Dr.
Suite 240
Annapolis, MD 21401
E-mail: bherr@ch13md.com
Phone: (301) 805-4700
For information on the District of Columbia Bankruptcy Court system, follow this link. Information on the bankruptcy exemptions in D.C. can be found via this link.
Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link. You can also listen to my podcast on Spotify.
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