Catalogue description Records of the Bankruptcy Department and Official Receivers Branch

The Bankruptcy Act 1883 transferred to the Board of Trade all the administrative work formerly performed in this field by the law courts and a Bankruptcy Department was accordingly set up to deal with it. It was responsible for the investigation, regulation and administration of all insolvencies of individuals and firms when receiving orders were made by the courts in England and Wales. The Companies (Winding-Up) Act 1890 gave it further duties, which passed to the Companies Department in 1904.

From 1 October 1925 it took over from the Supreme Court of Judicature the responsibility for registration and custody of deeds of arrangements from the Bills of Sale Office of the Supreme Court, and also for the accounts of the trustees appointed under the deeds. It supervised the work of the official receivers who were appointed to carry out the investigations into bankrupts' affairs and of any trustees who might be appointed to take over the realisation and distribution of bankrupts' estates.

Sections 66-71 of the Act authorised the Board of Trade to appoint Official Receivers of debtors' estates. Although under the authority of the Board of Trade, the Official Receivers were also officers of the Courts to which they were attached. They were also responsible for investigating the conduct of debtors, reporting to the Court and taking part or assisting in the prosecution of any fraudulent debtors. Not all petitions were followed through and not every case resulted in the individual being made bankrupt.