Pfister & Saso, LLP

Bankruptcy History

A system revised by experience.


In bankruptcy, history is interwoven throughout the statutes and case law.

Bankruptcy Act of 1800

1800–1803

Act of Apr. 4, 1800, ch. 19, 2 Stat. 19

An Act to establish an uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 18 pages) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 30 pages) (opens in a new tab) House bill print, Jan. 30, 1800 (Library of Congress) (PDF, 33 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Repeal
Act of Dec. 19, 1803, ch. 6, 2 Stat. 248

An Act to repeal an act, intituled “An act to establish an uniform system of Bankruptcy throughout the United States”

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

1803–1841 · No federal bankruptcy law

1843–1867 · No federal bankruptcy law

Bankruptcy Act of 1867

1867–1878

Act of Mar. 2, 1867, ch. 176, 14 Stat. 517

An Act to establish a uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 25 pages) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 45 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of July 27, 1868, ch. 258, 15 Stat. 227

An Act in Amendment of an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of June 30, 1870, ch. 177, 16 Stat. 173

An Act to amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved March 2, 1867

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of July 14, 1870, ch. 262, 16 Stat. 276

An Act in Amendment of the Act entitled “An Act establishing an uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States”

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of June 8, 1872, ch. 339, 17 Stat. 334

An Act to amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a Uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States”

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of June 8, 1872, ch. 340, 17 Stat. 334

An Act to declare the true Intent and Meaning of Section Two of an Act entitled “An Act to establish a Uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved March two, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of Feb. 13, 1873, ch. 135, 17 Stat. 436

An Act to amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of Mar. 3, 1873, ch. 235, 17 Stat. 577

An Act to declare the true Intent and Meaning of the Act approved June eight, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, amendatory of the General Bankrupt Law

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of June 22, 1874, ch. 390, 18 Stat. 178

An act to amend and supplement an act entitled “An act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and for other purposes

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 9 pages) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 15 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of Apr. 14, 1876, ch. 62, 19 Stat. 33

An act concerning cases in bankruptcy commenced in the supreme courts of the several Territories prior to the twenty-second day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, and now undetermined therein

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of July 26, 1876, ch. 234, 19 Stat. 102

An act to amend the act entitled “An act to amend and supplement an act entitled “An act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States” approved March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and for other purposes,” approved June twenty-second, eighteen hundred and seventy-four

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Repeal
Act of June 7, 1878, ch. 160, 20 Stat. 99

An act to repeal the bankrupt law

Read the full text United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab)

1878–1898 · No federal bankruptcy law

Bankruptcy Act of 1898

1898–1978

Act of July 1, 1898, ch. 541, 30 Stat. 544

An Act To establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 23 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of June 25, 1910, ch. 412, 36 Stat. 838

An Act To amend [the Act of July 1, 1898], as amended by an Act approved February fifth, nineteen hundred and three, and as further amended by an Act approved June fifteenth, nineteen hundred and six

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 5 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of May 27, 1926, ch. 406, 44 Stat. 662

An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved July 1, 1898, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 7 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of Mar. 3, 1933, ch. 204, 47 Stat. 1467

An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved July 1, 1898, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 16 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
First Municipal Bankruptcy Act
Act of May 24, 1934, ch. 345, 48 Stat. 798

An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved July 1, 1898, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 6 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Act of June 7, 1934, ch. 424, 48 Stat. 911

An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved July 1, 1898, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 15 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Second Municipal Bankruptcy Act
Act of Aug. 16, 1937, ch. 657, 50 Stat. 653

An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved July 1, 1898, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 7 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Chandler Act
Act of June 22, 1938, ch. 575, 52 Stat. 840

An Act To amend [the Act of July 1, 1898], and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto; and to repeal section 76 thereof and all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent therewith

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 101 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Referees’ Salary Act
Act of June 28, 1946, ch. 512, 60 Stat. 323

An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States,” approved July 1, 1898, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 10 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Bankruptcy Rules Act of 1964
Pub. L. No. 88-623, 78 Stat. 1001 (Oct. 3, 1964)

An Act To provide for the promulgation of rules of practice and procedure under the Bankruptcy Act, and for other purposes

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab) Unofficial transcription (PDF, 2 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Bankruptcy Code

1978–present

Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-598, 92 Stat. 2549 (Nov. 6, 1978)

An Act To establish a uniform Law on the Subject of Bankruptcies

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 140 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984
Pub. L. No. 98-353, 98 Stat. 333 (July 10, 1984)

An Act To amend title 28 of the United States Code regarding jurisdiction of bankruptcy proceedings, to establish new Federal judicial positions, to amend title 11 of the United States Code, and for other purposes

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 60 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Bankruptcy Judges, United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986
Pub. L. No. 99-554, 100 Stat. 3088 (Oct. 27, 1986)

An Act To amend title 28 of the United States Code to provide for the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges, to provide for the appointment of United States trustees to serve in bankruptcy cases in judicial districts throughout the United States, to make certain changes with respect to the role of United States trustees in such cases, and for other purposes

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 41 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994
Pub. L. No. 103-394, 108 Stat. 4106 (Oct. 22, 1994)

An Act To amend title 11 of the United States Code

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 46 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act of 1998
Pub. L. No. 105-183, 112 Stat. 517 (June 19, 1998)

An Act To amend title 11, United States Code, to protect certain charitable contributions, and for other purposes

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 3 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005
Pub. L. No. 109-8, 119 Stat. 23 (Apr. 20, 2005)

An Act To amend title 11 of the United States Code, and for other purposes

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 195 pages) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Clarification Act of 2006
Pub. L. No. 109-439, 120 Stat. 3285 (Dec. 20, 2006)

An Act To clarify the treatment of certain charitable contributions under title 11, United States Code

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 1 page) (opens in a new tab)

Amendment
Bankruptcy Technical Corrections Act of 2010
Pub. L. No. 111-327, 124 Stat. 3557 (Dec. 22, 2010)

An Act To amend title 11 of the United States Code to make technical corrections; and for related purposes

United States Statutes at Large (PDF, 7 pages) (opens in a new tab)