Bankruptcy Act, 1988

Presenting petition.

(1872, s. 20)

11.—(1) A creditor shall be entitled to present a petition for adjudication against a debtor if—

(a) the debt owing by the debtor to the petitioning creditor (or, if two or more creditors join in presenting the petition, the aggregate amount of debts owing to them) amounts to £1,500 or more,

(1872, s. 21 in pt.)

(b) the debt is a liquidated sum,

(cf. 1857, s. 115)

(c) the act of bankruptcy on which the petition is founded has occurred within three months before the presentation of the petition, and

(New: cf. 1857, s. 409)

(d) the debtor (whether a citizen or not) is domiciled in the State or, within a year before the date of the presentation of the petition, has ordinarily resided or had a dwelling-house or place of business in the State or has carried on business in the State personally or by means of an agent or manager, or is or within the said period has been a member of a partnership which has carried on business in the State by means of a partner, agent or manager.

(1872, s. 21 in pt.)

(2) If a creditor who presents or joins in presenting the petition is a secured creditor, he shall in his petition set out particulars of his security and shall either state that he is willing to give up his security for the benefit of the creditors in the event of the debtor being adjudicated bankrupt or give an estimate of the value of his security. Where a secured creditor gives an estimate of the value of his security, he may be admitted as a petitioning creditor or joint petitioning creditor to the extent of the balance of the debt due to him after deducting the value so estimated in the same manner as if he were an unsecured creditor but he shall on application being made by the Official Assignee after the date of adjudication give up his security to the Official Assignee for the benefit of the creditors upon payment of such estimated value.

(1857, s. 120)

(3) Any debtor may petition for adjudication against himself.