Register as a creditor in a bankruptcy or liquidation

Register as a creditor if a person or company owes you money and the court issues them with a bankruptcy or winding-up order.

When you register, you’ll be added to the list of creditors (people who are owed money). You’re not guaranteed any payment, but you’ll be:

  • kept informed about the case
  • allowed to vote on decisions at any creditors’ meetings

Creditor claims are different in Scotland - see the Accountant in Bankruptcy website.

How to register

Contact the person who’s handling the case and tell them you’re owed money.

You can find their details on either:

If you’re owed more than £1,000 you’ll need to submit a ‘Proof of Debt’ form.

If you’re owed £1,000 or less, you need to give the person handling your case your contact details and tell them how much you’re owed.

Who handles the case

Your case will usually be handled by a court official who deals with bankruptcies and liquidations, known as an ‘official receiver’.

They might hand the case over to an insolvency practitioner - a lawyer or accountant who specialises in debt recovery.

The official receiver or insolvency practitioner might also be called:

  • the ’trustee’ in a bankruptcy
  • the ‘liquidator’ in a company liquidation

Read the guidance on what happens after you’ve registered as creditor.

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