Official receivers—corporate insolvency

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Published by a LexisNexis Restructuring & Insolvency expert
Practice notes

Official receivers—corporate insolvency

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Published by a LexisNexis Restructuring & Insolvency expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note discusses the role of the official receiver (OR) in corporate insolvency.

Appointment of ORs

An OR is a statutory office-holder.

The OR, in relation to any winding up, is any person who, by virtue of sections 399 or 401 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), is authorised to act as the OR in relation to that winding up.

The Secretary of State may, subject to the approval of the Treasury as to numbers, appoint persons to the office of OR. Any person who holds this office will be attached either to the High Court or the County Court.

Subject to any directions that may be given by the Secretary of State, an OR attached to a particular court is the person authorised to act as OR in relation to every winding up falling within the jurisdiction of that court.

The Secretary of State ensures that there is, at all times, at least one OR attached to the High Court and at least one attached to the County Court; but may attach the same OR

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