Insolvency Act 1986 s.333 – Duties of bankrupt in relation to trustee

(1)The bankrupt shall—

(a)give to the trustee such information as to his affairs,

(b)attend on the trustee at such times, and

(c)do all such other things,

as the trustee may for the purposes of carrying out his functions under any of this Group of Parts reasonably require.

(2)Where at any time after the commencement of the bankruptcy any property is acquired by, or devolves upon, the bankrupt or there is an increase of the bankrupt’s income, the bankrupt shall, within the prescribed period, give the trustee notice of the property or, as the case may be, of the increase.

(3)Subsection (1) applies to a bankrupt after his discharge.

(4)If the bankrupt without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any obligation imposed by this section, he is guilty of a contempt of court and liable to be punished accordingly (in addition to any other punishment to which he may be subject).

Cases considering section 333 34

Horton v Henry (Rev 1)

[2016] EWCA Civ 989 · 7 October 2016Limits

The trustee's general power to require acts for carrying out statutory functions did not permit the trustee to require a bankrupt to turn excluded pension rights into income. (see paras [36]; [38]-[40])

Hickling v Baker

[2007] EWCA Civ 287 · 4 April 2007

The court identified the bankrupt’s duties to provide information, attend the trustee and do what the trustee reasonably requires, and treated section 364 as an extreme means of enforcing those obligations. (see paras [11]-[12]) The court noted that failure without reasonable excuse to comply with section 333 is contempt of court and may be punished accordingly, distinguishing that sanction from coercive detention under section 364. (see para [12])

Ann Nilsson & Anor v Timothy Edward Jones

[2026] EWHC 319 (Ch) · 17 February 2026

Confirms the bankrupt’s statutory obligations to assist in delivery up and realisation of the estate. The lack of practical cooperation supported annulment. (see paras [75]; [96](b); [107])

Boris Franz Becker (a bankrupt) v Mark Christopher Ford & Ors[2024] EWHC 1001 (Ch) · 1 May 2024
MOHAMMAD RAZI KHAN v ARVINDER SINGH-SALL & Anor[2022] EWHC 1913 (Ch) · 21 July 2022
Louise Mary Brittain v Jonathan Ferster (a bankrupt) & Ors.[2022] EWHC 1060 (Ch) · 6 May 2022
ADRIAN HYDE & Anor v MYCK DJURBERG[2022] EWHC 1534 (Ch) · 6 May 2022
Protasov v Derev[2021] EWHC 392 (Ch) · 24 February 2021
Patel & Anor v Barlows Solicitors (a firm) & Ors[2020] EWHC 2753 (Ch) · 16 October 2020
Simmonds v Pearce[2017] EWHC 3126 (Admin) · 1 December 2017
The Official Receiver v Brown[2017] EWHC 2762 (Ch) · 7 November 2017
The Official Receiver v Brown[2017] EWHC 2728 (Ch) · 1 November 2017
Leeds & Anor v Lemos[2017] EWHC 1825 (Ch) · 17 July 2017
Weir v Hilsdon[2017] EWHC 983 (Ch) · 4 May 2017
Keely v Bell[2016] EWHC 308 (Ch) · 19 February 2016
Viscount St Davids v Lewis (Trustee in Bankruptcy)[2015] EWHC 2826 (Ch) · 9 October 2015
Oraki & Anor v Bramston & Anor[2015] EWHC 2046 (Ch) · 15 July 2015
Horton v Henry[2014] EWHC 4209 (Ch) · 17 December 2014
Official Receiver v Baker[2013] EWHC 4594 (Ch) · 29 November 2013
Hellard (Trustee In Bankruptcy) v Kapoor[2013] EWHC 2204 (Ch) · 25 July 2013

14 more judgments, and what each says about section 333, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

1 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Modifications

C1069S. 333 applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/1999, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. II