Bankruptcy Terms and Definitions

Cash collateral
Cash and cash equivalents held by the debtor in Chapter 11 subject to liens of other parties.

Debtor
The entity seeking protection from creditors under the bankruptcy laws.

Chapter Thirty Three
An unofficial term describing a company that has filed for Chapter 11 three times.

Chapter Twenty
An unofficial term describing the filing of a Chapter 7 proceeding followed by a Chapter 13.

Avoidance power
The power of the court to invalidate certain obligations or transactions undertaken by a debtor prior to filing bankruptcy.

Core proceedings
Those proceedings that are inherent in and fundamental to the administration of a bankruptcy case.

Chapter Twenty Two
An unofficial term describing a company that has filed for Chapter 11 twice.

Bankruptcy estate
Generally, the property of the debtor that is subject to the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court.

Bankruptcy Amendments of 1984
A set of amendments to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. It contains a number of provisions including: limiting the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court.

Liquidation value
The aggregate value of a business if its assets are sold piecemeal.