US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

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[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC156]

 
                 TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 
                             PART I--CRIMES
 
                          CHAPTER 9--BANKRUPTCY
 
Sec. 156. Knowing disregard of bankruptcy law or rule

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``bankruptcy petition preparer'' means a person, other than the 
    debtor's attorney or an employee of such an attorney, who prepares 
    for compensation a document for filing.
        ``document for filing'' means a petition or any other document 
    prepared for filing by a debtor in a United States bankruptcy court 
    or a United States district court in connection with a case under 
    this title.

    (b) Offense.--If a bankruptcy case or related proceeding is 
dismissed because of a knowing attempt by a bankruptcy petition preparer 
in any manner to disregard the requirements of title 11, United States 
Code, or the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the bankruptcy 
petition preparer shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more 
than 1 year, or both.

(Added Pub. L. 103-394, title III, Sec. 312(a)(1)(B), Oct. 22, 1994, 108 
Stat. 4140.)

                       References in Text

    The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, referred to in subsec. 
(b), are set out in the Appendix to Title 11, Bankruptcy.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective Oct. 22, 1994, and not applicable with respect to 
cases commenced under Title 11, Bankruptcy, before Oct. 22, 1994, see 
section 702 of Pub. L. 103-394, set out as an Effective Date of 1994 
Amendment note under section 101 of Title 11.