[F154DDeferral of discharge where debtor cannot be tracedU.K.
(1)Subsection (2) applies where—
(a)the trustee, having made reasonable inquiries, is unable to ascertain the whereabouts of the debtor, and
(b)as a result is unable to carry out the trustee’s functions in accordance with section 3.
(2)The trustee must—
(a)notify the debtor by sending to the last known address of the debtor a deferral notice in the prescribed form,
(b)give a deferral notice to every creditor known to the trustee, and
(c)where the trustee is not the Accountant in Bankruptcy, apply in the prescribed form to the Accountant in Bankruptcy for a deferral.
(3)A deferral application under subsection (2)(c) must be made by the trustee—
(a)no earlier than the date which is 8 months after the date on which sequestration is awarded, and
(b)no later than the date which is 10 months after the date on which sequestration is awarded.
(4)After receiving a deferral application, the Accountant in Bankruptcy must—
(a)take into account any representations made by an interested person before the expiry of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the application is made, and
(b)if satisfied of the matters mentioned in subsection (5), issue a certificate deferring indefinitely the discharge of the debtor.
(5)The matters are—
(a)that the trustee is unable to ascertain the whereabouts of the debtor, and
(b)it would not be reasonably practicable for the trustee to continue to search for the debtor.
(6)Where the Accountant in Bankruptcy is the trustee and has given a deferral notice in accordance with subsection (2)(b), the Accountant in Bankruptcy must—
(a)take into account any representations made by an interested person before the expiry of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the deferral notice is given, and
(b)if satisfied that it would not be reasonably practicable to continue to search for the debtor, issue a certificate deferring indefinitely the discharge of the debtor.
(7)Where a certificate is issued under subsection (4)(b) or (6)(b), the Accountant in Bankruptcy must make an appropriate entry in the register of insolvencies.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 54D-54G inserted (30.6.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 11), ss. 19, 57(2); S.S.I. 2014/172, art. 2, sch.; S.S.I. 2014/261, art. 3 (with arts. 4-7, 12) (as amended by S.S.I. 2015/54, art. 2)