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You Need Forensic Technology!

By Jack Seward
November 01, 2003

Every bankruptcy professional understands that a Chapter 7 trustee has the duty to investigate a debtor's financial affairs and to ensure that books and records are properly turned over in accordance with Section 704. The debtor has the obligation, under Section 521(4), to “surrender to the trustee all property of the estate and any recorded information, including books, documents, records, and papers relating to property of the estate, whether or not immunity is granted under Section 344 of this title.” Likewise, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 trustees and debtors have similar duties and responsibilities.

Setting and Consequences

Millions of individuals and businesses use electronic banking, computers, personal digital assistants, digital devices, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, and accounting software applications used to record and report on personal and business financial activities. Bankruptcy statistics are devoid of information regarding the number of business debtors using computers and digital devices. The reason is quite simple since, unfortunately for the creditors, most trustees do not have the understanding and technical expertise necessary to properly investigate digital technology in the modern financial world.

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