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Section 279: Duration

Insolvency Act 1986 · 1986 c. 45View on legislation.gov.uk

Part IX: Bankruptcy — Chapter IA: Commencement and duration of bankruptcy

A bankrupt is discharged from bankruptcy at the end of the period of one year beginning with the date on which the bankruptcy commences.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

On the application of the official receiver or the trustee of a bankrupt's estate, the court may order that the period specified in subsection (1) shall cease to run until—

the end of a specified period, or
the fulfilment of a specified condition.

The court may make an order under subsection (3) only if satisfied that the bankrupt has failed or is failing to comply with an obligation under this Part.

In subsection (3)(b) "condition" includes a condition requiring that the court be satisfied of something.

In the case of an individual who is made bankrupt on a petition under section 264(1)(d)—

subsections (1) to (5) shall not apply, and
the bankrupt is discharged from bankruptcy by an order of the court under section 280.

This section is without prejudice to any power of the court to annul a bankruptcy order.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.