11 USC § 1182 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t11/s1182"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "11 USC § 1182 - Definitions"
title_number: 11
title_name: "BANKRUPTCY"
section_number: "1182"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 11
chapter_name: "REORGANIZATION"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "SMALL BUSINESS DEBTOR REORGANIZATION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 116–54, § 2(a), Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1079; amended Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title I, § 1113(a)(1), (5), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 310, 311; Pub. L. 117–151, § 2(d), (i)(1)(B), June 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 1298, 1300.)"
---


# § 1182. Definitions

In this subchapter:

**(1)** **Debtor.—** The term “debtor” means a small business debtor.

**(2)** **Debtor in possession.—** The term “debtor in possession” means the debtor, unless removed as debtor in possession under section 1185(a) of this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 116–54, § 2(a), Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1079; amended Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title I, § 1113(a)(1), (5), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 310, 311; Pub. L. 117–151, § 2(d), (i)(1)(B), June 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 1298, 1300.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Par. (1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) consisted of subpars. (A) and (B) defining “debtor”.

, amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘debtor’ means a small business debtor.”

2020—Par. (1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) consisted of subpars. (A) and (B) defining “debtor”.

, temporarily amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘debtor’ means a small business debtor.”

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable with respect to any case that is commenced under this title on or after , and with respect to a case that was commenced on or after , and before , that is pending on , see , set out as an Effective Date of 2022 Amendment; Retroactive Application note under .

, , , provided in part that the amendment made by section 2(i)(1)(B) is effective on the date that is 2 years after .

### Effective Date of 2020 Amendment

> “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to cases commenced under title 11, United States Code, on or after the date of enactment of this Act [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

, , , as amended by , , , provided in part that the amendment made by  is effective 2 years after .

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after , see , set out as an Effective Date of 2019 Amendment note under .