(a) Examination on Motion. On motion of any party in interest, the court may order the examination of any entity.
(b) Scope of Examination. The examination of an entity under this rule or of the debtor under § 343 of the Code may relate only to the acts, conduct, or property or to the liabilities and financial condition of the debtor, or to any matter which may affect the administration of the debtor’s estate, or to the debtor’s right to a discharge. In a family farmer’s debt adjustment case under chapter 12, an individual’s debt adjustment case under chapter 13, or a reorganization case under chapter 11 of the Code, other than for the reorganization of a railroad, the examination may also relate to the operation of any business and the desirability of its continuance, the source of any money or property acquired or to be acquired by the debtor for purposes of consummating a plan and the consideration given or offered therefor, and any other matter relevant to the case or to the formulation of a plan.
(c) Compelling Attendance and Production of Documents. The attendance of an entity for examination and for the production of documents, whether the examination is to be conducted within or without the district in which the case is pending, may be compelled as provided in Rule 9016 for the attendance of a witness at a hearing or trial. As an officer of the court, an attorney may issue and sign a subpoena on behalf of the court for the district in which the examination is to be held if the attorney is admitted to practice in that court or in the court in which the case is pending.
(d) Time and Place of Examination of Debtor. The court may for cause shown and on terms as it may impose order the debtor to be examined under this rule at any time or place it designates, whether within or without the district wherein the case is pending.
(e) Mileage. An entity other than a debtor shall not be required to attend as a witness unless lawful mileage and witness fee for one day’s attendance shall be first tendered. If the debtor resides more than 100 miles from the place of examination when required to appear for an examination under this rule, the mileage allowed by law to a witness shall be tendered for any distance more than 100 miles from the debtor’s residence at the date of the filing of the first petition commencing a case under the Code or the residence at the time the debtor is required to appear for the examination, whichever is the lesser.
(As amended Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Aug. 1, 1991; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002.)
added in current removed in current
Compared to current version (2025).
(a) Examination on Motion. On motion of anyIn General. On a party in interest’s motion, the court may order the examination of any entity.
(b) Scope of the Examination.
(1) In General. The examination of an entity under this rRule 2004, or of thea debtor under § 343 of the Code, may relate only to the:
(A) the debtor’s acts, conduct, or property or to the;
(B) the debtor’s liabilities and financial condition of the debtor, or to;
(C) any matter whichthat may affect the administration of the debtor’s estate,; or to
(D) the debtor’s right to a discharge. In a family farmer’s debt adjustment case under chapter 12, an individual’s debt adjustment case under chapter 13, or a reorganization case under chapter 11 of the Code, other than for the
(2) Other Topics in Certain Cases. In a Chapter 12 or 13 case, or in a Chapter 11 case that is not a railroad reorganization of a railroad, the examination may also relate to:
(A) the operation of any business and the desirability of its continuance,ing;
(B) the source of any money or property the debtor acquired or to bewill acquired by for the debtor for purposes of consummating a plan and the consideration given or offered therefor, and; and
(C) any other matter relevant to the case or to the formulation ofng a plan.
(c) Compelling Attendance and the Production of Documents. The attendance of an entity for examination and for the production of documents, whether or Electronically Stored Information. Regardless of the district where the examination is towill be conducted within or without the district in which the case is pending,, an entity may be compelled as provided inunder Rule 9016 for theto attend ance of a witness at a hearing or trial. As an officer of the court, ad produce documents or electronically stored information. An attorney may issue and sign a subpoena on behalf of the court for the district in which the examination is to be heldwhere the case is pending if the attorney is admitted to practice in that court or in the court in which the case is pending.
(d) Time and Place tof Examination ofe the Debtor. The court may, for cause shown and on terms as it may impose, order the debtor to be examined under this rRule 2004 at any time or place it designates, whether within or without the district wherein the case is pending.
(e) Mileage. An entity other than a debtor shall notdesignated time and place, in or outside the district.
(e) Witness Fees and Mileage.
(1) For a Nondebtor Witness. An entity, except the debtor, may be required to attend as a witness uonlessy if the lawful mileage and witness fee for one1 day’s attendance shall bare first tendered. If the debtor resides more than 100 miles from the place of examination when
(2) For a Debtor Witness. A debtor who is required to appear for an examination under this rule, the mileage allowed by law to a witness shall be tendered for any distance more than 100 miles from the debtor’s residence at the date of the filing of the first petition commencing a case under the Code or the residence at tmore than 100 miles from the debtor’s residence must be tendered a mileage fee. The fee need cover only the distance exceeding 100 miles from the nearer of where the debtor resides:
(A) when time the debtor is required to appear for the examination, whichever is the lesserhe first petition was filed; or
(B) when the examination takes place.
(As amended Mar. 30, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Aug. 1, 1991; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002; Apr. 27, 2020, eff. Dec. 1, 2020; Apr. 2, 2024, eff. Dec. 1, 2024.)