The debtor's property under the administration of the bankruptcy trustee is considered the bankruptcy estate. When a trustee abandons property, he or she has released it from the estate. Property possessed by the debtor is typically abandoned to the debtor; however, property encumbered by liens might be abandoned directly to the secured lien holder for repossession.
Trustee
A trustee is appointed in each case to administer the bankruptcy estate. The chapter 7 trustee gathers and sells property, while the chapter 13 standing trustee collects plan payments. Trustees are private individuals, not government officials.
