Usually when we're talking about "the trustee," we're talking about the <em><strong>individual case trustee</strong></em> assigned to handle your specific bankruptcy case; but actually there are several different kinds of bankruptcy trustees, with somewhat different roles.  For most people, the most important trustee is the individual case trustee assigned to their case.

The individual case trustee is directly, personally involved in every case.  The trustee – the individual case trustee assigned to the case – is responsible for reviewing every line of every form in the case, checking over the property, the exemptions, the classification of debts, the legal fees, everything.  The trustee conducts the <a title="With the Court" href="http://johnbodlelaw.com/bankruptcy-basics/what-is-the-process/with-the-court/">341 meeting</a> and, when it's ready, presents the case to the judge for approval.  So, when we say "the trustee," we're almost always talking about the individual case trustee.

Case trustees have slightly different roles, depending on the bankruptcy chapter under which the case is filed. Chapter 7 is a "liquidation," so a Chapter 7 trustee is primarily focused on non-exempt property (if there is any) that might be sold – liquidated – for the benefit of the creditors.  A Chapter 13 trustee, on the other hand, is focused primarily on implementing the Chapter 13 Plan.  (In Chapter 13, any "liquidation" is done through the Plan.)

One might think of the trustee as "the enemy" – and if you're trying to cheat the system, that's probably true! – but as a practical matter, in most cases, the trustee is our friend, because he (or she) helps make sure the case is completely in order, eliminating problems before the case gets to the judge.

In Topeka, we have one <a title="Jan Hamilton, the Topeka Standing Chapter 13 Trustee" href="http://www.topeka13trustee.com" target="_blank">Chapter 13 Trustee, Jan Hamilton</a>, and three Chapter 7 trustees, Bob Baer, Patricia Hamilton (no relation to Jan!), and Darcy Williamson.  They are all experienced private bankruptcy attorneys.

In Kansas City, we have one Chapter 13 Trustee,

Chapter 7 Trustees in the Topeka Division

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Robert L. Baer, 534 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 1100, Topeka, KS 66603, Phone: (785)235-9511, Fax: (785)235-2082

Patricia E. Hamilton, 100 SE 9th Street, 2nd Floor, Topeka, KS 66601, Phone: (785)232-2200, Fax: (785)232-3344

Darcy D. Williamson, 700 Jackson, Suite 404, Topeka, KS 66603, Phone: (913)233-9908, Fax: (913)233-2613

Chapter 7 Trustees in the Kansas City, KS, Division

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Carl R. Clark, P.O. Box 12167, Overland Park, KS 66282-2167, Phone: (913)648-0600, Fax: (913)648-0664

Eric C. Rajala, 11900 College Boulevard, Suite 341, Overland Park, KS 66210, Phone: (913)339-9806, Fax: (913)339-6695

Steven R. Rebein, 15301 W. 87th Parkway, Suite 200, Lenexa, KS 66219, Phone: (913)888-4800, Fax: (913) 888-0570

Christopher J. Redmond, 1200 Main, Ste. 2300, Kansas City, MO 64105, Phone: (816)421-4800, Fax: (816)421-0596

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You may also hear about the <a title="The United States Trustee" href="http://www.justice.gov/ust/" target="_blank">United States Trustee</a>.  Again, there are actually a number of US Trustees, but here we'll consider the entire office as a whole.  The United States Trustee is responsible for general oversight over the entire bankruptcy system, including the individual case trustees.  In most cases, the debtor never hears anything about or from the United States Trustee, and that's a good thing, because if they do, it's for an audit (bad enough) or something even worse.

When we're talking about the United States Trustee (either the office as a whole or any specific US Trustee), invariably we say "the United States Trustee," not just "the trustee."  The <a title="Office of  the United States Trustee" href="http://www.justice.gov/ust/" target="_blank">United States Trustee's Office</a> is an official government agency and all the United States Trustees are government employees.