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Laws Of Agency Fiduciary DutiesTermination_and_liabilityMEDIUM

A California seller files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy while a listing agreement is in effect. What is the most accurate statement about the impact on the listing agreement and the agent's authority to act?

Correct Answer

B) The bankruptcy trustee assumes control of the debtor's estate and holds the power to assume or reject the listing agreement as an executory contract, effectively displacing the seller's authority to direct the agent

Under 11 U.S.C. §365, a listing agreement is an executory contract, meaning it has material obligations remaining on both sides. Upon a Chapter 7 filing, the bankruptcy trustee takes control of the debtor's estate under 11 U.S.C. §323 and has the power to assume or reject executory contracts. The seller loses the legal authority to direct the agent's actions regarding estate property. Until the trustee affirmatively assumes the contract, the agent cannot rely on the seller's authorization, and any sale of the property proceeds under the bankruptcy court's supervision. This makes B the most legally accurate description of the mechanism at work.

Answer Options
A
The listing agreement remains fully enforceable and the agent's authority is unaffected because bankruptcy does not alter existing real estate contracts
B
The bankruptcy trustee assumes control of the debtor's estate and holds the power to assume or reject the listing agreement as an executory contract, effectively displacing the seller's authority to direct the agent
C
The listing agreement remains in effect but the agent must obtain written consent from both the seller and the bankruptcy court before marketing the property
D
The listing agreement is automatically assigned to the bankruptcy trustee, who becomes the new principal and may direct the agent under the original terms

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

bankruptcyterminationtrusteeagency_relationship

Related Concepts

In real estate, a client is someone to whom the agent owes fiduciary duties through an agency relationship, while a customer is a third party to whom the agent owes only honesty and fair dealing.

An arrangement where a brokerage assigns separate agents within the firm to represent the buyer and seller in the same transaction, allowing each client to have dedicated representation.

A situation where a single agent or brokerage represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction.

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