Bankruptcy status verification checklist

Identify the correct debtor

Use this checklist to distinguish a verified proceeding from a rumour, shutdown or late-payment report. Keep the original information and record what is known, what was checked and what remains uncertain.

Contracting debtor legal name

Trade names and related entities

Registered or business address

Contract and corporate identifier if known

Notice received from and date

Person performing the check

• Compare the debtor on the contract with the name in the notice and search result.
• Record the official search terms, search date and result reference; keep the result securely.
• Identify whether the record concerns bankruptcy, proposal, receivership or another proceeding.
• Match estate or court file number, location and appointed professional.
• Independently verify the professional contact before relying on an email attachment or bank instruction.

Record confirmation and unresolved issues

Fictional mismatch

Your contract names North Example Construction Ltd., while a notice names North Example Holdings Inc. Record the mismatch and obtain clarification. Do not assume the holding company proceeding covers the contracting company.

Person contacted and verified contact source

Questions sent and response received

Documents still needed

Next check date and owner

No matching search result is not a legal clearance. Do not disclose the customer as bankrupt publicly based on an unverified report. Court orders, timing and the scope of each proceeding require qualified review.

Before you act: this document is general information prepared by ArtBuild to help you organise facts and paperwork. It is not legal advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer for your situation. Rules differ by province and territory and change over time. Check the official source for your project, and for deadlines, liens, court or insolvency steps, speak with a lawyer licensed where the project is located.