United States: a step-by-step guide for enterprises
For companies with 250 or more staff at their peak that are in a formal insolvency process or have closed. Six steps, in order, from authority to a signed licence.
- 1
Confirm who can sign
In bankruptcy, the trustee (or the debtor in possession) sells estate assets, and sales outside the ordinary course need court approval (11 U.S.C. §363). Get the authority in writing before you speak to any buyer.
- 2
Check the company's status
Court dockets (PACER) show trustee appointments and sale orders; state registries show dissolution. Outside bankruptcy, state law on dissolved corporations decides who can still act for the company and for how long.
- 3
Map the records
List each system, the years it covers and roughly how much it holds. Check the records are in English.
- 4
Take people out
If the company's privacy policy restricted transfers of personal information, the court may appoint a consumer privacy ombudsman before a sale (11 U.S.C. §§332, 363(b)(1)). Employee and HR records are usually left out entirely.
- 5
Run the fit check, then apply
micro1 lists companies that are no longer operating, with 30+ peak employees and English records, in ten countries including United States company.micro1.ai/get-started · 15 Nov 2026. Our fit check takes two minutes.
- 6
Review, take advice, sign or walk away
micro1 says it reviews and approves the data within 30 days, then pays within 30 days of invoice. In bankruptcy, a sale outside the ordinary course needs court approval. Take advice on the contract; you can stop at any point before signing.
Tips for enterprises
- Start with a data map: systems, owners, years, volumes and where personal data sits.
- Carve out privileged, regulated and client-confidential material before any sample is prepared.
- Plan phased samples by business unit rather than one large transfer.
- Agree sign-off with the creditors' committee or the court where your process requires it.
- Check outsourcing and cloud contracts: some vendors delete data soon after non-payment.
Common pitfalls
- Outside bankruptcy, state law on dissolved corporations decides who can still act for the company and for how long.
- Sending a sample before a contract covers handling and confidentiality.
- Leaving employee or customer personal data in the export.
General information, not legal advice. Full United States rights guide →
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