---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 3012"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "3012"
heading: "Joinder of additional defendant"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/3012"
units:
  - "Part VI — Particular Proceedings"
  - "Chapter 176 — Federal Debt Collection Procedure"
  - "Subchapter A — Definitions and General Provisions"
---

# §3012. Joinder of additional defendant


The [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) or the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) may join as an additional defendant in an action or proceeding under this chapter any [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) reasonably believed to owe money (including money owed on account of a requirement to provide goods or services pursuant to a loan or loan guarantee extended under Federal law) to the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) arising out of the transaction or occurrence giving rise to a [debt](/usc/28/3002.md?p=3).


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXVI, § 3611, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4938.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Nov. 29, 1990, and applicable with respect to certain actions for debts owed the United States pending in court on that effective date, see section 3631 of Pub. L. 101–647, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.