---
kind: "section"
citation: "48 U.S.C. § 2162"
title: "48"
title_heading: "Territories and Insular Possessions"
number: "2162"
heading: "Who may be a debtor"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/48/2162"
units:
  - "Chapter 20 — Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability"
  - "Subchapter III — Adjustments of Debts"
---

# §2162. Who may be a debtor


An entity may be a [debtor](/usc/48/2161.md?p=c-2) under this subchapter if—

- (1) the entity is—
  - (A) a [territory](/usc/48/2104.md?p=20) that has requested the establishment of an [Oversight Board](/usc/48/2104.md?p=17) or has had an [Oversight Board](/usc/48/2104.md?p=17) established for it by the United States Congress in accordance with [section 2121 of this title](/usc/48/2121.md); or
  - (B) a [covered territorial instrumentality](/usc/48/2104.md?p=7) of a [territory](/usc/48/2104.md?p=20) described in [paragraph (1)(A)](#1-A);
- (2) the [Oversight Board](/usc/48/2104.md?p=17) has issued a certification under [section 2146(b) of this title](/usc/48/2146.md?p=b) for such entity; and
- (3) the entity desires to effect a plan to adjust its debts.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–187, title III, § 302, June 30, 2016, 130 Stat. 579.)