A trustee, an examiner, a debtor's attorney, or any professional 
person employed under section 327 or 1103 of this title may apply to the 
court not more than once every 120 days after an order for relief in a 
case under this title, or more often if the court permits, for such 
compensation for services rendered before the date of such an 
application or reimbursement for expenses incurred before such date as 
is provided under section 330 of this title. After notice and a hearing, 
the court may allow and disburse to such applicant such compensation or 
reimbursement.

(Pub. L. 95-598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2564.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

                        senate report no. 95-989

    Section 331 permits trustees and professional persons to apply to 
the court not more than once every 120 days for interim compensation and 
reimbursement payments. The court may permit more frequent applications 
if the circumstances warrant, such as in very large cases where the 

legal work is extensive and merits more frequent payments. The court is 
authorized to allow and order disbursement to the applicant of 
compensation and reimbursement that is otherwise allowable under section 
330. The only effect of this section is to remove any doubt that 
officers of the estate may apply for, and the court may approve, 
compensation and reimbursement during the case, instead of being 
required to wait until the end of the case, which in some instances, may 
be years. The practice of interim compensation is followed in some 
courts today, but has been subject to some question. This section 
explicitly authorizes it.
    This section will apply to professionals such as auctioneers and 
appraisers only if they are not paid on a per job basis.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 330 of this title.