The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, applies to certain debt securities, including, generally, debt securities sold in transactions registered with the SEC. When it applies, the TIA supplements the provisions of the Securities Act. Generally speaking, the TIA requires the appointment of a suitably independent and qualified trustee to act for the benefit of the holders of the securities, and specifies various substantive provisions for the trust indenture that must be entered into by the issuer and the trustee. The TIA is administered by the SEC, which has issued various rules and regulations under the TIA.

For more information on the US federal laws governing indentures, see Practice Note, Indenture and Indenture Trustee: Governing Laws.