What determines the order of payment to creditors in a liquidation process?

In a liquidation process, the order of payment to creditors is primarily determined by a defined hierarchy known as the priority of claims. This concept is crucial in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, where different categories of creditors are paid in a specific order based on legal provisions and regulations.

The order of payment is typically structured as follows: secured creditors are paid first, followed by administrative expenses, unsecured creditors, and finally equity holders or shareholders. This systematic approach ensures that those with higher claims against the debtor’s assets, especially secured creditors who have collateral backing their loans, receive payment before those that do not have such security.

Understanding this order is essential for creditors as it informs them of their position relative to others in terms of likelihood of recovery in the event of a company's liquidation. Thus, the order of payment serves as the correct answer, elucidating the structured framework that governs who gets paid first during the liquidation process.