Bankruptcy is a system of federal law, so the process to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy is nearly identical in every state, including Texas. However, state law plays an important role, particularly in setting property exemptions, which determine what property you get to keep (if you file for Chapter 7) and how much you have to repay your creditors (if you file for Chapter 13). There are also important resources available to you by state.
Credit Counseling
Before you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Texas, you will have to complete mandatory credit counseling with an agency that’s been approved by the United States Trustee’s Office. Here’s a list of agencies in Texas that have been approved to provide this counseling.
Where to File
At the court's websites for the Eastern District, Western District, and Northern District you can find information on forms, local rules, and more.
Property Exemptions
Like every other state, Texas has its own set of property exemptions. (To learn more about how property exemptions work generally and which exemptions you may use, see Bankruptcy Exemptions: What Do I Keep When I File for Bankruptcy?)
In Texas, you may use either the Texas state exemptions, or the federal bankruptcy exemptions.
The Texas homestead exemption is unlimited as to a dollar amount, although the property cannot exceed 10 acres in town or 100 acres elsewhere. Texas caps the combined total of personal property exemptions at $60,000 for families and $30,000 for individuals. This total includes tools of the trade. Here’s a more complete list of Texas exemptions.
The Means Test
When you file for bankruptcy, you must compare your income to the median income for a household of your size in Texas. If your income is less than the median, you will be eligible to file for Chapter 7 and, if you choose to file for Chapter 13, you can use a three-year repayment plan (rather than five years).
Currently, the median Texas income for a one-person household is just over $39,500; these figures change periodically. You can find the most recent amounts on the website of the U.S. Trustee at www.justice.gov/ust. Click on “Bankruptcy Reform,” and then “Means Testing Information.” Or go directly to the Census Bureau table here.
Debtor Education
After you file for bankruptcy but before you receive your discharge, you must take a debtor education course. Like the mandatory credit counseling you must take before filing your forms, you must receive debtor education from an agency approved by the U.S. Trustee’s Office. Here a list of agencies approved to provide this course in Texas.
Getting Help From a Bankruptcy Lawyer
If you're considering bankruptcy, you may want to talk to an experienced Texas bankruptcy lawyer.
