Texas Bankruptcy Courts - By District

The Texas Bankruptcy Courts System is divided into four extensive federal districts. Each of these federal districts are subdivided into local divisions that serve a specific list of counties. For more division specific information and counties served, see:

• Texas Northern District Bankruptcies
• Texas Southern District Bankruptcies
• Texas Eastern District Bankruptcies
• Texas Western District Bankruptcies

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the 2003 national rate of filing personal bankruptcy was one in every 79.1 households (1.27%). At this rate of filing, over the next 30 years, 38% of all U.S. families will be eventually be liquidated through the federal bankruptcy courts system. In Texas, the filing rate is one in every 108.9 households which ranks 37th in the US.

Texas Bankruptcy Courts Practice - Local Rules

Each federal division maintains Texas bankruptcy local rules of court. Many of these local rules are standardized across the county and provide for administrative clarification and instructions for procedural matters. For example, instructions for filing supplemental disclosures and required financial data are not included within the U.S. Code, but are nevertheless routinely included in local rules and procedures. Local rules may also include unique specific instructions applicable only to a particular district, division, county or city. All debtors filing pro se must also follow local rules precisely regardless of actual notice of the provisions of law. A violation of any local rule may result in the dismissal of a case. Copies of local rules are provided by the presiding Clerk assigned to Texas Bankruptcy Courts. Each District and Division may also provide debtors with a glossary of Texas Bankruptcy Court Definitions of terms and common usage of phrases.