Texas Bankruptcy
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Directory of Texas Bankruptcy Courts
Information about Texas Bankruptcy Courts

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:

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.

Total Texas Bankruptcy Courts Filings in 2003
District Total Chapter7 Chapter11 Chapter12 Chapter13
Northern 30,386 14,878 363 35 15,110
Southern 24,689 12,697 484 5 11,502
Eastern 13,052 7,296 68 11 5,677
Western 20,245 11,324 167 14 8,740
Total 88,372 46,195 1,082 65 41,029

Businesses Filing Texas Courts Bankruptcy in 2003
District Total Chapter7 Chapter11 Chapter12 Chapter13
Northern 1,178 587 339 35 217
Southern 839 322 439 5 72
Eastern 308 171 59 11 67
Western 748 393 152 14 189
Total 3.073 1,473 989 65 545

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.