Texas Bankruptcy Courts - Southern District

The Texas Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District is comprised of four divisions serving 37 counties. The district accounted for approximately 54% of state wide filings. The 2003 case volume, divided by chapter, was as follows:

Brownsville Division Counties - Cameron, and Willacy County. Corpus Christi Division Counties - Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, and San Patricio County. Galveston Division - Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, and Matagorda County. Houston Division - Austin, Brazos, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Madison, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller, and Wharton County. Laredo Division - Jim Hogg, LaSalle, McMullen, Webb, and Zapata County. McAllen Division - Hidalgo, and Starr County. Victoria Division - Calhoun, DeWitt, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio, and Victoria County.

The Southern District provides copies of records, local rules, schedules and official filing instructions. The instructions provided are general, and are not a substitute for legal advice. For instance, the information provided does not adequately explain the benefits and burdens of each chapter for debtors or the long term effect of filing. The Code is specific: judges, clerks and personnel are prohibited from providing what may be construed as legal advice. This rule of law applies equally to debtors, creditors and parties in interest. With new laws looming on the horizon, now, more than ever before, qualified legal advice is a necessity before initiating any suit. County bar associations typically provide referrals to local attorneys.

Because the law constantly evolves to further clarify the rights of debtors and creditors, Texas bankruptcy courts incorporate new practices almost daily. Court procedures, local rules, and even unofficial policies affecting discharge and/or confirmation of plans may all change dramatically over a relatively short period of time. In the most basic sense, the success of debtors navigating through the Texas bankruptcy courts system is determined before filing, so that when entering the court for the first time, all current laws and procedures may be used proactively to gain the greatest advantage.

Contact Information: Texas Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District.

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