Texas Bankruptcy
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Define: Texas Chapter 13
Texas Bankruptcy Law Summaries

"Texas Chapter 13"

Consumers may restructure their debts according to 11 U.S.C. 1301, et seq. All Texas Chapter 13 cases begin when a petition is filed. Thereafter, a proposed plan must contribute all of the debtors disposable income into the plan for disbursement to creditors. Additionally, debtors must maintain regular income and be capable of making monthly payments as a condition of confirmation.

11 U.S.C. §109(e) "Only an individual with regular income that owes, on the date of the filing of the petition, noncontingent, liquidated, unsecured debts of less than $250,000 and noncontingent, liquidated, secured debts of less than $750,000, or an individual with regular income and such individual's spouse, except a stockbroker or a commodity broker, that owe, on the date of the filing of the petition, noncontingent, liquidated, unsecured debts that aggregate less than $250,000 and noncontingent, liquidated, secured debts of less than $750,000 may be a debtor under chapter13 of this title." (ed - Limits are now higher).

Words and phrases used by the court are frequently terms of legal art. In practice, legal terms convey an assortment of requirements for compliance, according to case law, statutes and rules. Although the common usage of a word or phrase may be clear to an average person, legal terminology easily snares unaware pro se debtors because of the complexity of bankruptcy laws. Also be aware, attorneys representing creditors readily sense a pro se debtor's apprehension, and test their knowledge, confidence and compliance. For this this reason, pro se debtors must become their own best advocate, and be capable of defending their right to debt relief according to current laws.

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