"Texas Chapter 13 Information"

Basic Chapter 13 schedules and forms are available from Texas bankruptcy courts. Official instructions provided by the court are significantly different that personal legal advice provided by attorneys to their clients. Typically the calculation of "disposable income" is subject to contest and requires a court hearing to resolve disputed issues. Proof of past payments for expenses only comprises "some evidence of necessity." Courts today use a National Standards scheme for a "one-size fits-all" approach to approving expenses.

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.

Back to Texas Bankruptcy Courts directory and content.