Texas Bankruptcy Laws - State Bar Association

The state bar provides contact information for city and county bars associations that maintain local listings of lawyers who specialize in Texas bankruptcy law. The state bar also provides instructions for filing grievances against lawyers. In general, all lawyers are governed by professional rules of conduct. These rules specifically regulate disclosures which lawyers must provide clients regarding fees, fee agreements, and work performed. Also, a reasonable standard of care must be honored by all attorney while representing clients. Should work performed fall below a reasonable standard of care, attorneys may be subject to grievances, civil liability, or both.

State Bar of Texas
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (800) 204-2222

Website: Texas State Bar

The most common grievance filed is based upon failure to return phone calls. State bar associations routinely sanction or reprimand attorneys who do return client phone calls. State Bar rules require all lawyers to adequately inform clients about case progress, new developments, and changed circumstances. A violation of this duty, if no actual harm is caused to the client, usually results in a private reprimand for a first offense. An offense based on negligent behavior which directly harms a client may be actionable in a private civil lawsuit for damages.

Because of the unlimited homestead exemption, Texas bankruptcy laws are unique within all states. Be aware however, effective as of October 17, 2005, federal preemption limits the availability of exempt value in Chapter 7 and 13. The effect of preemption is to replace existing Texas statutes with the federal statute which provides less protection for debtors.

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