DFW reference
Dallas–Fort Worth bankruptcy court resources
A working reference for local attorneys — the courts, trustees, and procedures we prepare to every day. General procedural information from public sources, believed accurate as of 2026; always confirm current rules and figures for your case's filing date.
The court & who files where
Most Dallas-area consumer and business cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas — Dallas Division, at the Earle Cabell Federal Building, 1100 Commerce St., Room 1254, Dallas, TX 75242-1496. Clerk's office: 214-753-2000, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (except federal holidays). source
The Dallas Division covers seven counties: Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall. One detail that trips people up: Collin County (Plano, Frisco, McKinney) is not in the Dallas Division— it's in the Eastern District of Texas, Plano Division. Getting the venue right is exactly the kind of thing we handle before a file reaches you (we break it down in our DFW venue guide).
Dallas Division (N.D. Tex.)
Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro & Rockwall counties
Earle Cabell Federal Building, downtown Dallas.
Fort Worth Division (N.D. Tex.)
Tarrant, Parker & neighboring counties (Fort Worth, Arlington)
Same district, different division and Chapter 13 trustees (Tim Truman; Pam Bassel).
Plano Division (E.D. Tex.)
Collin County (Plano, Frisco, McKinney) & the north-metro suburbs
A common surprise: Collin County is in the EASTERN District of Texas, not Dallas. We prepare for it too.
Bankruptcy judges — Dallas Division (as of 2026)
- Chief Judge Stacey G. C. Jernigan
- Judge Michelle V. Larson
- Judge Scott W. Everett
Assignments change — confirm on the court's judges page.
Trustees
Chapter 13 — Tom Powers (Thomas D. Powers)
Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Dallas Division. One standing trustee administers every Chapter 13 case in the division — reviewing plans, collecting the debtor's monthly plan payments, and distributing to creditors. source
Chapter 7 — U.S. Trustee Region 6 (Northern & Eastern Districts of Texas)
Chapter 7 cases are assigned to a private panel trustee on a rotating basis (28 U.S.C. § 586). The panel is maintained by the U.S. Trustee — a Department of Justice official — not the court. The Dallas field office is in the Earle Cabell Building. source
Filing & hearings
§341 meetings of creditors. For cases filed on or after May 1, 2024, §341 meetings of creditors in Chapters 7, 12 and 13 are held by Zoom (each trustee has their own meeting ID — it's printed on the Form 309 notice). Chapter 11 §341s are currently telephonic. source
Local rules & general orders. The court's Local Bankruptcy Rules (current version effective December 1, 2025) and its General Orders govern format and procedure — including GO 2023-03 on disclosure of generative-AI use in pleadings and GO 2023-05 on remote hearings. source
CM/ECF. The Northern District uses CM/ECF (NextGen); electronic filing is mandatory for registered filers. Our paralegals prepare everything filing-ready for your CM/ECF submission and signature.
Texas means test — median income
Median family income figures for cases filed April 1 – July 14, 2026:
| Household size | TX median family income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $66,837 |
| 2 | $86,714 |
| 3 | $99,273 |
| 4 | $117,962 |
| 5+ | add $11,100 for each additional household member |
The U.S. Trustee updates these figures a few times a year. Always confirm the current median-income table for the debtor's filing date. source
Texas exemptions
Homestead. Texas's homestead exemption has no dollar cap on value — it's capped by acreage: up to 10 acres (urban), or 100 acres single / 200 acres family (rural). (A federal cap under 11 U.S.C. § 522(p)/(q) can limit homestead value acquired shortly before filing.)
Personal property. Texas caps aggregate personal property (the categories in Tex. Prop. Code § 42.002) at $100,000 for a family and $50,000 for a single adult, at fair market value net of liens.
State vs. federal. Texas has not opted out of the federal exemptions, so a debtor may elect either the Texas state exemptions or the federal set (11 U.S.C. § 522(b)) — one system in full, no mixing. Choosing the right one is a real strategic call, and it's the attorney's to make; we prepare the schedules to match your election.
Statutes: Tex. Prop. Code § 41 · Tex. Prop. Code § 42
This page is general procedural information for licensed attorneys, compiled from public court and government sources. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Court rules, rosters, trustee assignments and dollar figures change — always verify the current source for your matter's filing date.