Drowning in Debt in Austin?
Austin filings run through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas at the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building. Local trustees know which exemptions Travis County debtors typically claim, and a Texas board-certified consumer-bankruptcy attorney can save you thousands by structuring the filing correctly the first time. The right firm will know the trustees, the means-test mechanics, and how Texas's unusually generous homestead exemption interacts with your case.
We've shortlisted 10 Austin bankruptcy firms, every one of which has either Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification in consumer bankruptcy law, a sustained filing record in the Western District, or both. Most charge a flat fee for Chapter 7 with payment plans available; Chapter 13 fees are typically split between filing and the plan. The board-certification credential is rare — fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys hold it — and it matters most when a case is complicated.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo, AAML, AILA), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, business bankruptcy
Mr. Baumer is Texas Board Certified in both consumer and business bankruptcy law — one of the few Austin attorneys with both certifications. 35+ years of practice and tens of thousands of cases filed in the Western District of Texas.
Practice focus: Consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 only
Practice limited exclusively to consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases — a deliberately narrow focus that produces sharp expertise in the local trustee panel and means-test mechanics. Decades of Western District practice.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, 11, and 13 — individuals and small businesses
Austin metro practice serving individuals, married couples, and small-business owners since 2007. One of the few Austin boutiques regularly filing Chapter 11 reorganizations alongside consumer matters.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer filings
One of the largest consumer-bankruptcy practices in Texas with thousands of cases filed across the state. Standardized intake and a team approach that often delivers same-week filings for emergency stays.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 — consumer focus
Robert C. Hickson has been providing debt-relief representation in Austin since 1991. Free initial consultation, flat-fee Chapter 7 with payment plans, and substantial Chapter 13 plan-confirmation experience.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Almost a decade of dedicated bankruptcy practice. Known for personalized handling — every case is run by Mr. Flynn directly rather than passed to support staff.
Practice focus: Consumer bankruptcy, debt defense
Bilingual (English/Spanish) consumer-bankruptcy practice with substantial Travis County volume. Strong emphasis on client education and budget rebuilding alongside the filing itself.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense
Texas Board Certified in consumer bankruptcy. Particular focus on foreclosure-defense filings where Chapter 13 is used to cure mortgage arrears and stop a sale.
Practice focus: Business bankruptcy, Chapter 11 reorganizations, distressed M&A
National firm with a robust Austin bankruptcy and restructuring practice. Best-fit for business owners, real-estate investors, and creditors in larger Chapter 11 matters rather than typical consumer filings.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt negotiation
Austin-area boutique handling consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 alongside non-bankruptcy debt-negotiation alternatives. Useful for clients who want both options compared in one consultation.
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A typical Austin Chapter 7 case takes 3 to 4 months from filing to discharge. Chapter 13 plans run 36 to 60 months. Your attorney prepares schedules of assets, debts, income, and expenses; runs the means test; files the petition (which triggers the automatic stay halting collections); represents you at the 341 meeting of creditors; and shepherds the case to discharge. Most consumer cases never see a courtroom — the meeting of creditors is held remotely or at the trustee's office.
Austin Chapter 7 attorney fees typically run $1,200–$2,500 plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 fees are higher ($3,500–$5,500), but most of the attorney's fee is paid through the plan, not up front. Business bankruptcy and Chapter 11 are billed hourly at $400–$650+. Beware unusually low fees — they often signal a high-volume mill that won't return your calls. Get the fee structure in writing.
State law: Texas exemptions are unusually generous. Texas's homestead exemption is unlimited in value (subject to acreage caps — 10 acres urban, 100 acres rural single, 200 acres rural family). Texans can also exempt up to $50,000 of personal property per filer ($100,000 for a family). Many Austin debtors file Chapter 7 and lose nothing.
Means test and median income. Whether you qualify for Chapter 7 depends on the means test. Texas median household income (the threshold for the test) is updated quarterly by the U.S. Trustee Program. If your income is below median, you qualify for Chapter 7 automatically. Above-median filers must pass an expense-based calculation.
Western District of Texas — Austin Division. Austin filings are docketed in the Austin Division of the Western District (Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building, San Antonio, with hearings often held in Austin). Local trustees include long-tenured panelists who know the typical Travis County case profile. A firm with sustained Austin filings will know each trustee's documentation preferences.
Don't drain a 401(k) to pay debt before filing. Texas exempts ERISA-qualified retirement accounts — you can keep them in bankruptcy. Liquidating a 401(k) to pay credit cards before filing is one of the most expensive mistakes consumers make. Talk to a bankruptcy attorney first.
The legal directories you find on Google list thousands of Austin bankruptcy firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior attorney at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar-association recognition. “We've helped thousands of clients” is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate Austin lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Austin firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Most Austin Chapter 7 cases discharge 90 to 120 days from filing. The meeting of creditors is typically held 30 to 45 days after the petition; if no objections are filed within 60 days, the discharge follows automatically.
Probably not. Texas's unlimited homestead exemption protects your primary residence regardless of equity, subject to acreage caps. As long as you stay current on the mortgage, most Austin homeowners keep the home through Chapter 7.
Usually not. Texas exemptions cover one motor vehicle per licensed household member up to a generous personal-property cap. If the loan is current and you reaffirm or redeem, you keep the car.
Court filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13 (set by federal rule). Attorney fees vary — see the cost section above. Some firms offer payment plans; some file for $0 down on Chapter 13 with the fee paid through the plan.
Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years; Chapter 13 for 7 years. But scores often recover faster than people expect — many filers see meaningful score improvement within 12 to 18 months because the discharged debt removes the underlying delinquencies.
Pro se filings are allowed but rarely advisable for anything beyond the simplest cases. Trustees scrutinize pro se filers harder, exemption mistakes are unforgiving, and a missed step can mean dismissal or denied discharge. Hire a bankruptcy lawyer if you can — the cost of doing it wrong far exceeds the fee.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team