Updated April 22, 2026
If creditors are calling, a wage garnishment is looming, or you are behind on the house, bankruptcy may be the reset you need — and Texas is one of the friendliest states to file in because it lets you keep your homestead. Below are vetted Fort Worth firms that handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, most offering a free first consultation so you can find out where you stand before you owe anyone a fee.
Bankruptcy is a legal tool, not a moral failure. It exists to give honest people a fresh start when the math no longer works. The moment you file, an "automatic stay" takes effect and most collection activity has to stop — calls, lawsuits, wage garnishments, and, in many cases, a pending foreclosure or repossession. For a lot of Fort Worth families, that breathing room is the whole point.
Talk to a bankruptcy lawyer in Fort Worth if any of these fit your situation:
Most individual filers use one of two chapters. Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt — credit cards, medical bills, most personal loans — usually in three to four months. To qualify you pass a "means test" comparing your income to the Texas median for your household size. Chapter 13 is a three-to-five-year repayment plan; people choose it to catch up on a mortgage, stop a foreclosure, or because their income is too high for Chapter 7. A Fort Worth lawyer's first job is figuring out which chapter actually serves you.
The piece that surprises people: Texas exemptions are generous. The Texas homestead exemption protects the equity in your primary home with no dollar cap (subject to acreage limits — up to 10 urban acres). Texas also protects a meaningful amount of personal property, retirement accounts, and tools of your trade. In plain terms, most filers keep their home, their car, and their retirement. A good lawyer maps your assets against these exemptions before you file so there are no surprises.
Cases for Tarrant County are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, at the Eldon B. Mahon Courthouse downtown on West 10th Street. The path runs: a required credit-counseling course, preparing and filing the petition and schedules, the automatic stay kicking in, a "341 meeting of creditors" with the trustee (usually short and routine), a second debtor-education course, and then a discharge. Chapter 7 typically finishes in about four months; Chapter 13 runs the length of your plan. Your lawyer handles the paperwork, prepares you for the 341 meeting, and deals with the trustee and creditors so you do not have to.
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A Fort Worth bankruptcy firm recognized on independent editorial "best of" lists for the area, concentrating on consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases. A solid first call for individuals and families weighing debt relief.
A Fort Worth firm that helps clients facing heavy debt or foreclosure with Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, with a long record of local recognition. A fit for homeowners trying to stop a foreclosure and keep the house.
A Fort Worth practice focused on debt relief that uses the automatic stay to stop creditor harassment, handling both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals. A reasonable choice for people being hounded by collectors.
A firm serving the Fort Worth area with Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and business bankruptcy, plus related debt-discharge work. A fit for filers who want both consumer and small-business options under one roof.
One of the larger Texas consumer firms, established in 1989, with a Fort Worth office and a bankruptcy practice alongside other consumer areas. A fit for clients who want a bigger firm's bench and multiple practice areas in one place.
Most Fort Worth Chapter 7 cases run roughly $1,000 to $1,800 in attorney fees for a straightforward filing, plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 attorney fees are higher, commonly $3,000 to $4,500, but a large share is usually paid through your court-approved plan rather than up front. Many firms offer a free first consultation and will quote a flat fee once they see your situation. Ask what the flat fee covers, whether the 341 meeting and any creditor objections are included, and whether you can pay in installments before filing.
Pick a lawyer who files bankruptcy regularly in the Northern District of Texas, not a general practitioner who dabbles. Ask how many cases they handle a year, who actually attends your 341 meeting, and how they will protect your specific assets under Texas exemptions. A clear flat fee and someone who answers your calls matter more than a flashy ad. Use the free consultation to compare two or three firms before you commit.
Tell us briefly what you owe and what you are trying to protect. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Fort Worth bankruptcy firm in this directory. Most offer a free first consultation, and the automatic stay can stop collection the day you file.