Bankruptcy / Louisiana / Houma

Filing Bankruptcy in Houma: 7 Things You Need to Know

Written by Ben Tejes
Updated Apr 16th, 2024

You are considering filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Houma. Bankruptcy is a common debt relief choice. In fact, many people in Louisiana have received bankruptcy relief, and Houma is no different. In fact, there were 6,393 bankruptcies filed in Louisiana in the year ending June 30, 2021 (Source). With a population of 32696, I’d estimate a fair number of those were in Houma.

The purpose of this article is to provide an extensive list of filing bankruptcy in Houma including:

  1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Houma
  2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Houma
  3. Houma Bankruptcy Attorney Fees
  4. Finding a Reputable Bankruptcy Lawyer in Houma
  5. Estimating Loss of Belonging (i.e.
  6. Getting Bankruptcy Help in Houma
  7. Bankruptcy Alternatives and Conclusion

Without further ado, let’s get started with Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Houma

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common consumer bankruptcy in the United States. People appreciate the simplicity of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the cost of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the speed of debt relief. For example, in Houma, you could get debt relief in about 120 days with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

One of the challenges of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Houma is that you have to qualify. In order to qualify in Houma, you often have to pass the Louisiana bankruptcy means test. You can estimate that qualification below in Houma. Let’s cover how you can qualify.

Chapter 7 Qualification

The first part of the means test is to understand your income in relation to the median income levels for Louisiana. It considers the average family size and income.

To estimate your qualification, you can take the Houma Chapter 7 qualification calculator below that is specific to Houma.

Finally, the most recent Louisiana median income levels is for cases filed on or after April 1, 2024, and can be found below. 

# of PeopleAnnual Income
1$53,821
2$66,051
3$77,910
4$97,149
5$107,049
6$116,949
7$126,849
8$136,749
9$146,649

If your income exceeds the median, you can move on to the second part of the means test to estimate qualification. The second part of the means test is to understand your actual expenses. You can check out our guide covering trying to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy above the median.

For example, the average median rent amount in Houma is $778, but let's say your rent is almost double that amount. Could you potentially still qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy because of those additional expenses? What you are able to state as ab expense is limited, and you can refer to the current national standard for the maximum amounts, but you may want to speak with your attorney about this situation.

Which Could Would You File In If You Live In Houma?

Houma is located in the Louisiana Eastern district, so our understanding is that you would be filing your bankruptcy in the New Orleans bankruptcy court. Here's the estimated information we have for your court:

New Orleans Bankruptcy Court
Address: 500 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: (504) 589-7878

Does that mean you would have to drive to court?

Not necessarily. 

Please note that main meeting for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the 341 meeting of creditors, which is often online via Zoom or another teleconference after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is known as a wage-earner bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a voluntary reorganization of debt.  In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the individual has debt that they can no longer manage and often own assets that exceed state and/or federal relief. Folks file Chapter 13 bankruptcy often when they do not qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  

Most individuals in Houma will qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy as long as they are below the debt limits.

Compared to Chapter 7, there is no liquidation in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Although, the discharge won’t be until around 3 to 5 years. The Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for 7 years.

Houma Bankruptcy Attorney Fees

When looking for a bankruptcy attorney, we recommend that you look for these 5 attributes: Rate, Reliability, Referrals, Reviews, and Relevancy. You can check our guide to find a top bankruptcy attorney in Houma.

The estimated Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer fee in Houma is: $800 - $1750.

The estimated Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer fee in Houma is: $2400 - $2800. The Chapter 13 attorney fee is often set across the district, meaning that all Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys in a district may charge around the same fee.

Houma Bankruptcy Attorneys

One of the most important things to do is to find a reputable bankruptcy attorney in Houma if you decide to hire one. This is legal advice related to finances that are going to affect your future. For example, making sure you are in the right bankruptcy chapter (Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13) could cost you thousands more and take you years longer.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer

As stated above, Houma has a population of 32696. In many cases, individuals in larger cities such as New Orleans or Baton Rouge would like a bankruptcy lawyer close by. In smaller cities, I have found that individuals have questions about whether the bankruptcy will show up in the newspaper or whether friends will hear about it. This is a valid question.

Regardless, you can check the Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers in or near Houma using the table below. You just need to input your zip code, and voila, you can choose which Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer you would like to speak to near or far away from Houma in a free bankruptcy lawyer consultation

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer

Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Houma may be a bit more intensive, so you may consider a Chapter 13 bankruptcy that is closer to you. That said, with the internet and the pandemic, many of the meetings are now online and you can generally submit your documentation online as well.

How much a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney often charges is based on what's called a no-look fee. We do our best to track the Chapter 13 attorney fee in Houma.

Bankruptcy Exemptions in Louisiana

As you live in Houma, you are often able to use the Louisiana bankruptcy exemptions to help you keep your belongings.

One of the biggest questions people have is whether they are able to keep their homes in bankruptcy. This is where bankruptcy exemptions come into play. As Houma has a home ownership % of 64.8% and an estimated estimated home value of $157761, you can understand that many people want to keep this asset. You can often keep your assets using bankruptcy exemptions.

Here are the Louisiana bankruptcy exemptions. The exemptions are revised on different occasions, so you may wish to check the most current information on exemptions. Also, as a reference, Louisiana is a place that does not allow you to use federal bankruptcy exemptions. You often have to choose which one to use, so a bankruptcy attorney can help you with that option.

Homestead Exemption

The homestead exemption is often broken down by age and whether you are married. 

  • Single and under 65: $35,000
  • Single is 65 or older: $35,000
  • Married and under 65: $35,000
  • Married is 65 or older: $35,000

Louisiana specific homestead bankruptcy exemption text: “La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 20:1. La. Const. Art. 12:9. Property you occupy to $35,000 (if debt is result of catastrophic or terminal illness or injury, limit is full value of property as of 1 year before filing); cannot exceed 5 acres in city or town, 200 acres elsewhere” (Source)

Automobile Exemption

The automobile bankruptcy exemption in Louisiana is $7,500.

Jewelry Exemption

The jewelry bankruptcy exemption in Louisiana is $5,000.

Personal Property Exemption

The personal property bankruptcy exemption in Louisiana is Infinite.

Special Exemption Handling for Louisiana

Below is specific special handling of bankruptcy exemptions in Louisiana.

  • Tools: includes tools, instruments, books, and one utility trailer
  • Other: can double if married and filing jointly

Bankruptcy Help in Houma

Unemployment can cause both frustration and angst about options. The most recent statistic I found is that the Houma unemployment rate is 6.7%. There may be resources available to help. In addition to the unemployment rate, Houma has a disability rate of 17.9%. As such, if you are truly in need and don’t have income, there are resources that may be available that can help you.

Check out the legal aid and free resources that may be available in Houma.

Legal Aid and Free Resources

Here are some legal aid resources that may be helpful to you in Houma.

The bankruptcy court and district may have free resources that are available to you. I have included the information below. 

Lastly, Houma also has a limited English rate of 2.5% and a poverty rate of 23.8%. If you have limited English, you may check out the court websites for Louisiana for additional information on how you can be served. You can also see how filing bankruptcy without an attorney can work if you cannot afford a bankruptcy lawyer.

Courts and Districts in Louisiana

Eastern District

  • United States District Court
    U.S. Courthouse
    500 Poydras Street
    New Orleans, LA 70130
  • US District Court
    Eastern District of Louisiana
    Room C-151
    500 Poydras Street
    New Orleans, LA 70130

Middle

  • 777 Florida Street
    Suite 139
    Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Western

  • 515 Murray Street, Suite 105
    Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
    (318) 473-7415
  • 800 Lafayette Street, Suite 2100
    Lafayette Louisiana 70501
    (337) 593-5000
  • 611 Broad Street, Suite 188
    Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
    (337) 437-3870
  • 201 Jackson Street, Suite 215
    Monroe, Louisiana 71201
    (318) 322-6740

Debt Settlement in Houma

One of the most common alternatives to bankruptcy is debt settlement. A debt settlement firm would negotiate for a lower amount due on your debt in the case of financial hardship. The goal would be to reduce your debt in half. In this case, you would have a lower monthly payment.

If you are looking at debt settlement in Houma, you may want to consider a national debt settlement firm to a local one in Houma. For example, most of your creditors are probably national banks instead of local Houma banks. As such, you can potentially get lower fees by using a national firm. You should strongly consider the pros and cons and credit score impact before taking the plunge as Ascend only recommends 2 debt settlement firms nationwide that both offer free phone evaluations.

Conclusion

Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Houma can provide debt relief. That said, you may want to consider the cost of bankruptcy in Houma, the different bankruptcy chapters, reputable attorneys in Houma and alternatives to help you make the most informed decision. 

You can also take our Chapter 7 vs Chapter calculator below to help you estimate the cost and qualification of Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Houma.