Bankr. E.D. Tex. LBR 1015-1 — Consolidation or Joint Administration of Cases Pending in Same Court: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL RULES OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE OF THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS ([Revised August 22, 2022]), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas alongside the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and any judge-specific procedures.
(a) Related Debtors When a joint administration or consolidation motion is filed, the bankruptcy judge with the lowest case filing number determines the motion. (b) Filing by Spouses When spouses file a joint petition, the Court deems the joint petition an order directing joint administration, unless the Court orders otherwise based on a party in interest’s motion. (c) Related Entities A motion requesting joint administration of two or more pending bankruptcy cases must be filed in each such case and: (1) contain the name and case number of cases sought to be jointly administered; (2) address whether the practicalities of providing professional services to the jointly-administered estates preclude any professional person from effectively or accurately separating the services rendered solely for the benefit of one bankruptcy estate vis-a-vis another, thus justifying the submission of a consolidated application for compensation to be filed solely in the main case, accompanied by a proposal for proper apportionment of accumulated fees and expenses between/among the respective bankruptcy estates, subject to the right of any party-in-interest to object to the proposed apportionment; (3) identify any existing administrative or scheduling order which might require modification; and (4) attach a proposed consolidated master mailing list (matrix) in the affected cases for future noticing requirements.
(a) Related Debtors When a joint administration or consolidation motion is filed, the bankruptcy judge with the lowest case filing number determines the motion. (b) Filing by Spouses When spouses file a joint petition, the Court deems the joint petition an order directing joint a