You can file individually when you are married but your spouse will be held liable for all joint debts. When you file jointly, you will be in a position to double up the exemptions (see Texas bankruptcy exemptions). In cases where one of the spouses has debts which cannot be discharged, then it is wiser to have one spouse filing the bankruptcy petition. When there is a question of joint debts, one spouse discharging a debt may appear on the credit report of the other spouse.