But critics say it would impose heavy new costs on bankruptcy filers and would be particularly hard on women and families devastated by high medical costs.

The House bill has a cap of $250,000, but allows states to opt out, an important distinction for wealthy bankruptcy filers in Texas and Florida.

What most bankruptcy filers have in common is a huge setback beyond their control, like illness, the death of a loved one, divorce or layoffs.

Health insurance costs are rising faster than wages or inflation, and medical causes were cited by about half of bankruptcy filers in the United States in 2001.

"I have come across serial deadbeats, but never serial bankruptcy filers," he said.

Proponents figure this requirement would force some 15 percent, or 200,000, of the least-stressed bankruptcy filers to make some payment instead of seeking relief under Chapter 7.

Under the new law, the homestead exemption, which allows bankruptcy filers in some states to exempt the value of their homes from creditors, is limited in various ways.

The new law adds a number of new requirements for bankruptcy filers that attempt to make the filing process more difficult and costly.

Attorneys representing bankruptcy filers are now required to conduct an investigation of their clients' filings and can be held personally liable for inaccuracies.

In law school, performed pro bono legal services for bankruptcy filers in Camden, N.J.