If you’re filing without an attorney, you’ll need to print out your forms, then hand-deliver them to the bankruptcy court or mail in your forms. If the courthouse isn’t too far away, it’s good to file your bankruptcy case in person.
Full Answer
Sep 11, 2019 · Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Miami requires you to fill out standard, federal bankruptcy forms. The only special Florida bankruptcy form you need to fill out for the Southern District is a Declaration Regarding Payment Advices. All the other forms you need are standard for filers across the U.S. Florida Exemptions
While individuals appearing as debtors (including spouses filing jointly), creditors or other interested parties before this court do not have to be represented by a lawyer, it is recommended you meet with a lawyer before you file so that you can carefully consider your options. NOTE: A corporation must be represented by counsel, except in ...
Court employees and bankruptcy judges are prohibited by law from offering legal advice. Bankruptcy Forms are available to the public free of charge. Use the forms that are numbered in the 100 series to file bankruptcy for individuals or married couples. Use the forms that are numbered in the 200 series if you are preparing a bankruptcy on behalf of a nonindividual, such …
One of the most frequently asked questions in my practice is “In Florida, can I consider filing bankruptcy without a lawyer?”. Honestly, yes you can file without an lawyer, and it doesn’t matter what chapter you file. Chapter 7, 11, 12, 13 – it makes no difference. You can absolutely Home Depot that if you think you have the chops.
Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 | |
---|---|---|
Filing fees | $338 | $313 |
Attorney fees* | $500 - $3,500 | $1,500 - $6,000 |
Total | $838 - $3,838 | $1,813 - $6,313 |
If you file bankruptcy pro se, you may be offered services by non-attorney petition preparers. By law, preparers can only enter information into forms. They are prohibited from providing legal advice, explaining answers to legal questions, or assisting you in bankruptcy court. A petition preparer must sign all documents they prepare for you; print their name, address and social security on the documents; and provide you with a copy of all documents. They cannot sign documents on your behalf or receive payment for court fees.
Filing personal bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 takes careful preparation and understanding of legal issues. Misunderstandings of the law or making mistakes in the process can affect your rights. Court employees and bankruptcy judges are prohibited by law from offering legal advice.
Non-attorney Petition Preparers. If you file bankruptcy pro se, you may be offered services by non-attorney petition preparers. By law, preparers can only enter information into forms. They are prohibited from providing legal advice, explaining answers to legal questions, or assisting you in bankruptcy court.
You will at least need an understanding of the legal issues before filing the bankruptcy petition. How hard a case will be will also depend on other factors including :
In general, you need to at least pay a filing fee and the credit counseling and financial management course fees to finalize your bankruptcy petition.
While in some cases you can file bankruptcy without a lawyer, there are exceptions, depending on the type of bankruptcy. Some examples include:
Although filing bankruptcy without an attorney may be possible, it may not always be the best route for you. If you need legal help with your bankruptcy case, speak to a bankruptcy attorney near you.
In addition to the national bankruptcy forms described above, the Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court requires you to file your pay stubs for the 60-day period before filing. If you don’t have pay stubs for that period, you must file a local Florida called the Declaration Regarding Payment Advices.
First, you’re going to need to collect all of the documents required to prepare your bankruptcy petition. If you’re employed, this includes at least 60 days of pay stubs and two years of tax returns. Bankruptcy trustees sometimes ask for bank statements and, if you own a home, they’ll ask for things like your deed and a mortgage statement. It’s good to collect these documents before filing for bankruptcy. If you’re unsure of how much you owe, get your credit report from Equifax, Transunion, or Experian through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases are the most common for individuals filing in the Sunshine State. Chapter 13 bankruptcy involves a repayment plan before unsecured debt is eliminated.
Florida’s bankruptcy exemptions are quite unique. You’ll have the choice of the federal exemptions and the exemptions set forth in Florida law. Folks who don’t own any real estate often choose the federal bankruptcy exemptions. Homeowners often use the exemptions under Florida bankruptcy law because the Florida homestead exemption is unlimited in amount.
Florida legal aid organizations provide free representation to low-income families who make below a certain amount of income per year, which is usually 200% of the poverty line. Some programs, like Community Legal Services of Mid Florida, are large and funded by Congress through the Legal Services Corporation, while other programs may be smaller and more local.
Get Your Filing Fee. Chapter 7 bankruptcy filers have to pay a $338 filing fee to the bankruptcy court. This fee is the same in the entire United States. If you earn less than 150% of the federal poverty guidelines you can ask the bankruptcy court for a filing fee waiver .
Bankruptcy Course 2 is a lot like Course 1. It’s also known as the “post-filing course” and the “debtor education course.”. People filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida have the option of taking Course 2 on the phone, over the internet, or in person.
The Florida Courts e-Filing Portal is a statewide web site mandated by the Florida Legislature and the eFiling Authority that provides online filing capability to users with a single login.
Refund requests for overpayments may be initiated by completing the Attorney’s Refund Request form and emailing it to the noted mailbox address corresponding to the location where the case was filed.
LegalConsumer.com has provided free bankruptcy information to more than 10 million consumers since 2006, and the Free Means Test Calculator (May, 15 2021 Edition) has helped hundreds of thousands of consumers figure out where they stand in relation to the bankruptcy means test, created by the 2005 BAPCPA bankruptcy act.
Albin Renauer has spent a career making consumer law information free and accessible to everyone. In 2006, Albin launched LegalConsumer.com and the free Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator. Millions of consumers have used these FREE tools and information to learn about their rights under bankruptcy law.