The Law Offices of Robert M. Geller, P.A., is a Florida bankruptcy law firm that has been helping individuals and families address serious debt problems since 1991. We work with clients throughout Pinellas County, including residents of Pinellas Park, who are looking for straightforward legal guidance on their options under federal bankruptcy law.
If you are unsure whether bankruptcy applies to your situation, a free consultation with one of our attorneys is a good place to start. We can generally give you a clear picture of your options after that initial conversation.
Bankruptcy Law in Florida: What Pinellas Park Residents Should Know
Federal bankruptcy law gives individuals a legal process for dealing with debt that has become impossible to manage. For people in Pinellas Park who are facing wage garnishments, mounting credit card balances, unresolved medical debt, or the possibility of losing a home, bankruptcy may provide a way to stop collection activity and address the underlying financial problem.
Filing for bankruptcy triggers what is known as an automatic stay. This is a legal protection that requires creditors to immediately halt most collection efforts, including calls, letters, lawsuits, garnishments, and, in many cases, foreclosure proceedings. The stay applies from the moment your petition is filed with the court.
Understanding which type of bankruptcy fits your situation, and whether you qualify, is something our attorneys handle for every client we take on.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 is a liquidation form of bankruptcy that can eliminate most unsecured debts without requiring repayment. Debts commonly discharged through Chapter 7 include credit card balances, medical bills, utility arrears, and certain personal loans.
Not everyone qualifies. Eligibility is determined through a means test, which compares your income against the Florida median income for a household of your size. If your income falls below that threshold, you generally qualify. If it is above, additional calculations are applied to assess your disposable income.
Our attorneys help Pinellas Park clients work through the means test and review their full financial picture before filing. We also identify all available Florida exemptions that may allow clients to keep property such as their primary residence, a vehicle needed for work, retirement accounts, and certain other assets.
Once a Chapter 7 petition is filed, a trustee is assigned to review the case. About 30 days after filing, the client attends a 341 meeting, which is a brief administrative meeting with the trustee. An attorney from our firm is present at that meeting. If no complications arise, discharge typically follows within about 120 days.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 is designed for individuals who have a regular income but need a structured way to catch up on debt over time. Instead of discharging debts outright, Chapter 13 creates a court-approved repayment plan that runs for three to five years, based on what the filer can actually afford to pay.
For Pinellas Park homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments, Chapter 13 can provide a way to stop foreclosure and address the arrears through the plan while continuing current payments. It can also be used to pay down certain secured debts, such as a car loan, or to address priority obligations like back taxes.
Clients who do not qualify for Chapter 7 based on the means test sometimes find that Chapter 13 is an appropriate alternative. Our attorneys review income, expenses, secured debts, and overall financial goals to determine which chapter makes the most sense given a client’s specific circumstances.
About Our Firm
Attorney Robert M. Geller holds board certification as a Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy Law through the American Board of Certification. Achieving that designation requires peer references, continuing legal education in bankruptcy, a minimum of five years in legal practice, and successful completion of a rigorous written examination. It is a credential that reflects a focused, long-term commitment to this area of law.
Our firm has handled bankruptcy cases for Florida residents since 1991. Over that time, we have helped more than 7,000 clients file for protection under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 and work through the process from initial consultation to discharge or plan completion.
We offer evening and weekend appointments for clients who cannot meet during regular business hours. Virtual and phone consultations are available, and the entire filing process can be completed remotely if needed. In time-sensitive situations, such as when a garnishment is actively taking wages or a foreclosure sale is approaching, we are able to file a case in less than 24 hours.
Our fees are discussed and agreed upon before any work begins. We do not believe in unexpected billing for clients who are already dealing with financial difficulty.
Related Legal Matters We Handle
Pinellas Park residents who contact our office are not always certain that bankruptcy is the right step. In some cases, other legal tools may be more appropriate or may be used alongside bankruptcy. Our firm also assists with:
- Stopping wage garnishments through bankruptcy or other legal means.
- Creditor and debt collector harassment under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
- Foreclosure defense and mortgage modification.
- Short sales and second mortgage concerns.
- Student loan issues as they relate to bankruptcy eligibility and planning.
If you have questions about any of these areas, our attorneys can address them during your consultation.
Contact Our Office
The Law Offices of Robert M. Geller, P.A., offers free phone and virtual consultations to Pinellas Park residents and others throughout Pinellas County who are dealing with debt and looking for legal guidance. Our attorneys are available at times that accommodate your schedule, including evenings and weekends.
To speak with a bankruptcy attorney serving Pinellas Park, FL, call 813.536.4468 or schedule your consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 13 bankruptcy may help Pinellas Park residents catch up on missed mortgage payments through a court-approved repayment plan. It can also pause foreclosure activity while the filer continues current payments and addresses past-due amounts over three to five years in Florida.
A bankruptcy lawyer helping Pinellas Park residents usually reviews income, expenses, assets, debts, recent payments, and property concerns before filing. This review helps determine Chapter 7 eligibility, available Florida exemptions, and whether bankruptcy is appropriate for the case.
People in Pinellas Park often contact bankruptcy law firms after receiving lawsuit papers for credit card debt, medical bills, or personal loans. Filing bankruptcy may stop the lawsuit and related collection efforts through the automatic stay once the case is filed in a Florida court.
If a Pinellas Park resident does not qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a bankruptcy attorney may review Chapter 13 or other debt relief options. The right path depends on income, assets, secured debts, household expenses, and the person’s long-term financial goals in Florida.
![Signs That You May Need to File Bankruptcy [Infographic]](https://www.attorneyfortampabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/signs-chap7-v-chap13.jpg)
![How To File for Bankruptcy [Infographic]](https://www.attorneyfortampabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/bankruptcy-steps-infographic-web.jpg)
