Bankruptcy Attorneys Serving Orlando and Orange County

Most Orlando residents filing bankruptcy are able to keep their home and car. Florida’s homestead exemption provides strong protection for primary residences, and vehicle exemptions cover a portion of your car’s value. If you are behind on payments, Chapter 13 allows you to catch up over time through a repayment plan. Chapter 7 can protect property too, as long as you meet exemption limits and continue paying secured debts. Losing everything is rare, since the law is designed to help people keep essentials while discharging unsecured debts.

Yes. When you file for bankruptcy in Orlando, the court issues an “automatic stay” that immediately stops foreclosure actions. This applies to properties across Orange County and the Middle District of Florida. Chapter 13 is especially effective if you want to save your home, because it lets you spread missed mortgage payments into a repayment plan. Even if you file Chapter 7, the foreclosure process is paused temporarily, which can give you time to work on a solution.

In Orlando, as in the rest of Florida, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for 10 years, and Chapter 13 will remain for 7 years. While that may sound discouraging, most people see improvements in their credit within 12 to 24 months of filing. Because bankruptcy wipes out debt, you may be in a stronger position to rebuild than someone still juggling late payments and collections. Responsible credit use after filing makes the negative impact fade much sooner than most expect.

Medical debt is almost always dischargeable in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, which makes bankruptcy a strong option for people struggling with hospital or doctor bills in Orlando. Certain tax debts can also be discharged, but only if they meet specific conditions, such as being several years old and properly filed. More recent tax obligations, child support, and student loans are usually not discharged. An attorney can review your debt types and explain which ones qualify in your case.