Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Serving Fort Lauderdale and Broward County

If you don’t respond within 20 days, the court can enter a default judgment. That means the bank moves faster toward a sale date, and you lose your chance to raise defenses. Even if you’ve missed the window, some options may still exist (like Chapter 13), but your position is much weaker.

Often, yes. Options include:

• Filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy (automatic stay stops the sale instantly)
• Filing an emergency motion in Broward County court if lender violations or active negotiations exist
  The closer it gets to the sale, the fewer choices you have—so don’t wait until the last day if possible.

Not in most cases. Your lawyer can attend routine hearings for you. You may need to appear at mediation or trial if the case goes that far, but many Fort Lauderdale homeowners resolve cases before it ever reaches trial.

Yes. You can still submit a full loan modification application during foreclosure. If a review is pending, your attorney may be able to delay the sale or stop it with Chapter 13 until the lender makes a decision. Complete documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements) is key.