Drowning in debt in Fort Lauderdale? You have more options than you think.
Bankruptcy is a federal right, not a personal failure. For thousands of Broward County households each year, it is the legal reset that stops wage garnishment, halts foreclosure, ends collection lawsuits, and clears the way to rebuild.
These Fort Lauderdale bankruptcy firms have years of focused consumer and small-business filing experience, Southern District of Florida courtroom familiarity, and free or low-cost initial consultations. Florida's unlimited homestead protection makes the state one of the more forgiving places in the country to file — but the rules around exemptions, the means test, and timing are unforgiving if you get them wrong.
How we picked these firms: We reviewed peer rankings and directories (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw), client-review patterns, board certifications, and bar recognition. Only firms confirmed across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. A note on the count: we publish only firms that cleared our two-source verification bar, so this guide lists 8 firms rather than a padded ten. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, business bankruptcy
The largest bankruptcy filer in Broward County by case volume over the past year. Managing partner Chad Van Horn is board-certified in consumer and business bankruptcy and has appeared in more than 4,000 bankruptcy matters. High volume, but systematized and responsive — a strong default for a standard consumer filing.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure & debt defense
Partner Matthew Bavaro holds a 9.0 "Superb" Avvo rating and has practiced in Florida for 15 years. The firm pairs bankruptcy with foreclosure and debt-collection defense, which helps if a creditor has already sued you or scheduled a sale.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
A consumer-focused practice handling credit-card debt, medical bills, garnishments, foreclosures, and repossessions. Named to Expertise.com's Fort Lauderdale top-10 bankruptcy list for its personal-attention model.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense
Attorney Edward M. Shahady brings more than two decades of bankruptcy and mortgage-foreclosure-defense work, with a deliberately low-cost consumer filing model for households that need relief on a tight budget.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Husband-and-wife attorneys Christian and Lisa McCue bring more than 40 years of combined experience to individual and small-business filings, with the hands-on feel of a two-attorney shop.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
A Broward-based consumer bankruptcy attorney focused on Chapter 7 relief, garnishment defense, and stopping foreclosure, with bilingual intake for the area's large Spanish-speaking community.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
A multi-office South Florida practice with a staffed Fort Lauderdale location and more than 40 years of combined experience. Convenient if you want a firm with offices across the tri-county area.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
One of South Florida's best-known consumer bankruptcy firms, taking Broward clients from its Miami base. Founder Timothy Kingcade has long been active in the local bankruptcy bar. Worth a call if you are near the county line.
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Most Fort Lauderdale consumer bankruptcy firms charge a flat fee. A straightforward Chapter 7 runs about $1,200 to $2,500 in attorney fees, plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 runs roughly $3,500 to $4,500, much of it paid through your repayment plan over time, plus a $313 filing fee. The two required credit-counseling courses cost about $15 to $50 each. Most firms on this list offer a free first consultation.
A Chapter 7 case filed in the Southern District of Florida (the Fort Lauderdale division sits at 299 East Broward Boulevard) usually finishes in four to six months. A Chapter 13 repayment plan runs three to five years. You will attend one 341 "meeting of creditors," now almost always held by Zoom, and finish two short online courses.
You file in the Southern District of Florida. Broward bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The local judges, trustees, and Chapter 13 plan customs shape how your case moves. A firm that files here every week knows the trustees by name.
Florida's homestead exemption is unlimited. Under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution, your homestead is protected from most creditors regardless of value, within acreage limits. This is one of the strongest home protections in the country — but you must have met Florida's residency timing rules to claim it.
The means test uses Florida's median income. Whether you qualify for Chapter 7 depends in part on how your household income compares to Florida's median for your family size. A good Broward attorney runs this math before you file, not after.
Timing matters. Filing before or after a foreclosure sale, a tax refund, or a large deposit can change the outcome. Local lawyers time filings around these events.
Most firms on this list offer a free first consultation. Use it — and talk to at least two before you commit. The right fit depends on your facts, your budget, and how the attorney communicates. A few questions cut through the marketing fast.
Most Fort Lauderdale firms are competent and ethical. A few are not. The patterns worth walking away from:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a recovery, a dismissal, or an approval, leave.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior attorney at intake, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the agreement in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate firm gives you a written engagement letter spelling out the fee and what triggers extra charges.
Almost certainly not. Florida's unlimited homestead exemption (Article X, Section 4 of the state constitution) protects your home from most creditors regardless of its value, as long as it is your homestead and within the acreage limits.
Usually yes. Florida gives a $1,000 personal-property exemption, or up to $4,000 if you are not using the homestead exemption. Most filers keep their car by reaffirming or redeeming the loan.
Attorney fees typically run $1,200 to $2,500 as a flat fee, plus the $338 court filing fee. Many Broward firms let you pay the fee in installments before filing.
No. A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for seven to ten years, but most filers see their scores start recovering within 12 to 24 months once the debt is discharged.
Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt in a few months if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 sets up a three-to-five-year repayment plan and is often used to stop foreclosure or catch up on a mortgage. A free consult is where a lawyer models both paths for your numbers.
It is difficult but not impossible. You file a separate "adversary proceeding" and show undue hardship. Recent federal guidance has made these cases somewhat more achievable than they used to be.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews, call two or three firms, and ask each one how many cases like yours they have handled in the last three years. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team