Drowning in debt? Chapter 7 or 13 can stop the calls and the lawsuits.
Filing bankruptcy in Orlando triggers an automatic stay that immediately halts collection calls, wage garnishment, and most lawsuits. Cases go through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division. The firms below handle Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 13 reorganization on flat fees, and most offer a free consultation. We verified seven firms by at least two independent sources for this guide.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced Avvo, Super Lawyers, Justia, Best Lawyers, Expertise.com, and Florida / Missouri Bar listings. Firms that appeared across at least two independent sources, with verifiable peer recognition or board certifications, made the list. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Bankruptcy is more routine than most people fear, and good lawyers price it predictably. Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt in a few months if you pass the means test; Chapter 13 reorganizes debt into a 3-to-5-year repayment plan, which can save a home from foreclosure. Both start the moment you file, when the automatic stay stops creditors cold.
For this guide we list seven Orlando firms confirmed across Super Lawyers, Justia, Avvo, and Expertise — fewer than ten because we will not pad a list with firms we cannot verify. Each focuses on consumer bankruptcy and offers a free initial consultation.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, mortgage modification
Robert Branson's Orlando consumer and small-business bankruptcy firm has served Central Florida for more than three decades and is active in the Middle District of Florida bankruptcy bar, including lien-stripping litigation that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Why they made the list: Deep Middle District experience and a long consumer-bankruptcy track record.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt relief
Founder Stephen Caplan has spent more than 30 years helping Orlando and Orange County residents through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, with hands-on guidance and responsive communication.
Why they made the list: Three decades of dedicated consumer-bankruptcy focus.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Orlando bankruptcy firm that has filed thousands of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 petitions for struggling Floridians.
Why they made the list: High filing volume and routine familiarity with the local trustees.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt relief
Orlando firm whose bankruptcy attorney Jeffrey Badgley brings 35 years of legal experience across Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.
Why they made the list: A veteran attorney handling both liquidation and reorganization.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense
Orlando consumer bankruptcy practice whose founding attorney has more than 20 years focused on bankruptcy cases.
Why they made the list: Solo, attorney-direct service for consumer filers.
Practice focus: Business & consumer bankruptcy, creditor rights
Orlando firm handling both consumer and business bankruptcy and related litigation, well rated across legal directories.
Why they made the list: Useful when a filing has a business or creditor-dispute angle.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt relief
Central Florida full-service firm offering bankruptcy alongside its broader practice, with multiple offices since 1979.
Why they made the list: One firm for bankruptcy plus any related family or real-estate issues.
Every firm above clears the basic bar: real track record, real recognition, real Orlando presence. The differences between them are narrower than the marketing suggests, and the right pick depends on your specific facts. Use the free consultation to test three things before you sign with anyone.
Direct experience with your exact issue. Ask how many cases like yours the firm has handled in the past three years — not over a career, three years. You want a number, not a slogan.
Who actually does the work. At larger firms, the lawyer at intake is not always the lawyer on your file. Ask, in writing, who your day-to-day attorney will be and whether you can reach them directly.
How they communicate. Bankruptcy matters drag on for months. A firm that replies within a day while courting you should commit to a response-time standard after you retain. Ask what that standard is and what happens when it slips.
A Chapter 7 case usually moves from filing to discharge in about 90 to 120 days, with one meeting of creditors (the 341 meeting) along the way. Chapter 13 takes longer because it runs a 3-to-5-year repayment plan, but the automatic stay protects you the entire time. Before filing either, federal law requires a short credit-counseling course, and a second debtor-education course is required before discharge.
Orlando bankruptcy is almost always flat-fee. A straightforward Chapter 7 typically runs $1,200 to $2,500 in attorney fees, plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 attorney fees commonly run $3,000 to $4,500, much of which can be paid through the repayment plan rather than up front. Most firms offer a free consultation and a written quote, and many offer payment plans for the Chapter 7 fee.
Orlando bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division. Eligibility for Chapter 7 depends on the means test, which compares your household income to the Florida median. Florida's generous homestead exemption can protect substantial home equity, and the state has its own list of exemptions (replacing the federal set) that a local attorney will apply to your assets.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a settlement, a dismissal, or an approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior name at the pitch, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who handles your file day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. A reputable firm hands you the engagement letter, gives you time to read it, and lets you take it home. High-pressure intake usually signals a volume mill.
Vague fees. “Don’t worry about cost” is a warning sign. Get the fee structure, what it covers, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you switch firms — all in writing.
A straightforward Chapter 7 usually runs $1,200–$2,500 in attorney fees plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 attorney fees commonly run $3,000–$4,500, much of which can be paid through the repayment plan.
Chapter 7 erases qualifying unsecured debt in a few months if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 reorganizes your debt into a 3-to-5-year payment plan, which can stop a foreclosure and let you keep property.
Yes. The moment you file, an automatic stay legally stops most collection calls, wage garnishment, and lawsuits. Creditors who keep collecting after the stay can face penalties.
It depends on the means test, which compares your household income to the Florida median. If you earn below the median you usually qualify; if above, a lawyer can run the full test to see whether you still pass.
Often no. Florida's homestead exemption can protect significant home equity, and many filers keep a financed car by staying current. A local attorney applies Florida's exemptions to your specific assets.
A Chapter 7 can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years and a Chapter 13 for up to 7. Many people begin rebuilding credit within a year or two of discharge.
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