Preparation is the key for success when filing bankruptcy in Florida. The best bankruptcy cases go unnoticed as debtors glide through the system without attracting attention to receive a full discharges in record time. Luck is not involved. Planning began months before filing.
The most successful filers know something that you don’t. Small lifestyle changes may alter means test income and expenses before filing. Well-planned strategic changes will have a dramatic effect on the results of the means test. With a few weeks or months to plan, creating $300 improvement on the bankruptcy means test calculation will save $18,000 in wasted Chapter 13 payments. Just as easily, many people avoid Chapter 13 altogether and may file Chapter 7 when understanding the test procedure. Timing is critical.
2010 Bankruptcy Strategies and the Means Test Explained
Questions about electronic case filing may be answered by calling the ECF help desk. Also, the court's website provides summaries of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 proceedings, new forms required as of 12-31-03, and general access information. Ft. Myers cases are filed and maintained in the Tampa Division courthouse located at 801 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602. Viera cases are filed and maintained in the Orlando Division courthouse located at the South Trust Bank Building, 135 W. Central Blvd., Suite 960, Orlando, Florida32801.
United States Courthouse
300 North Hogan Street
Suite 3-350
Jacksonville, Florida32202
Phone: (904) 301-6490
South Trust Bank Building
135 West Central Boulevard
Suite 950
Orlando, Florida32801
Phone: (407) 648-6365
Sam M. Gibbons
U.S. Courthouse
801 N. Florida Avenue
Tampa, Florida33602
Phone: (813) 301-5065
United States Courthouse
2110 First Street
Fort Myers, Florida33901
Moore Justice Center
2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, Florida32940
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Website: Florida Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District
Counties Covered: Jurisdiction
The majority of courts allow either electronic filing or paper filing. A small number of courts only allow electronic filing. Likewise, a small number of courts only accept paper filings. The trend however is clear: all courts will eventually accept only electronic filing and will probably continue to accept diskettes at the clerk's office rather than requiring only online submission. The goal adopted by the U.S. Court system apparently requires the elimination of paper documents by 2010.
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