Best Bankruptcy Lawyers in Port Saint Lucie, FL

Port Saint Lucie, FL Bankruptcy FAQs

• Where do I file for bankruptcy in Port St. Lucie, Florida?

  Residents of Port St. Lucie may file for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, whose nearest location is the Flagler Waterview Building at 1515 North Flagler Drive, Suite 801, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

• Where can I get bankruptcy forms in Port St. Lucie, Florida?

  Residents of Port St. Lucie may get their bankruptcy forms at the official website of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, which can be accessed here: https://www.flsb.uscourts.gov/node/297.

• How often do Port St. Lucie residents file for bankruptcy?

  According to data published by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, there have so far been 1,029 bankruptcy filings in 2023 from the West Palm Beach division, which has Port St. Lucie under its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, there were 2,305 bankruptcy filings from the West Palm Beach division in 2022 and 2,745 cases in 2021.

• What are the most common forms of bankruptcies in Port St. Lucie?

  With 544 filings in 2023 so far, Chapter 13 is the most common form of bankruptcy case in the United States Bankruptcy Court’s West Palm Beach division, which Port St. Lucie is under. This is in contrast to the 464 Chapter 7 cases and 21 Chapter 11 filings in the same time period.

• What are the local forms required of Port St. Lucie bankruptcy filers?

  Apart from the federal bankruptcy forms, those in Port St. Lucie who are filing for bankruptcy must submit forms required by the Southern District of Florida, which include a photocopy of current government-issued photo identification, the original signed bankruptcy petition and other documents with wet signatures, and a creditor matrix containing their creditors’ information.

• Does income matter when filing for a Port St. Lucie Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

  Debtors in Port St. Lucie who wish to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy must have a monthly income that does not surpass the state’s median income for a household of the same size. As of 2022, the median income for a household of one in Florida is $55,681. Those who do not meet this qualification will have their disposable monthly income calculated to determine if it amounts to $137 or less.

• How does filing for a Port St. Lucie bankruptcy affect credit scores?

  Chapter 7 bankruptcies are typically listed on a Port St. Lucie filer’s credit report for 10 years from the date of the filing. For a Chapter 13 filing, this time period may be reduced to seven years. Prospective lenders will be able to see the accounts discharged in bankruptcy, which appear as “discharged” or “included in bankruptcy” in credit reports.