Debt relief from our Melbourne office
Written by Blake Stewart | Florida Bar No. 84716 | Admitted 2010 | Florida Bankruptcy & Estate Planning Attorney
If debt, collection calls, wage garnishment, or a threatened loss of your home or vehicle is forcing decisions, Stewart Law can help you evaluate the options. Our office is at 1600 Sarno Rd Ste 14 in Melbourne, and we represent clients across Brevard County and Florida.
Schedule a Bankruptcy ConsultationBankruptcy is one possible tool for resolving debt. Before deciding whether to file, we look at income, household expenses, property, secured loans, recent transfers, collection activity, and prior filings. The right path may depend as much on what you want to keep as on what you owe.
Melbourne clients can meet with a firm based in their community. We also assist people throughout Florida. A consultation can help identify urgent deadlines and the documents needed for a meaningful review.
Chapter 7 may discharge many unsecured debts, but eligibility, nonexempt property, liens, and debts that survive discharge must be reviewed. The means test is one part of a consumer eligibility analysis. Learn how Chapter 7 works in Florida.
Chapter 13 uses a court-approved repayment plan, usually over three to five years. It may offer a way to address mortgage or vehicle arrears while keeping property, if the plan is feasible. See Chapter 13 options.
Wage garnishment and lawsuits. Filing a bankruptcy case generally triggers an automatic stay that stops many collection actions, but exceptions and repeat-filing rules matter. If wages are being withheld or a judgment has been entered, timing and available exemptions deserve prompt review. Read about bankruptcy and Florida wage garnishment.
Foreclosure. Bankruptcy may pause a foreclosure, but a filing does not erase a valid mortgage. Keeping a home requires a realistic plan for ongoing payments and any arrears. See how bankruptcy may affect foreclosure and whether Chapter 7 can be filed while keeping a house.
Vehicle repossession. Options can change quickly once a lender takes a vehicle, and again after a sale. The loan balance, vehicle equity, exemption eligibility, and ability to maintain payments all matter. See vehicle repossession and bankruptcy.
Exemptions determine which property may be protected in a bankruptcy case. Florida homestead rules, vehicle and personal property exemptions, ownership history, and liens require fact-specific analysis. Homeownership does not automatically disqualify someone from Chapter 7, and an exemption does not eliminate a mortgage or car loan.
We review the property and debts together before recommending a filing strategy. The Florida bankruptcy FAQ addresses common questions, and our page on bankruptcy costs explains the fee considerations.
Bring a current list of debts and creditors, income information, a household budget, mortgage and vehicle statements, any lawsuit or garnishment papers, and a summary of your property and recent transfers. We can then discuss potential Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 paths, qualification questions, and the next steps suited to your facts.
Our Melbourne office serves Brevard County residents and clients across Florida. If a deadline is approaching, tell us when you contact the firm so we can understand the urgency. A consultation does not guarantee a particular bankruptcy outcome.
Schedule a Bankruptcy ConsultationThis page provides general information and is not legal advice. Results depend on the facts of each case.
