Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorneys – Fort Myers • Naples • Cape Coral • Lehigh Acres • Serving All of Florida
Overview
A smarter way to save your home, car, and sanity from overwhelming debt.
If you’re behind on your mortgage, juggling car payments, or getting further behind every month despite working hard, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the tool that gives you structure, breathing room, and a real path forward.
At Lynn Law Group, our husband-and-wife attorney team focuses heavily on Chapter 13 cases in the Middle District of Florida—especially for clients in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and the greater Southwest Florida region—while also representing clients statewide through secure remote consultations.
We combine:
- Deep, advanced Chapter 13 knowledge
- Current, cutting-edge training from national bankruptcy conferences
- Leadership roles in the local bankruptcy community
- Veronica Lynn – Vice President, Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals Association
- Adrian Lynn – Past President, Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals Association
- Membership in the U.S. Supreme Court Bar for both attorneys
with the kind of direct attorney access you simply don’t get at high-volume firms.
You’ll talk directly to an attorney about:
- Whether Chapter 13 is the right chapter for you
- How a Chapter 13 plan would look in your specific situation
- How to protect your home, car, income, and family
Call or text us today to speak directly with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney serving Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and all of Florida.
Evening and weekend appointments available.
What is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
Chapter 13 is often called a “reorganization” or “wage earner’s plan.” Instead of wiping out qualifying debts all at once like Chapter 7, you propose a 3–5 year repayment plan to:
- Catch up on missed mortgage payments and stop foreclosure
- Catch up on car loans and stop repossession
- Consolidate credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans into one structured payment
- Protect assets that might be at risk in a Chapter 7
- Pay what you can afford—not what creditors demand
In Florida, especially in the Middle District (Fort Myers, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville), Chapter 13 is a powerful tool for people who:
- Have too much equity in assets for Chapter 7
- Are behind on a house or car but want to keep them
- Earn above the median income yet are still drowning in debt
- Need a court-approved structure instead of endless “payment plans” that never end
How Chapter 13 Works In Florida (Step by Step)
1. Strategy Session with an Attorney (Not a Staff Member)
From your very first call, you’ll speak with an attorney —not a call center, not an intake script.
We’ll review:
- Your income, household size, and budget
- Your mortgage and car loan status
- Any foreclosure, repossession, garnishment, or lawsuits
- Tax debt, child support, or other priority obligations
- Your goals: keep the house, keep the car, stop lawsuits, protect business income, etc.
We also apply Middle District of Florida expectations and local practices so your case is positioned correctly from the start.
2. Designing a Realistic Chapter 13 Plan
Once we analyze your situation, we outline what a proposed plan might look like:
- Estimated monthly plan payment
- How long the plan will last (3–5 years)
- How mortgage arrears, car arrears, and tax debts will be treated
- How much, if any, unsecured creditors (credit cards, medical, personal loans) are likely to receive
- Whether any lien stripping or valuation issues might arise (e.g., second mortgages, upside-down car loans)
We explain this in plain English so you understand exactly what you;re signing up for.
3. Filing the Case & Triggering the Automatic Stay
When you’re ready, we file your Chapter 13 petition, schedules, and proposed plan with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The moment your case is filed:
- The automatic stay goes into effect
- Foreclosure, repossession, wage garnishment, and most lawsuits must stop
- Creditors must communicate through the bankruptcy process, not directly with you
We handle all court filings, deadlines, and communications with the Chapter 13 Trustee so you can focus on living your life and following your plan.
4. Meeting of Creditors (341 Meeting) & Plan Confirmation
You’ll attend a short meeting (often by phone or video) with the Chapter 13 Trustee. We prepare you so nothing feels like a surprise.
After that, we work toward plan confirmation, where the court approves your repayment plan. This is where our advanced training and deep Chapter 13 experience really matter—anticipating trustee concerns, addressing creditor objections, and structuring the plan correctly from the start.
5. Living in a Chapter 13 Plan
Once your plan is confirmed, you’ll:
- Make one montly payment to the Chapter 13 Trustee
- Keep making any direct payments the plan requires (e.g., ongoing mortgage payments)
- Keep us informed if your income or expenses change
Life doesn’t stay static for 3–5 years. We help you navigate:
- Job changes
- Medical issues
- Family changes
- Income fluctuations
so that, when necessary, we can seek plan modificatons and keep your case on track.
6. Discharge & Your New Financial Life
If you complete your plan, the court issues a discahrge of dischargeable debts included in the plan. At that point:
- You should be current (or as the plan contemplated) on your home or car, if those were part of your goals
- Many unsecured debts are wiped out
- You can start building credit and stability again—without the constant crisis of missed payments, threats, and lawsuits
Why Choose Lynn Law Group for your Chapter 13 in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and all of Florida
Deep Knowledge + Continuous Advanced Training
Chapter 13 is one of the most complex areas of consumer law. We take that seriously.
- We regularly attend advanced bankruptcy conferences around the country, learning directly from some of the most sophisticated bankruptcy practitioners and judges.
- We stay current on new case law, local Middle District practices, and national trends that can impact your plan and outcomes.
- Both Veronica and Adrian are members of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, reflecting a commitment to practicing at the highest professional level.
Leadership in the Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Community
- Veronica serves as the current Vice President of the Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals Association (2025-2026)
- Adrian is a Past President of that same organization
This means we are not just filing cases—we’re actively involved in the professional community shaping best practices for bankruptcy in Southwest Florida.
Boutique Service, Not a Bankruptcy Mill
At Lynn Law Group, you get:
- Direct attorney access – you work directly with an attorney, not layers of staff
- Flexible scheduling – evening and weekend appointments available by request
- Remote representation across Florida – we serve clients in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and beyond through video, phone, and secure digital tools
- A family-run, husband-and-wife legal team that understands both the legal and human side of financial stress
Fees, Flat Pricing & Payment Options
We know that if you’re considering Chapter 13, cash flow is tight. Our job is to help, not make things harder.
- We use flat-fee pricing for Chapter 13 attorney fees so you know what to expect from the beginning.
- We offer flexible payment options before filing to help you get your case prepared and filed.
- We structure fees with the Chapter 13 plan when appropriate, as allowed by the court and local rules.
- We are transparent because we are consumers too—we understand that surprise fees are the last thing you need.
During your consultation, we’ll walk through exactly how fees work in Chapter 13, how they are paid, and what your total plan payment is likely to look like.
Protecting Your Fresh Start: Automatic Stay & Discharge Injunction
One of the most powerful protections in bankruptcy is the automatic stay, which goes into effect when your Chapter 13 is filed. Later, once your case is complete and you receive a discharge, the discharge injunction prohibits creditors from trying to collect discharged debts.
When creditors ignore these protections, they’re not just bothering you—they may be violating federal and Florida law.
As part of our representation:
- We take violations of the automatic stay and discharge injunction seriously.
- We investigate creditor conduct and, when appropriate, pursue claims against creditors who refuse to honor your fresh start.
- Our practice includes consumer protection matters such as creditor harassment, improper collection, and inaccurate credit reporting arising from bankruptcy situations.
Your Chapter 13 case isn’t just about getting a plan confirmed—it’s about making sure creditors respect the court's orders and your rights.
Who We Serve: Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh & All of Florida
Our physical office is located in Fort Myers, Florida, in the heart of Lee County. From there, we focus on the Southwest Florida tri-county region and beyond:
- Lee County: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Alva, North Fort Myers
- Collier County: Naples, Golden Gate, Immokalee, Marco Island
- Charlotte County: Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Murdoch & surrounding areas
- Hendry County: LaBelle, Clewiston, Port LaBelle and nearby communities
Because bankruptcy is federal law, we also represent clients throughout the State of Florida, including:
- Tampa and the greater Tampa Bay area
- Orlando and Central Florida
- Jacksonville and North Florida
- Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and South Florida
Most of the process can be handled remotely with:
- Secure document upload
- Email and phone
- Video meetings
So whether you’re looking for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney in Fort Myers or exploring options anywhere in Florida, we can help.
Bilingual Representation
Many of our clients are more comfortable speaking in Spanish, and we are proud to serve them directly—without an interpreter.
We offer:
- Consultas en español sobre bancarrota Capítulo 13
- Explicaciones claras sobre cómo funciona un plan de pago, cómo parar una ejecución hipotecaria, y cómo proteger su casa o carro
- Asistencia con casos en todo el estado de Florida, incluyendo Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Miami, Tampa, Orlando y Jacksonville
Chapter 13–Specific FAQs
Have more questions?
Visit our FAQ page for additional answers, or contact us directly to speak with an attorney.
Q 1: How long does a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case take in Florida?
Most Chapter 13 cases last three to five years. The exact length depends on your income, the type of debts you have, and what the law requires in your situation. During your consultation, we’ll estimate how long your plan would likely run and what your monthly payment might look like.
Q 2: Can Chapter 13 stop foreclosure on my home?
In many cases, yes. When we file a Chapter 13, the automatic stay can stop a scheduled foreclosure sale and give you the opportunity to catch up on missed mortgage payments over time through your plan. Every case is fact-specific, so it’s important to speak with an attorney as early as possible—ideally before the sale date is too close.
Q 3: Can Chapter 13 help me save my car from repossession?
Often, yes. Chapter 13 can allow you to:
- Catch up on missed car payments
- Potentially restructure the loan under certain conditions
- Stop an imminent repossession once the case is filed
We’ll review the details of your car loan, the value of the vehicle, and your payment history to see what tools might be available in your situation.
Q 4: How much debt do I need to file Chapter 13?
There is no minimum debt level required to file a Chapter 13. There are, however, maximum debt limits under federal law that can change over time. We’ll review your secured, unsecured, and priority debts to confirm that Chapter 13 is available to you at the time you file and discuss whether another chapter might serve you better.
FAQ 5: Does my spouse have to file Chapter 13 with me?
Not necessarily. Many couples have the option for one spouse to file and the other not, depending on the debts, assets, and income involved. We’ll look at both possibilities during your consultation and discuss:
- Whether a joint case or individual case makes more sense
- How a filing could affect shared property and joint debts
- Which option best supports your long-term goals as a household
Q 6: What if my income changes during my Chapter 13 plan?
Life happens over three to five years. If your income goes up or down, or your expenses change significantly, we may be able to:
- Modify your plan
- Adjust payment amounts
- Address issues like temporary job loss, medical leave, or other big life events
The key is to communicate these changes early, so we can help you navigate them without jeopardizing your case.
Q 7: Do I have to live in Fort Myers to hire you for Chapter 13?
No. While our office is in Fort Myers, we represent clients throughout Florida. Many of our clients are in:
- Naples, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and surrounding communities (since the federal courthouse for these areas is actually Fort Myers too!)
- Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, and other cities across the state
We can handle your entire case remotely using secure technology, while still providing that personal, attorney-driven representation.
