Jennifer S Haley-Gleason
Verified
Practice area
Top-rated bankruptcy lawyers
Bankruptcy lawyers and law firms, ranked by location with the LexRank methodology.
856 lawyers80 law firms46 rankings856 with verified professional data
LexRanked tracks 856 lawyers and 80 law firms in bankruptcy law. 856 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.
LexRanked ranks 856 bankruptcy lawyers in Florida in 34 cities; the largest city rankings are Miami (135 lawyers), Tampa (106 lawyers) and Orlando (82 lawyers). Every position follows the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source, such as each lawyer's Florida Bar profile; payment never changes a position.
Rankings
46 rankings, each ordering lawyers by the LexRank score; the statewide ranking, which compares every city, comes first.
- Altamonte Springs
- Aventura
- Boca Raton
- Boynton Beach
- Bradenton
- Brandon
- Clearwater
- Coral Gables
- Coral Springs
- DeLand
- Delray Beach
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Myers
- Gainesville
- Hollywood
- Jacksonville
- Kissimmee
- Lakeland
- Melbourne
- Miami
- Naples
- Orlando
- Pensacola
- Plantation
- Sarasota
- St. Augustine
- St. Petersburg
- Stuart
- Sunrise
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- West Palm Beach
- Weston
- Winter Park
Altamonte Springs
- Bankruptcy · 6 lawyers
Aventura
- Bankruptcy · 5 lawyers
Boca Raton
- Bankruptcy · 39 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 6 lawyers
Boynton Beach
- Bankruptcy · 10 lawyers
Bradenton
- Bankruptcy · 9 lawyers
Brandon
- Bankruptcy · 7 lawyers
Clearwater
- Bankruptcy · 9 lawyers
Coral Gables
- Bankruptcy · 28 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 17 lawyers
Coral Springs
- Bankruptcy · 10 lawyers
DeLand
- Bankruptcy · 7 lawyers
Delray Beach
- Bankruptcy · 5 lawyers
Fort Lauderdale
- Bankruptcy · 58 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 15 lawyers
Fort Myers
- Bankruptcy · 17 lawyers
Gainesville
- Bankruptcy · 11 lawyers
Hollywood
- Bankruptcy · 10 lawyers
Jacksonville
- Bankruptcy · 52 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 6 lawyers
Kissimmee
- Bankruptcy · 6 lawyers
Lakeland
- Bankruptcy · 6 lawyers
Melbourne
- Bankruptcy · 7 lawyers
Miami
- Bankruptcy · 135 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - French-speaking · 6 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Hebrew-speaking · 5 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 64 lawyers
Naples
- Bankruptcy · 14 lawyers
Orlando
- Bankruptcy · 82 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 18 lawyers
Pensacola
- Bankruptcy · 13 lawyers
Plantation
- Bankruptcy · 19 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 5 lawyers
Sarasota
- Bankruptcy · 13 lawyers
St. Augustine
- Bankruptcy · 5 lawyers
St. Petersburg
- Bankruptcy · 20 lawyers
Stuart
- Bankruptcy · 10 lawyers
Sunrise
- Bankruptcy · 5 lawyers
Tallahassee
- Bankruptcy · 25 lawyers
Tampa
- Bankruptcy · 106 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 16 lawyers
West Palm Beach
- Bankruptcy · 25 lawyers
- Bankruptcy - Spanish-speaking · 6 lawyers
Weston
- Bankruptcy · 12 lawyers
Winter Park
- Bankruptcy · 12 lawyers
Market statistics
- Lawyers
- 856
- Law firms
- 80
- Verified professional data
- 856 of 856
- Average rating
- Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
- Median review count
- Withheldtoo few sourced counts
- Median experience
- 21 years856 lawyers
Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld.
By city
The highest-scoring lawyers on this page, grouped by city; each ranking above lists every lawyer.
Highest-scoring bankruptcy lawyers
The 12 highest LexRank scores on this page; each profile shows the sources behind its facts.
82.6LexRank
82.6LexRank
80.3LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
80LexRank
Bankruptcy law firms
63LexRank
63LexRank
63LexRank
63LexRank
63LexRank
63LexRank
What does a bankruptcy lawyer do?
A bankruptcy lawyer advises people and businesses who cannot pay their debts, files Chapter 7, Chapter 13 or Chapter 11 cases, protects exempt property and represents creditors in those cases.
- Chapter 7 liquidation
- Chapter 13 repayment plans
- Chapter 11 business reorganization
- Foreclosure and repossession defense
- Protecting exempt property
- Creditor claims in bankruptcy
When do you need a bankruptcy lawyer?
Talk to a bankruptcy lawyer before a foreclosure sale, wage garnishment or lawsuit goes further, and before you move or sell property, because timing affects what you can keep.
- A foreclosure sale or repossession is scheduled
- Your wages are being garnished
- A creditor sued you or won a judgment
- Your business cannot pay its debts
Who are the best bankruptcy lawyers in Florida?
The statewide ranking lists the top 25 of the 856 bankruptcy lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best bankruptcy lawyers in Florida.
Where can I find a bankruptcy lawyer in Florida?
Bankruptcy rankings cover 34 Florida cities; Miami has the most lawyers compared (135).
How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost in Florida?
Consumer bankruptcy lawyers usually charge a flat fee for a Chapter 7 case; Chapter 13 fees are often paid in part through the plan. Business cases are usually billed by the hour. Ask for the fee and filing costs in writing. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.
Florida bankruptcy rules to know
Bankruptcy is federal law, but Florida decides what property a debtor keeps: filing stops most collection at once, and Florida protects a homestead and a vehicle worth up to $5,000.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Automatic stay | Filing a bankruptcy petition stops most collection actions and lawsuits against the debtor (11 U.S.C. § 362(a)) |
| Credit counseling | An individual must take a budget and credit counseling briefing from an approved agency within the 180 days before filing (11 U.S.C. § 109(h)) |
| Repeat Chapter 7 | No Chapter 7 discharge if the debtor received one in a case filed within the previous 8 years (11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(8)) |
| Chapter 13 plan | A repayment plan runs for at most 5 years (11 U.S.C. § 1322(d)) |
| Meeting of creditors | The U.S. trustee holds a meeting of creditors in every case (11 U.S.C. § 341) |
| Florida homestead | A home is protected up to one-half acre inside a city or 160 acres outside one (Fla. Const. art. X, § 4) |
| Florida vehicle and property | A vehicle up to $5,000, and other personal property up to $4,000 if no homestead exemption is claimed (Fla. Stat. § 222.25) |
Are bankruptcy lawyers board certified in Florida?
No. Bankruptcy is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list bankruptcy as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is bankruptcy. Lawyers in these rankings may still hold a board certification in a related field, which their profiles show. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.
How to choose a bankruptcy lawyer
Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.
- Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
- Ask how much of the lawyer's work is bankruptcy: practice areas on a Florida Bar profile are added by the lawyer and are not reviewed by The Florida Bar.
- Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
- Ask: Should I file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?
- Ask: Which of my property is exempt in Florida?
- Ask: What will the case cost in total, including the filing fee?
How LexRanked ranks bankruptcy lawyers
By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked November 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.
Sources
- 11 U.S.C. § 362 (automatic stay)
- 11 U.S.C. § 109 (who may be a debtor; credit counseling)
- 11 U.S.C. § 727 (Chapter 7 discharge)
- 11 U.S.C. § 1322 (contents of a Chapter 13 plan)
- 11 U.S.C. § 341 (meetings of creditors)
- Constitution of the State of Florida, article X, section 4 (homestead)
- Florida Statutes, section 222.25 (personal property exemptions)
- 11 U.S.C. § 522 (exemptions; homestead cap)
- Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
- The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory
Frequently asked questions
What does a bankruptcy lawyer do?
A bankruptcy lawyer advises people and businesses who cannot pay their debts, files Chapter 7, Chapter 13 or Chapter 11 cases, protects exempt property and represents creditors in those cases.
How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost in Florida?
Consumer bankruptcy lawyers usually charge a flat fee for a Chapter 7 case; Chapter 13 fees are often paid in part through the plan. Business cases are usually billed by the hour. Ask for the fee and filing costs in writing.
Does filing bankruptcy stop collection calls and lawsuits?
Yes, in most cases. Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a), filing the petition stops most collection actions and lawsuits against the debtor at once, with the exceptions the statute lists.
Do I need credit counseling before filing bankruptcy?
Yes. An individual must receive a budget and credit counseling briefing from an approved nonprofit agency within the 180 days before filing, under 11 U.S.C. § 109(h), unless an exception applies.
Can I keep my house if I file bankruptcy in Florida?
Florida protects a homestead from forced sale up to one-half acre inside a city or 160 acres outside one (Fla. Const. art. X, § 4). In bankruptcy, federal law caps the protection for home equity acquired in the 1,215 days before filing (11 U.S.C. § 522(p)), so ask a lawyer about your dates.
How often can I file Chapter 7?
A Chapter 7 discharge is denied if you received one in a case filed within the previous 8 years (11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(8)).
How long does a Chapter 13 plan last?
At most 5 years. A debtor whose income is below the Florida median usually has a 3-year plan, which the court may extend to 5 years for cause (11 U.S.C. § 1322(d)).
Where are the best bankruptcy lawyers in Florida?
LexRanked ranks bankruptcy lawyers in 34 cities; the largest rankings are Miami (135 lawyers), Tampa (106 lawyers) and Orlando (82 lawyers). The statewide ranking compares all of them.
Are bankruptcy lawyers board certified in Florida?
No. Bankruptcy is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list bankruptcy as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is bankruptcy.
How do I check a bankruptcy lawyer's license in Florida?
Search the lawyer's name in The Florida Bar's Find a Lawyer directory: it shows whether the lawyer is eligible to practice, any board certification and public discipline. Concerns about a lawyer go to The Florida Bar's Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP), 866-352-0707.
Editorially reviewed by LexRanked editorial team on November 1, 2026.