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Top-Ranked Bankruptcy Lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked bankruptcy lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida are Nicholas V Pulignano (LexRank 80.00), Stephen Francis Albee “Steve” (80.00) and Jeffrey Randolph Becker (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 bankruptcy lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 20 to 46 years in practice. 1 of the 25 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Nicholas V Pulignano

    Marks Gray, P.A. · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  2. No change

    Stephen Francis Albee “Steve”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  3. No change

    Jeffrey Randolph Becker

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  4. No change

    Rebeccah Lee Beller

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  5. No change

    Betsy C Cox

    Rogers Towers, P.A. · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  6. No change

    T Eileen Dolaghan “Eileen”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  7. No change

    Robert William Elrod Jr.

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  8. No change

    Edward Pendleton Jackson

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  9. No change

    Charles Harrison Keller “Chip”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  10. No change

    Rehan Naeem Khawaja

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  11. No change

    Scott Hunter Malin “Hunter”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  12. No change

    Jerrett Matthew McConnell

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  13. No change

    Bryan Keith Mickler

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  14. No change

    Douglas William Neway

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  15. No change

    Robert James Perry Jr. “Robert”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  16. No change

    Gerald Bernard Stewart

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  17. No change

    Leanne Perez

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 78.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.20 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    1.20 points behind #16 (Gerald Bernard Stewart): Experience −1.2.

  18. No change

    Amanda Clay Rolfe

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 78.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  19. No change

    Robert Thomas Geis

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.20 points behind #18, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    0.20 points behind #18 (Amanda Clay Rolfe): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  20. No change

    Kristina Yvonne Lunsford

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  21. No change

    Easa Ronny Mousa

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  22. No change

    Miriam LaVern Sumpter-Richard

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  23. No change

    Carol Marie Galloway “Carol”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 77.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.20 points behind #22, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    1.20 points behind #22 (Miriam LaVern Sumpter-Richard): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  24. No change

    David William Barrett

    Balch & Bingham, LLP · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.20 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    2.20 points behind #23 (Carol Marie Galloway “Carol”): Experience −3.6.

  25. No change

    Benjamin Hans Crumley

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 72.60: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 2.60 points behind #24, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    2.60 points behind #24 (David William Barrett): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 25 profile pages246 facts for 25 lawyers

Bankruptcy market in Jacksonville

LexRanked tracks 52 lawyers and 7 law firms in bankruptcy law in Jacksonville, Florida. 52 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
52
Law firms
7
Verified professional data
52 of 52
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
19.5 years52 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. All lawyers in Jacksonville

What sets these Jacksonville lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 20 to 46 (median 31)
Languages besides English Spanish (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Jacksonville office address and bankruptcy as a practice area on record. It compares 25 bankruptcy lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in bankruptcy, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida 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)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Duval County is in Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

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)).

Which court handles cases in Jacksonville?

State court cases in Duval County are heard in Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit. Bankruptcy cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the federal district that includes the county instead.

Are there Spanish-speaking bankruptcy lawyers in Jacksonville?

Yes. 1 of the 25 ranked lawyers lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Nicholas V Pulignano, Stephen Francis Albee “Steve”, Jeffrey Randolph Becker, Rebeccah Lee Beller and Betsy C Cox and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

6 of the 52 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 6 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Bankruptcy Lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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