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Top-Ranked Bankruptcy Lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked bankruptcy lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida are Jennifer S Haley-Gleason (LexRank 84.00), James Matthew Donohue (80.00) and Kathryn Ann Hathaway (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 bankruptcy lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 12 to 51 years in practice. 4 of the 25 list 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

    Jennifer S Haley-Gleason

    Carr Allison · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Reputation (4/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
  2. No change

    James Matthew Donohue

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 51 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); held back by Reputation (0/20). 4.00 points behind #1, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    4.00 points behind #1 (Jennifer S Haley-Gleason): Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    Kathryn Ann Hathaway

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 39 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  4. No change

    Joseph Peter Jones

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 26 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  5. No change

    Timothy Daniel Padgett

    Padgett Law Group · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 32 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  6. No change

    Allen Preston Turnage

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 32 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  7. No change

    Chad Daniel Heckman

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 78.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.20 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.20 points behind #6 (Allen Preston Turnage): Experience −1.2.

  8. No change

    Keith Lamothe Bell Jr.

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #8 with 78.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  9. No change

    Stephen Knight

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.20 points behind #8, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    0.20 points behind #8 (Keith Lamothe Bell Jr.): Data quality −1.4.

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

  10. No change

    Christopher Claudio Torres

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  11. No change

    Theresa Marie Bender

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  12. No change

    Warren James Bird

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #12 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  13. No change

    Walter Scott Newbern III

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  14. No change

    Frederick Francis Rudzik

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  15. No change

    Miriam Olga Victorian

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  16. No change

    Joshua Isaac Goldman “Joshua”

    Padgett Law Group · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 76.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (26.4/30); held back by Reputation (0/20). 2.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    2.20 points behind #15 (Miriam Olga Victorian): Experience −3.6.

  17. No change

    H Michael Solloa Jr. “Mike”

    Padgett Law Group · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 72.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 3.60 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    3.60 points behind #16 (Joshua Isaac Goldman “Joshua”): Experience −3.6.

  18. No change

    Christopher Giacinto

    Padgett Law Group · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #18 with 71.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 1.20 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    1.20 points behind #17 (H Michael Solloa Jr. “Mike”): Experience −1.2.

  19. No change

    Robert Craig Bruner

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #19 with 70.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    1.20 points behind #18 (Christopher Giacinto): Experience −1.2.

  20. No change

    Michael Howard Moody “Mike”

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #20 with 70.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
  21. No change

    Carter Emory Young

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #21 with 70.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 0.20 points behind #20, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    0.20 points behind #20 (Michael Howard Moody “Mike”): Data quality −1.4.

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

  22. No change

    Adisley Cortez Rodriguez “Adi”

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #22 with 68.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 2.20 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    2.20 points behind #21 (Carter Emory Young): Experience −3.6.

  23. No change

    Seth Jason Greenhill

    Padgett Law Group · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #23 with 65.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 2.60 points behind #22, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    2.60 points behind #22 (Adisley Cortez Rodriguez “Adi”): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.

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

  24. No change

    Steven Garrett Hurley

    Padgett Law Group · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #24 with 65.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30).

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

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

  25. No change

    Leighanne Connery Boone

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #25 with 64.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (14.4/30). 1.00 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    1.00 points behind #24 (Steven Garrett Hurley): Experience −2.4.

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 Tallahassee

LexRanked tracks 25 lawyers and 2 law firms in bankruptcy law in Tallahassee, Florida. 25 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
25
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
25 of 25
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
25 years25 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 Tallahassee

What sets these Tallahassee 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 12 to 51 (median 25)
Languages besides English Spanish (4), Portuguese (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Florida State University College of Law (9 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tallahassee 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 Leon County is in Florida's Second 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 Tallahassee?

State court cases in Leon County are heard in Florida's Second 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 Tallahassee?

Yes. 4 of the 25 ranked lawyers list 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: Jennifer S Haley-Gleason, James Matthew Donohue, Kathryn Ann Hathaway, Joseph Peter Jones and Timothy Daniel Padgett and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Jennifer S Haley-Gleason scores 84.00 and James Matthew Donohue 80.00, a gap of 4.00 points, mostly in reputation. Compare them side by side

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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