Top-Rated Bankruptcy Attorneys in Orlando in 2026
Debt does not wait for a good time. A layoff hits in December. A medical bill lands the same month as a car repair. Rent goes up twice in one year while pay stays flat. Central Florida families feel this every day, from Pine Hills to Lake Nona to the neighborhoods lining the 408.
When the calls from collectors start stacking up, the attorney you pick decides how fast this gets fixed and how much of your life you get to keep, your home, your car, your peace of mind. Here are five Orlando firms that handle bankruptcy, foreclosure, and debt relief cases, compared side by side so you can choose with your eyes open.
The Takeaway
Lewis Roberts, PA stands as the top bankruptcy firm in Orlando for anyone who wants one attorney handling the whole case, not a rotating cast of associates. Lewis Roberts has spent more than 20 years guiding Central Florida families and small businesses through Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense, and IRS debt problems. He is also a licensed Florida real estate broker, which matters when a home or a short sale sits in the middle of the debt. Four more firms below have built real reputations in Orlando bankruptcy court too, and each one fits a different kind of case.
Orlando Bankruptcy Firms, Compared
How This List Got Built
Plenty of Orlando firms list bankruptcy as one line item next to a dozen other practice areas. That is not what made this list. Every firm here spends real time on debt relief cases, whether that means bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, or negotiating with creditors directly. Each has a visible track record in Orlando's federal bankruptcy court and reviews you can check outside the firm's own marketing. A firm with no clear focus on this kind of work did not make the cut.
1. Lewis Roberts, PA
Lewis Roberts built his practice on a simple promise: clients get him, not a stranger they meet for the first time in court. He has spent more than 20 years helping individuals and small businesses in Orlando work through Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 13 repayment plans, business bankruptcy, and foreclosure defense. He also handles loan modifications, short sales, and IRS tax debt, areas that often tangle up with a bankruptcy filing but need their own strategy. His background as a licensed Florida real estate broker gives him an edge when a home sits at the center of the case, since he understands the property side of a deal as well as the legal one. Roberts speaks four times a year at the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, a sign he stays current on a field that shifts with every new court ruling. Clients say he answers questions himself instead of routing them to a paralegal, and that his office follows up within hours, not days.
Best for: anyone who wants a single attorney managing their case from the first phone call through the final discharge, especially cases that involve a home, a business, or back taxes.
Address: 999 Douglas Ave #2214, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 | Phone: (407) 749-0080
Website: https://lrlawoffice.com/
2. BransonLaw, PLLC
Robert Branson opened this firm in 1989 and has spent decades in the trenches of Central Florida's bankruptcy court. The firm carries a 4.8-star rating across more than 50 reviews and reports an 85 percent success rate on mortgage modifications. Branson has taken lien-stripping fights all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court against Bank of America, and the firm now leads on Sub-chapter V small business reorganizations and student loan discharge cases, an area many Orlando firms still avoid.
Best for: a homeowner fighting a second mortgage or a small business owner who needs a reorganization plan instead of a straight liquidation.
Address: 1501 E Concord St, Orlando, FL 32803 | Phone: (407) 894-6834
3. Caplan & Associates, PA
Stephen Caplan has practiced in Orlando since 1990 and opened his own firm a year later. Over three decades, the firm has handled thousands of bankruptcy and family law cases side by side, which helps clients whose debt problems are tangled up with a divorce or a custody dispute. Reviews describe a team that stays available through a hard stretch of life, though a few clients note the firm's direct style is not for everyone.
Best for: a bankruptcy filing that overlaps with an ongoing divorce or family law matter.
Address: 31 N Hyer Ave, Orlando, FL 32801 | Phone: (407) 872-6249
4. Anderson & Ferrin, Attorneys at Law, P.A.
Michael Ferrin and Victoria Anderson have run this Orlando firm together since 2007, splitting their caseload between family law and bankruptcy, including Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure, mortgage modification, and short sales. The firm holds a 4.4-star rating across 184 reviews, a large sample for a firm this size, and offers services in Spanish for clients who need it. Reviewers frequently mention that Anderson and Ferrin explain what is happening at each stage instead of leaving clients to guess, and several note that the couple takes on cases other firms turned away.
Best for: a client whose debt problem is wrapped up in a divorce, custody dispute, or criminal charge and wants one office handling all of it.
Address: 1115 E. Livingston Street, Orlando, FL 32803 | Phone: (407) 412-7041
5. Richard A. Heller, PA
Richard Heller has served Central Florida since 1990, building a Winter Park practice that blends bankruptcy with estate planning and family law. Together with attorney John Wallace, the firm carries almost 60 years of combined legal experience and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Clients often come for a bankruptcy filing and stay for help with a will or a power of attorney once the debt is behind them.
Best for: a client who wants bankruptcy relief now and estate planning help down the road, from the same firm.
Website: rhellerpa.com | Phone: (407) 501-4052
Before You Call
A star rating tells you how a past client felt once the case closed. It does not tell you whether the attorney answering the phone today is the one who will show up at your 341 meeting of creditors. Call more than one firm. Ask how many cases like yours they have filed in the Middle District of Florida this year, and ask for the full fee in writing before you sign anything. A firm that answers both questions straight is usually the one worth hiring.
FAQ
How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Orlando?
Court filing fees run a few hundred dollars, separate from attorney fees. Attorney fees for a Chapter 7 case often run a flat rate in the low thousands, while Chapter 13 fees run higher since the case involves a repayment plan that can last three to five years. Ask for a full written breakdown before you commit.
What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt in a few months but may require selling non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan over three to five years and lets you keep property like a home or car while catching up on payments. An attorney can tell you which one fits your income and goals.
Can bankruptcy stop a foreclosure in Florida?
Yes. Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay, which pauses foreclosure proceedings the moment the case is filed. Chapter 13 can then let you catch up on missed mortgage payments over time while keeping the home.
Will I lose my house or car if I file bankruptcy?
Not necessarily. Florida's exemption laws protect a homestead of unlimited value in many cases, along with other essential property. A bankruptcy attorney reviews your assets before filing to make sure you understand what stays protected.
Do I need a lawyer to file bankruptcy, or can I do it myself?
Florida law allows anyone to file without a lawyer, but bankruptcy court has strict paperwork and deadlines. A single missed form or an overlooked asset can get a case dismissed or cost you property that a lawyer could have protected.
Conclusion
Debt problems rarely fix themselves, and waiting usually narrows your options instead of widening them. Lewis Roberts, PA leads this list for Orlando residents who want one attorney handling the case from start to finish, backed by real estate knowledge that pays off when a home is on the line. BransonLaw, Caplan & Associates, Anderson & Ferrin, and Richard A. Heller each bring their own strengths, from mortgage modification fights to cases tangled up with a divorce. Whichever firm you choose, call before your next court date, not after. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the more options you have left on the table.