As permitted by new Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3015.1, the judges of the Middle District of Florida have elected to “opt out” of the Official Form of Chapter 13 Plan and have approved a Local Form Model Chapter 13 Plan. The Model Plan was posted for 30-days’ public comment on August 1, 2017. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the judges and the Chapter 13 trustees reviewed the comments and made several minor revisions to the Model Plan. The new Local Form Model Plan is required in all Divisions as of September 15, 2017.

Please click HERE for the Local Form Model Plan required as of September 15, 2017; click HERE for Chief Judge Michael G. Williamson’s August 1, 2017 memorandum outlining the proposed revisions to the form of Model Plan previously in use in the Tampa and Fort Myers Division; and HERE for the Fourth Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Chapter 13 Cases, effective September 15, 2017.

The Clerk’s Office IT Staff is developing a fillable PDF version of the Model Plan that will allow for the “collapse” of all non-applicable sections of the Model Plan. The PDF version of the Model Plan will be made available as soon as this process is complete.

The Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association (CFBLA) has contracted with Language Line Services to provide over-the-phone telephonic interpretation services for litigants in civil cases pending in the bankruptcy court of the Middle District of Florida. Language Line Services is a recognized leader of the telephonic interpretation industry providing interpreter services in more than 240 languages. Use of Language Line Services is straightforward, effective, and efficient. The courtroom deputy phones Language Line Services, just as they would a witness appearing by telephone, enters a code, requests the language needed, and then a qualified interpreter will be on the line to interpret the proceeding.

Please click HERE for a memorandum from Chief Judge Michael G. Williamson regarding the Second Amended Order Establishing Reasonable Debtor’s Attorney's Fees for the Tampa and Fort Myers Divisions, entered this date. Please click HERE to review the Second Amended Order.