The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit seeks applications from all highly qualified candidates for a fourteen-year appointment as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida at Tampa. The position has become available due to the passing of Judge Michael G. Williamson. Please note all applications must be submitted to the Circuit Executive's Office by November 25, 2024.

Click HERE to view the full notice.

The Tampa and Orlando Divisions of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida will resume normal operations on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The Jacksonville Division resumed normal operations on Friday, October 11.

Due to Hurricane Milton, the Tampa and Orlando Divisions of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida will remain closed on Friday, October 11, 2024. All hearings scheduled for October 11 in Tampa, Fort Myers, and Orlando cases are canceled and will be rescheduled.

The Jacksonville Division will resume normal operations on Friday, October 11.

Any additional court closures will be announced here as they become official.

For information on creditors' meetings, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

Due to Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida will close on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, October 9, 10, and 11, 2024. All hearings scheduled for October 9 - 11 in the Tampa division are canceled and will be rescheduled.

The Orlando and Jacksonville Divisions will close on Wednesday and Thursday, October 9 and 10, 2024. All hearings scheduled for October 9 and 10 in the Orlando and Jacksonville divisions are canceled and will be rescheduled.

Any additional court closures will be announced here as they become official.

For information on creditors' meetings, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

Due to Hurricane Milton, the Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville Divisions of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida will close on Wednesday and Thursday, October 9 and 10, 2024. All hearings scheduled for October 9 and 10 in each division are canceled and will be rescheduled.

Any additional court closures will be announced here as they become official.

For information on creditors' meetings, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

Due to Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida will close on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, October 8 - 10, 2024. All hearings scheduled for Tampa and Fort Myers cases on October 8, 9, and 10 are canceled and will be rescheduled.

The Orlando Division will close on Wednesday and Thursday, October 9 and 10, 2024. All hearings scheduled for Orlando cases on October 9 and 10 are canceled and will be rescheduled.

Any additional court closures will be announced here as they become official.

For information on creditors' meetings in Tampa, Fort Myers, and Orlando cases, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

Due to Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida will close on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8 and 9, 2024. All hearings scheduled for Tampa and Fort Myers cases on October 8 and 9 are canceled and will be rescheduled. Any additional court closures will be announced here as they become official. For information on creditors' meetings in Tampa and Fort Myers cases, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

Due to Hurricane Helene, the Tampa Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, including the Tampa intake window, will remain closed on Friday, September 27. All hearings scheduled for Tampa and Fort Myers cases on September 27 are cancelled and will be rescheduled.

The Orlando and Jacksonville Divisions, including the intake windows, will reopen and resume normal operations on Friday, September 27.

Due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene, the following courthouse closures and suspensions of operations will occur:

The Tampa Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, including the Tampa intake window, will close on Wednesday and Thursday, September 25 and 26, 2024. All hearings scheduled for Tampa and Fort Myers cases on September 25 and 26 are cancelled and will be rescheduled. Depending on conditions, and subject to further announcement, the Tampa courthouse may reopen on Friday. For information on creditors' meetings in Tampa and Fort Myers cases, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

The Orlando and Jacksonville Divisions, including the intake windows, will close on Thursday, September 26. All hearings scheduled for Orlando and Jacksonville cases on September 26 are cancelled and will be rescheduled. Depending on conditions, and subject to further announcement, the Orlando and Jacksonville courthouses may reopen on Friday. For information on creditors' meetings in Orlando and Jacksonville cases, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

Due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene, the Tampa Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, including the Tampa intake window, will close on Wednesday and Thursday, September 25 and 26, 2024. All hearings scheduled for Tampa and Fort Myers cases on September 25 and 26 are cancelled and will be rescheduled. Depending on conditions, and subject to further announcement, the Tampa Courthouse may reopen on Friday. For information on creditors' meetings in Tampa and Fort Myers cases, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida is soliciting bids for office chairs for our Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando locations. For any technical or specification questions, please contact Dario Pavic, Contracting Officer at dario_pavic@flmb.uscourts.gov

To be considered, all quotes must be received by Friday, September 20, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Please email quotes to dario_pavic@flmb.uscourts.gov.

Click Here to view the full Public Notice.

The next session of Judge McEwen's mentoring program for lawyers new to the practice of bankruptcy law is scheduled virtually for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from Noon to 1:15 p.m. via Zoom. LOGIN INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FIRST 100 WHO RSVP. Judge McEwen's special guest for this program is Guy Van Baalen, Assistant U.S. Trustee, Tampa Division.

Program Title: SUBCHAPTER V: LET US INTRODUCE (OR REINTRODUCE) THE MOST POPULAR 11 ON THE PLANET (AT LEAST IN FLMB)

Click HERE to view the full announcement.

The Local Rules Lawyers' Advisory Committee invites interested parties, including members of the Bar and Court employees, to submit their suggestions, comments, and proposals for proposed new Local Rules or revisions to our current Local Rules. Suggestions should be submitted no later than October 15, 2024.

Click HERE to submit recommendations to the Committee.

The Bankruptcy Judges of the Middle District of Florida have approved amendments to the Local Rules, effective August 15, 2024.

Please Click HERE to view a memorandum from Judge Lori V. Vaughan summarizing the changes.

Click HERE to access the amended Local Rules.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida is soliciting bids for a cyclical maintenance project in the Tampa Division for flooring and painting. To request a copy of the Scope of Work, please email dario_pavic@flmb.uscourts.gov and enter the Tampa cyclical maintenance project on the subject line.

To be considered, all Bids must be received by Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

Click HERE to view the full Public Notice.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida is soliciting bids for a quantity of nine (9) the Kramer 8X8 4K HDR HDCP 2.2 matrix switcher, KRVS88H2. For any technical or specification questions, please contact Isaac Pagan, IT Supervisor, at Isaac_Pagan@flmb.uscourts.gov. To be considered, all quotes must be received by Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Please email quotes to dario_pavic@flmb.uscourts.gov.

Click HERE to view the full Public Notice.

Due to Tropical Storm Debby, the Jacksonville Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, including the intake window, will close on Monday, August 5, 2024. All hearings scheduled for August 5, 2024 are cancelled and will be rescheduled. For information on creditors' meetings in Jacksonville cases, please contact the trustee assigned to the case.

The Bankruptcy Judges of the Middle District of Florida have approved amendments to the Local Rules, effective August 15, 2024.

Please Click HERE to view a memorandum from Judge Lori V. Vaughan summarizing the changes.

Click HERE to access the amended Local Rules.

In observance of the July 4 Holiday Weekend, the Middle District of Florida clerk's offices in all divisions will be closed on Thursday, July 4. The Orlando and Tampa clerk's offices will also be closed on Friday, July 5. A lawyer or a layperson in need of court services in any of the divisions on July 5 can contact the Jacksonville division clerk's office, which will be open.

The judges of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida are considering proposed amendments to the Local Rules. The proposals are posted for public comment on the Court's website commencing on May 28, 2024. The public comment period ends on July 1, 2024. When promulgated by the judges, the amended Local Rules will become effective on August 1, 2024.

Attorneys and parties who appear before the Court are encouraged to review the proposed amendments. The Court appreciates all comments and will consider them prior to the promulgation of the amended Local Rules.

Click HERE to view the proposed amendments to Local Rules.

Click HERE to submit comments regarding the proposed amendments.

The next session of Judge McEwen's mentoring program for lawyers new to the practice of bankruptcy law is scheduled virtually for Thursday, June 6, 2024, from Noon to 1:15 p.m. via Zoom. LOGIN INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FIRST 100 WHO RSVP. Judge McEwen's special guest for this program is Chief Judge Caryl E. Delano.

Program Title: ONE WHITE BOARD: A FAST-PACED OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRESSION OF A CHAPTER 11 CASE AND WHAT CODE SECTIONS ARE IMPLICATED AT EACH STAGE

Click HERE to view the full announcement.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida is soliciting bids for a cyclical maintenance project in the Orlando Division for flooring and painting.

To be considered, all Bids must be received by Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

Click HERE to see the full public notice.

Click HERE to view the April 2024 edition.

Effective April 25, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court will issue and serve an Order Setting Deadline for Filing Response to Motion for Summary Judgment for all summary judgment motions filed in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings. The Order provides that responses to summary judgment motions must be filed within 21 days of the date of the Order, unless the Court has previously set a different briefing schedule.

The Court has removed Motions for Summary Judgment from the Negative Notice List and has included a comment to Local Rule 7001-1(k)(4)(F) to inform readers, pending an upcoming amendment to the rule, that motions for summary judgment are no longer eligible for negative notice.

The Middle District of Florida has revised its Legal Assistance Program (LAP) to supplement the types of matters eligible for pro bono services by a volunteer attorney under the LAP. The following types of matters are eligible for referral to a volunteer attorney under the LAP:

• Adversary proceedings or motions relating to the debtor's entitlement to a discharge and/or the dischargeability of a debt, including motions for a hardship discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 1328(b).


• Contested matters concerning the debtor's claimed exemptions.


• Representation of spouses and former spouses of debtors in connection with the dischargeability of obligations under marital settlement agreements and/or judgments for the dissolution of marriage.


• Representation of an individual defendant in an action to recover money or property under 11 U.S.C. §§ 542, 544, or 547 - 550.

In addition, if circumstances warrant, the Bankruptcy Judge assigned to the case may refer a party to LAP.

The Court maintains a list of attorneys who have volunteered to accept a request to serve as a pro bono attorney for a qualifying low-income individual. We hope that all attorneys will consider volunteering for the LAP.

Click HERE for more information on the LAP.

Click HERE for the Attorney Volunteer Form.

The next session of Judge McEwen's mentoring program for lawyers new to the practice of bankruptcy law is scheduled virtually for Wednesday, March 27, 2024, from Noon to 1:15 p.m. via Zoom. LOGIN INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FIRST 100 WHO RSVP. Judge McEwen's special guests for this program are: Jeffrey Hakanson, Esq.; Grace Anne Monnig, Assistant United States Attorney; Pam Arciola, Courtroom Deputy; Acel Masar, IT Tech; and a Special "Ghost" Appearance.

Program Title: HODGE PODGE FOR $400

Click HERE to view the full announcement.

Click HERE to view the January 2024 edition.

The judges of the Middle District of Florida have posted their procedures governing court appearances (including remote access by video and telephone) on their individual webpages, located at www.flmb.uscourts.gov/judges. In addition, the Court has revised its form Notices of Hearing to direct parties to the assigned judge's webpage for procedures governing court appearances. Judge Funk will continue to use CourtCall for telephonic appearances. All other judges will use Zoom for both video and telephonic appearances. NOTE: In accordance with the broadcast policy of the Judicial Conference of the United States, effective September 22, 2023, non-parties (i.e., members of the press or the public) are permitted audio access only to civil and bankruptcy proceedings in non-trial proceedings. Members of the press and the public may attend all hearings in person.

Click HERE for the updated Notice of Hearing procedure.

Click HERE for a sample form Notice of Hearing (bankruptcy case).

Click HERE for a sample form Notice of Hearing (adversary proceeding).

Attorneys and laypersons in need of assistance on December 26 may contact the Orlando Division clerk's office, which will remain open to the public.

The Court has entered Administrative Order FLMB-2023-3, effective in Chapter 13 cases filed on or after December 4, 2023, The Court has also revised the Model Chapter 13 Plan and Order Confirming Plan, effective December 4, 2023. The revisions conform the Administrative Order, the Model Plan, and the Order Confirming Plan to the Middle District's current Chapter 13 procedures; facilitate more uniform Chapter 13 procedures; and make the procedures more understandable for practitioners, debtors, and creditors.

Click HERE for Chief Judge Delano's December 4, 2023 memorandum outlining the revisions to the Administrative Order, Model Chapter 13 Plan, and Order Confirming Plan.

Click HERE for the Administrative Order with revisions highlighted.

Click HERE for the Model Plan (PDF) with revisions highlighted.

Click HERE for the Model Plan (Word) with revisions highlighted.

Click HERE for the Order Confirming Plan (PDF) with revisions highlighted.

Congress has taken no action on the proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Bankruptcy, and Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence, adopted by the Supreme Court and transmitted to Congress on April 24, 2023. Under the Rules Enabling Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-75, rules take effect today, December 1, 2023.

Click HERE for the adjusted Miscellaneous Fee Schedule

Click HERE for the Amended Official Forms

Click HERE or the Rules of Practice and Procedure Effective December 1, 2023

Click HERE for a Summary of the Amendments to the Forms and Rules