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Legal Assistance Program for the Middle District of Florida

Message from Chief Judge Caryl E. Delano

Attorney Volunteer Form

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida has established a legal assistance program to enable low-income individual debtors (and in some instances their spouses and former spouses) and low-income individual creditors to receive free legal services in certain cases. The legal assistance program applies to the following types of contested matters and proceedings:

- 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.

Bankruptcy Judges may also suggest appointment of pro bono counsel for pro se parties in other matters and proceedings if circumstances warrant.

Referrals to the legal assistance program are made at the request of the Bankruptcy Judge to whom the bankruptcy case has been assigned or at the written request of an individual debtor, the spouse/former spouse of the debtor, or an individual creditor. Attorneys who have volunteered their services under this program are then contacted for assignment to the adversary proceeding or contested matter.