When you file for bankruptcy, a “Trustee” is appointed to your case.
It’s essential to understand the role of the trustee and who they “work” for.
Although the court appoints the trustee, the trustee’s job is to get as much property as possible to be sold and the proceeds distributed equitably to your unsecured creditors, according to “priority” rules — determining who gets paid first — under federal and state law.
Almost all of your dealings with the bankruptcy court will be with the trustee assigned to your administering your case, not the bankruptcy judge.
The bankruptcy judge is only there to rule on disputed legal issues and issue your “discharge” order — the piece of paper that officially cancels your debts upon completing a successful filing — which is the ultimate goal of bankruptcy.
What does the Trustee do in a Chapter 7 case?
Bankruptcy Code § 323 states that the trustee is the representative of the “bankruptcy estate” with the capacity to sue and be sued.
The Bankruptcy Code defines the trustee’s duties and obligations:
- Section 704 defines the statutory duties of the trustee in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, and, under § 704, the primary task of the trustee is to “reduce to money the property of the estate for which such trustee serves” that is: to “liquidate” the assets and distribute the proceeds to your creditors. (Note this the job in Chapter 7 (“liquidation”) bankruptcy is different than it is in Chapter 13 (“pay over five years”) bankruptcy.
- Other relevant duties include ensuring that the debtor performs their intention (regarding secured debts) as specified in § 521(a)(2)(B) (See debtor’s “statement of intention” as provided in Form ____),
- investigate the financial affairs of the debtor (see, “What is a 341 meeting?”),
- and “if advisable, oppose the discharge of the debtor.” (see “What kinds of debts can be discharged in bankruptcy?” and “Things that might make your bankruptcy case fail.")
How Are Trustees Paid?
Bankruptcy Code § 326 says that a trustee’s compensation is based upon a percentage of the property of the estate the trustee administers. As a result, a trustee has a financial incentive to maximize the property of the estate. Consequently, discussions or disputes with a Chapter 7 trustee will primarily focus on what is property of the estate.
How Trustees Can Increase the size of the “Bankruptcy Estate.”
The whole point of bankruptcy is ensuring everyone gets their rightful share of the “pie” when there’s not enough pie. Or, to put it a more legal way: to provide an orderly distribution of available assets (“the pie”) to all creditors based on the priority outlined in federal bankruptcy law.
The trustee’s job is to make that “pie” as large as legally possible. What follows is a list of ways they can try to do that.
Undoing “Preferential Transfers” That You Made Before Filing
One tool the trustee has is the authority to undo any “preferential transfers.” That is, any money or property you transferred to someone else just before (generally up to 180 days before) filing bankruptcy.
Under this power, the trustee will be very interested in undoing any recent repayments of debts you made to your relatives or friends just before you filed for bankruptcy, as these are called a “preference.”
The trustee can reverse these transactions (i.e., claw the money back) and reclaim it for the “bankruptcy estate” because, by repaying these people before just going bankrupt, you have “preferred” some people you owe money to over others -- and bankruptcy does not allow this, because bankruptcy law has strict rules about who gets priority when it comes to claiming any available assets you may have.
Wiping out invalid liens on your property to increase equity to be distributed to creditors
Suppose you own a house with a second mortgage or have several liens on your property. In that case, the trustee may look to “void” some of those liens if doing so will increase your home equity to the point that it is no longer fully protected by applicable homestead exemption laws.
Who Are the Trustees for Florida Middle District Bankruptcy Court?
To find the contact information for trustees in your state who handle Chapter 7 cases:
Click here for a list of Chapter 7 trustees for Florida from the US Department of Justice.
Once you bring up this list, find the Florida trustees for the Florida Middle District Bankruptcy Court.
FLORIDA
- Note: The individuals listed are private parties, not government employees.
-
TRUSTEE(S) COVERING THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
- Doreen R. Abbott
P.O. Box 56257
Jacksonville, FL 32241 -6257
E-mail: jaxtrustee@gmail.com
Phone: (904)886-9459
- Robert Altman
P.O. Box 922
Palatka, FL 32178 -0922
E-mail: robertaltman@bellsouth.net
Phone: (386)325-4691
Fax: (386)325-9765
- Gregory L. Atwater
P.O. Box 1815
Orange Park, FL 32073
E-mail: gregoryatwater@bellsouth.net
Phone: (904)264-2273
- Nicole Marie Cameron
235 Apollo Beach Blvd., #231
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
E-mail: trustee@tampabay.rr.com
Phone: (813) 645-8787
- Dawn A. Carapella
P.O. Box 67
Valrico, FL 33595 -0067
E-mail: dcarapellatrustee@gmail.com
Phone: (813) 685-8694
- Gene T. Chambers
P.O. Box 533987
Orlando, FL 32853 -3987
E-mail: gchamberspa@cfl.rr.com
Phone: (407)872-7575
- Carolyn R. Chaney
P.O. Box 530248
St. Petersburg, FL 33747 -0248
E-mail: carolyn.chaney@earthlink.net
Phone: (727)864-9851
- Aaron R. Cohen
P.O. Box 4218
Jacksonville, FL 32202
E-mail: acohen60@bellsouth.net
Phone: 904-389-7277
- Gregory K. Crews
8584 Arlington Expressway
Jacksonville, FL 32211
Phone: (904)354-1750
- Richard Michael Dauval
P.O. Box 13607
St. Petersburg, FL 33733 -3607
E-mail: rdauval@leavenlaw.com
Phone: (727) 362-9003
Fax: (727) 327-3305
- Marie E. Henkel
3560 S. Magnolia Avenue
Orlando, FL 32806
Phone: (407)438-6738
- Christine L. Herendeen
P.O. Box 152348
Tampa, FL 33684
E-mail: clherendeen@herendeenlaw.com
Phone: (813) 438-3833
- Larry S. Hyman
P.O. Box 18614
Tampa, FL 33679
E-mail: larry@larryhymancpa.com
Phone: (813)875-2701
- Gordon P. Jones
P.O. Box 600459
Jacksonville, FL 32260 -0459
E-mail: office@jaxtrustee.com
Phone: (904)262-7373
- Dennis D. Kennedy
P.O. Box 541848
Merritt Island, FL 32954
E-mail: dan@ddkennedy.com
Phone: (321) 455-9744
Fax: (321) 445-9888
- Arvind Mahendru
5703 Red Bug Lake Rd. #284
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Phone: (407) 504-2462
- Stephen L. Meininger
707 North Franklin Street
Suite 850
Tampa, FL 33602
E-mail: slmeininger@earthlink.net
Phone: (813)301-1025
Fax: (813)307-0879
- Douglas N. Menchise
P.O. Box 14957
Clearwater, FL 33766
E-mail: dmenchise@verizon.net
Phone: (727) 797-8384
Fax: (727) 797-8019
- Carla P. Musselman
1150 SW Chapman Way
Unit 310
Palm City, FL 34990
Phone: (407)657-4951
Fax: (407)644-4306
- Emerson C. Noble
P.O. Box 622798
Oviedo, FL 32762 -2798
E-mail: trusteenoble@outlook.com
Phone: (407) 628-9300
- Lori Patton
P.O. Box 520547
Longwood, FL 32752
E-mail: trustee@trusteepatton.com
Phone: (407) 937-0936
- Luis E. Rivera, II
P.O. Box 1026
Fort Myers, FL 33902 -0280
E-mail: trustee.rivera@gray-robinson.com
Phone: (239) 254-8466
Fax: (239) 321-5334
- Beth Ann Scharrer
P.O. Box 4550
Seminole, FL 33775
E-mail: BScharrerTrustee@gmail.com
Phone: (727)392-8031
- Traci K. Stevenson
P.O. Box 86690
Madeira Beach, FL 33738
E-mail: tracikstevenson@gmail.com
Phone: (727)397-4838
- Robert E. Tardif, Jr.
P.O. Box 2140
Fort Myers, FL 33902
E-mail: rtardif@comcast.net
Phone: (239)362-2755
Fax: (239)362-2756
- Richard B. Webber, II
P.O. Box 3000
Orlando, FL 32802
E-mail: rwebber@zkslawfirm.com
Phone: (407) 425-7010
- Angela Welch
12191 W. Linebaugh Ave. #401
Tampa, FL 33626
E-mail: welchtrustee@gmail.com
Phone: (813) 814-0836
- Doreen R. Abbott
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TRUSTEE(S) COVERING THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
- Theresa M. Bender
P.O. Box 14557
Tallahassee, FL 32317
E-mail: tmbenderch7@gmail.com
Phone: (850)205-7777
- Sherry F. Chancellor
619 W. Chase Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
E-mail: Sherry.Chancellor@yahoo.com
Phone: (850)436 8445
- Marybeth W. Colon
P. O. Box 14596
Tallahassee, FL 32317
E-mail: TRUSTEE@MARYCOLON.COM
Phone: (850) 241-0144
Fax: (850) 702-0735
- Karin A. Garvin
1801 W. Garden Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
E-mail: kgarvin@kgarvinlaw.com
Phone: (850)437-5577
- Theresa M. Bender
-
TRUSTEE(S) COVERING THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
- Roberto A. Angueira
16 SW 1st Avenue
Miami, FL 33130
E-mail: trustee@rabankruptcy.com
Phone: (305) 263-3328
- Michael R. Bakst
P.O. Box 407
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
E-mail: baksttrustee@gmlaw.com
Phone: (561)838-4539
Fax: (561)514-3439
- Marc P. Barmat
2255 Glades Road, Suite 419A
Boca Raton, FL 33431
E-mail: barmat.trustee@furrcohen.com
Phone: (561) 395-0500
Fax: (561) 338 7532
- Scott N. Brown
SunTrust International Center
1 SE 3rd Avenue – Suite #2410
Miami, FL 33131
E-mail: sbrown@bastamron.com
Phone: (305) 379-7904
Fax: (305) 379-7905
- Jacqueline Calderin
1825 Ponce de Leon Blvd #358
Coral Gables, FL 33134
E-mail: calderintrustee@gmail.com
Phone: (786) 369-8440
Fax: (786) 369-8523
- Drew M. Dillworth
2200 Museum Tower
150 W. Flagler St.
Miami, FL 33130
E-mail: DDillworth@stearnsweaver.com
Phone: (305)789-3598
Fax: (305)789-3395
- Marcia T. Dunn
66 West Flagler Street
Suite 400
Miami, FL 33130
E-mail: mdunn@dunnlawpa.com
Phone: (786) 433-3866
Fax: (786) 260-0269
- Robert C. Furr
2255 Glades Road, Suite 419A
Boca Raton, FL 33431
E-mail: trustee@furrtrustee.com
Phone: (561)395-1840
Fax: (561)338-7532
- Ross R. Hartog
P.O. Box 14306
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302
E-mail: trustee@mrthlaw.com
Phone: (954) 767-0030
- Soneet R. Kapila
1000 S. Federal Highway, Suite 200
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
E-mail: trustee@kapilaco.com
Phone: (954) 761-1011
Fax: (954)761-1033
- Nicole Testa Mehdipour
6278 North Federal Highway
Suite 408
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
E-mail: trustee@ntmlawfirm.com
Phone: (954) 858-5880
Fax: (954) 208-0888
- Deborah C. Menotte
P.O. Box 211087
West Palm Beach, FL 33421
E-mail: dmenotte@gmail.com
Phone: (561)795-9640
- Barry E. Mukamal
1 SE Third Avenue, Ste. 2150
Miami, FL 33131
E-mail: bemtrustee@kapilamukamal.com
Phone: (786) 517-5760
Fax: (786) 517-5772
- Leslie S. Osborne
1300 N. Federal Hwy
Suite 203
Boca Raton, FL 33432
E-mail: Les@rorlawfirm.com
Phone: (561)368-2200
Fax: (561)338-0350
- Chad S. Paiva
6526 S. Kanner Highway, #376
Stuart, FL 34997
E-mail: trustee.paiva@gmail.com
Phone: (561) 762-4118
- Sonya Salkin Slott
P.O. Box 15580
Plantation, FL 33318
E-mail: sls@msbankrupt.com
Phone: (954)423-4469
Fax: (954)423-4479
- Joel L. Tabas
25 S.E. 2nd Ave., Suite 248
Miami, FL 33131
E-mail: jtabas@tabassilver.com
Phone: (305) 375-8171
Fax: (305) 381-7708
- Kenneth A. Welt
4581 Weston Road - #355
Suite 1000
Weston, FL 33331
Phone: (954) 761-5161
Fax: (954) 606-9867
- Maria M. Yip
One Biscayne Tower
2 S. Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2690
Miami, FL 33131
E-mail: trustee@yipcpa.com
Phone: (305) 787-3750
Fax: (786) 800-3903
- Roberto A. Angueira