Buried in Credit Card Debt? There is a Way Out

Credit card debt is a serious issue that continues to grow each year in the United States. Figures by the Federal Reserve demonstrate that the average American has four credit cards and has access to approximately $19,000 in combined credit card funds. Last year, U.S. citizens carried more than $886 billion in credit card debt – this according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This astounding number is expected to grow to $1.177 trillion this year.


Credit cards get swiped more than most Americans realize. From the grocery store to the gas pump, from the mall, to cell phone bills, Americans are always bringing out their credit card. Before people know it, they’ve spent more on their plastic card than their bank account can support. Many people try to pay off their debt using their own means, such as making monthly minimum payments or taking money from their savings account. However, these solutions don't always work and many are still left buried deep in credit card debt. Fortunately, there are solutions.


You can file for bankruptcy. Although, most view filing for bankruptcy as a desperate measure, to be avoided at all costs, bankruptcy is a solution to solving your credit card debt issue. It can even come with several benefits.


For starters, filing for bankruptcy will immediately dig you out of your debt hole. Your debt will be liquidated to creditors, and you will no longer have to be concerned about paying off bills. In addition, you will no longer have to receive repetitive, annoying phone calls from creditors about your payments. This means, no more threats about facing the consequence of losing personal assets, such as home furniture and your car.


Once you're out of debt, you have the opportunity to start fresh. Your previous bad payment history is eliminated and you can now improve your credit score. Since you've already been down the road of bad spending habits before, you can make educated decisions about how you spend your money moving forward.


If you're ready to live without the burden of trying to pay off your large amount of credit card debt, then speak to a Jacksonville bankruptcy lawyer, from our law offices today. We have the most talented team of bankruptcy lawyers in the state and look forward to helping you climb out of debt.

Jacksonville Bankruptcy Court is One of the Busiest in the Nation

The Jacksonville bankruptcy court is part of one of the largest bankruptcy divisions in the nation. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Florida, which oversees metropolitan areas such as Jacksonville, Orlando, Fort Myers and Tampa, hear more than 60,000 cases a year. The district covers 25 of the state’s 67 counties and ranks in the top five among districts nationwide in volume.

The Middle District is the second busiest in the country behind the Los Angeles district, according to Chief Judge Paul Glenn. Double-digit unemployment in the wake of economic crises yielded 2010’s record year of 66,618 filings within the district.

The reasons behind the high volume of claims are varying. The biggest is the sheer size of the district. Stretching from Jacksonville to Fort Myers, the district covers some of the largest urban areas in the state. Not only is it a large area, it’s a diverse area consisting of the tourist mega city Orlando, the industrial and financial cities of Jacksonville and Tampa, the retirement area of Fort Myers, and, of course, the agricultural areas between them. Florida’s population has also has been increasing and the Middle District jurisdiction area has made up for 70 percent of the state’s population increase. So, as the population rises, so will the bankruptcy numbers. Overall in 2006, only California Central District (18 million people) had a bigger population than the Middle District’s 10 million – which is even bigger at five years of population increase.

Of course, the filings did decline after the passing of Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, but they have since risen and peaked last year. This is all in the wake of the economic recession that has not only hit Florida and the United States, but also the world.

During the first half of this year, bankruptcy claims have decreased, including Jacksonville bankruptcy claims. However, they are expected to increase during the second half. Chapter 7 liquidations were down 16 percent and remained to be 75 percent of all bankruptcy filings. Chapter 11 reorganizations fell nearly 28 percent, accounting for about 12 percent of total filings.

The courts are certainly busy along with bankruptcy attorneys in Jacksonville. Here are some rankings of the Middle District as compared to other courts nationally:

- In Chapter 11 claims the Middle district is ranked fourth behind Central California, Southern New York and Delaware. 
- In Chapter 7, the Middle District is ranked third behind Central California and Northern Illinois.  
- In Chapter 13, the Middle District is ranked second behind Central California.  
- The Middle district ranks second in total business fillings  
- The Middle District is second busiest in cases per judge, only Detroit is higher due to that area’s hard hit times.