Bankruptcy Attorney in Melbourne, Florida
(321) 821-7440
Why Bowin Law Group?
Attorney Beau Bowin was born and raised in Melbourne, FL, and has been representing families in Brevard County since 2009. As a Melbourne, Florida bankruptcy attorney, Beau was nominated by his peers as a Rising Star in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014), a nationally recognized attorney ranking directory published by Thomson Reuters, an honor limited to less than 2% of practicing attorneys. Beau is one of only a few attorneys in all of Brevard County nominated for such honors. Beau also received a 10.0 ranking on AVVO, a leading client review publication.
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Attorney Bowin has counseled thousands of Brevard County residents on the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy processes. Our firm is dedicated to providing compassionate, expert guidance to help you regain financial stability. We've discharged millions of dollars of credit card and other debt for our clients. We serve all of Brevard County, including Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, and the Beaches. I am here to protect your future.
We are Brevard's Hometown Law Group, serving Satellite Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, and all of Brevard County.
Comprehensive Bankruptcy Services in Melbourne and Palm Bay, FL
Bankruptcy can offer a fresh start by eliminating debt or restructuring payments to fit your budget. I specialize in:
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Discharge unsecured debts like credit card balances or medical bills for a clean slate. Ideal for individuals with limited income seeking debt relief.
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Create affordable repayment plans to manage debts while protecting assets like your home or car. Perfect for those with steady income facing foreclosure or overwhelming payments.
- Foreclosure Defense: Protect your Brevard County home from foreclosure with tailored legal strategies.
Whether you’re in Melbourne, Viera, or Rockledge, I provide personalized solutions to stop creditor harassment, wage garnishments, and financial stress.
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What’s the Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
When most people use the word “bankruptcy,” they’re referring to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. To be eligible for Chapter 7, your family income cannot exceed the Florida median income for families of a similar size. If you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can discharge unpaid credit cards, medical bills, certain kinds of loans, and other forms of unsecured debt. If your income is too high, you can file for bankruptcy under Chapter 13. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is often referred to as a reorganization bankruptcy. Also known as a “wage earner” bankruptcy, Chapter 13 may be the right choice for you if you have a regular income, because it provides a means to repay your debts over time. Under Chapter 13, your debt will be restructured in order to allow you to pay off a percentage of what you owe over a 3 or 5-year period.
If you are facing foreclosure in Brevard County, there is a very big distinction between a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you are behind on your mortgage payments, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy will usually not save your home. Unless you can bring your past-due mortgage payment current immediately, the bank will still be able to take your home if you file Chapter 7.
If you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be able to save your home from foreclosure even if you can’t immediately bring your past-due mortgage payments current. Chapter 13 allows you to save your home by making your regular monthly mortgage payments, plus a little extra every month to bring your mortgage current. These extra payments are called “cure payments” because you are “curing” your past defaults. The amount of your monthly cure payments depends on how far behind you are on your past mortgage payments. The greater the amount of your past defaults, the larger your monthly cure payments will be. Because Chapter 13 gives you 3-5 years to cure your past defaults, your cure payments are usually pretty low. If you can afford to do so, you always have the option of curing your defaults much sooner than 3-5 years. Once you have completed your cure payment and you are current on your mortgage, you just continue to make your normal monthly mortgage payments as if your past defaults never occurred.
The Brevard County bankruptcy lawyers at the Bowin Law Group will discuss each particular situation with you to determine whether filing under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 will be a better option for you, taking into account both short-term and long-term goals. If you are considering filing bankruptcy, contact the Bowin Law Group for a free consultation.
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You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Filing Bankruptcy if You Are Overwhelmed by Debt.
Bankruptcy laws are in place for a purpose. The laws exist to help people like you get the relief they need. In 2025, there were more than 40,000 bankruptcies filed in the Orlando bankruptcy court, which is the court that serves Brevard County. Approximately 2/3 of these filings were Chapter 7, and 1/3 were Chapter 13.
If you live in Brevard County, Florida and are considering bankruptcy as an option to eliminate your debt, it is important that you consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. The Bowin Law Group can explain how the bankruptcy laws apply to your specific circumstances and help you effectively eliminate your debt.
When you contact a bankruptcy lawyer at the Bowin Law Group, we will give you honest advice about your financial situation. If filing under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is going to benefit you, then we will let you know and tell you how we can help you through the entire process. If bankruptcy is not the best option for you, we'll help point you in the right direction.
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Can Only One Spouse File for Bankruptcy?
When one spouse has incurred debt in his or her name only, he or she can file for bankruptcy without requiring their spouse to do so as well. However, where spouses have joint debts, the non-filing spouse will still be liable for those joint debts. Where the spouses’ joint debts are large, it may be advisable that both spouses file bankruptcy to discharge both spouses from liability for their joint debts.
If you or your spouse needs to file for bankruptcy, contact the Bowin Law Group today to schedule an appointment to discuss your case. We can order a credit report, evaluate your financial situation, and determine the best course of action available to you.
When Only One Spouse Decides to File for Chapter 7
While only one spouse may be filing for bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court will consider the non-filing spouse’s income to determine if the filing spouse is eligible to file for Chapter 7. The income of both spouses will be reported on bankruptcy forms. If both spouses’ combined income is more than the median household income in your region, the filing spouse may have to file under Chapter 13.
When One Spouse Must File Under Chapter 13
If the household income of a filing spouse disqualifies him or her for Chapter 7, he or she can still file under Chapter 13. Under Chapter 13, the filing spouse will create a monthly payment plan by which the filing spouse proposes to repay his or her debts, usually at a substantial discount to the amount actually owed on the debts. While the non-filing spouse will not be involved in the Chapter 13 repayment plan, his or her income will be considered when determining how much the filing spouse can afford to pay under the proposed plan.
The Effect on the Non-Filing Spouse’s Credit Score
Any debt carried by one spouse that is his or hers alone will not appear on the other spouse's credit report. Additionally, bankruptcy on the part of one spouse should not appear on the credit report of a non-filing spouse unless they have joint debt together.
If you need additional information regarding your bankruptcy options, contact the Bowin Law Group today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
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We File Bankruptcy for Families Throughout Brevard County
Although Bowin Law Group was founded as a Melbourne, FL based law firm, we represent families throughout Brevard County, including Palm Bay, Cocoa, Rockledge, Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor Beach and Indialantic. Call us today for a Free Phone Consultation at (321) 821-7440.
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The Bowin Law Group - Brevard's Hometown Law Group.
