Florida Unemployment Rates Highest in Years
In recent months Florida has recorded an unemployment rate higher than the national average, and one of the highest unemployment rates it has had in years. Unemployment is presently hovering around 7.1 percent. Last year it was around only 4 percent. This is certainly something that could impact bankruptcy filings. The Bartlett Law Firm has seen the number of bankruptcy consultations rise. Much of the problem in Florida likely stems from its higher than average economic reliance on the real estate market, where prices have plummeted in percentage terms at rates not seen in decades. The Orlando area, while critically impacted, does not appear to have been impacted as greatly as certain cities along the Florida coastlines, especially Miami-Dade and north along the east coast, and portions of Tampa. During these stressful times for many, our firm has been instrumental in helping many people not only file for bankruptcy, but also save their homes, and protect their cars from repossession.
Sometimes, the best thing for a client is actually not to file for bankruptcy. We have had clients come to us for our free consultation almost demanding bankruptcy, and in all honesty we had to inform them they were simply not a good candidate. This is part of our job as a lawyer, to assess what is in the best interest of our clientelle.
Sometimes the better solution was to work out a negotiation with their mortgage lender, or defend a foreclosure proceeding that was already instituted against them. We have been successful in helping our clients negotiate better terms on their loans, and in vigorously defending their possessions from seizure. Our goal is to make our client ultimately happy with the results they obtain, and advise them on how to get there.
