Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Port St. Lucie: A Lifeline for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure

Discover how Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Port St. Lucie can be a powerful legal tool to stop a foreclosure, protect your home, and provide a realistic path to financial stability.

In Port St. Lucie, it doesn’t take a financial catastrophe to fall behind on your mortgage. At Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd, our bankruptcy attorneys routinely meet families who are doing “just fine” until a sudden job loss, overwhelming medical bills, a divorce, rising adjustable-rate mortgage payments, or credit card and personal loan debt suddenly snowballs out of control.

Missed payments quickly turn into default notices and, before long, a foreclosure lawsuit. Meanwhile, interest, late fees, and legal costs pile up.

You’re not alone. As of October 2025, Florida has the highest foreclosure rate in the United States, with one in every 1,829 housing units having a foreclosure filing. Florida also has the greatest number of foreclosure starts across all states. 

If you’re behind on your mortgage and worried about a foreclosure sale date, Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a powerful tool to protect your home and give you a structured path to catch up.

What Is Chapter 13 bankruptcy and how can it stop foreclosure?  

Chapter 13 is often called a “wage earner’s reorganization plan.” It’s designed for individuals and couples with regular income who can pay something toward their debts over time, but need breathing room and court protection to do it.

For homeowners facing foreclosure, the key features are:

1. Automatic stay: Immediate halt to foreclosure

When you file a Chapter 13 case, a legal protection called the automatic stay goes into effect immediately. This stay generally stops:

• Foreclosure lawsuits and scheduled foreclosure sales
• Collection calls and letters
• Wage garnishments and most other collection actions

In most situations, this means the foreclosure process on your home must stop as soon as your case is filed, giving you time to propose a plan to cure your mortgage arrears.

Important: If a foreclosure sale has already been completed before filing, Chapter 13 may not be able to get the home back. Timing matters, which is why you should talk to a bankruptcy attorney early.

2. Catching up on missed mortgage payments

Chapter 13 doesn’t wipe out your mortgage, but it lets you catch up on past-due amounts over a 3–5 year repayment plan while you continue making your regular monthly mortgage payments going forward.

In a typical case:

• You keep paying your current mortgage payment each month.
• Your past-due payments, fees, and certain other costs are spread out through your Chapter 13 plan.
• As long as you stay current on both, your lender generally cannot move forward with foreclosure.

For many Port St. Lucie homeowners, this is the difference between losing a home and having a realistic path to keep it.

3. Managing other debts at the same time

Chapter 13 also lets you reorganize other debts:

• Credit cards and personal loans
• Some medical bills
• Certain tax debts
• Car loans (sometimes with options to catch up or restructure)

Depending on your income, expenses, and assets, you may pay these debts in full, in part, or in some cases not at all, with remaining balances discharged at the end of your plan. By wrapping everything into one court-supervised plan, Chapter 13 can simplify your financial life while protecting your home.

Is Chapter 13 bankruptcy right for you?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a lifeline, but it’s not for everyone. It may be a good fit if:

• You want to keep your home and are behind on payments
• You have regular income (wages, business income, retirement, etc.)
• You can realistically afford your ongoing mortgage plus a monthly payment to the Chapter 13 trustee
• You have significant non-exempt assets you’d lose in Chapter 7 (e.g., equity above Florida exemptions)
• You need tools that Chapter 7 can’t offer, such as curing long-term mortgage arrears over time

On the other hand, Chapter 13 bankruptcy might not be the best option if:

• Your income is too low or too unstable to support a repayment plan
• You have little or no home equity and don’t plan to keep the property
• Your total debt or mortgage situation doesn’t fit Chapter 13 requirements

The decision is highly fact-specific, and the wrong choice can have serious consequences. That’s why a one-on-one review with a local bankruptcy attorney is so important.

How we help Port St. Lucie homeowners facing foreclosure

At Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd, our bankruptcy department, led by attorney Colin Lloyd, has helped hundreds of Treasure Coast residents navigate these exact issues.

When you come to us about a potential Chapter 13, here’s what you can expect:

• Clear explanations: We’ll walk you through how Chapter 13 works, what the automatic stay can do in your situation, and what your payment plan might look like.

• Foreclosure timeline review: We’ll review where your case is in the foreclosure process, any sale dates, and what options are still available under Florida and federal law.

• Customized repayment strategy: We’ll help design a Chapter 13 plan that aims to:
  • Catch up on missed mortgage payments
  • Deal efficiently with other debts
  • Protect important assets as much as possible

• Local experience, local courts: Our firm has been serving Port St. Lucie and the surrounding Treasure Coast communities for decades. We’re familiar with local court procedures and how trustees and mortgage lenders typically approach Chapter 13 cases in this area.

• Support from start to finish: Chapter 13 is a process that lasts several years, and we don’t just file your case and disappear. Our team is here to help you stay on track, address motions from creditors, and adjust your plan if life changes along the way.

Talk with a Port St. Lucie Chapter 13 Attorney about saving your home

Call 866-930-6435 to speak with our bankruptcy attorneys—completely free and confidential!

If you’re in Port St. Lucie and worried about foreclosure, you don’t have to face it alone—or guess at your options based on something you read online. The best next step is to speak directly with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can look at your specific facts, deadlines, and goals.

At Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd, we offer free consultations to review your situation, explain how Chapter 13 and other options might apply, and help you decide on a strategy to protect your home and rebuild your financial life.

Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation by calling 866-930-6435.