By: Guest Contributor Leyza B. Florin, Chair Lawyers Advisory Committee

The Lawyers Advisory Committee (LAC) for the Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court was formed in 2018 to provide a forum for communication, feedback, and resources between the judges and the bar. Its purpose includes regularly soliciting the bar for commentary regarding bankruptcy practice and receiving requests from the court to consider issues arising from the practice of law before the Court.

The LAC may recommend changes in the practice and procedures throughout the district and also acts as a liaison between the Court and the practitioners. In addition, the LAC is charged with the development, implementation, and maintenance of bankruptcy-related programs in the district as requested by the Court. To view samples of issues addressed by the LAC, please visit the LAC web page to view meeting minutes.

The LAC is only as successful as the bankruptcy bar makes it. We are dependent on you to contact LAC members with any concerns or suggestions that you might have about bankruptcy practice in our district. The success of our bankruptcy practice in the Southern District of Florida is our absolute priority. If you have any recommendations which will improve the Court’s administration of justice, please reach out to a member of the LAC or contact us at LAC@flsb.uscourts.gov. We encourage you to participate by submitting feedback for consideration and assist the LAC in making our bankruptcy practice in the Southern District of Florida the best it can be.

BANKRUPTCY RULES AND FORMS ARE AMENDED EFFECTIVE 12/1/19 

Amendments to the federal rules and forms scheduled to take effect 12/1/19 and can be reviewed at the U.S. Courts website at these links:

Pending Rules and Forms AmendmentsPending Changes in Bankruptcy Forms

If any of the above amendments necessitate changes in this court’s local rules, local forms, court guidelines, clerk’s instructions or any other local documents, notice will be provided prior to the December 1, 2019, effective date of the bankruptcy rules and forms amendments.

COURT GUIDELINES FOR ATTORNEYS FOR CHAPTER 13 DEBTORS AMENDED 

Please take notice that the “Guidelines for Compensation for Professional Services or Reimbursement of Expenses by Attorneys for Chapter 13 Debtors Pursuant to Local Rule 2016-1(B)(2)(a)” have been amended to reflect an increase in the compensation fee that an attorney may charge without application to the court.

The “no-look” fee will increase from $3,500 to $4,500 for all cases filed under or converted to chapter 13 on or after September 1, 2019. A Public Notice and amended “Guidelines” are currently posted on the court website.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL RULES PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES FEBRUARY 19, 2020

On August 19, 2019, the Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, and Civil Rules published proposed amendments to their respective rules and forms and requested that the proposals be circulated to the bar and public for comment.

Appellate Rules: 3, 6, 42, and Forms 1 and 2;    Bankruptcy Rules: 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036;    Civil Rule: 7.1

The proposed amendments, rules committee reports explaining the proposed changes, and instructions on how to submit comments are posted on the U.S. Courts website  at:

Proposed Amendments Published Comments

The public comment period closes on February 19, 2020. If approved, the amendments would become effective December 1, 2021.

Click here to read the full article.