Orlando law firm adds student loan discharge cases after new bankruptcy program

Juan Burgos Law is now taking Central Florida clients seeking to discharge federal student loans in bankruptcy after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida launched a new program in 2026. The move gives borrowers a more standardized path to test whether their debt can be discharged through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 cases.

Why it matters: - The new court program gives some borrowers a clearer process to seek discharge of federal student loans inside bankruptcy. - The change matters most for people facing long-term hardship, default, or limited repayment options. - More than 9 million federal student loan borrowers were in default nationwide as of March 2026, and another 8.4 million were in forbearance.

What happened: - Juan Burgos Law began representing Central Florida clients in student loan discharge cases after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida launched its Student Loan Discharge Program. - The program was established under Administrative Order FLMB-2026-3 on July 16, 2026, and clarified under Amended Administrative Order FLMB-2026-4 on August 4, 2026. - The program creates a standardized process for borrowers to seek discharge of federal student loans held by the U.S. Department of Education through an existing or new Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.

The details: - Federal courts can discharge student loan debt only if a borrower shows undue hardship under Section 523(a)(8) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. - In the Eleventh Circuit, courts use the three-part Brunner test. - The test examines whether a debtor can maintain a minimal standard of living, whether that financial condition is likely to continue, and whether the borrower made good-faith efforts to repay. - Discharge happens through a separate adversary proceeding within the bankruptcy case. - Juan C. Burgos said the program gives Central Florida borrowers a documented path, but discharge still requires a bankruptcy case and proof of undue hardship. - Juan Burgos Law published a free online screener that walks users through the same three-factor hardship test used by the courts. - The firm’s process explanation is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. - Burgos represents bankruptcy clients directly in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. - The firm handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, including student loan discharge matters, before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. - More information is available at the firm’s student loan bankruptcy page, with a Spanish-language version at the Spanish-language screener. - Consultations can be scheduled online or by calling (407) 505-4190.

Between the lines: - The court program does not erase student loans automatically. - Borrowers still have to fit a legal hardship standard, which means results will vary case by case. - The free screener is aimed at helping people gauge whether their situation may qualify before they file anything. - Burgos said many borrowers still believe student loans can never be discharged, but that view is outdated.

What’s next: - Borrowers in Central Florida can now use the new court process and the firm’s screener to evaluate whether bankruptcy-based discharge may be an option. - The next step for any borrower remains a case-specific legal review of loan type, income and hardship before filing. - Juan Burgos Law says it will continue handling discharge matters in the Middle District of Florida.

The bottom line: - The new federal court program opens a formal path for some student loan borrowers, but discharge still depends on proving undue hardship inside bankruptcy.