Update, November 5, 2026: More than nine months later, the pause continues: on October 29, 2026, the Department of Education told Yahoo Finance that involuntary collections remain paused, although the Treasury Department is reportedly looking to hire private debt collectors to restart them. Borrowers should receive notice before wages are garnished (30 days in advance) or federal benefits are offset (65 days).

Borrowers with defaulted federal student loans received a reprieve on January 16, 2026. The U.S. Department of Education announced that it will delay involuntary collections on federal student loans, including Administrative Wage Garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program [1]. For Florida workers who were bracing for smaller paychecks this month, the announcement buys time. It does not make the debt go away.

What Changed, and What Did Not

The reversal came quickly. In December, officials had said wage garnishment would restart in January, with initial notices going to 1,000 borrowers the week of January 7 [2]. The Department now says the temporary delay will allow it to implement repayment reforms under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act [1].

Several points are important for borrowers to understand:

• The pause is temporary. The Department did not set a new date for involuntary collections [2].
• Both garnishment and offsets are affected. The Treasury Offset Program can be used to take some or all of a borrower’s federal payments, including tax refunds and Social Security benefits [3].
• Credit reporting continues. The Department reports student loan defaults to credit reporting agencies, which may harm borrowers’ credit reports [1].

A federal student loan is generally considered in default when the borrower is at least 270 days behind on payments [2]. More than 5 million Americans were in default on federal student loans as of September, according to Department data cited by the Associated Press [2].

New Options Are Coming

The Department tied the delay to changes in the law. The Act reduces the number of federal repayment plans, giving borrowers a choice between a standard plan and an income-driven repayment plan [1]. The new income-driven plan, available beginning July 1, 2026, waives unpaid interest for borrowers who make on-time payments that do not fully cover accrued interest, and includes small matching payments from the Department in certain circumstances so that principal decreases each month [1].

The law also gives borrowers a second chance to rehabilitate a defaulted loan. Before the Act, borrowers were permitted only one rehabilitation [1]. The Department said the delay gives defaulted borrowers more time to begin the rehabilitation process, and more time to evaluate the new repayment options once they consolidate or complete a repayment or rehabilitation agreement [1].

Why This Matters in South Florida

Student debt is a national issue with local effects. More than 42 million Americans hold student loans, and outstanding balances exceed $1.6 trillion, according to the Congressional Research Service as cited by CNBC [3]. In a high-cost region like Miami-Dade and Broward, losing part of a paycheck or a tax refund can affect rent, insurance and car payments all at once.

Steps to Take During the Pause

The delay is best used as a window to act rather than a reason to wait:

1. Confirm the loan’s status. Borrowers should identify which loans are federal, which are private, and whether any are in default. The Department encourages defaulted borrowers to explore their options with the defaulted federal loan servicer [1].
2. Compare rehabilitation and consolidation. The Department describes both as paths for defaulted borrowers, and the second rehabilitation opportunity under the new law [1] may help borrowers who used rehabilitation before.
3. Plan around tax season. Because the Treasury Offset Program can reach tax refunds [3], borrowers should watch for any announcement that collections will resume.
4. Look at the whole budget. For many households, student loans are one part of a larger picture that includes credit cards, medical bills or a car loan. Addressing only one debt may not solve the problem.

When student loans are combined with other debts that have become unmanageable, a legal review of all options, including Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, can help a household decide which path makes sense.

Anyone in South Florida weighing their options can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, available in English and Spanish.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Education Delays Involuntary Collections Amid Ongoing Student Loan Repayment Improvements, U.S. Department of Education
2. Trump administration delays plan to withhold wages for student loan borrowers in default, Associated Press
3. Education Department to delay collections on defaulted student loans, CNBC
4. Student debt collection may be coming back: 5 steps to avoid wage garnishment, Yahoo Finance

General information as of November 5, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Millions of Americans have federal student loans in default, and for years the process of getting out of default ran on paper forms, mail and fax. On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new online Defaulted Loans Support Center on StudentAid.gov meant to change that [1]. A day earlier, the Department extended the enrollment window for a temporary 1 percent interest rate reduction for borrowers who use auto pay [2]. Together, the two announcements give borrowers in default a clearer path back to repayment, and they are worth understanding before collection activity reaches a paycheck or a tax refund.

What the new portal does

According to the Department, the Defaulted Loans Support Center lets borrowers with defaulted federal loans [1]:

• Read about the consequences of default;
• Compare the available paths out of default;
• Apply online for loan rehabilitation or consolidation;
• Make a payment on a defaulted loan; and
• Review repayment plans and loan discharge options.

Borrowers can complete a rehabilitation application online, upload documents, see an estimated payment, sign electronically and track progress without leaving StudentAid.gov [1]. The portal can be reached at studentaid.gov/default-support [1].

The Department described the scale of the problem in stark terms. It said more than 5 million borrowers have been in default for more than six years, and an additional 5 million went into default in less than a year [1]. It also reported a 69 percent increase in approved loan rehabilitation applications since the Education and Treasury partnership launched, and a 95 percent increase in consolidations out of default after a technical problem was corrected [1]. In beta testing, 89 percent of users said the application was easy to complete [1].

Rehabilitation or consolidation

The portal centers on the two main exits from default, and the choice between them is worth thinking through.

Rehabilitation is an agreement with the loan holder to make a series of payments, after which the loan returns to good standing [1]. Consolidation pays off the defaulted loans with a new Direct Consolidation Loan, which then goes into a repayment plan [1][2]. The Department’s guidance on the interest rate reduction notes that borrowers in default who want that benefit must log in to StudentAid.gov, consolidate their eligible loans, and apply for a new repayment plan before enrolling in auto pay [2].

The 1 percent auto pay reduction

On September 29, the Department extended the enrollment period for its temporary 1 percent interest rate reduction by three months [2]. Borrowers who enroll in auto pay by December 31, 2026, or who are already enrolled, keep the reduction through June 30, 2028 [2]. Before July 1, 2026, the standard auto pay discount was 0.25 percent [2]. The benefit applies to Federal Direct Loans that originated after July 1, 2012, and is available to borrowers in default once they bring their loans back into good standing [2]. Nearly 2 million borrowers had enrolled in auto pay since the reduction was announced [2].

The Department also tied auto pay to the new income-driven Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), which depends on on-time payments; borrowers in RAP can receive a match on on-time payments so that interest does not accrue and balances decline [2]. Public Service Loan Forgiveness also requires 120 qualifying payments [2].

Where student loans fit in a larger debt picture

For many South Florida households, a defaulted student loan is one obligation among several. Getting a federal loan out of default can restore access to repayment plans and benefits that default cuts off [1]. Before choosing a path, it helps to look at the full budget: whether a rehabilitation payment is realistic alongside rent, car payments and credit cards, and whether other debts are what is actually driving the default.

Student loans are generally harder to discharge in bankruptcy than most other consumer debts, but bankruptcy can still change the picture by addressing other obligations and freeing up room in a monthly budget. Anyone in South Florida weighing their options can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of the Treasury Launch New Defaulted Loans Support Center, U.S. Department of Education
2. U.S. Department of Education Extends Enrollment Period for Student Loan Interest Rate Reduction, U.S. Department of Education

General information as of October 5, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Medical bills are rarely planned and often disputed, which is why their place on credit reports has become a policy fight. On September 21, 2026, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) updated its national review of the issue [1]. The headline for Florida readers is mixed: a growing list of states now limit how medical debt appears on credit reports, Florida is not on that list, and the federal rule that would have helped everyone was vacated in 2025 [1]. Florida does, however, have its own rules on how hospitals collect, and those rules matter for anyone sorting through medical debt.

Where the national picture stands

About 15 million consumers have medical debt on their credit reports, according to figures NCLC cites, and studies have found that medical debt has little or no value in predicting whether someone will repay other debts [1]. Since 2022, the three nationwide credit bureaus have voluntarily excluded medical debt that is less than one year delinquent, removed paid medical debt, and stopped reporting medical collections under $500 [1].

NCLC counts fifteen states and the District of Columbia with laws that ban or restrict medical debt in credit reports, including California, New York, Maryland and, most recently, D.C., whose law took effect August 20, 2026 [1]. Florida is not among them [1].

At the federal level, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a rule in January 2025 that would have barred medical debt from credit reports used for lending decisions, but a federal court in Texas vacated it in July 2025, finding it exceeded the agency’s authority [1]. The state laws now face their own challenge. In August 2026, a federal court in Texas held that the Fair Credit Reporting Act preempts a Texas law barring the reporting of surprise medical bills, while other federal appeals courts have read preemption more narrowly [1]. NCLC notes that the CFPB issued a non-binding interpretive rule in October 2025 taking the view that federal law preempts state limits, and that the question is ultimately one for the courts [1].

Florida’s protections focus on collection, not reporting

Florida took a different route. In 2024, the Legislature passed CS/HB 7089, signed and filed on May 10, 2024, and effective July 1, 2024 [2]. Several provisions apply to debt for care at hospitals and other facilities licensed under chapter 395:

• A three-year statute of limitations for lawsuits to collect that medical debt, running from the date the facility refers the debt to a third party for collection [2].
• Extra exemptions in a lawsuit on that debt: up to $10,000 in value in one motor vehicle, plus up to $10,000 in personal property for a debtor who does not claim the homestead exemption [2].
• Limits on “extraordinary collection actions,” a term that includes selling the debt, reporting it to credit bureaus, suing, placing liens, and garnishing wages [2][3].

Under the law as amended in 2025, a facility may not take those actions before it has made reasonable efforts to decide whether the patient qualifies for financial assistance, before it has provided an itemized bill, during a pending billing grievance or insurance appeal, before billing the insurer, or within 30 days after written notice that collection will begin [3]. It also may not do so while the patient negotiates the bill in good faith or keeps up with a payment plan [3]. The 2025 change, filed May 27, 2025, allows a facility to sell the debt during the 30-day window only under a contract that bars interest, fees and other extraordinary collection actions by the buyer [3].

Practical steps for Florida households

For anyone in South Florida carrying hospital debt, a few steps follow from these rules. Ask for an itemized bill and a financial assistance application before paying or agreeing to a plan [3]. Use the facility’s grievance process if charges look wrong, since collection action is restricted while a grievance is pending [3]. Check credit reports to confirm that paid debts and balances under $500 are not listed, consistent with the bureaus’ voluntary policies [1]. And note the date a debt was sent to collections, because that starts the three-year clock for a hospital debt lawsuit [2].

When medical bills sit alongside credit cards, a car loan or a mortgage, the question becomes how the whole picture fits together. Medical debt is generally unsecured debt, and the exemptions and timelines above can shape the choice between negotiating, a payment plan, or a bankruptcy filing.

Anyone in South Florida weighing their options can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. The Latest on Keeping Medical Debt Out of Credit Reports, National Consumer Law Center
2. Chapter 2024-183, Laws of Florida (CS/HB 7089), Florida Department of State (laws.flrules.org)
3. Chapter 2025-98, Laws of Florida (CS/HB 547), Florida Department of State (laws.flrules.org)

General information as of September 24, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Total household debt in the United States slipped slightly in the second quarter of 2026, but the headline number hides a more uneven picture. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported on August 11 that household debt fell by $13 billion, or 0.1 percent, to $18.8 trillion [1]. The decline came almost entirely from mortgages, which dropped by $74 billion. Meanwhile, credit card balances rose by $21 billion to $1.26 trillion and auto loan balances grew by $28 billion to $1.71 trillion [1].

For families already stretched, the categories that grew are the ones that tend to cause the most trouble: revolving credit card debt and car payments.

Delinquencies: steady, but at elevated levels

The overall share of debt in some stage of delinquency improved slightly, to 4.7 percent [1]. New York Fed economic policy advisor Joelle Scally noted that delinquency rates across most products have held steady for two years, but said that “new delinquencies for auto loans and credit cards remain at elevated levels” [1].

The report’s flow data shows how much debt newly became 90 or more days late over the past year:

• Credit cards: 6.97 percent of balances, compared with 6.93 percent a year earlier [1].
• Auto loans: 3.00 percent, up from 2.93 percent [1].
• Mortgages: 1.52 percent, up from 1.29 percent [1].

Transitions into early delinquency also rose slightly for auto loans and mortgages during the quarter [1]. Student loans were an exception to the steady trend, with the re-reporting of defaulted federal student debt continuing to distort the numbers [1].

Why the credit card picture looks worse than it is, and still matters

An accompanying analysis from New York Fed researchers addressed a confusing point. The share of credit card balances that are 90 or more days delinquent rose from 7.6 percent in the third quarter of 2022 to 12.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026, a jump that has drawn comparisons to the Great Recession [2]. The researchers found that the rise in that “stock” measure is driven largely by a pool of stale, charged-off debts that lenders are reporting for longer periods, rather than a sharp increase in new delinquencies, which have been relatively stable for nearly two years [2].

That is reassuring at the national level. For an individual, though, a charged-off account that keeps appearing on a credit report is not an abstraction. It can mean collection calls, a lawsuit, a judgment and, in Florida, the possibility of bank account garnishment.

What South Florida borrowers can take from the report

Several practical points follow from the data:

1. Growing balances plus steady delinquencies is a warning sign for households, not just lenders. Credit card limits continued to rise in the quarter [1], which makes it easy to keep borrowing to cover everyday costs.
2. Auto debt deserves attention. Auto originations picked up to $211 billion [1]. Missed car payments can lead to repossession quickly, and a deficiency balance can follow even after the car is sold.
3. Old debt does not simply disappear. As the research shows, charged-off balances can stay on credit reports for extended periods [2].

Bankruptcy is one option for people who cannot realistically repay unsecured debt. Chapter 7 can discharge many credit card and medical balances for those who qualify, while Chapter 13 can provide a structured plan to catch up on a car loan or mortgage while keeping the property. Other paths, such as negotiated settlements or hardship programs, may fit some households better. The right choice depends on income, assets and the type of debt involved.

Individuals and families in South Florida who are falling behind can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, available in English and Spanish, to review their options.

Sources

1. Household Debt Balances Decreased Slightly; Credit Card Delinquency Transition Rates Remained Steady, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
2. How Distressed Are Consumers? Reconciling Diverging Credit Card Delinquency Measures, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Liberty Street Economics

General information as of August 13, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Foreclosure filings across the United States rose sharply in the first half of 2026, and Florida sits at the top of the list. According to ATTOM’s Mid-Year 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, released July 16, 227,548 properties nationwide had a foreclosure filing (a default notice, scheduled auction or bank repossession) in the first six months of the year, up 21 percent from the same period in 2025 and up 28 percent from two years earlier [1].

For Florida homeowners, the numbers are more pointed. The state recorded the worst foreclosure rate in the country, with 0.27 percent of housing units receiving a filing, roughly one in every 373 homes [1]. Florida’s total of 27,494 properties with filings was up about 33 percent from the first half of 2025 [1].

Where the pressure is showing up

The increase is not limited to one corner of the state. Among larger metropolitan areas, Punta Gorda (0.50 percent) and Lakeland (0.48 percent) posted the two worst foreclosure rates in the nation, and Cape Coral, Jacksonville and Ocala also ranked in the top ten [1].

Early-stage activity is rising too. Florida had 20,358 foreclosure starts in the first half of the year, second only to Texas, and lenders completed 2,070 repossessions in the state over the same period [1]. Nationally, foreclosure starts rose 18 percent and bank repossessions climbed 33 percent from a year earlier [1].

ATTOM’s chief executive described the trend as a gradual return to more typical patterns, while noting that the increases suggest some homeowners may be under greater financial strain than a year ago [1]. That reading is consistent with credit data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which reported in May that the rate at which mortgage balances moved into serious delinquency accelerated slightly in the first quarter of 2026, from 1.4 percent to 1.5 percent [2].

Timelines are getting shorter

One detail in the report deserves attention from anyone who has fallen behind. Properties foreclosed nationally in the second quarter of 2026 had been in the process for an average of 563 days, the shortest average since 2013 and 13 percent shorter than a year earlier [1]. Shorter timelines mean less time between a first missed payment and a sale date.

Florida uses a judicial foreclosure process, so a lender must file a lawsuit and obtain a judgment before a sale. That gives a homeowner a defined window to respond, but it is not unlimited, and waiting usually narrows the available choices.

Options before a sale date

Bankruptcy is one of several tools a homeowner can consider, and it works differently depending on the chapter:

• Chapter 13. A Chapter 13 case can allow a homeowner who has a regular income to catch up mortgage arrears over a plan of up to five years while keeping current on ongoing payments. Filing triggers the automatic stay, which pauses a pending foreclosure while the case proceeds.
• Chapter 7. A Chapter 7 case can eliminate many unsecured debts, such as credit cards and medical bills, which may free up income for the mortgage. It does not, by itself, cure missed mortgage payments.
• Outside of bankruptcy. Loan modifications, repayment plans, forbearance or a sale of the property may be realistic paths for some families, particularly those with significant equity.

The right choice depends on the amount of the arrears, household income, the equity in the home and how far the foreclosure case has advanced. Florida’s homestead protections can also affect the analysis. Because the national figures show both more filings and faster completions [1], homeowners who have received a default letter or a summons benefit from reviewing their options early rather than after a judgment is entered.

The broader picture

Mortgage delinquencies remain low by historical standards, and most homeowners are current on their loans [2]. But Florida’s position at the top of the state rankings [1], combined with rising insurance and living costs, means a growing number of South Florida households are feeling pressure on the largest bill they pay each month.

Homeowners in Miami-Dade, Broward or elsewhere in South Florida who are behind on mortgage payments can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish, to review whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13 or another path fits their situation.

Sources

1. Foreclosure Activity Posts Annual Increase in First Half of 2026, ATTOM
2. Household Debt Balances Rise Slightly as Delinquency Transition Rates Hold Steady, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

General information as of July 20, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Pung v. Isabella County, a case about how much a homeowner is owed after the government sells a home to collect unpaid property taxes [1]. The Court held that the measure of “just compensation” after a fairly conducted tax sale is the price the property brought at auction, not its hypothetical fair market value [1]. For families who have fallen behind on property taxes, the ruling is a reminder that waiting until a tax sale usually means losing much of the home’s equity.

What happened to the Pung family

The Pung family owed $2,241.93 in real property taxes, and local tax authorities in Isabella County, Michigan, foreclosed and sold the home at public auction [1]. The home had been assessed at $194,400 for tax purposes, but it sold for $76,008 [1]. Michael Pung sued in federal court, and the district court ruled that he was entitled only to the surplus, meaning the difference between the sale price and the tax debt, rather than the home’s fair market value [1]. The Sixth Circuit affirmed [1].

Pung argued that the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause required the county to pay him the gap between the home’s value and the auction price, and that keeping that gap amounted to an excessive fine under the Eighth Amendment [1][2].

What the Supreme Court decided

The case built on Tyler v. Hennepin County, a 2023 decision holding that the government must return any surplus proceeds from a tax foreclosure sale [1]. Pung asked the Court to go further. In an opinion by Justice Alito, the Court declined [1].

The Court explained that for hundreds of years, English and American law have allowed property to be seized and sold to collect taxes, provided the government returns any surplus to the owner [1]. Fair market value was not the right measure, the Court said, in part because owners can generally avoid tax sales [1]. As SCOTUSblog summarized the opinion, an owner who believes the property is worth more than the taxes owed may be able to refinance, borrow against the property or sell it before foreclosure, pay the tax debt and keep the rest [2]. The Court also rejected the Excessive Fines Clause argument [1].

The Court did not resolve Pung’s newer arguments that the procedure the county used was unfair, and it left those for the Sixth Circuit on remand [1]. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Gorsuch and Jackson, wrote a concurrence, and Justice Thomas, joined in part by Justice Gorsuch, concurred in part and in the judgment [1]. Justice Thomas noted that the auction brought less than half of the home’s assessed value and less than half of what it later sold for on the market [1].

What it means for South Florida homeowners

The practical lesson is about timing. Under Pung, a former owner’s constitutional protection after a fair tax sale is the right to the surplus, and auction prices can fall far below what a home would bring in an ordinary sale [1][2]. In the Pung case, a tax debt of about $2,200 led to the loss of a home assessed at about $194,000 [2].

Florida has its own tax certificate and tax deed system, and the details, deadlines and notices differ from Michigan’s. The broader point still applies to anyone in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County who has unpaid property taxes:

• Do not ignore tax notices. The Court stressed that owners usually have time and options before a sale [1]. Those options shrink as the process moves forward.
• Look at the whole budget. Property tax arrears often show up alongside mortgage, credit card or medical debt. Solving one bill while the others grow rarely works.
• Ask about alternatives early. Refinancing, a sale on the owner’s terms or a structured legal option can protect far more equity than a surplus check after auction [2].
• Watch the mail after a sale. If a sale does happen, claiming any surplus on time matters, because that surplus is what the Constitution protects [1].

For some households, a bankruptcy filing is one of the structured options worth evaluating, particularly when tax arrears are one part of a larger debt problem. Whether it fits depends on income, the type of debt and the equity at stake, which is why early advice matters more than any single rule.

Homeowners in South Florida who are behind on property taxes or other debts can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish, to review their options before a sale date is set.

Sources

1. Pung v. Isabella County, Michigan, No. 25-95, 609 U.S. 30 (2026), Supreme Court of the United States
2. Justices reject constitutional attack on foreclosure rules, SCOTUSblog

General information as of June 29, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Update, June 22, 2026: The Department of Education announced the new Repayment Assistance Plan and a 1 percent autopay interest rate reduction taking effect July 1, 2026. See the follow-up article.

The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan has ended. On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education began sending guidance to the roughly 7.5 million borrowers enrolled in SAVE, telling them to leave the plan and choose another federal repayment plan [1]. For households that have gone months without a required student loan payment, that means a new bill is coming, and planning for it now matters.

How SAVE Ended

In December 2025, the Department announced a proposed joint settlement with the State of Missouri to end SAVE [2]. Under that agreement, the Department would not enroll new borrowers in SAVE, would deny pending applications and would move all SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans [2]. The Department said in its March 27 announcement that a court approved the settlement earlier in March [1].

The Timeline Borrowers Should Know

According to the Department:

• Now. The Office of Federal Student Aid began emailing SAVE borrowers on March 27, with guidance going to every enrolled borrower over the following week [1].
• Any time. A borrower who wants to switch before receiving a specific deadline can contact the loan servicer and enroll in another plan [1].
• Starting July 1, 2026. Servicers will begin sending notices instructing borrowers to leave SAVE and enroll in another plan within 90 days [1]. Each servicer will tell the borrower his or her specific deadline [1].
• After the deadline. Borrowers who do not choose a plan within their 90-day window will be placed automatically in either the Standard Repayment Plan or the new Tiered Standard Plan [1].

The Department says applying for an income-driven repayment plan is faster when borrowers consent to let it obtain their federal tax information directly from the IRS, which avoids uploading income documents manually [1].

The New Options Arriving July 1

Two new plans created by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act become available July 1, 2026 [1]:

• Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). Monthly payments are based on income and number of dependents [1]. The Department says borrowers who make full, on-time payments under RAP will be shielded from runaway interest and can make progress on principal [1].
• Tiered Standard Plan. This plan has fixed terms of 10, 15, 20 or 25 years, depending on the total outstanding balance, so borrowers with larger balances get lower monthly payments over a longer period [1].

Because automatic placement is in a fixed-payment plan [1], borrowers whose income is tight should not wait for the deadline. An income-based plan chosen on purpose will often fit a budget better than a default plan assigned by a servicer.

Planning the Household Budget Now

For many Florida families, the student loan payment will come back while rent, car payments and credit card balances remain high. A few steps can help:

• Log in and confirm the servicer. Make sure contact information is current so the July notice is not missed.
• Estimate the new payment. The Department points borrowers to its Loan Simulator tool to estimate payments and compare plans [2].
• Budget from the new number. Once the likely payment is known, build it into the monthly budget before it starts, rather than after the first bill.
• Look at the whole debt picture. If the student loan payment is manageable on its own but not on top of everything else, the real problem may be the other debts.

That last point is where bankruptcy can sometimes help. Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may address credit cards, medical bills and other debts that are competing with the student loan for the same paycheck, which can make the new repayment plan affordable.

South Florida borrowers trying to fit a returning student loan payment into an already stretched budget can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Education Announces Next Steps for Borrowers Enrolled in the Unlawful SAVE Plan, U.S. Department of Education
2. U.S. Department of Education Announces Agreement with Missouri to End Biden Administration's Illegal SAVE Plan, U.S. Department of Education

General information as of June 22, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Federal student loan repayment changes on July 1, 2026. On June 18, the U.S. Department of Education announced that borrowers enrolled in autopay will receive a 1 percent interest rate reduction beginning July 1, the same day two new repayment plans open: the income-driven Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and the Tiered Standard plan [1]. The same day, Department data showed that the number of borrowers in default reached a record 9.16 million in April [2]. For many households, the next few weeks are a chance to choose a plan before choices are made for them.

The new autopay discount

Today, servicers cut a borrower’s rate by 0.25 percent for enrolling in autopay [1]. Starting July 1, borrowers already in autopay will automatically receive an additional 0.75 percent reduction, for a total of 1 percent [1]. The lower rate lasts until June 30, 2028, both for current autopay users and for anyone who signs up by September 30, 2026, provided they remain in autopay [1]. The benefit applies to Federal Direct Loans originated after July 1, 2012 [1].

Borrowers in default are not in repayment and cannot simply switch on autopay. The Department says they must log in to StudentAid.gov, consolidate eligible loans and apply for a new repayment plan first [1]. Only 40 percent of borrowers currently use autopay, compared with more than 80 percent of borrowers in active repayment before the pandemic [1].

How RAP and Tiered Standard work

Under RAP, monthly payments run between 1 and 10 percent of income, reduced by $50 per month for each dependent [3]. When a borrower makes an on-time payment, remaining unpaid monthly interest is waived, and if the payment does not reduce principal by at least $50, the Department adds a matching principal payment of up to $50 [3]. Any balance left after 360 on-time monthly payments can be discharged [3]. Eligible borrowers making on-time monthly payments can also work toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which discharges certain loans after 120 payments [1].

Under the Tiered Standard plan, the size of the balance determines the repayment term, which is fixed at 10, 15, 20 or 25 years [3]. In the Department’s example, a $30,000 balance that required $341 a month under the old 10-year standard plan would require $262 a month over 15 years [3].

Deadlines for SAVE borrowers and the rise in defaults

Borrowers still in the SAVE plan, which the Department now calls defunct, must choose a legal repayment plan starting July 1 [1]. The earlier article on the end of SAVE covers how that plan wound down. According to Bloomberg, the 7 million-plus borrowers enrolled in SAVE get a 90-day window to pick a new plan before they are reassigned, and only about 400,000 had moved to another plan [2]. The Department’s fact sheet separately states that certain borrowers in phased-out plans with loans made before July 1, 2026, have until July 1, 2028, to choose between RAP, Tiered Standard or Income-Based Repayment [3]. Because the rules differ by plan and loan, borrowers should confirm their own deadline with their servicer.

The default numbers explain the urgency. Defaults rose from 7.7 million in December and 6 million last August to 9.16 million in April, so roughly 20 percent of the country’s 43 million federal student loan borrowers have fallen more than a year behind on payments, and about 3 million more are at least 90 days late [2]. Collections and credit reporting penalties have resumed, and while plans to garnish wages were halted early this year, officials say they will revisit them after the new plans launch [2]. An earlier article on the garnishment delay explains that pause.

Steps to take before July 1

• Log in to StudentAid.gov and the servicer account to confirm loan types, current plan and payment status.
• Turn on autopay if a payment is affordable, to capture the full 1 percent reduction [1].
• Consent to IRS data sharing on any income-driven application, which the Department says speeds processing [1].
• If in default, start consolidation and plan enrollment now, since autopay and RAP benefits require loans back in repayment [1].

When student loans, credit cards, a car note or medical bills are all competing for the same paycheck, the right plan depends on the whole picture. Anyone in South Florida in that position can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Education Announces Student Loan Interest Rate Reduction, U.S. Department of Education
2. US student loan defaults rise to 9.2 million amid crackdown, Bloomberg News (via The Morning Journal)
3. Fact Sheet: The Trump Administration Is Simplifying Student Loan Repayment, U.S. Department of Education

General information as of June 22, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

Unexpected medical bills can push a family behind on everything else. A new federal case filed in South Florida shows how that can happen even to people who believe they bought health coverage. On April 22, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced that a U.S. district court in Florida had temporarily halted a nationwide operation that, according to the FTC, impersonated the government and large insurance carriers to sell consumers supposedly comprehensive PPO plans that did not provide the coverage they wanted [1].

What the FTC alleges

The lawsuit is before the federal court for Florida’s Southern District, and the temporary restraining order was signed in Fort Lauderdale on April 15, 2026 [2]. The order includes an asset freeze and the appointment of a receiver [2].

According to the FTC’s complaint, the operation used several names, including Innovative Partners and American Collective, and has run a telemarketing scheme since at least early 2023 [1]. The FTC alleges that telemarketers often told consumers they were buying “state issued” PPO policies with no deductible, full coverage and low or no co-payments [1]. People who already had insurance were allegedly told the calls came from their carrier or the government and that their policies would be canceled without immediate payment [1].

The FTC says the products were not PPO plans or comprehensive health insurance and could not be sold on any state or federal marketplace [1]. Instead, they typically bundled medical discounts, ancillary products and capped payouts for certain events such as emergency room visits, and some excluded hospital care entirely [1]. The products could cost hundreds of dollars a month [1]. In the restraining order, the court found good cause to believe the defendants have taken at least $91 million from consumers since at least 2023 [2].

These are allegations. The FTC files a complaint when it has reason to believe the law is being violated, and the court will decide the case [1].

How a bad plan becomes medical debt

The complaint describes the harm in terms anyone who has fought a hospital bill will recognize. When consumers tried to use the plans, they discovered the products did not provide the comprehensive coverage promised; some postponed care until they could get real insurance, and others were left with substantial medical debt [1]. Consumers who tried to cancel were often ignored while monthly charges continued [1]. The FTC also alleges the defendants charged consumers without their express, informed consent and failed to disclose how to stop recurring payments [1].

The result can be a double loss: premiums paid for a product that does not work, and provider bills that the “plan” never covers. Those bills can then move to collection, lawsuits or judgments, often alongside credit card balances used to keep up.

Practical steps for South Florida households

• Verify before paying. Ask for the written plan documents and confirm whether the product is actual health insurance before giving any bank or card information over the phone.
• Be wary of urgency. According to the FTC, callers in this case claimed existing coverage would be canceled without immediate payment [1]. A genuine insurer can be reached directly at the number on the member card.
• Stop unauthorized charges. Consumers can raise charges they did not knowingly authorize with their bank or card issuer, and scams can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov [1].
• Keep every bill and statement. Provider bills, explanation-of-benefits letters and plan materials matter if a bill is disputed or a collection lawsuit follows.

The FTC brought this action after its chairman created a Healthcare Task Force in March 2026, and it follows earlier FTC enforcement against related health care schemes [1].

For families already carrying medical bills they cannot pay, the next step is understanding which debts can be resolved and how. Anyone in South Florida facing that question can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. FTC Sues to Stop Deceptive Health Care Scheme, Federal Trade Commission
2. FTC v. Innovative Partners, LP, No. 26-60976-CIV-SINGHAL, Sealed Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order with Asset Freeze, Appointment of a Receiver, Other Relief, and Order to Show Cause, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (via FTC)

General information as of April 24, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

For many Florida households, a tax refund is the largest single payment of the year. Early figures from the Internal Revenue Service suggest this year’s checks are bigger. Through February 13, 2026, the average refund was $2,476, up 14.2 percent from $2,169 at the same point in 2025 [1]. The IRS had issued about 12.96 million refunds totaling $32.08 billion, up 8.3 percent in dollars even though the number of refunds was down 5.1 percent [1].

For anyone behind on bills, that money deserves a plan before it arrives.

What the Early Numbers Show

The IRS cautions that early-season comparisons move around. Large percentage changes are common at the start of each filing season and usually even out as more returns come in [1]. Through February 13, the IRS had received about 32.2 million returns, down 2.6 percent from last year, and it expects filing to catch up because many taxpayers were still waiting for tax documents at the end of January [1].

These totals also leave out a large group of families. Federal law requires the IRS to hold refunds on returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit until February 15, so those refunds are not yet counted [1]. The IRS said the figures it expects to release February 27, covering refunds through February 20, should be higher [1]. Most refunds are arriving by direct deposit, with an average direct deposit refund of $2,548 [1].

Why Some Refunds Are Larger This Year

The 2026 filing season opened on January 26 and is the first in which several provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill take effect [2]. The new deductions, claimed on a new Schedule 1-A, cover qualified tips, overtime pay and car loan interest, along with a larger deduction for seniors [2]. The IRS has said these provisions could lower tax bills and potentially increase refunds [2].

A few other dates and changes matter. The deadline to file 2025 returns and pay any tax due is Wednesday, April 15, 2026 [2]. The IRS expects about 164 million individual returns this year [2]. It is also phasing out paper refund checks and strongly encourages taxpayers to set up a bank account for direct deposit [2].

Putting a Refund to Work When Money Is Tight

A refund can buy real breathing room if it goes where it does the most good. Some practical priorities:

• Protect housing and transportation first. Getting current on rent, the mortgage or the car payment keeps the basics in place.
• Address debts with serious consequences. Back taxes, child support and utility shutoff notices usually deserve attention before credit cards.
• Build a small cushion. Even a few hundred dollars set aside can keep the next car repair or medical bill from going on a card at high interest.
• Be careful with large lump-sum payoffs. Paying down one card may help, but if total unsecured debt is far beyond what a refund can cover, it is worth getting advice before spending the money.

How Refunds Are Treated in a Bankruptcy Case

For people already thinking about bankruptcy, the refund is part of the picture. In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, debtors must give the trustee a copy of their federal income tax return when the Bankruptcy Code requires it, or the case may be dismissed [3]. The court’s local rules also address trustee motions to pay debtors “their allocable portion of any tax refund” [4], which reflects that a refund received around the time of filing may be divided between the bankruptcy estate and the debtor.

In practice, that means the timing of a filing and the handling of a refund should be decided together, before the refund is spent. A refund that has been filed for but not yet received, or one that is already in a bank account, should be discussed with bankruptcy counsel at the first meeting.

Anyone in South Florida deciding how a refund fits into a plan to deal with debt can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. Filing season statistics for week ending Feb. 13, 2026, Internal Revenue Service
2. IRS announces first day of 2026 filing season; online tools and resources help with tax filing (IR-2026-02), Internal Revenue Service
3. Clerk's Filing Instructions (CI-1), U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
4. Local Rules, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida (Effective 12/01/2020), U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida

General information as of February 20, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency created after the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers of financial services, ended 2025 close to running out of money [2]. On December 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the administration’s decision not to request new funding for the agency violates the preliminary injunction she entered in March [1][2]. For Floridians dealing with debt, the case is worth following because it affects who is watching the companies on the other side of their accounts.

How the Funding Fight Started

Unlike most federal agencies, the CFPB is funded by the Federal Reserve rather than through annual appropriations from Congress [2]. The National Treasury Employees Union, representing CFPB employees, sued Russ Vought, the acting CFPB director, after the administration moved to shut the agency down [1][3]. On March 28, 2025, the court issued a preliminary injunction designed to ensure that the CFPB would continue to exist and perform its statutory duties while the case is litigated [1].

A D.C. Circuit panel vacated that injunction in August 2025, but on December 17, 2025, the full D.C. Circuit granted rehearing en banc and vacated the panel decision, leaving a partial stay in place [1]. The appeal is set for a hearing in February [3].

Meanwhile, in November, a Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel memo concluded that the CFPB cannot draw funds from the Federal Reserve while the Fed is operating at a loss [1]. On that basis, the government told the court that the bureau expected to exhaust its available funds in early 2026 [1].

What the Court Decided

Judge Berman Jackson rejected that position in a 32-page ruling [2]. She found that the Federal Reserve had funded the CFPB throughout the period since 2022 when its interest expenses exceeded its earnings, and that the new reading of the statute was a sharp departure from the bureau’s longstanding interpretation [1]. The court described the government’s new understanding of “combined earnings” as “an unsupported and transparent attempt” to achieve the very result the injunction was meant to prevent [1][2]. Its order clarified that the decision not to request funding contravenes the preliminary injunction [1].

The judge also observed that the funding lapse was “manufactured by the defendants” and was not a valid reason to abandon the agency’s obligations [3]. Separately, Reuters noted that Congress lowered the cap on the CFPB’s allowable funding in 2025, so the agency may face tighter budgets regardless of how the case ends [2].

Why It Matters to People With Debt

The court’s order keeps the money flowing for now, but the larger dispute is unresolved, and the appeal is still pending [1][3]. Supporters of the agency argue that without it, the public would be more exposed to predatory lending, scams and other abuses, while the administration and other critics have accused it of politicized enforcement [2]. Whatever the outcome, a weaker federal watchdog generally means individual borrowers need to be more careful on their own behalf.

A few practical habits help regardless of what happens in Washington:

• Keep records. Save statements, payment confirmations, letters from collectors and any notes from phone calls, with dates.
• Read collection letters closely. Check the creditor’s name, the balance and whether the debt is actually owed before paying or agreeing to anything.
• Check credit reports. Review reports periodically and dispute errors in writing with the credit reporting company.
• Respond to lawsuits. A summons for a debt comes with a deadline to respond, and missing it can make matters much harder to fix.

When debts reach the point of lawsuits, garnishment threats or payments that can no longer be made, it is time to look at all the legal options, including a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case where appropriate.

Anyone in South Florida weighing their options can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought, No. 1:25-cv-00381, Memorandum Opinion and Order (D.D.C. Dec. 30, 2025), Justia (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia)
2. Trump administration's failure to fund consumer watchdog will violate court order, US judge says, Reuters
3. Court orders Vought to keep CFPB funded while case is underway, Politico

General information as of January 2, 2026, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

The 2025 holiday shopping season set another record, and a growing share of it was financed in installments. According to Adobe’s analysis of online retail data, consumers spent $14.25 billion online on Cyber Monday, up 7.1 percent from a year earlier, and buy now, pay later (BNPL) plans drove $1.03 billion of that spending, an all-time high for a single day [1]. For households already juggling credit card balances, those small installments deserve a closer look before the first payments come due.

The Numbers Behind the Record

Adobe reported that Cyber Week, the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, brought in $44.2 billion in online spending, up 7.7 percent year over year [1]. From November 1 through December 1, BNPL accounted for $10.1 billion in online spending, up 9.0 percent [1]. Most BNPL purchases happened on phones, which made up 79.4 percent of BNPL transactions on Cyber Monday [1]. In an Adobe consumer survey conducted in November, respondents named electronics, clothing, toys and furniture as the categories where they were most inclined to pay with BNPL [1].

Adobe expects total online holiday spending from November 1 through December 31 to reach $253.4 billion [1].

Why Installments Can Add Up Quickly

BNPL loans usually split a purchase into four or fewer interest-free payments, often with the first payment due at checkout [3]. The appeal is obvious, but federal research shows how quickly these loans can pile up. A January 2025 study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, based on loan data from six large BNPL providers matched with credit records, found that in 2022 [2][3]:

• About 63 percent of BNPL borrowers had more than one BNPL loan open at the same time at some point during the year, and 33 percent borrowed from more than one BNPL company [3].
• Roughly 20 percent were heavy users who took out more than one BNPL loan per month on average [3].
• BNPL borrowers tended to carry higher balances on credit cards, personal loans and other unsecured debt than other consumers [3].
• Nearly two-thirds of BNPL loans went to borrowers with subprime or deep subprime credit scores [3].

One reason these loans are easy to lose track of: BNPL lenders typically have not reported the loans to the nationwide credit reporting companies [2][3]. A shopper may have five or six payment plans running across different apps, and none of them may appear on a credit report.

Federal oversight has also shifted. In May 2024, the CFPB issued an interpretive rule stating that BNPL lenders must provide some of the dispute and refund protections that apply to credit cards [3]. In May 2025, the CFPB withdrew that interpretive rule along with many other guidance documents [4]. Consumers should not assume that every protection associated with a credit card applies to a BNPL plan.

Practical Steps Before January

For South Florida families who leaned on installments this season, a few habits can prevent a holiday purchase from turning into a lasting problem:

• Make one list. Write down every open BNPL plan, the provider, the remaining payments and the due dates. Because many plans are not on a credit report [2], this list may be the only complete record.
• Watch the payment account. When plans draw automatically from a debit card or bank account, several payments landing in the same week can leave too little for other bills.
• Count BNPL as debt. Installments are owed money, even when they carry no interest, and they compete with rent, car payments and credit card minimums.
• Pause before adding more. Since borrowers who stack BNPL loans also tend to carry higher credit card balances [3], one more plan can tip an already stretched budget.

When installments, credit cards and other bills reach the point where minimum payments are no longer manageable, it helps to review all the options early, while there are still choices to make. That review should include every BNPL plan, since these debts are easy to overlook.

Anyone in South Florida weighing their options can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.

Sources

1. Adobe: Cyber Monday Hits Record $14.25 Billion in Online Spending with Over $1 Billion Driven by Buy Now Pay Later, Adobe
2. Consumer Use of Buy Now, Pay Later and Other Unsecured Debt, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
3. CFPB Research Reveals Heavy Buy Now, Pay Later Use Among Borrowers with High Credit Balances and Multiple Pay-in-Four Loans, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
4. Withdrawal of Bureau Guidance, Interpretive Rules, Policy Statements, and Advisory Opinions, Federal Register (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

General information as of December 3, 2025, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.

American households are carrying more debt than ever. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported on November 5, 2025, that total household debt rose by $197 billion, or 1%, in the third quarter of 2025, reaching $18.59 trillion [1]. Compared with late 2019, shortly before the pandemic downturn, total balances are up $4.44 trillion [2]. For families in South Florida already stretched by housing and insurance costs, the details behind that headline number are worth a closer look.

Where the Debt Is Growing

Mortgages remain the largest category. Mortgage balances grew by $137 billion during the quarter to $13.07 trillion at the end of September [1]. Credit card balances rose by $24 billion to $1.23 trillion [1], a level 5.75% higher than a year earlier [2]. Auto debt was flat at $1.66 trillion, while home equity lines of credit climbed $11 billion to reach $422 billion and student loans added $15 billion to total $1.65 trillion [1].

Lenders are also extending more revolving credit. Aggregate credit card limits rose by $94 billion, a 1.8% increase from the prior quarter [1]. More available credit can feel like breathing room, but it also makes it easier for balances to climb when paychecks do not keep pace with expenses.

Delinquency: Stable Overall, Rising for Student Loans

The New York Fed described delinquency rates as elevated but stabilizing. In the third quarter, 4.5% of all outstanding household debt was past due to some degree [1], an increase of 0.1 percentage points from the second quarter [2]. Economic Research Advisor Donghoon Lee said that relatively low mortgage delinquency rates reflect the housing market’s resilience, driven by ample home equity and tight underwriting standards [1].

Student loans tell a different story. Missed federal student loan payments that were not reported to credit bureaus between mid-2020 and the end of 2024 are now appearing on credit reports [1]. As a result, 9.4% of aggregate student debt was reported as 90 or more days delinquent or in default in the third quarter, compared with 7.8% in the first quarter and 10.2% in the second quarter of 2025 [1]. The annualized flow of student loan balances into serious delinquency was 14.26%, compared with 0.77% a year earlier [1].

Credit cards remain the other pressure point. The annualized flow of card balances into serious delinquency was 7.05% in the third quarter, roughly the same as the 7.10% recorded a year earlier [1]. That means a steady share of cardholders continue to fall 90 or more days behind each quarter.

Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Notations

The report also tracks the more serious outcomes. Roughly 141,000 people saw a new bankruptcy notation appear on their credit reports during the third quarter, slightly more than in the second quarter [2]. About 55,000 individuals had new foreclosure notations, also an increase from the prior quarter [2].

Those figures are national, and they do not mean that every household with a balance is in trouble. They do show, however, that a meaningful number of families have reached the point where ordinary payment arrangements no longer work.

What Florida Households Can Take From the Report

For a family in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County, the practical lessons are straightforward:

• Watch the student loan line. With delinquent federal student loans now showing up on credit reports [1], borrowers who paused payments during the pandemic should confirm the status of their accounts rather than assume nothing has changed.
• Track credit card balances against income, not limits. Rising credit limits [1] can mask a growing problem. The more useful measure is whether monthly payments are reducing principal.
• Notice early warning signs. Missing a payment, borrowing from one card to pay another, or falling behind on a mortgage or condominium assessment are signals to review options before collection activity begins.

Bankruptcy is one of several tools available to people in financial distress. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 work very differently, and the right choice depends on income, assets, the types of debt involved and the household’s goals. A careful review of the full picture is usually the best first step.

Anyone in South Florida weighing their options can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, available in English and Spanish.

Sources

1. Household Debt Balances Grow Steadily; Mortgage Originations Tick Up in Third Quarter, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
2. Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, 2025: Q3, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Center for Microeconomic Data

General information as of November 10, 2025, not legal advice. Originally published at LexBrief Insights by Tony Roca, The Roca Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida.