Pinellas Legal Center

Gerald R. Colen has been serving the wonderful people of Tampa Bay for several years. Hiring a lawyer can be a very stressful process, but we are here to answer any questions and help guide you through the process. We specialize in elder law, a special field that requires an experienced understanding. But don't worry, we handle far more than just that. Our expertise goes beyond just elder law, as we cover a plethora of cases that we can assist you with. Estate planning, personal injury, will and probate and even real estate are all areas within which we practice. If you are in need of assistance in any of these fields, feel free to give us a call with your questions. We will be more than happy to answer them, and before you decide, contact us to provide you with free written information about our experience and qualifications.

My name is Daniel J. Herman. I am a Clearwater, Florida, bankruptcy attorney at law licensed to practice in the courts of the state of Florida, and in the United States District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the Federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. I welcome your contact today."I will explain so that you understand." - Attorney Daniel J. Herman.Since bankruptcy law is federal law under Title 11 of the United States Code, board certification of bankruptcy practitioners is exercised and supervised on the national level by the American Board of Certification. Board certification in bankruptcy law was first available in 1992 pursuant to examinations held in Washington, D.C. Separate examinations were given for certification in "business" bankruptcy and "consumer" bankruptcy.After examination and extensive vetting, I was awarded board certification from the American Board of Certification in 1992 in both "BANKRUPTCY-BUSINESS" and "BANKRUPTCY-CONSUMER." These board certifications have been continuous since 1992, and are now current.I have been practicing law for 30 consecutive years in the state of Florida. Since 1995, my practice has been essentially limited to the practice of bankruptcy law. I work with bankruptcy law every day. The continuing education requirements for board-certified attorneys are far more stringent than requirements for general practitioners, requiring many more hours of continuing education. I am conscientious in pursuing continuing education so that I know and understand the changes in the law as they occur.The 2005 changes in bankruptcy law, by the Bankruptcy Abuse, Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, are fully integrated into my regular daily practice.I personally handle each client's legal matters. I am proud to say that I take the time to get to know my clients and understand their circumstances. For any court appearances I will be there, not an associate or other attorney new to you.A major source of my clients is referrals from other attorneys, both general practitioners and other bankruptcy practitioners, who recognize that I can grapple with complex and confusing fact situations and apply my knowledge, expertise and creativity, coupled with empathy and compassion. I am proud of the "AV" rating* I was awarded by the Martindale-Hubbell peer-review rating system, and which has been maintained for 15 years.As a lawyer, I enjoy challenges and I eagerly accept many difficult cases. I have successfully helped thousands of people deal with severe financial trouble. I represent debtors in all chapters of bankruptcy, ordinarily Chapter 7, (liquidation), Chapter 13, (the wage earner's reorganization), and Chapter 11 (corporate and business reorganization). I also represent creditors in all chapters. I am a Bankruptcy Court approved bankruptcy mediator. I also defend non-debtor transferees from collection efforts by bankruptcy trustees.For more information, please contact my office today by e-mail or call 727-584-8161.*CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.Bankruptcy Disclaimer: The services or benefits provided are with respect to bankruptcy relief under Title 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.