Frank Thomas Papa

Frank Thomas Papa

5.0
Rating: 8.1

Licensed for 27 years

Chapter 7 bankruptcy Lawyer at Tampa, FL
Practice Areas: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, Consumer Protection, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

807 W Azeele St, Tampa, FL

About Frank

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy 30%

28 years | 4,500 cases

30%
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy 20%

28 years | 2,500 cases

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 75-400 per hour

Contingency

33%-45%

Retainer

Sometimes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 27 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1998

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Robert M. Geller, P.A.

807 W Azeele St, Tampa, FL, 33606-2209

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Frank Thomas Papa's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

38 Client Reviews

Showing 6 - 10 of 15 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Joseph | April 14, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Client

Frank represented me in filing for Chapter 7. When we began we met and he explained in detail the process. On several occasions we met and gathered my information. He was very professional and a delight to work with. If I needed assistance and had questions, he was right there to assist me and gu...ide me through the process. I knew he knew his business and the law and was very knowledgeable in what he was doing. He always made me feel at ease and was there to HELP ME. He dealt with me in a very professional manner and helped me through the process to the end. He was excellent and I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a great lawyer in filing for bankruptcy.

Posted by Steve | May 22, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

First class service !!!!

During this rough time I was treated with the upmost respect and honesty by everyone at the firm especially my attorney Frank Papa. I have never gone through anything like this so I freaked out a couple of times over things I didn’t understand and it only took a phone call and I was at ease. My bankr...uptcy only took 4 months and I have been given a fresh start to rebuild my life and that is all thanks to my attorney Mr. Papa, I literally can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me. I will not allow myself to make the same mistakes but if tragedy strikes me again Mr. Papa will be my first phone call. Thank you very much for your services and helping me start over.

Posted by A.F.B | January 03, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Thank you Mr. Frank Papa

I would to thank the Law Firm of Mr. Robert Geller for providing an exceptional service through the entire process of my Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case. No words to express my appreciation to the attorney Frank Papa who worked on my case. I have to say Mr. Papa has changed my life, I had a mountain of deb...ts, yes it was a mountain of debts. I had very complex case, no hope, no life, everything was dark. However, what it looks impossible to every attorney, Mr. Papa can make it possible. Once he reviewed my case, he was confident that my case would be discharged. When Mr. Papa say “Yes We Can” it means it is done. I could not believe it, yes, I could not even imagine that I’m debt free and still thinking it is dream. Now I can enjoy my life with my large family, and grand kinds without any fear of being sued by creditors. I want also to thanks case manage, Betty Jo who walked me through the process step by step until the completion of my all documents needed for filing. Bankruptcy Law is very complex; it requires an attorney with extensive knowledge who is willing to spend time on the case to get the best outcome. Mr. Papa did it all. He spent hours and hours working on my case until he filed my case, and changed the life of my big family forever. Thanks to the best bankruptcy attorneys in Florida, thanks you to Mr. Papa and thank you to Law firm of Robert Geller. Regards A.F.B

Posted by anonymous | December 29, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Glad I moved forward with Chapter 7!

I can only say good things about Frank T. Papa, the Attorney who represented me, as well as the office staff I worked with. A few years ago, things were mostly going my way, I had a good paying job, had purchased a late model vehicle and was starting to make big plans. In the middle of 2016, ...I got laid off, ended up with a full time job and a part time job just to survive, and very late 2016 became a care taker of my elderly father as well when his wife passed away. Several months into 2017 I found myself with a job that paid hundreds less than I needed to break even and was busy enough with the job, my father, and looking for a better paying job weekends as well. That’s when I tapped into credit cards as a dead last resort, and between cash advances and basic bills and groceries and paying one card with another, started to go further and further in debt from around the middle of 2017 to around the middle of 2018 and approached 20K by the time I filed for bankruptcy. When not sending out resumes, I was looking into credit card refinance programs, and most of those programs actually turned me down with my plummeting credit score, even though they had sent me mail. I had done my research on debt consolidation/negotiation and realized that those were mostly scams, not always effective, and plus you just end up owing the IRS if you go this route. Based on my situation of not owning property, not making a lot of money and having no real money or assets to speak of and no inheritance or nice things coming my way – chapter 7: full discharge of debt made perfect sense! I knew I had to take this route after meeting with Frank in August, even though I waited until October – but wished I had just done it in August! Timing is very important in bankruptcy, and it’s important to do it BEFORE you start making a decent living again, otherwise you may not be able to do it! The Attorneys art this firm are very knowledgeable about the process and the ins and outs of the way things happen or can happen if you have, say, a car note with a small credit union vs a large bank. I am so glad I went with a nolo.com selected firm and not with what legalzoom had to say. Chapter 7 is something you can do only once every 8 years, and it can be a very handy silver bullet in a tough situation like the one I was in. And don’t worry about the stigma: a million Americans filed for bankruptcy last year! I have found myself gradually admitting to more people I know what I went through, and so far everyone has been quite understanding. Even when I first reached out I was mailed a parcel in the mail a few days later with tons and tons of information about Bankruptcy which I found extremely informative. There are hundreds if not thousands of other law firms in Tampa Bay, but when it comes to bankruptcy, this is the firm I am going to recommend to anyone in financial trouble right here in the Tampa Bay area. --Benjamin from Syracuse

Posted by L and B | October 23, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Frank Papa

Frank Papa was a blessing. He calmed my wife's nerves and made us realize that bankruptcy is a normal legal process designed to help individuals with no other options. He was kind, direct and professional and went over all of our options and gave us great advice and opinions. We were very hesitant... to even talk to someone because of our public careers and he assured us of the facts concerning our situation. He was the third lawyer we consulted with and by far the most professional and knowledgeable and then one who actually seemed to care about our circumstances. We are very pleased with the outcome and will always recommend him to anyone in a similar predicament.

See All Client Reviews

Frank Thomas Papa's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Frank
Oliver Bryce Clark headshot
Oliver Clark

Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer | Dec 18

Relationship: Co-worker

"Mr. Papa has my full endorsement. He is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and diligent in his practice, and it is a pleasure to work with him."

Sandra H. Day headshot
Sandra Day

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer | Sep 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Frank for many years and have always admired and respected his knowledge of the law that he practices in. He spends the time and money attending legal education seminars that keep him up on the law. I consider him an attorney I can go to if I have a question on a case. I have also seen him in court and have seen him interact with his clients and he is professional yet approachable!"

Cristine A. Finck headshot
Cristine Finck

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer | Sep 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Frank for over 15 years! We have attended many of the same continuing education seminars and classes. I have seen him first hand interact with our Judges, Trustees, other attorneys, and his clients at hearings, as well. In each setting, Frank has always acted in a highly professional and competent manner. Without hesitation, I happily endorse Frank Papa."

Alan Dexter Borden headshot
Alan Borden

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer | Sep 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Frank is a terrific attorney. He's very bright, knowledgeable. and is very well respected in the bankruptcy attorney community. He works diligently on behalf of consumers and his clients. I strongly recommend Frank Papa to any client in need of legal help"

Jesse James headshot
Jesse James

Unknown lawyer | Sep 17

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Frank was my mentor when I worked for him about 10 years ago. I still use the knowledge he gave me back then in my own firm today. I had a personal problem a few years back and he resolved it effectively and efficiently. I don't think Frank ever had to employ a fake it until you make it approach for anything his entire life, he is just that good. I highly recommend his services."

View All Endorsements
Melanie Joy Sacks headshot
Melanie Sacks

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Cristine A. Finck headshot
Cristine Finck

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Robert Marc Geller headshot
Robert Geller

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.1 (Excellent)

Work Experience

1998 - Present

Junior Partner, Law Offices of Robert M. Geller, PA

1996 - 1996

Law Clerk, Law Office of Joseph F. Papa, PA

Associations

2018 - Present

Greenpeace

member

2016 - Present

Sierrra Club

member

2010 - Present

Surfrider Foundation

member

2007 - Present

Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association

member

2004 - Present

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

member

1998 - Present

Hillsborough County Bar Association

member

2007 - 2009

American Bankruptcy Institute

member

Sample of Legal Cases

Young couple with disabled children qualify for bankruptcy

Discharge of Debtors

Homeless man vs. Credit Union

Debtor's Motion Granted to Exempt Homestead Proceeds of $136,000

Elderly Grandmother vs. Major Mortgage Bank

Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Denied holding that the National Bank Act does NOT preempt the FCCPA

See More Legal Cases

Education

1997

Stetson University College of Law

1994

University of Florida

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.),

Speaking Engagements

2020

TBBBA Judicial Liaison Committee Meeting

Chapter 7 Matters

2019

Protect Your Assets Conference

Premises Liability: Protection of Assets by Prevention of Claims

2016

View from the Bench Seminar

Bankruptcy Practice and Procedure

2015

Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association Consumer Luncheon Lecture Series

Chapter 7 Issues Related to Personal Injury Claims

Publications

2010

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution