A Guide to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Puerto Rico

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico operates through two official locations, Old San Juan and Ponce.

This guide outlines essential administrative information, including court locations, contact directories, filing procedures, and necessary bankruptcy resources for the District of Puerto Rico.

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

Court Locations and Jurisdiction

The Clerk’s Office manages docket administration, case filings, public records, and CM/ECF support. Note that court staff, including the judges’ office, cannot provide legal advice.

Unlike states divided into multiple bankruptcy districts, Puerto Rico constitutes a single federal bankruptcy district. Because Puerto Rico is organized into municipalities rather than counties, where cases are filed depends on the debtor’s municipal location.

Old San Juan Division (Primary Courthouse)

The Clerk of Court for the bankruptcy court system is Wilma Jaime. The courthouse is located at José V. Toledo Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 300 Calle del Recinto Sur, Suite 109, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901-1964. The courthouse main phone number is 787‑977‑6000.

Ponce Division Office

The Bankruptcy Court for the Ponce Division is located at the MCS Building, Suite 222 A, 880 Tito Castro Avenue, Ponce, Puerto Rico 00716‑4732. The Clerk’s Office can be contacted at 787‑290‑6070.

Operating Hours (both locations): Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–3:00 PM (excluding federal holidays).

Security Screening Notice

All visitors entering federal buildings, including for hearings, filings, or trustee meetings, must present valid government‑issued photo identification. In addition, there are many personal products and items that are prohibited inside the courthouse, so it’s recommended to leave all non-essential items behind. If you are scheduled for a hearing, bring the official hearing notice.

Virtual §341 Meetings of Creditors

The U.S. Trustee Program began conducting virtual §341 meetings via Zoom for Chapter 7, 12, and 13 cases in October of 2023. Each Notice of Bankruptcy Case includes the Zoom link and document submission requirements.

Bankruptcy Petition Filing Fees (2026)

Filing fees are uniform across all federal bankruptcy courts. Below are the filing fees.

Bankruptcy Chapter	Fee Amount
Chapter 7	$338
Chapter 13	$313
Chapter 11 (Non–Small Business)	$1,738
Chapter 11 (Subchapter V)	$1,738
Chapter 12	$278

Filing Fee Payment Plans & Waivers

Chapter 7 debtors may request: can request an installment with the filing fees. Generally, the payment plan is four payments spread out over 120 days, but the bankruptcy judge has the discretion to extend payments up to 180 days for cause.

A full waiver of the filing fee is also possible under 28 U.S.C. §1930(f). However, two requirements must be met:

Household income must be below 150% of federal poverty guidelines, and
The debtor cannot afford to pay the fee in installments.

Below are the federal poverty guidelines:

Persons in Family Unit	48 Contiguous States & D.C. (Monthly)
1	$1,995.00
2	$2,705.00
3	$3,415.00
4	$4,125.00
5	$4,835.00
6	$5,545.00
7	$6,255.00
8	$6,965.00
Each additional person add	$710.00

Keeping Track of Your Bankruptcy Case

Once your bankruptcy petition is filed, you can keep track of your case through the federal courts online system, PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Through PACER, all filings are visible, plus you can receive instant notifications via email.

PACER is also affordable since the cost of documents is capped at $3, however, you are only billed when you exceed $30 of usage for the quarter.

In addition to PACER, you can access case information via VCIS (Voice Case Information System): 866‑222‑8029.

If you need assistance with accessing documents or filing online, you can contact the CM/ECF Help Desk: 787‑977‑6080 (electronic filing assistance).

Bankruptcy Judges

Review the directory below for judge and chambers contact details. Filers should consult their assigned judge’s individual practice guidelines before noticing or scheduling any court proceedings.

Judge	Location	Direct Staff & Court Contacts
Chief Judge Mildred Cabán	San Juan (Old San Juan)	Law Clerks: Sandry Herman Harold Frye Phone: (787) 977-6020
Judge Enrique S. Lamoutte	San Juan (Old San Juan)	Law Clerks: Frances Brunet Nicole Rodríguez (787) 977-6030
Judge María de los Ángeles González	Ponce	Law Clerks: Vanessa Badillo Alejandro R. Rodríguez (787) 290-6080
Judge Edward A. Godoy	San Juan (Old San Juan)	Phone: (787) 977-6040

Conclusion

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico serves all municipalities across the Commonwealth through its Old San Juan and Ponce locations. Because chapter selection depends on exemptions, median income calculations, and asset valuation, filers should review federal exemption options, Puerto Rico‑specific median income data, and current means‑testing thresholds before initiating a case.

Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish at an international university.

Educational Resources

For Institutions: Colleges and universities may request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Bankruptcy.blog YouTube Channel.

Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources

Explore additional consumer guides and state-specific directories to navigate your legal options:

A step-by-step master guide to completing and understanding the bankruptcy petition.
Bankruptcy Court Directory: Full listings for the federal bankruptcy court system and trustee contact information.
State Bankruptcy Exemptions: Review your state‑specific exemptions or compare them with the federal exemptions.
341 Meeting Procedures: Prepare for your court date with updated rules, expectations, and practical guidance.

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.

Bankruptcy and Federal Statutory References

Official Form 103A. Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments.
Official Form 103B. Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived.
28 U.S. Code §1930 – Bankruptcy fees.