Middle District of Tennessee Bankruptcy Trustee Directory (2026)

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee serves a broad region of central Tennessee through its divisional offices in Nashville, Columbia, and Cookeville. Trustee oversight is administered through the United States Trustee Program’s regional office, which supervises bankruptcy case administration and trustee operations throughout the district.

Bankruptcy trustees play a central role in the bankruptcy process by examining debtor financial information, presiding over Section 341 meetings of creditors, and monitoring compliance with applicable bankruptcy requirements.

These trustees are involved in the administration of Chapter 7 liquidation cases, Chapter 13 repayment plans, Chapter 12 family farmer and fisherman bankruptcies, and qualifying Subchapter V small business cases filed within the district.

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

Key Points: Middle District of Tennessee Bankruptcy Trustees

Court Divisions: The Middle District of Tennessee administers bankruptcy cases through its divisions located in Nashville, Columbia, and Cookeville.
Chapter 7 Trustees: Chapter 7 panel trustees evaluate bankruptcy filings, verify assets and liabilities, investigate financial transactions, conduct the Section 341 Meeting of Creditors, and distribute any non-exempt assets under the Bankruptcy Code.
Chapter 13 Trustees: Standing Chapter 13 trustees oversee repayment plans from filing through completion, review proposed plans, receive debtor payments, and issue distributions to secured, priority, and unsecured creditors as authorized by confirmed plans.
Subchapter V Cases: In eligible small business bankruptcies, Subchapter V trustees assist with case administration, encourage negotiations between debtors and creditors, and help guide the reorganization process toward a feasible plan of reorganization.
Required Trustee Documentation: Prior to the scheduled 341 Meeting of Creditors, debtors are required to provide the assigned trustee with supporting financial records, which commonly include pay statements, federal income tax returns, bank statements, and other documentation requested for case review.

Middle District of Tennessee Divisions

The Middle District of Tennessee is divided into three divisions: Nashville, Columbia, and Cookeville. A debtor’s county of residence generally determines the appropriate division for filing a bankruptcy case, as well as the location where court proceedings and Section 341 Meetings of Creditors are administered when they are not handled remotely.

Nashville Division

The Nashville Division serves the largest geographic area within the district and includes many of Tennessee’s most populous counties. The division serves the following 14 counties: Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson.

Address:
United States Bankruptcy Court
Middle District of Tennessee
701 Broadway, Room 170
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 736-5584

Columbia Division

The Columbia Division administers bankruptcy cases originating from the southern portion of Middle Tennessee. Debtors residing within the counties assigned to this division generally attend trustee proceedings and other required bankruptcy hearings through the Columbia office.

Counties Served: Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Perry, and Wayne.

Courthouse Address:
United States Bankruptcy Court
815 South Garden Street
Columbia, TN 38401

Cookeville Division

The Cookeville Division serves several counties located along the eastern portion of the Middle District. Counties served include Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, and White.

Courthouse Address:
United States Bankruptcy Court
9 East Broad Street
Cookeville, TN 38501

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees in the Middle District of Tennessee (2026)

Chapter 7 trustees in the Middle District of Tennessee are appointed to administer bankruptcy estates and perform the duties prescribed by 11 U.S.C. §704(a). Once assigned to a case, the trustee reviews the debtor’s petition, schedules, statements, and supporting financial records to verify the accuracy of the information filed with the court and to determine whether assets are available for liquidation.

A Chapter 7 trustee is also responsible for conducting the Section 341 Meeting of Creditors, where debtors are examined under oath regarding their financial condition, assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and recent transactions. Trustees also have the authority to investigate property transfers, preferential payments, undisclosed assets, and other matters affecting the bankruptcy estate.

If non-exempt property exists, the trustee liquidates those assets and distributes proceeds to creditors according to classification, such as secured and unsecured debt, and pro rata share.

Financial Documentation Required Before the 341 Meeting

Following the filing of a Chapter 7 case, the assigned trustee will request documentation to confirm the information contained in the bankruptcy schedules and statements. Common requests include federal income tax returns or transcripts, the last six months of pay stubs, bank statements, proof of income, and records relating to assets or significant financial transactions.

Under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 4002(b), debtors are generally required to provide requested financial records to the trustee no later than seven days before the scheduled Section 341 Meeting of Creditors.

Failure to furnish the required documentation may delay case administration and can result in a continued meeting, a motion to compel production of documents, or other relief authorized under Sections 521(a)(3) and (4), including dismissal of the case.

Bankruptcy Trustees in the Middle District of Tennessee (2026)

Below are the Chapter 7 trustees for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Trustee Name	Contact Information & Address
Michael Abelow	1600 West End Avenue, Suite 1750 Nashville, TN 37203 E-mail: mabelow@srvhlaw.com Phone: (615) 742-4532
Jeanne Ann Burton	4117 Hillsboro Pike Suite 103-116 Nashville, TN 37215 E-mail: Jeanne.burton@comcast.net Phone: (615) 678-6960
Erica R. Johnson	8161 Highway 100, Suite 184 Nashville, TN 37221 E-mail: erjtrustee@erjlaw.com Phone: (615)347-5869
Eva M. Lemeh	380 Spring Creek Road Lebanon, TN 37087 E-mail: emltrustee61@gmail.com Phone: (615) 498-5162
David G. Rogers	4636 Lebanon Pike, #123 Hermitage, TN 37076 E-mail: dgrtrustee@comcast.net Phone: (615) 766-5205
Gulam Zade	P.O. Box 4046 Brentwood, TN 37024 E-mail: GZtrustee@cards-consulting.com Phone: (615) 567-3566

Chapter 13 Standing Trustees

The Chapter 13 standing trustee in the Middle District of Tennessee administers repayment plans under Sections 1302 and 1326. Responsibilities include reviewing the debtor’s schedules, income information, expenses, and proposed Chapter 13 plans to determine whether the plan satisfies the feasibility test and whether disposable income is being committed to the plan.

In addition, the Chapter 13 trustee conducts the 341 Meeting of Creditors, attends confirmation hearings, collects payments from debtors, and distributes those funds to secured, priority, and unsecured creditors in accordance with the confirmed plan.

There is one Chapter 13 trustee serving the Middle District of Tennessee. The trustee’s contact information is available below.

Trustee Name	Contact Information & Address
Henry E. Hildebrand, III	1800 Church Street Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37203 -2223 P.O. Box 340019 Nashville, TN 37219 -0064 E-mail: hank@ch13bna.com Phone: (615)244-1101

Conclusion

Understanding the role of bankruptcy trustees in the Middle District of Tennessee can help debtors understand the bankruptcy process more effectively from filing through discharge. Whether pursuing relief under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, trustees serve an essential function in reviewing financial information, conducting Section 341 Meetings of Creditors, and ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code.

The Middle District’s trustee system supports bankruptcy cases filed throughout the Nashville, Columbia, and Cookeville divisions. Depending on the chapter filed, trustees may liquidate non-exempt assets, oversee repayment plans, review financial documentation, and monitor case administration to protect the interests of both debtors and creditors.

Timely compliance with trustee requests, attendance at all required hearings and meetings, and the submission of complete and accurate bankruptcy schedules can help prevent delays and push towards the successful completion of a bankruptcy 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 Code Statutory References

11 U.S. Code §341 – Meetings of creditors and equity security holders.
11 U.S. Code §704 – Duties of trustee.
11 U.S. Code §521 – Debtor’s duties.
11 U.S. Code §1302 – Trustee.
11 U.S. Code §1326 – Payments.
11 U.S. Code §1324 – Confirmation hearing.
Federal Bankruptcy Rule 4002. Debtor’s Duties.