Southern District of New York Trustee Directory: Insights from Prof. Hernandez
The bankruptcy court system in the Southern District of New York spans eight counties: New York (Manhattan), Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan.
Whether you are filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, the Trustee is the court-appointed official who oversees your assets, reviews your paperwork, and conducts your 341 Meeting of Creditors.
By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).
Key Takeaways: Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Trustee Directory
- Jurisdiction: The Southern District of New York (SDNY) covers major urban and suburban areas, including Manhattan, the Bronx, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie.
- The Bankruptcy Trustee: Trustees are court-appointed fiduciaries who oversee assets, review financial paperwork, and conduct the 341 Meeting of Creditors. Their primary duty is to protect the bankruptcy estate and maximize recovery for creditors.
- Chapter 7 (Liquidation): Panel Trustees focus on identifying “non-exempt” assets that can be sold to satisfy creditor claims.
- Chapter 13 (Reorganization): A Standing Trustee manages the administration, collection of monthly plan payments, and subsequent distribution to creditors for the district.
- Meeting with the Bankruptcy Trustee: Most 341 Meetings in the Southern District of New York are conducted remotely via Zoom or telephone. Debtors must submit required financial documents at least seven days before the meeting to avoid case delays or dismissal.
Chapter 7 Panel Trustees
In a Chapter 7 “liquidation” case, your bankruptcy trustee reviews your assets to determine if there is any non-exempt value to pay back creditors. Below is a list of the trustees for the Southern District.
| Trustee Name | Office Address | Contact Information |
| Yann Geron | Geron Legal Advisors, LLC 370 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10017 | Phone: (646) 560-3224 Email: ygeron@geronlegaladvisors.com |
| Salvatore LaMonica | 3305 Jerusalem Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793 | Phone: (516) 826-6500 |
| Howard P. Magaliff | 335 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017 | Phone: (646) 453-7851 |
| Gregory M. Messer | 26 Court Street, Suite 2400, Brooklyn, NY 11242 | Phone: (718)858-1474 |
| Alan Nisselson | Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP , 156 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019 | Phone: (212) 237-1199 |
| Marianne T. O’Toole | 2 Depot Plaza, Suite 2E, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 | Phone: (914) 232-1511 |
| Deborah J. Piazza | 1350 Broadway, 11th floor, New York, NY 10018 | Phone: (212) 216-8000 |
| Kenneth P. Silverman | 100 Jericho Quadrangle, Suite 300, Jericho, NY 11753 -3302 | Phone: (516)479-6300 |
| Fred Stevens | Klestadt Winters Jureller Southard & Stevens, LLP 200 West 41st Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | E-mail: fstevens@klestadt.comPhone: (212) 679-5342 |
| Albert Togut | Togut, Segal & Segal LLP, One Penn Plaza, Suite 3335, New York, NY 10119 | Phone: (212) 594-5000 |
Chapter 13 Standing Trustee
The Standing Trustee is responsible for collecting your monthly plan payments, distributing funds to creditors, and administering your case in accordance with 11 U.S.C. §§1302 and 1326.
The Trustee also conducts your §341 Meeting of Creditors and plays a central role in the Confirmation Hearing under 11 U.S.C. §1325. Below is the contact information for the Southern District’s Chapter 13 Trustee.
| Trustee Name | Office Address | Contact Information |
| Thomas C. Frost | Office of the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee, 399 Knollwood Road, Suite 102, White Plains, NY 10603 | Phone: (914) 328-6333, Fax: (914) 328-1111 |
What Happens Upon Filing Your Bankruptcy Petition
In the Southern District, most creditor meetings are currently conducted via Zoom or telephone, though the Trustee retains the authority to conduct in-person hearings. You or your attorney must provide requested financial documents, such as tax returns, bank statements, and pay stubs, at least seven days prior to the meeting. Failure to do so may result in your case being delayed or dismissed.
Upon filing your petition, approximately 7-10 days later, the assigned bankruptcy trustee will provide you or your attorney with a list of documents being requested and how to forward those documents to the trustee’s office.
Payment Methods for Chapter 13 Cases
Do not send personal checks or cash. For Chapter 13 reorganization plans in the Southern District, payments must be made through authorized electronic methods such as TFS Bill Pay or by money order or cashier’s check.
The Professor’s Note: Cashier’s checks are costlier than money orders, but it has been my experience that tracing a lost money order is almost impossible. Paying through TFS is the best way to securely make payments on your plan and maintain a transparent paper trail for the court.
The Bankruptcy Trustee’s Role
It is a common misconception that the Trustee works for the debtor. In reality, the Trustee holds a fiduciary position where they are required to protect the bankruptcy estate.
Their primary objective is to ensure that creditors receive as much as the law allows. In Chapter 7 specifically, your Trustee’s goal is to identify “non-exempt” assets such as real estate equity beyond the New York homestead exemption, high-value vehicles, or substantial tax refunds, that can be liquidated to satisfy creditor claims.
If you are self-represented, maintain a professional and cautious approach when communicating with the Trustee’s Office.
The Professor’s Closing Thoughts
Whether you are filing under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, understanding the trustee’s role and maintaining timely, professional communication can make the difference between a smooth process and an unexpected case dismissal.
For debtors, preparation is key. Submit all required documents promptly, verify payment methods, and attend your 341 Meeting ready to testify truthfully. For practitioners, familiarity with the specific office procedures of the SDNY panel and standing trustees is essential.
The latest contact information for the bankruptcy court system in the Southern District is available here.
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 can purchase or 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 Prof. Hernandez YouTube Channel.
Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources
Explore a deep dive for consumer guides and court directories to navigate your legal options:
- A step-by-step master guide on Filing for Bankruptcy and Navigating the Petition.
- Access full directories for the Federal Bankruptcy Court System and Trustee Contact Information.
- Protect your assets by reviewing your specific State Bankruptcy Exemptions or compare them against the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions.
- Prepare for your court date with the updated brief on the 341 Meeting of Creditors Rules and Procedures.
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.
U.S. Bankruptcy Code Statutory References
- 11 U.S. Code §341 – Meetings of creditors and equity security holders.
- 11 U.S. Code §1302 – Trustee.
- 11 U.S. Code §1325 – Confirmation of plan.
You must be logged in to post a comment.