Pennsylvania Bankruptcy
The following page provides Pennsylvania bankruptcy information and resource links.
If you are not looking for information regarding Pennsylvania, please use the links on the left to find information for your state.
- Courts - Location and Contact Information
- Bankruptcy Laws
- Approved Credit Counseling/Debtor Education Agencies
- Pennsylvania Attorneys
- Other Bankruptcy Pennsylvania Resources
Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Courts - Location and Contact Information
Pennsylvania bankruptcy courts are divided into three districts, which are further divided into several divisions. Generally, the debtor's county of residence will determine which district and division the bankruptcy petition is filed. It may also be determined by the location of the debtor’s principal place of business or principal assets.
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Counties of Jurisdiction:
Philadelphia Division - Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery
and Philadelphia Counties
Reading Division - Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Philadelphia Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Robert N.C. Nix Sr. Federal Building 900 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
Same | (215) 408-2800 |
| Reading Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court The Madison Building 400 Washington Street Suite 300 Reading, PA 1960 |
Same | (610) 320-5255 |
WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Counties of Jurisdiction:
Pittsburgh Division - Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette,
Greene, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland Counties
Erie Division - Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson,
McKean, Mercer, Venango and Warren Counties
Johnstown Division - Bedford, Blaire, Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana and
Somerset Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Pittsburgh Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 5414 U.S. Steel Tower 600 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
Same |
(412) 644-2700 |
| Erie Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court U.S. Courthouse Room B160 17 South Park Row Erie, PA 16501 |
Same | (814) 464-9740 |
| Johnstown Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Penn Traffic Building Johnstown, PA 15901 |
Same |
(814) 533-4246 |
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Counties of Jurisdiction:
Harrisburg Division - Adams, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin,
Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland,
Perry, Snyder, Union and York COunties
Wilkes-Barre Division - Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Clinton, Columbia,
Lackawanna,Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill,
Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Harrisburg Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Ronald Reagan Federal Building 228 Walnut Street Room 320 Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
Same |
(717) 901-2800 |
| Wilkes-Barre Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 274 Max Rosenn U.S. Courthouse 197 South Main Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 |
Same | (570) 826-6450 |
Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Laws and Exemptions
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code allows individual debtors to exempt certain property from creditor claims based on exemptions under either federal law or state law. Exemptions vary from state to state. Some states have adopted their own set of bankruptcy exemptions that are used in place of the federal exemptions. However, other states give debtors an option to choose between either state or federal exemptions.
Pennsylvania bankruptcy law allows residents to use either the federal set of exemptions or state exemptions.
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Following are common state exemptions in Pennsylvania:
| Homestead | No specific
homestead exemption. $300 exemption in property of any kind. |
| Automobile | No specific automobile exemption. |
| Other Property | 100% of wearing apparel, bibles and school books, and sewing machines. |
Contact a Pennsylvania bankruptcy lawyer for more information regarding Pennsylvania bankruptcy exemptions.
The new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 also require that debtors pass a means test before filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are two ways to pass the means test:
1. the debtor's annual income (calculated using the average gross income for the six month period prior to filing) must be below the state median. Census Bureau statistics for state median income by family size can be found here (for cases filed between April 1, 2013 and April 30, 2013).
2. If income exceeds the median income, individuals may still file Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on results of Form 22A: Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test Calculation. .
Pennsylvania Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Agencies
Pursuant to the new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005, individuals who file personal bankruptcy (with limited exceptions) in Pennsylvania must:
1. take a credit counseling course from an approved Pennsylvania credit counseling provider within six months before filing bankruptcy; and
2. complete a debtor education course from an approved Pennsylvania debtor education agency prior to receiving a bankruptcy discharge.
Pennsylvania Personal Bankruptcy Attorneys
To find Pennsylvania bankruptcy lawyers in your area, you may want to contact your local county bar association or the Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service toll free at 800-692-7375.
Based on income, free bankruptcy advice and representation may also be obtained from the following organizations: See the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network's website for a list of organizations that provide legal services to low income clients in Pennsylvania.
If you are concerned about the representation provided to you
by an Pennsylvania bankruptcy attorney, contact the Disciplinary Board of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
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Resources for Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Laws
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania - administrative and procedural information for Eastern District of Pennsylvania bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania - administrative and procedural information for Western District of Pennsylvania bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania - administrative and procedural information for Middle District of Pennsylvania bankruptcy filings
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 3 - oversees the administration of Pennsylvania personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees
Pennsylvania Bar Association - information about the Pennsylvania bar, membership, ethics, continuing legal education, and resources for the public.