Where to file bankruptcy in Pennsylvania

The federal bankruptcy courts in Pennsylvania, how to pick yours, fees, required courses and the meeting of creditors.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

You file in the federal district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Each court lists which counties go to which office: Eastern District https://www.paeb.uscourts.gov/counties-served, Middle District https://www.pamb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CaseAssignments.pdf, Western District https://www.pawb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/lrules2013/LocalRule1002-1.pdf.

Federal bankruptcy courts: 3
Courts: Eastern District, Middle District and Western District

Pennsylvania bankruptcy courts and divisions

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Divisions: Philadelphia, Reading

Clerk's phone: (215) 408-2800 (Philadelphia); (610) 208-5040 (Reading)

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Divisions: Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, Williamsport (unstaffed; hearings held in Wilkes-Barre)

Clerk's phone: (570) 831-2500 (Wilkes-Barre); (717) 901-2800 (Harrisburg)

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Divisions: Pittsburgh Division (offices in Pittsburgh and Johnstown), Erie Division

Clerk's phone: (412) 644-2700 (Pittsburgh); (814) 464-9740 (Erie); (814) 533-4246 (Johnstown)

Court's self-help page

In nearby states

Maryland: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
District of Columbia: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
New Jersey: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey

Steps to file in Pennsylvania

Pick the right court
Your district depends on where you lived most of the last 180 days.
Check local rules
Court websites: Eastern District, Middle District and Western District.
Take credit counseling
Take it before you file and keep the certificate. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Get the forms ready
Download the official bankruptcy forms.
Talk to legal aid
Legal aid can help for free: Philadelphia Legal Assistance / Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project (Philadelphia) and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.

Where to get free help in Pennsylvania

Questions about filing in Pennsylvania

How do I find my bankruptcy court in Pennsylvania?

What is the median income for the means test in Pennsylvania?

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $72,230; 2 people: $87,534; 3 people: $110,151; 4 people: $135,862; Each extra person: +$11,100.

Is there free bankruptcy help in Pennsylvania?

Philadelphia Legal Assistance / Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project (Philadelphia), Community Legal Services of Philadelphia and Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association Self Help Program (volunteer attorneys, listed by the Middle District court).

Related Pennsylvania pages

Filing fees

Chapter 7 filing fee. To file Chapter 7 you pay $338 to the court: a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee fee. A married couple filing one joint case pays one set of fees.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(a)(1)(A); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, items 8 and 9 (effective December 1, 2023)

Chapter 13 filing fee. To file Chapter 13 you pay $313 to the court: a $235 filing fee and a $78 administrative fee.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(a)(1)(B); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, item 8 (effective December 1, 2023)

Paying in installments. If you cannot pay the whole fee at once, you can ask to pay it in installments. File Official Form 103A with your petition. The court decides the plan: no more than 4 payments, all paid within 120 days after you file. For a good reason the court can give you more time, but the last payment must be made within 180 days. Until the fee is paid in full, you may not pay your lawyer or petition preparer.

Law: Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(b) (as amended Dec. 1, 2024)

Fee waiver. In Chapter 7 only, the court may waive the fee. You must have income below 150% of the official poverty line for your family size, and you must be unable to pay the fee even in installments. Ask by filing Official Form 103B with your petition. The judge decides.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(f)(1); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(c)

The 341 meeting

About a month after you file, you must attend the 'meeting of creditors' (341 meeting). The trustee asks you questions under oath about your property and debts. Creditors may come and ask questions. No judge attends. Chapter 7: 21 to 40 days after filing. Chapter 13: 21 to 50 days after filing. Bring photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. If you file jointly, both spouses must attend.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 341, 343; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2003(a), 4002(b)(1)

Credit counseling and debtor education

Credit counseling before you file. Before you file, you must take a credit counseling course (a 'briefing') from an agency approved by the U.S. Trustee Program. You must take it within 180 days before you file. It can be in person, by phone or online, alone or in a group. Keep the certificate: you file it with your case. If you skip it, your case can be dismissed.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 109(h), 111

Debtor education after you file. After you file, you must take a second, separate course on personal financial management (debtor education) from an approved provider. In most cases you get no discharge without it. Chapter 7: file the certificate within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. Chapter 13: by the date of your last plan payment. Some providers send the certificate to the court for you.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 727(a)(11), 1328(g); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007(b)(7), 1007(c)(4)

Where to file bankruptcy in Pennsylvania

Short answer

Pennsylvania bankruptcy courts and divisions

In nearby states

Steps to file in Pennsylvania

Pick the right court

Check local rules

Take credit counseling

Get the forms ready

Talk to legal aid

Where to get free help in Pennsylvania

Questions about filing in Pennsylvania

Related Pennsylvania pages