Bankruptcy Lawyer for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania sits in Philadelphia at 900 Market Street, Suite 400, with a second hearing location at the Gateway Building, 201 Penn Street, Reading. The court covers nine counties plus Philadelphia — Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill — and is one of the busiest consumer bankruptcy districts in the country.

Where you live decides where your case is administered. Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery County filers are heard in Philadelphia; Berks, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill filers are typically scheduled through Reading. The Eastern District has its own local rules, its own form Chapter 13 plan, and standing Chapter 13 trustees whose documentation expectations differ from the Middle and Western Districts. We prepare Eastern District schedules to those local standards so plans get confirmed without avoidable objections.

Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill counties.

We file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases electronically with the Eastern District clerk's office through CM/ECF. The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 takes effect the moment the case is docketed — Philadelphia Sheriff's Office mortgage sales, Municipal Court judgment attachments, utility shutoffs, and repossessions all stop that day.

341 meetings of creditors are conducted virtually by the assigned Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 trustee, roughly 30–45 days after filing. Chapter 7 discharge follows about 60 days after the meeting. Chapter 13 confirmation hearings are scheduled by the court, and we appear for you. Almost no Eastern District client ever sets foot in the federal courthouse.