Federal Bankruptcy Court — Middle District

PA Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Pennsylvania

Reviewed by Sean P. Quinlan, Attorney

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has principal locations in Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport, covering 32 counties across central, north-central, and northeastern Pennsylvania — from Adams and Franklin on the Maryland line to Susquehanna and Wayne on the New York border.

This is our home district. Our office is at 3618 N. 6th Street in Harrisburg, minutes from the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse, and we file here every week. South-central filers in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Adams, Lebanon, and Franklin are administered out of Harrisburg; Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne through Wilkes-Barre; Lycoming, Centre, Clinton, Tioga, and the northern tier through Williamsport. The Middle District uses its own form Chapter 13 plan and a standing Chapter 13 trustee for the whole district.

Counties covered by this district

Adams, Bradford, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and York counties.

Filing in Middle District

We file electronically with the Middle District clerk in Harrisburg. 341 meetings of creditors are scheduled by division based on your county of residence and are typically held virtually by the assigned trustee about 30–45 days after filing.

The automatic stay takes effect on the filing date and stops county sheriff sales, garnishment for taxes or support, repossession, and collection lawsuits pending in your county Court of Common Pleas. Chapter 7 discharge normally issues about 60 days after the 341 meeting; Chapter 13 arrears on a home or vehicle are cured through a three-to-five-year plan. Because we are based in Harrisburg, anything that has to be handled in person at the courthouse on short notice is a short walk rather than a road trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions

The Middle District covers 32 counties including Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Perry, Pike, York, and many more.

Principal courthouses are at the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg, the Max Rosenn U.S. Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, and the U.S. Courthouse in Williamsport.

Most Pennsylvania filers keep their home and vehicle. We can elect federal bankruptcy exemptions, which protect a significant amount of home equity plus a vehicle, household goods, retirement accounts, and a wildcard for anything else. We walk through your assets before filing so there are no surprises.

We charge a flat attorney fee that is fully disclosed and agreed to before you engage the firm. Court filing fees and the two required credit-counseling courses are separate. Many clients pay the attorney fee in installments before filing.

Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for up to 10 years; Chapter 13 for up to 7 years. In practice most clients see their FICO score improve within 12–24 months because their debt-to-income ratio drops dramatically and they can demonstrate on-time payments on new credit.

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