Bankruptcy Lawyer for the Western District of Pennsylvania

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sits primarily in Pittsburgh on the 54th floor of the U.S. Steel Tower at 600 Grant Street, with additional hearing locations in Erie and Johnstown. The Western District covers 25 counties across southwestern, northwestern, and west-central Pennsylvania.

Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, Greene, and Lawrence County cases are administered from Pittsburgh; Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Forest, and McKean through Erie; Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Blair, Clearfield, and Indiana through Johnstown. The Western District maintains its own local rules and form Chapter 13 plan, and its judges are active in requiring accurate valuation of vehicles and secured collateral at confirmation.

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

We file electronically with the Western District clerk in Pittsburgh. 341 meetings of creditors are scheduled by the assigned Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 trustee and are typically held virtually, about 30–45 days after filing.

The automatic stay takes effect on the filing date, stopping Allegheny County and outlying sheriff sales, UPMC and Highmark collection suits, Duquesne Light and Peoples Gas shutoff notices for pre-filing balances, and vehicle repossession. Chapter 7 discharge normally issues about 60 days after the 341 meeting. Chapter 13 lets you cure mortgage arrears over three to five years and, where the loan is old enough, strip or cram down certain secured claims.