Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Attorney
Reviewed by Sean P. Quinlan, Attorney
If you're searching for bankruptcy help in Harrisburg, you are not alone. Dauphin County and the surrounding Cumberland and Perry County communities see hundreds of consumer bankruptcy filings every year. Most people come to us after a job change, medical bills from UPMC or Penn State Health, a PA state tax garnishment, or the threat of a Dauphin County sheriff sale. Filing bankruptcy in Harrisburg is a federal right, and it can stop creditor calls, end wage garnishments, and protect your home and car.
Harrisburg is the seat of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Every consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filed by a Harrisburg-area resident is handled at the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse on North 6th Street — though filings are electronic and 341 meetings are held virtually, so you rarely need to appear in person.
Chapter 7 is the fresh-start option. It wipes out qualifying credit-card debt, medical debt, personal loans, and some older tax debt in about 4–6 months. Most Harrisburg Chapter 7 filers keep their home, vehicle, and retirement accounts by using federal exemptions.
Chapter 13 is a 3-to-5 year repayment plan for people who earn above the Pennsylvania median, are behind on a mortgage or car loan, or need to pay back tax debt. A Chapter 13 filing stops a foreclosure or repossession and lets you catch up on arrears while you keep the property. We run the Pennsylvania means test against your household income and recommend the chapter that gets the best outcome.
We represent individuals and families across Harrisburg and the surrounding Capital Region: Midtown, Uptown, Allison Hill, Shipoke, Bellevue Park, Susquehanna Township, Paxtang, Penbrook, Steelton, Hummelstown, Middletown, Hershey, Colonial Park, Linglestown, Camp Hill, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, New Cumberland, Mechanicsburg, Enola, and Carlisle. Many clients are Commonwealth employees, PennDOT workers, State Police, UPMC staff, Penn State Health employees, or Hershey Medical Center workers.
Every case starts with a free, confidential consultation. We review your income, debts, assets, and any pending lawsuits or garnishments. Then we quote a flat attorney fee in writing and recommend a clear path forward. You can book directly on our calendar, call our Camp Hill office, or send a message through the contact form.
Free tool
Run the Pennsylvania Chapter 7 means test in under two minutes — compare your household income to the current PA median before your consultation.
Local trust signals
Licensed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania since 2001.
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court since 2002.
Twenty-five years focused on consumer bankruptcy, with more than 500 Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases filed for Pennsylvania families.
Member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys — a national organization dedicated to protecting the rights of consumer debtors.
Consultations and case work happen by phone or video, so clients anywhere in Pennsylvania can work with us without traveling to an office.
Read what Harrisburg-area clients say about working with our firm on Google.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is decided on its own facts under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and Pennsylvania law.
Courthouse & directions
Consumer filings are electronic and 341 meetings of creditors are held by Zoom, so you rarely need to appear in person. If you do need to visit, here's the courthouse address, a map, and turn-by-turn directions.
Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse, 1501 N 6th St, Harrisburg, PA 17102
The federal bankruptcy court for Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Lebanon, Lancaster, Adams, and surrounding counties. Consumer 341 meetings of creditors are held by Zoom — you almost never appear in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
We charge a flat attorney fee that is quoted in writing before you engage the firm. Court filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13 as of 2026, and the two required credit-counseling courses are separate. Many Harrisburg clients pay the attorney fee in installments before filing.
Have a Harrisburg-specific question? Get a straight answer in a free consultation.
Yes. Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy before a scheduled Dauphin County or Cumberland County sheriff sale stops the sale through the automatic stay. Mortgage arrears are then cured through your 3-to-5 year plan while you keep the home.
Harrisburg cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania at the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse, 1501 N. 6th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102. Filings are electronic and 341 meetings are held virtually.
In most cases, yes. Federal bankruptcy exemptions protect home equity, a vehicle, household goods, retirement accounts, and a wildcard amount. We review your assets before filing so you know exactly what is protected.
Yes. The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 takes effect the moment we file your case. It stops wage garnishments for dischargeable debts, bank levies, foreclosure, and creditor calls. We also notify your employer and the creditor to release the garnishment.
We compare your household income to the Pennsylvania median for your household size. If you are below the median, you presumptively qualify. If you are above, we complete the long-form means test using actual allowed expenses like mortgage, car, childcare, health insurance, and taxes.
Chapter 7 typically discharges roughly 90 days after filing. Chapter 13 lasts 3 to 5 years depending on your income and the plan terms. Either way, creditor calls and garnishments stop immediately upon filing.
No. Since 2020, the Middle District of Pennsylvania has held virtually all consumer 341 meetings of creditors by Zoom. Harrisburg-area filers appear from home or from our Camp Hill office. You almost never set foot inside the Rambo Courthouse.
Some PA state income tax debt is dischargeable in Chapter 7 if it is at least three years old, was assessed more than 240 days ago, and the return was filed on time. Recent tax debt, sales tax, and employer withholding are usually non-dischargeable but can be paid through Chapter 13 with penalties frozen and interest often reduced.
Yes. State employees, PennDOT workers, PA State Police, and Capitol Complex staff regularly file bankruptcy without losing their jobs or security clearances. Federal law (11 U.S.C. § 525) prohibits a government employer from firing, demoting, or discriminating against you because you filed.
Yes. Medical debt from UPMC Harrisburg, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Holy Spirit, and Hershey-area providers is unsecured debt that is fully dischargeable in Chapter 7 — even if the account is already in collections or has been sued.
From Camp Hill we serve Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Lebanon, Lancaster, Adams, Franklin, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, and Northumberland Counties — the full southern half of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Have a Harrisburg-specific question? Get a straight answer in a free consultation.
Our Harrisburg office
No cost. No obligation.
Pick a time that works for you — Attorney Sean Quinlan offers free phone and video consultations to clients throughout Pennsylvania. No office visit required.
Or request a date and time online — weekdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Prefer to call? (717) 724-7503
