Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Help
Stop Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania
Reviewed by Sean P. Quinlan, Attorney
Pennsylvania prohibits most wage garnishments for credit-card and medical debt — but support orders, federal and state taxes, federal student loans, and PHEAA loans can all attach a Pennsylvania paycheck. Filing bankruptcy stops dischargeable garnishments immediately and creates a plan to handle the non-dischargeable ones.
What you should know
The automatic stay takes effect the moment we file. Your employer gets a notice within days. Chapter 7 stops the garnishment permanently for dischargeable debt. Chapter 13 stops the garnishment and reroutes the payment through a plan you control.
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Run the Pennsylvania Chapter 7 means test in under two minutes — compare your household income to the current PA median before your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
Pennsylvania law generally does not permit consumer-debt wage garnishment, but a creditor can garnish bank accounts and place liens on real estate. Bankruptcy stops both.
No. Domestic-support obligations are not dischargeable and the automatic stay does not affect ongoing support collection. We can address arrears through a Chapter 13 plan in some cases.
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.
Related service areas
- Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania: Limits and How to Stop It
- Pennsylvania Debt Relief: Every Option Compared
- How to Stop a Vehicle Repossession in PA
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania
- Stop Foreclosure in Pennsylvania
- Credit Card Debt Relief in Pennsylvania
- Medical Debt Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania
- Bankruptcy After Job Loss in Pennsylvania
Service areas
Bankruptcy help in your Pennsylvania county
I file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Start with your county or city below, or see every service area.
- Blair County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Fayette County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Northampton County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Bucks County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Beaver County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Erie County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Monroe County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Montgomery County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Lehigh County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Arendtsville Bankruptcy Attorney
- Scranton Bankruptcy Attorney
- Doylestown Bankruptcy Attorney
- Hanover Bankruptcy Attorney
- Washington Bankruptcy Attorney
- Allenport Bankruptcy Attorney
- Mercer County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Delaware County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Cumberland County Bankruptcy Attorney
- Schuylkill County Bankruptcy Attorney
No cost. No obligation.
Book your free bankruptcy consultation call.
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