York, Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Attorney
Reviewed by Sean P. Quinlan, Attorney
If you're looking for a bankruptcy attorney in York, PA, you have options — and you have federal protections that stop creditor calls, wage garnishments, and sheriff sales the moment your case is filed. York County sees hundreds of consumer bankruptcy filings each year from residents dealing with medical debt from WellSpan, credit-card balances, PA state tax attachments, and cross-state commuter income issues.
York County bankruptcy cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Filings are electronic and 341 meetings are held virtually, so in most cases you never need to travel.
Chapter 7 is the fresh-start option — it discharges qualifying credit-card debt, medical bills, personal loans, and older tax debt in about 4–6 months. Most York Chapter 7 filers keep their home, vehicle, and retirement using federal exemptions.
Chapter 13 is a 3-to-5 year repayment plan for filers above the Pennsylvania median, those behind on a mortgage or car loan, or those who need to pay back nondischargeable tax debt. Chapter 13 stops foreclosures and repossessions while letting you catch up on arrears.
We represent individuals and families across York City and York County: West York, Spring Garden, East York, Red Lion, Dallastown, Dover, Spring Grove, Hanover, Shrewsbury, Stewartstown, Wrightsville, Manchester, and New Freedom. Many York County clients commute to Baltimore, Harford County, or Cecil County in Maryland — Pennsylvania residency controls which bankruptcy district handles the case, so we regularly file for MD commuters. Employers we frequently see include WellSpan Health, Harley-Davidson, BAE Systems, York Hospital, and the York City School District.
Every case starts with a free, confidential consultation. We review your income, debts, assets, and any pending lawsuits, garnishments, or sheriff sales. Then we quote a flat attorney fee in writing and recommend a clear path forward. Book directly on our calendar, call the 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 York-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
York County bankruptcy cases are filed and heard in the Middle District of Pennsylvania courthouse in Harrisburg — about 30 miles north of York on I-83. Consumer 341 meetings of creditors are held by Zoom, so most York clients never travel here.
45 N George St, York, PA 17401
The state courthouse in downtown York — where mortgage foreclosures, sheriff sales, credit-card lawsuits, and wage-garnishment actions against York County residents are filed before bankruptcy stops them.
Frequently Asked Questions
We charge a flat attorney fee 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 York clients pay the attorney fee in installments before filing.
Have a York-specific question? Get a straight answer in a free consultation.
York County cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Filings are electronic and 341 meetings of creditors are held virtually.
Pennsylvania residency controls which bankruptcy district handles your case. If you have lived in PA for the greater part of the last 180 days, you file in the Middle District of Pennsylvania — even if your paycheck comes from a Maryland employer. We handle these cross-state commuter cases regularly.
Yes. Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy before a scheduled York County sheriff sale stops the sale through the automatic stay. Mortgage arrears are then cured through your repayment plan while you keep the home.
Yes. The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 takes effect the moment we file. It stops wage garnishments for dischargeable debts, bank levies, foreclosure, and creditor calls. We notify your employer and the creditor to release the garnishment.
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.
Chapter 7 typically discharges about 90 days after filing. Chapter 13 lasts 3 to 5 years depending on income and plan terms. Either way, creditor calls and garnishments stop immediately upon filing.
No. York County 341 meetings of creditors are held by Zoom under a standing order of the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Most York clients complete the entire case without ever traveling to a courthouse.
Yes. Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy before a York County tax claim bureau upset sale or judicial sale triggers the automatic stay and stops the sale. Delinquent real-estate taxes are then paid in full through your 3-to-5 year Chapter 13 plan, letting you keep your home.
In almost every case, no. Private employers rarely learn about a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing unless wages were being garnished, and federal law (11 U.S.C. § 525) prohibits firing or discriminating against you because of a bankruptcy. Security clearances and CDLs are generally unaffected.
Gambling debt at Hollywood Casino at Penn National, Parx, or online sportsbooks is generally dischargeable in Chapter 7. However, cash advances or gambling charges taken within 70–90 days of filing can be challenged as presumptively non-dischargeable, so timing and disclosure matter.
Yes. Where you live, not where you commute, controls jurisdiction. If York, PA has been your primary residence for the greater part of the last 180 days, you file in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and use Pennsylvania federal exemptions.
Have a York-specific question? Get a straight answer in a free consultation.
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
