Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney Pennsylvania | Quinlan Law Group

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney in Pennsylvania.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a reorganization bankruptcy that allows you to keep your assets while repaying debts over a 3-5 year period under a court-approved plan. It is the primary tool for stopping foreclosure and saving a home in Pennsylvania. Quinlan Law Group represents debtors filing Chapter 13 in the Middle District and Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Call (717) 724-7503 | Schedule a free consultation

What Chapter 13 bankruptcy does.

Chapter 13 under Title 11 of the United States Code allows debtors with regular income to propose a repayment plan that pays creditors over 36-60 months. At the end of the plan, remaining unsecured debt is discharged — similar to Chapter 7 — but you keep all your assets throughout.

Chapter 13 is the right choice when:

• You are behind on mortgage payments and facing foreclosure — Chapter 13 lets you cure the arrears over the life of the plan while resuming regular payments.
• You have non-exempt assets you want to keep that would be liquidated in Chapter 7.
• Your income is too high to qualify for Chapter 7 under the means test.
• You have tax debt or student loans you want to manage through a structured repayment.
• You received a Chapter 7 discharge within the past 8 years and cannot file Chapter 7 again.

The automatic stay: Like Chapter 7, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. §362 takes effect immediately upon filing — stopping foreclosure, collection calls, lawsuits, and all creditor action. In Chapter 13, the stay remains in effect for the entire duration of the repayment plan.

Saving your home with Chapter 13 in Pennsylvania.

The most powerful use of Chapter 13 for Pennsylvania homeowners is the mortgage cure. If you are behind on your mortgage — even months or years behind, even if a sheriff's sale has been scheduled — Chapter 13 allows you to:

• Stop the foreclosure immediately upon filing through the automatic stay.
• Spread the mortgage arrears over the 3-5 year repayment plan.
• Resume making regular monthly mortgage payments going forward.
• Keep your home as long as you complete the plan.

Pennsylvania sheriff's sales are stopped the moment a Chapter 13 petition is filed. We have filed Chapter 13 petitions hours before scheduled sheriff's sales to stop them. Call us immediately if you have a sale date.

How Chapter 13 payments work.

Your Chapter 13 plan payment is based on your disposable income after paying allowed living expenses and secured debt payments. The plan must pay:

• Priority debts in full: taxes, domestic support obligations, filing fees.
• Secured debts: mortgage arrears, car loan payments, any secured creditor you want to keep.
• Unsecured debts: whatever disposable income remains — often pennies on the dollar.

The Chapter 13 trustee collects your monthly plan payment and distributes it to creditors. You make one payment per month to the trustee — not directly to each creditor.

• Middle District trustee: Charles J. DeHart III, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee, Harrisburg.
• Eastern District trustee: Kenneth E. West, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee, Philadelphia.

The Chapter 13 process in Pennsylvania.

• Credit counseling: Required within 180 days before filing.
• Petition and plan filing: We prepare your petition, schedules, and proposed repayment plan.
• Automatic stay: Takes effect immediately upon filing.
• 341 meeting of creditors: Held approximately 30-45 days after filing before the Chapter 13 trustee.
• Plan confirmation hearing: The bankruptcy judge confirms your repayment plan — typically 45-90 days after filing.
• Plan payments: Begin within 30 days of filing, before confirmation.
• Discharge: Issued after successful completion of all plan payments — 3-5 years after filing.

Middle and Eastern District courthouse locations.

• Middle District — Harrisburg Division: Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse, 1501 North 6th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, (717) 901-2800.
• Middle District — Wilkes-Barre Division: Max Rosenn U.S. Courthouse, 197 South Main Street Room 274, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, (570) 831-2500.
• Eastern District — Philadelphia Division: Robert N.C. Nix Sr. Federal Building, 900 Market Street Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
• Eastern District — Reading Division: The Gateway Building, 201 Penn Street Suite 103, Reading, PA 19601.

Counties we serve.

Middle 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, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and York County.

Eastern District: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia County.

Frequently asked questions.

Can Chapter 13 really stop a foreclosure?

Yes. The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. §362 stops all foreclosure proceedings the moment the petition is filed — including scheduled sheriff's sales.

What if I miss a plan payment?

Missing payments is serious — the trustee can file a motion to dismiss your case. Plan modifications are available under 11 U.S.C. §1329 when circumstances change.

How much of my unsecured debt do I have to repay?

It depends on your disposable income. In many cases, unsecured creditors receive very little — sometimes 0-10 cents on the dollar. The remainder is discharged at the end of the plan.

Can I strip a second mortgage in Chapter 13?

Potentially yes. Lien stripping under 11 U.S.C. §506 allows the court to reclassify a wholly unsecured junior mortgage as unsecured debt — discharged at plan completion. Only available in Chapter 13, not Chapter 7.

How long does Chapter 13 stay on my credit report?

Seven years from the filing date.

How much does it cost?

The court filing fee is $313. Legal fees are discussed during your free consultation — payment plan options available.

The sooner we talk, the more we can do.

Call (717) 724-7503 | Schedule a free consultation

Quinlan Law Group | 3425 Simpson Ferry Rd, Suite 100, Camp Hill, PA 17011

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