Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney Pennsylvania | Quinlan Law Group

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney in Pennsylvania.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy eliminates unsecured debt — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and most other consumer obligations — through a federal court discharge. Quinlan Law Group represents Pennsylvania debtors filing Chapter 7 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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

What Chapter 7 bankruptcy does.

Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy under Title 11 of the United States Code. A bankruptcy trustee reviews your assets and liabilities and — in the vast majority of consumer cases — determines that all assets are exempt from liquidation under the federal bankruptcy exemptions available to Pennsylvania debtors. The court then issues a discharge order eliminating your personal liability for covered debts.

What Chapter 7 eliminates:

• Credit card debt
• Medical bills
• Personal loans and payday loans
• Utility arrears
• Most civil judgments
• Deficiency balances after repossession or foreclosure

What Chapter 7 does not eliminate:

• Most student loans (unless undue hardship is proven)
• Child support and alimony
• Most tax debts less than three years old
• Criminal fines and restitution
• Debts incurred through fraud

The automatic stay: The moment your Chapter 7 petition is filed, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. §362 goes into effect — immediately stopping all collection calls, lawsuits, garnishments, and foreclosure proceedings. The stay takes effect the instant the petition is filed.

Pennsylvania Chapter 7 — the means test.

Chapter 7 eligibility is determined by the means test under 11 U.S.C. §707(b). The means test compares your average monthly income over the six months prior to filing against Pennsylvania's median income for your household size.

If your income is at or below the Pennsylvania median — you pass automatically and are eligible for Chapter 7.

If your income is above the median — a second calculation applies disposable income deductions. Many above-median income debtors still qualify for Chapter 7 after allowable expense deductions.

Current Pennsylvania median income figures:

• Household of 1: approximately $57,000 per year
• Household of 2: approximately $72,000 per year
• Household of 3: approximately $85,000 per year
• Household of 4: approximately $102,000 per year

We run the means test calculation during your free consultation so you know your eligibility before filing.

Federal exemptions in Pennsylvania Chapter 7.

Pennsylvania debtors use the federal bankruptcy exemptions under 11 U.S.C. §522(d).

• Homestead exemption: Up to $27,900 in equity in your primary residence
• Motor vehicle: Up to $4,450 in equity in one vehicle
• Personal property: Up to $700 per item in household goods, up to $14,875 total
• Tools of the trade: Up to $2,800 in tools and equipment used in your trade
• Retirement accounts: 401(k), IRA, pension plans — fully exempt under ERISA and 11 U.S.C. §522(b)(3)(C)
• Wildcard exemption: Up to $1,475 plus unused homestead exemption, up to $13,950 total

In most consumer Chapter 7 cases, all assets fall within these exemptions — meaning you keep everything you own and discharge your debts simultaneously.

The Chapter 7 process in Pennsylvania.

• Credit counseling: Required within 180 days before filing.
• Petition filing: We prepare and file your petition, schedules, statement of financial affairs, and means test with the bankruptcy court.
• Automatic stay: Takes effect immediately upon filing under 11 U.S.C. §362.
• 341 meeting of creditors: Held approximately 30-45 days after filing before the trustee — not a judge. Typically lasts 5-10 minutes.
• Discharge: Issued approximately 60-90 days after the 341 meeting. Your personal liability for covered debts is permanently eliminated.
• Total time from filing to discharge: Approximately 3-4 months in most Pennsylvania consumer cases.

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.

Will I lose my house if I file Chapter 7 in Pennsylvania?

Not if your equity is within the federal homestead exemption of $27,900. Most Pennsylvania homeowners with standard mortgage balances have little or no non-exempt equity and keep their homes through Chapter 7.

Will I lose my car?

Not if your equity is within the $4,450 federal vehicle exemption. If you are current on payments and want to keep the vehicle, you reaffirm the debt — it survives the bankruptcy and you keep the car.

How long does Chapter 7 stay on my credit report?

Ten years from the filing date. Most debtors see credit score improvement within 12-24 months of discharge as the debt-to-income ratio improves dramatically.

Can I file Chapter 7 if I filed before?

Yes, with timing restrictions. If you received a Chapter 7 discharge previously, you must wait 8 years from the prior filing date.

How much does it cost?

The court filing fee is $338. Legal fees are discussed during your free consultation — flat fee representation for most consumer Chapter 7 cases.

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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