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Bankruptcy court

Western District of Pennsylvania

The Western District of Pennsylvania is the federal bankruptcy court for 25 counties in Pennsylvania, divided into 3 divisions.

Divisions and counties served

Each county below is assigned to a division by the court’s own order or local rule.

Bankruptcy venue is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1408, not by county alone. It can rest on domicile, residence, a principal place of business, or principal assets in the United States, measured over the 180 days before filing — so a recent move can change which district is available. Confirm venue before filing.

Erie Division

10 counties

W.PA.LBR 1002-1(a)(2): "The Erie Division is comprised of the counties of Erie, Clarion, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Warren, Crawford, Forest, Mercer, and Venango."

Johnstown Division

6 counties

W.PA.LBR 1002-1(a)(1): "The counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset, and Clearfield constitute the Johnstown Counties."

Pittsburgh Division

9 counties

W.PA.LBR 1002-1(a)(1): "The counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland constitute the Pittsburgh Counties."

Every Pennsylvania county and its court →

How the Western District of Pennsylvania runs a case

Practices this court sets for itself. They differ from district to district, which is why a national answer cannot supply them.

Section 341 meeting of creditors
By Zoom video

USTP Instructions for Joining a Zoom § 341(a) Meeting of Creditors

What the Western District of Pennsylvania publishes

Local rules and standing orders bind cases in this district in addition to the national rules. Each link goes to the court’s own copy.

Local rules

The rules this court adds on top of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. They bind every case filed here.

Showing 12 of 130 this court publishes.

Related

Not yet published here

We have not collected these for this court, so this page does not show them. The court’s own site is the authority meanwhile.

  • Courthouse street addresses, filing-counter hours and clerk phone numbers
  • The trustees who serve this district

This court publishes at www.pawb.uscourts.gov. The rules, orders and fee schedules linked on this page go to its own copies.

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