Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Guide

Which court hears a case from each county

Each county below is assigned to a federal district, and larger districts divide further by division. Every assignment comes from the court’s own published 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.

All 67 counties in Pennsylvania are mapped to a court.

Pennsylvania in detail

• Pennsylvania means test median income

  The published median annual income by household size, and what the comparison does and does not decide.

• Pennsylvania bankruptcy exemptions

  What state law protects, quoted from the statute that states it.

What we publish for Pennsylvania

• State exemption system (opt-out vs federal election)

  This state allows a choice between the state list and the federal list. Which state's law is available is set by 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(A) from the filer's domicile before filing, not from where they live today.

• Exemptions — what state law lists

  12 verified categories, each quoted from the statute that states it.

• Means test median income

  Published medians for 10 household sizes. A comparison, not a decision.

• Which federal court hears your case

  All 67 mapped to a district and division, each with the court's own order or rule cited.

• Local court practice (341 format, plan form, no-look fee)

  Verified for 3 of 3 districts.

• Tools using Pennsylvania data

  10 calculators run on this state's published figures.

Not yet published for Pennsylvania

These are sections this page does not cover for Pennsylvania. Rather than show a summary we cannot source, it says what is missing.

• Wage garnishment limitsNot yet published
• Participating firmsNot yet published