Filing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania? Three Practice Changes for 2026
Most of what determines whether a bankruptcy case runs smoothly never makes the news. It’s the local rules — the forms, the filing procedures, the court orders that govern how cases actually move through the courthouse. If you’re filing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which covers Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Harrisburg, three changes in the […]
The $2.75 Million Chapter 13 Shortcut Is Gone: Pennsylvania’s Debt Limits Explained
For a few years, Chapter 13 had a simple rule: one combined debt limit of $2.75 million, and if your total debts fit under it, you could file. That shortcut is gone. It expired on June 21, 2024, and I still meet people — and occasionally see filings — that assume it’s still around. It […]
What Can You Keep If You File Bankruptcy in 2026? The Federal Exemption Numbers
The question I hear more than any other is simple: “If I file bankruptcy, do I lose everything?” In the overwhelming majority of cases I handle, the answer is no — people keep their house, their car, their furniture, and their retirement. The reason is exemptions: the dollar amounts of property the law lets you […]
New Means-Test Numbers Arrive Nov. 1: Where Pennsylvania Filers Stand Right Now
If you’re thinking about filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Pennsylvania, the single most important number in your case is one you don’t control: the median income figure for a household your size. The U.S. Trustee Program updates those figures twice a year, and the next update takes effect for cases filed on or after November […]
Will I Lose My Tax Refund If I File Bankruptcy?
This question comes up every year as tax season approaches, and it matters — for a lot of families in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the tax refund is the biggest single check of the year. The honest answer is: it depends on timing and exemptions, and this is one of the easiest bankruptcy problems to plan around […]
Can Bankruptcy Stop Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania?
If a creditor is threatening to garnish your wages — or already has — you need to know two things. First, Pennsylvania law gives you more protection than most states. Second, where Pennsylvania law doesn’t protect you, bankruptcy usually does. Here’s how it actually works. Pennsylvania already blocks most wage garnishment Pennsylvania is one of […]
What Is the Bankruptcy Means Test? A Plain-English Guide for Pennsylvania Filers
If you’ve been reading about Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ve probably run into the “means test” — usually described just vaguely enough to make you nervous. It’s the test that decides whether you qualify for Chapter 7 at all. Here’s what it actually is, how it works in Pennsylvania, and why a lot of people who […]
How Soon After Bankruptcy Can I Buy a House?
One of the biggest fears people have about bankruptcy is that it slams the door on ever owning a home. It doesn’t. It doesn’t even slam the door for very long. Mortgage lenders have specific waiting periods after bankruptcy, and for most people they’re measured in a couple of years — not the decade a […]
How Much Does It Cost to File Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania?
It’s the first question almost everyone asks, and it makes sense. If you’re buried in debt, the idea of paying for a lawyer and a court filing can feel impossible. Here’s the honest breakdown of what bankruptcy actually costs in Pennsylvania, and the options that exist if money is tight. The court filing fee The […]
Can Bankruptcy Wipe Out Medical Debt?
Yes. Medical bills are one of the most common reasons people file bankruptcy in Pennsylvania — and they’re also one of the easiest kinds of debt for bankruptcy to eliminate. If a surgery, an ER visit, or a chronic condition has left you with bills you can never realistically pay, here is the truth about […]
