How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Pennsylvania
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If you're dealing with debt that feels impossible to get out from under, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the fresh start you need. It can erase eligible debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans — and many Pennsylvanians file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in Pennsylvania.
Written by Attorney Eva Bacevice.
Written June 11, 2019
5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in Pennsylvania
If you're feeling overwhelmed by bills, collection calls, or the stress of making ends meet, you're not alone. Many people turn to bankruptcy when they've tried everything else and still can't get ahead.
Filing Chapter 7 in Pennsylvania involves a few steps — gathering your financial documents, completing two short courses, filing your paperwork, and attending a brief meeting with a trustee — and many people do it successfully without a lawyer. This guide walks you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: See If You Qualify
Chapter 7 has income limits, but most people who need it meet them. You'll answer a few questions about your household size and income. If you use Upsolve's free tool, it just takes two minutes to see if you qualify.
If your income is below Pennsylvania’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| Loading... | ||
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Before you file, you'll need to pull together a few key documents. One of those is a certificate from a short credit counseling course, which you'll complete online. It takes 1–2 hours and costs $10–$50 (fee waivers available).
See the full document checklist →
Step 3: Complete Your Forms and File
The forms you'll fill out are federal, so they're the same across the country. You can find them as free fillable PDFs at uscourts.gov.
If you use Upsolve, your forms are generated for you based on your answers and organized so they’re ready to print and sign.
How filing works with Upsolve →
Pennsylvania has three districts — Eastern, Middle, and Western — and each one has its own filing rules and local forms requirements. The Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Districts section below covers courthouse locations and specific instructions for your county.
All three districts accept filings in person, by mail, or online.
Filing Fee Information & Fee Waiver Eligibility
There’s a $338 filing fee for Chapter 7. If you can’t afford it, you can ask the court to waive the fee when you file your paperwork.
People whose income falls below 150% of the federal poverty level may be eligible. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant the fee waiver.
| Household Size | State Poverty Level | Fee Waiver Limit (150% PL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330.00 | $1,995.00 |
| 2 | $1,803.33 | $2,705.00 |
| 3 | $2,276.67 | $3,415.00 |
| 4 | $2,750.00 | $4,125.00 |
| 5 | $3,223.33 | $4,835.00 |
| 6 | $3,696.67 | $5,545.00 |
| 7 | $4,170.00 | $6,255.00 |
| 8 | $4,643.33 | $6,965.00 |
| 9 | $5,116.67 | $7,675.00 |
| 10 | $5,590.00 | $8,385.00 |
If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver, you’ll need to pay the full filing fee or an installment payment (if approved) when you file your forms.
Step 4: Attend Your 341 Meeting
About a month after you file, you'll have a short meeting with your bankruptcy trustee on Zoom. It typically takes about five minutes. The trustee will verify your identity and ask a few basic questions about your paperwork.
Upsolve can help you prep for your 341 meeting →
Step 5: Get Your Discharge
After your 341 meeting, you'll need to take one more short course — a debtor education course on budgeting and managing credit. Once that's done and any follow-up is resolved, the court erases your eligible debts. That's your fresh start, usually within 3–4 months of filing.
What debts does Chapter 7 discharge? →
Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Districts
The Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court is divided into three districts: Eastern, Middle, and Western.
The court that handles your case is determined by which county you live in, and each district has its own filing rules and requirements.
⬇️ You can use the table below to see which district and division you’re in.
| District | Division | Counties Served |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | Philadelphia | Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, Philadelphia, Chester |
| Reading | Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Lancaster | |
| Middle | Harrisburg | Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntington, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, York |
| Williamsport | Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga, Union | |
| Wilkes-Barre | Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming | |
| Western | Pittsburgh | Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland |
| Erie | Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Warren, Clarion, Jefferson, Mercer, Venango | |
| Johnstown | Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset, Clearfield |
Local Forms/Requirements for the Eastern District
⬇️ Once you know your division, use the addresses below to find your courthouse.
| Division | Court Address |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. Federal Courthouse 900 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Reading | United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania The Gateway Building 201 Penn Street, Suite 103 Reading, PA 19601 |
The Eastern District uses the standard federal forms, but you can check the court's website to see if any local forms apply to your case. The court does have specific formatting rules for your creditor matrix — the list of all the people and companies you owe money to.
In the Eastern District, you can file your forms in person or by mail at the courthouse that serves your county, or electronically using the court's free Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system.
If you file using eSR, there are a few extra steps. After you submit your forms online, the clerk will email you instructions for sending in a few additional items that you’ll need to print and hand sign. You have 10 days to mail or hand-deliver them, and your case isn't officially filed until the court receives them.
Original credit counseling certificate for each debtor
Filing fee payment or fee waiver application
eSR Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing
💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee in cash (exact amount) or with a money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Do not send cash through the mail.
Local Forms/Requirements for the Middle District
In the Middle District, you can file your forms in person or by mail at the courthouse that serves your county, or electronically using the court’s Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS).
⬇️ If you're filing in person or by mail, use the address below for your division.
| Division | Court Address |
|---|---|
| Harrisburg | 1501 North 6th Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 |
| Williamsport | 197 South Main Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 (file at Wilkes-Barre) |
| Wilkes-Barre | 197 South Main Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 |
📬 Note: Regardless of your division, send all mailed filings to the Wilkes-Barre address.
The Middle District uses the standard federal forms. You can check the court's website to see if any local forms apply to your case. The court also has an online tool and formatting instructions for submitting your creditor matrix — the list of all the people and companies you owe money to.
💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee in person or by mail with a cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online at Pay.gov using a debit card.
Local Forms/Requirements for the Western District
In the Western District, you can file your forms in person or by mail at the courthouse that serves your county, or electronically using the court’s Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS).
| Division | Court Address |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | U.S. Bankruptcy Court 5414 U.S. Steel Tower 600 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
| Erie | U.S. Bankruptcy Court 17 South Park Row, Room B160 Erie, PA 16501 |
| *Johnstown | U.S. Bankruptcy Court Penn Traffic Building Johnstown, PA 15901 |
*Johnstown division filers use the Pittsburgh address for mail filings and the Johnstown office for in-person filings.
The Western District uses the standard federal forms. You can check the court's website to see if any local forms apply to your case. You'll also need to submit a creditor matrix listing all your creditors' names and addresses as a plain text file or on paper. The court has specific formatting requirements, so review the guidelines on the court's website before you submit.
💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee in cash (exact amount) or with a money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Do not send cash through the mail.
Free Legal Aid in Pennsylvania
If your case is more complex — or you'd just feel better having an attorney review it — free and low-cost legal help is available across Pennsylvania.
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (610) 275-5400 1260 Almshouse Road Doylestown, PA 18901
MidPenn Legal Services, Inc. (717) 234-0492 100 N. Cameron Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
Neighborhood Legal Services Association (866) 761-6572 928 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (800) 982-4387 33 North Main Street, Suite 200 Pittston, PA 18640
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6949 1314 Griswold Plaza Erie, PA 16501
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800 718 Arch Street, Suite 300N Philadelphia, PA 19106
Summit Legal Aid (724) 225-6170 10 West Cherry Avenue Washington, PA 15301
