title: "Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Chapter 7 - LSC-Grade Legal Packet"
state: "PA"
date: "2026-03-20"
price: "$97"
Pennsylvania Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filing Packet
Jurisdiction-correct document templates. Not legal advice.
ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST
- [ ] You have lived in Pennsylvania for at least 91 of the last 180 days
- [ ] Your household income is below the Pennsylvania median for your household size (or you passed the means test)
- [ ] You have NOT filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the last 8 years
- [ ] You have NOT filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the last 6 years
- [ ] You did NOT have a bankruptcy case dismissed in the last 180 days for cause
- [ ] You have completed a credit counseling course within 180 days before filing (11 U.S.C. § 109(h))
File at: Pennsylvania court finder: https://www.pacourts.us/find-a-court
FILING STEPS
- Find an approved credit counseling agency at justice.gov/ust and complete the 60–90 minute course; save your certificate (valid 180 days).
- Gather all pay stubs (last 7 months), 2–3 years of tax returns, bank statements (last 6 months), and a complete list of all debts and assets.
- Compare your average monthly income for the last 6 months to the PA median income; if above median, complete Form 122A-2 means test.
- Determine your district: Eastern (Philadelphia area), Middle (Harrisburg/Scranton/Williamsport area), or Western (Pittsburgh/Erie area).
- Complete Form 101 (Voluntary Petition) and all Schedules A/B through J.
- Complete Statement of Financial Affairs (Form 107) and means test forms 122A-1 and 122A-2 if required.
- Sign the Declaration (Form 106Dec) and complete the Summary of Schedules (Form 106Sum).
- File at your district's bankruptcy court in person or via CM/ECF; pay the $338 filing fee (installments or waiver available if income below 150% poverty level).
- Within 14 days of filing, send the trustee your last 2 years of tax returns and pay stubs from 60 days before filing.
- Complete the debtor education course (required before discharge) at an approved provider.
LEGAL AID
- Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN): palawhelp.org · 1-800-322-9933
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance: phillylegal.org · (215) 981-3800
- Southwestern PA Legal Services: swpls.org · 1-800-243-2020
- PA Courts Self-Help: pacourts.us/self-help · (717) 705-1138
FORM 1: VOLUNTARY PETITION — BLANK TEMPLATE
`
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
In re: )
) Case No.: _______________
[YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME], )
) Chapter 7
Debtor. )
VOLUNTARY PETITION
- DEBTOR INFORMATION
Name: [YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME]
All other names used in the last 8 years: [LIST ANY OR "NONE"]
Street Address: [YOUR STREET ADDRESS]
City, State, Zip: [CITY], PA [ZIP CODE]
County: [YOUR COUNTY IN PA]
- FILING DISTRICT
[ ] Eastern District of Pennsylvania
[ ] Middle District of Pennsylvania
[ ] Western District of Pennsylvania
- CHAPTER SELECTION
[X] Chapter 7 - Liquidation
- ENTITY TYPE
[X] Individual
- ESTIMATED ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Estimated Assets: $[TOTAL VALUE OF EVERYTHING YOU OWN]
Estimated Liabilities: $[TOTAL AMOUNT OF ALL DEBTS]
- EXECUTION
I declare under penalty of perjury that the information is true and correct.
Date: _______________
______________________________________
Signature of Debtor
Print Name: ________________________
`
FORM 2: SCHEDULES A/B — BLANK TEMPLATE
`
SCHEDULE A/B - PROPERTY
SCHEDULE A - REAL PROPERTY
If you have no real estate, write "NONE" below.
| Description | Address | Type of Interest | Current Fair Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| [e.g., Primary residence] | [Address, City, PA] | [Fee simple] | $[VALUE] |
SCHEDULE B - PERSONAL PROPERTY
[ ] 1. Cash on hand: $______________
[ ] 2. Checking accounts: Bank: ________________ Amount: $______________
[ ] 3. Savings accounts: Bank: ________________ Amount: $______________
[ ] 4. Retirement accounts: Type: ________________ Value: $______________
[ ] 5. Stocks and bonds: Description: ________________ Value: $______________
[ ] 6. Vehicles: Year: ____ Make: ____________ Model: ____________ Value: $______________
[ ] 7. Household goods and furnishings:
- Furniture: $______________
- Electronics: $______________
- Appliances: $______________
[ ] 8. Jewelry: Description: ________________ Value: $______________
[ ] 9. Clothing: Approximate value: $______________
[ ] 10. Other: Description: ________________ Value: $______________
TOTAL VALUE OF ALL PROPERTY: $______________
`
FORM 3: SCHEDULE C — EXEMPTIONS — BLANK TEMPLATE
`
SCHEDULE C - EXEMPT PROPERTY
IMPORTANT: Mark your choice at the top:
[ ] I claim Pennsylvania State Exemptions ONLY (42 Pa.C.S. § 8121-8124)
[ ] I claim Federal Exemptions ONLY (11 U.S.C. § 522(d))
List ALL property you claim as exempt:
| Description of Property | Specific Statute | Value of Claimed Exemption |
|---|---|---|
| [e.g., Wearing apparel] | 42 Pa.C.S. § 8124(a)(1) | $500 |
| [e.g., Tools of trade] | 42 Pa.C.S. § 8124(a)(5) | $1,000 |
| [e.g., Homestead (federal)] | 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(1) | $27,900 |
| [e.g., Motor vehicle (federal)] | 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(2) | $4,450 |
TOTAL VALUE OF ALL EXEMPT PROPERTY: $______________
Date: _______________
______________________________________
Signature of Debtor
`
FORM 4: SCHEDULES D, E/F — BLANK TEMPLATE
`
SCHEDULE D - CREDITORS HOLDING SECURED CLAIMS
| Creditor Name & Address | Date of Loan | Account Number | Debt Owed | Property Securing Debt | Current Value of Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [e.g., ABC Mortgage Co.] | [Date] | [Number] | $[AMOUNT] | [Property address] | $[VALUE] |
TOTAL SECURED DEBTS: $______________
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SCHEDULE E/F - UNSECURED CLAIMS
PRIORITY CLAIMS (taxes, domestic support):
| Creditor Name & Address | Account Number | Date | Debt Owed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [e.g., IRS for back taxes] | [Number] | [Date] | $[AMOUNT] | [Tax] |
NONPRIORITY CLAIMS (credit cards, medical bills):
| Creditor Name & Address | Account Number | Date | Debt Owed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [e.g., Visa credit card] | [Number] | [Date] | $[AMOUNT] | [Credit card] |
TOTAL UNSECURED DEBTS: $______________
`
FORM 5: SCHEDULES I AND J — BLANK TEMPLATE
`
SCHEDULE I - YOUR INCOME
| Income Source | Gross Amount | Pay Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Employment: [Employer name] | $[PER PAY] | [Weekly/Biweekly] |
| Spouse Employment: [Employer] | $[PER PAY] | [Frequency] |
| Social Security / Pension | $[AMOUNT] | Monthly |
| Other: [Source] | $[AMOUNT] | [Frequency] |
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME: $______________
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SCHEDULE J - YOUR EXPENDITURES
| Category | Current Monthly Expense |
|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | $______________ |
| Utilities (electric, gas, water) | $______________ |
| Food | $______________ |
| Clothing | $______________ |
| Transportation (car payment, gas, insurance) | $______________ |
| Healthcare (insurance, co-pays, prescriptions) | $______________ |
| Childcare | $______________ |
| Education | $______________ |
| Phone and internet | $______________ |
| Insurance (life, disability) | $______________ |
| Other: | $______________ |
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES: $______________
`
FORM 6: DECLARATION — BLANK TEMPLATE
`
DECLARATION ABOUT SCHEDULES
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
[ ] Eastern District
[ ] Middle District
[ ] Western District
of Pennsylvania
Case No.: _______________
In re: [YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME], Debtor
I, [YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME], declare under penalty of perjury that:
- I am the debtor in this case.
- I have read the schedules of assets and liabilities and the statement
of financial affairs filed with this declaration.
- To the best of my knowledge and information, the schedules and statement
are true and correct.
- The amount of scheduled debts is approximately $______________.
- I have not omitted any creditor or asset from these schedules.
- [ ] I am not engaged in business.
[ ] I am engaged in business as: ________________________________
Date: _______________
______________________________________
Signature of Debtor
Print Name: ________________________
`
*Not legal advice. Jurist-Diction is not a law firm. Templates are jurisdiction-correct.
Verify current law before filing. For legal advice contact a licensed Pennsylvania attorney or legal aid. jurist-diction.com*