Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania

Filing Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania allows filers to choose between state and federal bankruptcy exemptions — one of 18 states that offer this flexibility. This is a significant advantage: you can compare both sets of exemptions and use whichever protects more of your property.

Homestead Exemption: $0 (no homestead exemption)

The homestead exemption protects equity in your primary residence during bankruptcy. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has no state homestead exemption. However, since you can choose federal exemptions, the federal homestead exemption of approximately $27,900 (individual) or $55,800 (married) is available.

After Discharge: Rebuilding Credit in Pennsylvania

Once your bankruptcy is discharged, the rebuild process is the same regardless of state. Open a secured credit card (the Discover it Secured is the best option with $0 fee and Cashback Match), keep utilization below 10%, and add a credit-builder loan within 6 months.

If you plan to form a business after bankruptcy, Pennsylvania's LLC filing fee is $125 through the Secretary of State at www.dos.pa.gov. You can begin building business credit immediately after discharge — bankruptcy only affects your personal credit file, not your new LLC's business credit profile.