Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Laws

Key Points

Pennsylvania has its own set of exemptions in place when it comes to filing bankruptcy. In Pennsylvania, you can also choose from the set of bankruptcy exemptions set forth by federal law.

However, you must take care to choose from any one and not both. Choosing to use the Pennsylvania bankruptcy exemptions also entitles you to use the federal non-bankruptcy exemptions.

Married couples in Pennsylvania are allowed to double their exemption if they choose to file a joint bankruptcy.

Homestead

Homestead exemption isn't available with Pennsylvania bankruptcy law. You can still protect the equity in your home in case you and your spouse own it as a tenancy. This has to be a form of joint ownership of property between you and your spouse. It should also be exempt from the creditors of the debts of a single spouse.

Motor vehicle or automobile

If you decide to make use of the federal motor vehicles bankruptcy exemption, then you'd be exempt for an amount of up to 3,450 dollars of equity in your car. Otherwise a wildcard exemption may help you protect your car.

Personal property

Clothing, schoolbooks, Bibles, military uniforms and sewing machines fall under the personal property exemptions.

Wages

75 percent of the wages are eligible for exemption. Earned but unpaid wages, prison inmate's wages and the wages of victim abuse also fall under this category.

Pensions

Pensions for city, county, municipal, public school and state employees along with that of police officers is exempt.

Wildcard

You can make use of this to protect 300 dollars of any property you possibly own.