United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

3rd Circuit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

About This Court

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is a unit of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, operating under the jurisdiction of the Third Circuit. The court handles all bankruptcy matters arising within the eastern portion of Pennsylvania, an area that includes Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, as well as Reading and Allentown.

The district is one of the more active bankruptcy courts in the Third Circuit, reflecting the size and density of its geographic area. The court administers cases under all chapters of the Bankruptcy Code, including consumer cases under Chapters 7 and 13 and business reorganizations under Chapter 11.

The Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court sits primarily in Philadelphia, with additional operations in Reading. Bankruptcy judges in this district are appointed for fourteen-year terms by the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Handles cases filed under the federal Bankruptcy Code within the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Bankruptcy judges are appointed by the court of appeals for 14-year terms. Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

Divisions

Philadelphia Division (Philadelphia), Reading Division (Reading)

Caseload

The court handles a high volume of consumer bankruptcy filings, particularly Chapter 13 cases, consistent with the large population base of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. It also sees significant Chapter 11 business reorganization filings given the district's substantial commercial activity.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to appear in the Bankruptcy Court for that district. Registration for the court's CM/ECF electronic filing system is also required for most practitioners.

Clerk's Office

900 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 408-2800

Local Rules

36 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

General Rules 34

Rule	Title
Rule 1006	Filing Fee
Rule 1007	Lists, Schedules, Statements, and Other Documents; Time Limits
Rule 1009	Amendments of Voluntary Petitions, Lists, Schedules and Statements
Rule 1010	Service of Involuntary Petition and Summons; Petition For Recognition of a Foreign Nonmain Proceeding
Rule 1011	Responsive Pleading or Motion in Involuntary and Cross-Border Cases
Rule 1017	Dismissal or Conversion of Case; Suspension
Rule 1019	Conversion of Chapter 11 Reorganization Case, Chapter 12 Family Farmer's Debt Adjustment Case, or Chapter 13 Individual's Debt Adjustment Case to a Chapter 7 Liquidation Case
Rule 1020	Small Business Chapter 11 Reorganization Case
Rule 1021	Health Care Business Case
Rule 2002	Notices to Creditors, Equity Security Holders, Administrators in Foreign Proceedings, Persons Against Whom Provisional Relief is Sought in Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases, United States, and United States Trustee
Rule 2003	Meeting of Creditors or Equity Security Holders
Rule 2007.1	Appointment of Trustee or Examiner in a Chapter 11 Reorganization Case
Rule 2007.2	Appointment of Patient Care Ombudsman in a Health Care Business Case
Rule 2015	Duty to Keep Records, Make Reports, and Give Notice of Case or Change of Status
Rule 2015.1	Patient Care Ombudsman
Rule 2015.2	Transfer of Patient in Health Care Business Case
Rule 3002	Filing Proof of Claim or Interest
Rule 3003	Filing Proof of Claim or Equity Security Interest in Chapter 9 Municipality or Chapter 11 Reorganization Cases
Rule 3016	Filing of Plan and Disclosure Statement in a Chapter 9 Municipality or Chapter 11 Reorganization Case
Rule 3017.1	Court Consideration of Disclosure Statement in a Small Business Case
Rule 3019	Modification of Accepted Plan Before or After Confirmation in a Chapter 9 Municipality or Chapter 11 Reorganization Case
Rule 4002	Duties of Debtor
Rule 4003	Exemptions
Rule 4004	Grant or Denial of Discharge
Rule 4006	Notice of No Discharge
Rule 4007	Determination of Dischargeability of a Debt
Rule 4008	Discharge and Reaffirmation Hearing
Rule 5003	Records Kept By the Clerk
Rule 5008	Notice Regarding Presumption of Abuse in Chapter 7 Cases of Individual Debtors
Rule 5012	Communication and Cooperation With Foreign Courts and Foreign Representatives
Rule 6004	Use, Sale, or Lease of Property
Rule 6011	Disposal of Patient Records in Health Care Business Case
Rule 9006	Time
Rule 9009	Forms

Appellate Rules 2

Rule	Title
Rule 8001	Manner of Taking Appeal; Voluntary Dismissal; Certification to Court of Appeals
Rule 8003	Leave to Appeal

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 3rd Circuit

Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware Wilmington, Delaware Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey Newark, New Jersey Bankruptcy Court, District of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania Scranton, Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania