Dealing with Debt
How to deal with and prevent debt
Dealing with Court Papers About Debt
If you got papers from the court it means someone might be trying to sue you. If you have questions about this, please call 215-686-7988 for more information about your case. Call 215-686-2910 for general information or to reschedule your hearing. Learn more about dealing with debt and your options.
Consumer Debt Collection Information Bot (CODI)
This tool will help you understand your debt collection case in Philadelphia Municipal Court. Codi will ask questions about your situation so it can give you accurate information. You may be asked for information that’s on a paper you got from the court. If so, Codi will tell you how to find that information. Try the Consumer Debt Collection Information Bot (CODI)
Filing for Bankruptcy
Municipal courts do not handle bankruptcy. For more information about filing for bankruptcy in Philadelphia, visit the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. If you are low-income and thinking about filing for bankruptcy, you might be able to get free legal advice. A lawyer can help you figure out if filing for bankruptcy is right for you. If it is the right choice for you, they can also help you file.
Avoiding Foreclosure
For more information on foreclosure, services, and how to respond, contact The Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-4663. You can also contact Community Legal Services to learn more about getting help with mortgage issues. If you are dealing with a foreclosure, please contact the Court of Common Pleas. Review these resources for more information on foreclosure prevention support.
Who Can Help Me with My Debt?
If you have more debt than you can handle, you can get help from an approved credit counseling service. They can help you create a repayment plan with your creditor without filing for bankruptcy.
Clarifi is an organization that offers credit counseling services. They can also help you create a debt management plan.
If you want advice, you can contact these organizations for legal help. It is useful to have the Statement of Claim you were sent in front of you when you talk to them.
- Philadelphia Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service
- Call 215-238-6333
- Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm
- You will discuss your case briefly with someone, who can then match you with a lawyer.
- It costs $35 for a thirty (30) minute consultation with the lawyer. It will cost more to hire a lawyer.
- For more information: lris.philadelphiabar.org
- Community Legal Services
- Call 215-981-3700
- Free for low-income Philadelphians
- Listen to the recording for options when you call
- Choose “Debt Collection or Consumer Scams” and leave a message. Tell them about your situation.
- You will get a call back in 1-2 days.
- For more information: clsphila.org/services/debt-collection
- SeniorLAW Center
- Call 215-988-1242
- Monday – Thursday, 10am - 12pm
- Free if you are 60 or older
- Call and press option 2
- Leave a message telling them about your situation.
- They will call you back.
- For more information: seniorlawcenter.org/services
- Legal Clinic for the Disabled
- Call 215-587-3158
- Free if you have a disability, chronic illness, or are deaf or hard of hearing and have an income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less.
- Call and press option 2
- Leave a message telling them about your situation and they will call you back
- For more information: lcdphila.org/how-we-can-help
- AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania
- Call 215-587-9377 or 215-821-7899 or email intake@aidslawpa.org or intake@lawprojectpa.org.
- Free if you are living with HIV or are impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- You can also apply online
- All messages will be returned within 8 business hours.
- For more information: aidslawpa.org/alpp-services/financial-consumer-debt
- UESF
- UESF provides services for veterans including career counseling, job opportunities, and resources to help keep homes, like help with housing location and landlord negotiation.
- 1608 Walnut Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia PA, 19103
- Main number: 215-972-5170
- VET line: 215-814-6888.
- For more information: uesfacts.org
Forms
- Subpoena Form: Use this form to ask another person for their documents. Learn how to submit a subpoena.
- Appointment of Authorized Representative Form: If you want someone to go to court for you, they need to submit this form. If you have a lawyer, they do not need to submit the form.
- Statement of Claim Form and Instructions: Submit a new Small Claims case
- Landlord-Tenant Forms and Instructions: Submit a new Landlord-Tenant case
- Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis Form: Tell the court you are unable to pay a fee
- Notice to Appeal Form: Challenge the court's decision after a hearing
- Petition to Open Default Judgment Form: Explain why you missed your hearing
- Praecipe for Writ of Execution: Forces the other side to give you money or property after a hearing
Resources
- About Filing a Small Claims Case and Hearings
- How to start a Small Claims Case
- How to search for your case information: Using the Municipal Court CLAIMS User Manual
- Filing Fees: Find out how much you will have to pay to submit a case or action
- Learn more about debt issues in Pennsylvania
- Small Claims FAQs
- How to get disability accommodations
- Notice of Language Rights: You have the right to an interpreter
- A complete List of Local Rules
- Consumer Debt Information Bot: Use this to get custom information about your debt case
Call 215-686-7000 for general court information.
Contact
Business Hours
- Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
