When bankruptcy law was first modernized 50 years ago, the proposal was to have a federal list of bankruptcy exemptions apply uniformly across all 50 states. Many states objected to this idea, because state collection law had traditionally ruled that issues of collections and "asset protection" were matters of state, not federal law. So a compromise was struck, that allows states to "opt out" of the federal bankruptcy exemptions.
Many States have "opted out" including some major ones like California.
In states that have not opted out, you have the option of using the federal or state exemptions.
In some states, the better choice is clear, because the federal exemptions are more generous when it comes to things like motor vehicles and homes.
Debtors in the following States can use the federal exemptions:
Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
-