California Bankruptcy Exemptions

"Exempt" property under bankruptcy law means that it is protected from creditors and cannot be used to satisfy the debtor's debts.

Exemption laws are a key part of bankruptcy's fresh start, designed to give debtors a solid foundation on which to launch their new financial life post bankruptcy.

Protecting Your Assets in Bankruptcy: Property Exemption Laws

Property you get to keep*

The law of what has come to be called "Asset Protection" is actually a mixture of laws that allow you to keep certain property no matter what, even if you owe money to others. Every state has laws that designate specific property you get to keep so that you can continue living a productive life. That is, even if you owe a trillion dollars to someone, the law won't make you sell the shirt off your back to pay it. And in Texas and Florida, they won't even make you sell your million dollar mansion, or in Nevada, your gun.

These rules are called "property exemptions." They vary from state to state. They designate what property is off limits to your 'creditors '-- the legal name for those who claim you owe them money.

What are Bankruptcy Exemptions?

Every state has laws that designate certain types of property (your home, some personal possessions, tools of your trade) that are off-limits to "unsecured" creditors -- that is, creditors who do not have a lien on your property. Credit card debt and medical bills are the two the most common types of unsecured debt (unless you have a special 'secured' credit card).

Unsecured creditors cannot force you to sell your exempt property to pay off the debt. Even if the creditor goes to court wins a court judgment against you, and takes steps to attach a 'judgment lien' to your property, you are still entitled to your exemption amount before any sale proceeds are distributed to the unsecured creditor. (However, some debts, like child support, may be an exception.)

If you eventually do sell your property voluntarily, the creditor has a right to have its lien paid from the sale proceeds before you receive anything.

"No Asset" Bankruptcies

As a practical matter, most people facing bankruptcy only own property that is exempt, and have no interest in selling what they have. If all of your property is protected by exemption laws, you are said to be "judgment proof" -- whether or not you file for bankruptcy.

If you do file for bankruptcy and all your property is exempt, your case is known as a "no asset" bankruptcy--which really means you have no non-exempt assets.

In bankruptcy, a court official called the "bankruptcy trustee" represents the rights of all unsecured creditors. The trustee can assert whatever rights the creditors would have if they had a court judgment against you.

Secured Creditors Have Priority

Another important thing to remember about exemptions is that it only protects the "equity" in your property. That is the difference between the value of the property, and what you owe to secured creditors.

If you contractually agreed to pledge your property as collateral for a debt, this property is known as "secured property," and the debt is called a "secured" debt, and the person you owe is a "secured creditor" and they have a "security interest" in the property. If the debt was incurred to purchase the property itself (e.g. a car loan or first mortgage), the creditor is said to have a "purchase money security interest" (PMSI). Exemption laws offer no protection against such contractual agreements that give the creditor a PMSI.

EXAMPLE:

If you owe $10,000 on a $12,000 car, you have only $2,000 in equity. If your state has at least a $2,000 exemption for motor vehicles, that will be enough to protect the car in bankruptcy --(but you'll still need to make the car payments to the secured creditor.

On the other hand, if you own the vehicle free and clear, then your equity is the full value of the vehicle, and a $2,000 exemption would not enough to protect it. The trustee would force the sale of the car, you would get your exemption amount, and the trustee would get the rest of the proceeds to distribute to the unsecured creditors.

Which State's Exemptions Must You Use?

Legal test under the 2005 bankruptcy law:

IF you have not lived in California for at least two years...

Then, which state did you consider to be your domicile two years ago?

(If more than one state, choose the state in which you lived most for the six months ending two years ago from this date.)

Residency Requirements for Using State Exemptions

Prior to the new bankruptcy law, filers used the exemptions of the state where they lived when they filed for bankruptcy. Under the new rules, however, some filers will have to use the exemptions of the state where they used to live. Congress was concerned about people gaming the system by moving to states with liberal exemptions just to file for bankruptcy. As a result, it passed residency requirements filers have to meet before they can use a state’s exemption system.
Here are the new rules that apply to exemptions for everything but a home:

• If you have lived or made your residence in your current state for at least two years, you can use that state’s exemptions.
• If you have lived or made your residence in your current state for more than 91 days but less than two years, you must use the exemptions of the state where you lived for the better part of the 180-day period immediately prior to the two-year period preceding your filing.
• If you have lived or made your residence in your current state for fewer than 91 days, you’ll need to wait until you have lived there for at least 91 days before you can file (and then use whatever exemptions are available to you according to the rules set out above).
• If the state you are filing in offers a choice between the state and federal bankruptcy exemptions, you can use the federal exemption list regardless of how long you’ve been living in the state.
• If these rules deprive you of the right to use any state’s exemptions, you can use the federal exemption list. For example, some states allow their exemptions to be used only by current state residents, which might leave former residents who haven’t lived in their new home state for at least two years without any available state exemptions.

A longer residency requirement applies to homestead exemptions: If you acquired a home in your current state within the 40 months before you file for bankruptcy (and you didn’t purchase it with the proceeds from selling another home in that state), your homestead exemption will be subject to a cap of $125,000, even if the state homestead exemption available to you is larger. For detailed information on homestead exemptions, see Ch. 4.

NOTE - a potential 'Catch 22': In some states, exemption rules can only be used by a resident, or if you have your "domicile" there. But the federal rule says you must use the state you moved away from. So.... IF your former state's exemption laws, for which you may "qualify" under the federal formula, do not apply to non-residents -- then your your answer gets more complicated. See the site exemptionsexpress.com/How.htm for a more detailed explanation of this issue.

As explained elsewhere, Chapter 7 is about collecting any available property to be distributed to your "unsecured creditors."

Non-priority unsecured creditors are "last in line" when it comes to being paid off. 

If there is nothing left to distribute to these lowest priority creditors, the case is called a "no asset case" — and the trustee just collects their $60 administrative fee. And when the debts are discharged, no property goes to the trustee. 

Most Chapter 7 bankruptcies that are filed end up being so-called "No Asset" bankruptcies — not because the debtor had no assets, but rather there were no assets available to pay unsecured creditors.

This happens because of two main factors:

1. Property pledged as collateral: Valuable assets that are pledged as collateral to a secured creditor, are not available to be liquidated and distributed to unsecured creditors. 
   (Common collateral items are your car for a car loan and your equity in your house for a mortgage or second mortgage or line of credit.)
2. Property & equity protected by "exemption" laws: whatever equity the debtor does have is classified as "exempt" under state or federal law.
3. Debts owed to priority creditors, for child support and back taxes.

We explain all these concepts in other articles on this site on the law of "secured debts", "exemptions" and "creditor priority".

The main takeaway is that if all equity in your assets are exempt, your case is a "no-asset" case.

The most common exceptions to bankruptcy exemption laws include:

Special Rules for Retirement Accounts:

Under the 2005 bankruptcy law, virtually all types of pension and retirement accounts recognized by the IRS are completely exempt regardless of what state you live in.

This provision exempts "retirement funds to the extent that those funds are in a fund or account that is exempt from taxation under Sections 401, 403, 408, 408A, 414, 457, or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code."

This list covers 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, IRAs (including SEP and SIMPLE plans), as well as defined-benefit plans.

The exemption applies whether you rely on the list of federal bankruptcy exemptions (11 U.S.C. 522(d)(12)) or the exemption laws of your own state (See 11 U.S.C. 522(b)(3)(C)). Section 522(b)(4) spells out the specific requirements for qualifying under these provisions.

These exemptions are unlimited, except for Roth and traditional IRAs, which are capped at an aggregate IRA account value of $1,512,350  per individual (adjusted every three years for inflation). (See 11 U.S.C. 522(n))

SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, along with all other types of non-IRA retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, are completely exempt.

References to the Internal Revenue Code

The new bankruptcy law exemption for retirement accounts includes all funds "exempt from taxation under section 401, 403, 408, 408A, 414, 457, or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986."
Those sections cover:

• 401 (a qualified pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus plan created under a trust established by an employer for the exclusive benefit of employees or beneficiaries)
• 403 (qualified annuity plans that are established by an employer for an employee under IRC 404(a)(2) or 501(c)(3))
• 408 (IRAs)
• 408A (Roth IRAs)
• 414 (other retirement plan for controlled groups of employees such as churches, partnerships, proprietorships, and governments)
• 457 (eligible deferred compensation plans) or
• 501(a) (retirement plans established and maintained by tax-exempt organizations, e.g. churches, nonprofit organizations)

Special 'exclusion' of education accounts

Under the new bankruptcy law, education savings accounts or education IRAs created under sections 529 or 530 of the Internal Revenue Code are 'excluded' from the bankruptcy estate (not quite the same as 'exempt' but with the same result).

See, 11 U.S.C. 541(b)(6), (529 Education Tuition Plans) and 11 U.S.C. 541(b)(5) (530 Coverdell IRAS)

NOTE: Even though these education accounts are excluded from the bankruptcy estate, you still must list them on your forms (See section (11 U.S.C. 521(c).)

Also excluded are:

• benefits governed by ERISA (Click here for government info on ERISA and pensions.)
• 414(d)(governmental retirement plans),
• IRC 457 (deferred compensation)
• 403(b)( tax deferred annuity plan including church plans, etc)

See 11 U.S.C. 541(b)(7)

Insurance Exemption Glossary:

Insurance exemptions use a lingo all their own and some familiarity with the jargon is essential to understanding what is exempt.

Three kinds of insurance assets

You may own a property interest in life insurance in three different ways: you may own an unmatured life insurance contract (with no cash value - e.g. a term life insurance policy), you may own cash value in an unmatured life insurance policy (e.g. a whole life policy), and you may, as a beneficiary, be entitled to proceeds from a matured life insurance policy.

"Matured" simply means that the conditions of the policy have have been met. A matured policy is paying proceeds to the beneficiary of the insured.

An unmatured policy is not paying proceeds, but, can still have a current value in two ways:

1. In the case of a "term life" policy, the continued existence of the contract itself can be said to have value, even if it cannot be converted to cash.

2. Other kinds of of policies can have accumulate value over time, and that value that can be borrowed against, or turned into cash if the policy is 'surrendered' (see "avails" below).

Reading insurance exemptions

Many states have unlimited exemptions for insurance proceeds. However, most states offer only limited exemptions for the cash or loan value of an unmatured policy.

A few states, however, offer unlimited exemptions for the cash value of such policies, or policies offered by 'fraternal benefit societies.' In such states, life insurance is often an important component of an overall asset protection strategy.

Other terms

Avails: Any amount available to the owner of an insurance policy other than the actual proceeds of the policy. Avails include dividend payments, interest, cash or surrender value (the money you'd get if you sold your policy back to the insurance company) and loan value (the amount of cash you can borrow against the policy).

CONTENTS:

• Do I Qualify for Chapter 7 Lien Avoidance?
• How to Request Lien  Avoidance 
• "Lien Stripping" vs "Lien Avoidance"
• "Avoiding Liens": What it is. How to Do It
• "Stripping Liens": What it is. How to Do It
• Lein FAQs
• What does it mean to "perfect" a lien?
• What is "Lien Priority?"
• What is a "mechanics lien"?
• Where Do I Go to Find Out What Liens Are On My Property?
•  What is a Judicial Lien or a Judgement Lien, and are they the same thing?

Do I Qualify for Chapter 7 Lien Avoidance?

If there is a judicial lien on your property (as a result of a court judgment against you), you may have the right to remove it, if it "impairs" an exemption on the property.

That is, if you have some equity in your property that is protected by an exemption, you can get any judicial liens on it removed by the bankruptcy court as another element of the "fresh start" that bankruptcy is designed to provide.

This "impairment" requirement is a catch 22, though. You might think that if your property is completely under water, you should be able to strip off judgement liens. But that is not the case. Because if the property is completely under water, due to other secured claims, (such as a mortgage or secured auto loan), then there is no equity to be protected by an exemption, and therefore there is no exemption to be "impaired", because you have no equity.

So, to be eligible for this kind of lien avoidance, you must have at least some equity in the property, and that equity must be protected by an exemption.

How to Request Lien  Avoidance 

Having this kind of lien removed ("avoided") is an extra step you have to specifically request. It doesn't just happen automatically, and most lawyers charge extra for it.

And some lawyers forget to check if any liens can be removed from your property, while your bankruptcy case is open. Be sure to check if there are judicial liens on your property, be sure to determine which ones can be eliminated, or reduced, through a "lien avoidance" procedure. 

Some liens cannot be removed however, including most tax liens and any judicial lien that secures a domestic support obligation. 11 U.S.C.A. § 522(f)(1)(A).

For more information on lien avoidance, when it's available and step by step procedural guidance how to do it, see Chapter 5 of  How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, 22nd Edition, by Albin Renauer & Cara O'Neil. 

Note that some judicial district web sites have links for those who provide free legal assistance to debtors who need representation in a lien avoidance proceeding.

"Lien Stripping" vs "Lien Avoidance"

Are Lien Stripping and Lien Avoidance the same thing?

No, "lien stripping" and "lien avoidance" are not the same thing, although they both involve removing liens from property in bankruptcy.

Lien stripping is the process of removing a wholly unsecured lien from a debtor's property in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This means that the value of the property securing the lien is less than the amount of the lien. In this process, the lien is treated (in whole, or in part, depending on the value of the property) as an unsecured debt, which means that it is paid the same percentage as other unsecured debts, such as credit card debt or medical bills.

Lien avoidance, on the other hand, is the process of removing a lien from property in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy when the lien impairs a debtor's exemptions and the value of the property subject to the lien is less than the amount of the lien. This process is used when the debtor wants to keep the property that is subject to the lien and needs to remove the lien in order to do so. In lien avoidance, the lien is treated as a secured debt, but it is removed from the property and treated as unsecured debt in the bankruptcy process.

In summary, while both lien stripping and lien avoidance involve removing liens from property in bankruptcy, they are different processes that are used in different situations and under different bankruptcy chapters.

"Avoiding Liens": What it is. How to Do It

Liens can be "avoided" in bankruptcy when

• they impair a debtor's exemptions, and
• the value of the property subject to the lien is less than the amount of the lien.

This process is known as lien avoidance, and it allows the debtor to remove the lien from the property and treat it as unsecured debt in the bankruptcy process.

Here are the step-by-step processes for lien avoidance in bankruptcy:

1. Determine eligibility: To be eligible for lien avoidance, the debtor must file for bankruptcy under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, and:

   • the lien must impair the debtor's exemptions.

   • In addition, the value of the property subject to the lien must be less than the amount of the lien.

2. File a motion: Once eligibility is determined, the debtor or their attorney must file a motion with the bankruptcy court requesting that the court avoid the lien from the debtor's property.

3. Serve notice: The debtor or their attorney must also serve notice of the motion on the holder of the lien, as well as any other interested parties, such as other creditors or lienholders.

4. Hold a hearing: The court will hold a hearing on the motion, at which the debtor or their attorney will present evidence that the lien impairs their exemptions and the value of the property subject to the lien is less than the amount of the lien. The holder of the lien may also present evidence and arguments in opposition to the motion.

5. Obtain a court order: If the court agrees that the lien should be avoided, it will issue an order to that effect. The order will provide that the lien is no longer a valid claim against the debtor's property, and that the holder of the lien must release it.

6. Comply with the order: The holder of the lien must comply with the court's order, which may include releasing the lien and executing any necessary documents to transfer ownership of the property to the debtor.

Statutory citations from U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

• Chapter 7 Cases: Section 522(f) (liens that impair an exemption) provides the authority for lien avoidance in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases,
• Chapter 13 Cases: Section 506(d) (property worth less than it's value) provides the authority for lien avoidance in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

These sections allow debtors to avoid liens that impair their exemptions and are secured by property that is worth less than the amount of the lien.

In addition, some state laws may provide additional authority for lien avoidance in bankruptcy.

"Stripping Liens": What it is. How to Do It

*Exemptions & "secured debts"

Note that property that is collateral for a purchase-money loan (such as a car securing a car loan or a home securing a first mortgage) is not protected by exemptions from repossession actions by that lender. Any equity you may own in the property is protected and may give you certain rights against holders of judgment liens and second or third lien holders.

Let's repeat that first point before we go further: Exemption laws do NOT protect you from losing property if you've voluntarily pledged the property as security for a loan and you don't make the payments.

Example: 
Unsecured vs Secured Debts

So... for example. If you owe $30,000 to credit card companies, that debt is "unsecured". There is no collateral attached to it. No matter what they threaten, the credit card company can't take any of your exempt property. Likewise, most medical bills and lawsuit settlements are "unsecured" debts. If an unsecured creditor bothers to go to court get a judgment against you, they can get the court to attach a "judgment lien" to your property. But if the property is exempt, you typically can (and should) ask the bankruptcy court to remove that lien from your property (but you have to ask -- its not automatic).

Continuing the example ... If you were persuaded to pay off your credit cards and other unsecured debts with a lower interest, "secured" loan, say, from a loan consolidation company, you probably pledged your home equity or other property as collateral.

As a general principle, once you've voluntarily (i.e. through a contract or signing something) pledged your property as security for a loan, the exemption laws no longer protect you. The creditor can repossess the property you pledged regardless of whether it is protected by an exemption.

Note that this is a general principle, among other factors -- more than we can go into here.... That's why we wrote a book... Specific facts might lead the court to apply other principles to, for example, undo a recent transaction if it unfairly benefited a single specific creditor at the expense of many others.

See Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy for more about this.

Note that property that is collateral for a purchase-money loan (such as a car securing a car loan or a home securing a first mortgage) is not protected by exemptions from repossession actions by that lender. Any equity you may own in the property is protected and may give you certain rights against holders of judgment liens and second or third lien holders.

Let's repeat that first point before we go further: Exemption laws do NOT protect you from losing property if you've voluntarily pledged the property as security for a loan and you don't make the payments.

Example: 
Unsecured vs Secured Debts

So... for example. If you owe $30,000 to credit card companies, that debt is "unsecured". There is no collateral attached to it. No matter what they threaten, the credit card company can't take any of your exempt property. Likewise, most medical bills and lawsuit settlements are "unsecured" debts. If an unsecured creditor bothers to go to court get a judgment against you, they can get the court to attach a "judgment lien" to your property. But if the property is exempt, you typically can (and should) ask the bankruptcy court to remove that lien from your property (but you have to ask -- its not automatic).

Continuing the example ... If you were persuaded to pay off your credit cards and other unsecured debts with a lower interest, "secured" loan, say, from a loan consolidation company, you probably pledged your home equity or other property as collateral.

As a general principle, once you've voluntarily (i.e. through a contract or signing something) pledged your property as security for a loan, the exemption laws no longer protect you. The creditor can repossess the property you pledged regardless of whether it is protected by an exemption.

Stating your Intention of What You Plan To Do About Your Collateral

The court will ask you to declare what you intend to do about your secured debts, and the collateral that secures them. 

The so called "Statement of Intention" form lays out your options.

Reaffirm? Redeem? Surrender? Ride Through?

• Choose to keep the car, and
  • reaffirm your personal liability on the debt, via a "reaffirmation agreement with the lender — which keeps you responsible for the debt, despite your bankruptcy.
  • or redeem the property by paying its current value to the creditor, done and done.
• Surrender it back to the car lender, and
  • wait for the lender to come pick it up (get the keys or tow it), or 
  • ...or "ride through" by keeping making monthly payments on the property as long as the creditor doesn't repossess the car — even though you can't be sued for any personal liability, and hope they creditor lets you keep the car. 
    (This "informal" practice varies widely across the nation. Talk to a local bankruptcy lawyer to determine the custom in your district. Also with used cars rising in value, this practice of letting debtors retain the vehicle is less common if the used vehicle can be easily sold in a hot market.)
    • If you surrender the car, your obligation to pay the car loan is discharged along with your unsecured debts. That's why creditors may be disinclined to let you "ride through", because  if the car stops working  or is damaged, you can simply walk away from it, and not owe anything more — and all the creditor may be left with is the damaged or neglected vehicle's salvage value at the junk yard.

How much could the trustee get for "the bankruptcy estate" if they sold your vehicle?

Would there be anything left after the trustee has paid off:

• the costs of sale
• creditors liens
• your exemption amount

Redemption Options for Secured Auto Loans in Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy offers the option of keeping your secured property by immediately paying it's current replacement value of the object rather than the loan amount. This can be an attractive option for those with auto loans where the value of the car has most likely depreciated faster than the loan balance. However, coming up with the full amount in cash can be difficult if not impossible. In the past few years, a few alternatives have arisen.

Vendors of "Redemption Financing"

The companies listed below specializes in making auto loans to bankrupt debtors seeking the bankruptcy option of "redemption" of their vehicle, whereby the debtor keeps the car by immediately paying the vehicle's current market value (replacement value) rather than the full loan amount over time. These companies will finance a new auto loan (generally through a bank) to produce the cash to pay the redemption amount to your original creditor, and then you pay the redemption amount to the new lender over time. Of course, if you miss payments under the new loan, you'll still lose the vehicle, but at least your monthly payments should be smaller. The new lender takes ownership of the lien on your car. Debtors must have an otherwise good credit history to qualify, and the car must be in good enough condition (i.e. worth enough) to protect the bank's loan.

722 Redemption Financing (via US Bank)

This company specializes in making auto loans (through US Bank) to debtors seeking the option of "redemption" available to those in bankruptcy whereby the debtor can keep a car by paying the current market value (replacement value) of the automobile rather than the loan amount. The company will finance redemption of your existing automobile, or arrange financing for a replacement automobile. Debtors must have an otherwise good credit history to qualify. See the site for more information.

The site has special home pages for debtors, debtors attorneys, creditors, creditors attorneys, bankruptcy trustees, auto dealers.

Of course, if you can't make the payments on this revised amount loan, you'll still lose the car, just to a different lender. So this option is only a solution if you can make the payments on the reduced amount.

2023

S.B.1099: Signed into law on September 28, 2022. The bill goes into effect January 1, 2023. Highlights include:

2022

California has done it's every-three-year inflation adjustment, and the new figures can be found on California Judicial Council Form EJ-156.

(Note: If you have been to this link before, to view the 2019 version, you'll need to clear your browser cache to load the new 2022 version of the form!)

California offers two exemption systems and the amounts in both systems have been changed

Section 703 Exemption Adjustments

In its § 703 exemption system  (the system that basically mirrors the federal system but applies a higher inflation rate) the new exemptions are as follows

Section 704 Exemption Adjustments

In the § 704 exemption system (the one with the big $300,000 to $600,000 homestead amount), the new exemption amounts highlights are as follows:

2021

Homestead

California has raised its homestead exemption, effective January 1, 2021, from $75,000 under existing law, to up to $600,000, for most Californians in urban areas.

In more rural counties the exemption may only be as much as $300,000.

The actual amount depends on the median sales price of a home in your county in the preceding calendar year, but can't be more than $600,000 or less than $300,000. 

Most California counties in urban areas have median home prices that are above $600,000 for the past several years. The actual amounts for 2021 for each county will not be known until the end of 2020.

Click here to see California Bankruptcy Exemptions.

April 2022 - Federal Bankruptcy Amounts Updated for Exemptions, debt limits, etc.

Source: Adjustment of Certain Dollar Amounts in the Bankruptcy Code A Notice by the Judicial Conference of the United States on 02/04/2022

State Updates - 2022

California - April 1 2022

California updates its exemption amounts every three years. (§703.150) (The last revision was  in 2022; the next will be April 1, 2025.) As a result, the amounts listed in this chart (from the 2019 revisions) may not match the amounts that appear in the cited statutes. The 2022 exemption amounts can be found on form EJ-156 the California Judicial Council Website.

Indiana - March 2022

Indiana adjusts its exemption amounts every six years, starting in 2010, most recently in 2022, and next in 2028.

Maryland - April 1, 2022

Maryland homestead amount is keyed to the inflation adjusted amount of the federal exemptions which change every three years and was last changed in 2022.

Ohio - April 2022

Ohio adjusts the exemption amounts found in section RC 2329.66 every three years. The latest inflation adjusted amounts for 2022 can be found here. 

Updates for Other States - 2021

Alabama – April 2021

• Homestead Exemption Ala. Code § 6-10-2, § 6-10-3, § 6-10-4; Const. Art. X, § 205 increasing from $15,500 to $16,450
• Personal Property Exemption Ala. Code § 6-10-6 increasing from $7,750 to $8,225

Washington - May 2021

• 735 ILCS 5/12-901 Homestead exemption has been increased to the greater of: $125,000.00; or the county median sale price of a single-family home for the year preceding the petition date – May 2021

West Virginia - July 2021

• Homestead/Motor Vehicle Exemption Amount Increase – July 2021
• District of West Virginia allows the use of Federal Exemptions effective July 7, 2021

California - July 2021

• Deposit Accounts C.C.P. § 704.220 is based on the state Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care and is adjusted annually. The current MBSAC floor for a family of four in Region 1 is $1,826.00 – July 2021
• California also increased its Homestead Exemption - December 2020

Maine - October 2021

Connecticut — October 2021

H.B. 6466: Raises the homestead exemption from $75,000 to $250,000, the motor vehicle exemption to $7,000, and creates an exemption for the cash surrender value of life insurance policies. • Signed into law on July 12, 2021. Effective October 1, 2021.

General Changes

In general, amounts of the exemptions are increased, as many of the exemption amounts have not changed in decades. 

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Significant Pre-2021 Updates

Georgia - 2012, 2013, 2015

The 2012 Amendment: This amendment increased the amount of exemption for a debtor’s residence from $10,000.00 to $21,500.00 and increased the amount of such exemption from $20,000.00 to $43,000.00 where title to the residence “is in one of two spouses who is a debtor.” O.C.G.A. §44-13-100(a)(1).

The 2013 Amendment: This amendment increased the amount of the exemption available on motor vehicles from $3,500.00 to $5,000.00. O.C.G.A. §44-13-100(a)(3).

The 2015 Amendment: This amendment increased the amount of the basic “wild card” exemption in “any property” from $600.00 to $1,200.00. It also increased the amount by which a debtor may convert (or carry-over) an unused residence exemption to a wild card exemption from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00. O.C.G.A. §44-13-100(a)(6).