Learning how property exemptions work in bankruptcy is crucial when deciding whether filing for Chapter 7 or 13 is right for you. Your state’s exemption laws list the property you can protect, and reviewing them is the only way to determine whether you own assets you might lose or need to pay to keep.
While all filers retain essential items, such as household furnishings, some home and car equity, and a retirement account, exemptions vary widely between states. Also, luxury items like valuable collections, recreational vehicles, and rental properties are rarely protected.
Below are exemption articles for many of the 50 states. They list the most common bankruptcy exemptions and explain when you can use them, where to find them, if the federal bankruptcy exemptions are available, and more.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Below are exemption articles for many of the 50 states. They list the most common bankruptcy exemptions and explain when you can use them, where to find them, if the federal bankruptcy exemptions are available, and more.
Start here to learn the basics of bankruptcy exemptions.
Find out if your state allows you to use the federal bankruptcy exemptions.
Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.
Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.
Click below to view more legal issues. Our extensive collection of legal topics ranges across different areas of practice.
Our editors have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. These professionals have worked in a wide range of legal areas, from estate planning to criminal law to business formation and beyond. They’re experts at explaining complicated legal issues in easy-to-understand terms.
Learn more about the team that manages Nolo’s articles, books, and DIY tools.
Find an experienced, local attorney in three easy steps. Our process is designed for ease and simplicity.
Briefly tell us about your case, and provide your contact information.
We find and instantly list attorneys that can best handle your case.
Choose the attorneys you would like to work with.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.
Grow your firm with Martindale-Nolo, the largest legal network, and learn more about our attorney lead-generation and marketing services.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.