Updated May 20, 2015

If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions can help you keep some or all of your property. If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions may reduce the total amount you must pay your unsecured creditors. (Learn how bankruptcy exemptions work in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.)

Below you can learn what property the Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions protect, whether you can use the federal exemptions in Oklahoma, what happens to exemptions if you are married and filing jointly, and more.

You Cannot Use the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions in Oklahoma

Some states allow you to choose between using the state exemptions and a list of federal bankruptcy exemptions. In Oklahoma, however, you do not have this choice; you must use the Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions.

Although you can’t use the federal exemptions in Oklahoma, you may use any of the federal non-bankruptcy exemptions. The federal non-bankruptcy exemptions protect property such as federal retirement accounts and veterans’ benefits. You can use both the federal non-bankruptcy exemptions and the state exemptions; you don’t have to choose between the two lists.

Married Couples May Double the Oklahoma Bankruptcy Exemptions

Unless otherwise stated, if you are married and filing a joint bankruptcy petition, you can double the amount of the Oklahoma bankruptcy exemption if you both own the property. If only one spouse owns the property, then you cannot double the amount.  

Common Oklahoma Bankruptcy Exemptions

Below are some of the most commonly used bankruptcy exemptions. The statute citations, unless otherwise noted, are to the Oklahoma Statutes Annotated, in the form “title number-section number.”

Homestead Exemption

In Oklahoma, you can exempt equity in your home or manufactured home if it’s your primary residence. The Oklahoma homestead exemption amount is unlimited – you can exempt the full value of your home. However, there are limitations as to the acreage of your property.

• You can only exempt up to 1 acre if you live in a city, town or village.
• You can only exempt up to 160 acres if you live elsewhere.

Also, if you use more than 25% of the total square footage of your property for business purposes, your exemption is limited to $5,000. You can, however, rent your property and still claim the full exemption amount, as long as you don’t live in another residence. (Learn more in The Oklahoma Homestead Exemption.)

Personal Property

In Oklahoma, you can exempt the following types of personal property.   §31-1(A)(1) through (23)

• books, portraits, and pictures
• burial plots (also §8-7)
• clothing to $4,000
• interest on college savings plans
• deposits in an Individual Development Account
• food and seed for growing crops to last one year
• guns for household use, up to $2,000
• health aids that are prescribed by a professional
• household items, furniture, personal computer and related equipment
• livestock for family use: five cows, 100 chickens, 20 sheep, 10 hogs, 2 horses (along with bridles and saddles), feed to last one year
• personal injury and wrongful death recoveries to $50,000
• prepaid funeral benefits ( §36-6125(H))
• war bond payroll savings account ( §51-42)
• wedding and anniversary rings to $3,000

Motor Vehicle Exemption

In Oklahoma, you can exempt up to $7,500 of equity in a car, van, motorcycle, truck, SUV, or other motor vehicle. (To learn more, see The Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Exemption.)

Pensions

Tax exempt retirement accounts (including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined benefit plans).  11 U.S.C. § 522.  

IRAS and Roth IRAs to $1,283, 025. (This amount is adjusted every three years. For the most recent figure, see Your Retirement Account in Bankruptcy.) 11 U.S.C.   §  522(b)(3)(C)(n); §15-41-30(A)(13)

Erisa-qualified benefits, IRAs, Roth IRAs, Education IRAs & Keoghs. §31-1(A)(20), (24)

County employees §19-959

Disabled veterans §31-7

Firefighters §11-49-126

Judges §20-1111

Law enforcement employees §47-2-303.3

Police officers §11-50-124

Public employees §74-923

Tax-exempt benefits §60-328

Teachers §70-17-109

Public Benefits

Crime victim compensation §21-142.13

Earned income tax credit   §31-1(A)(23)

Public assistance §56-173

Social Security. §56-173

Unemployment compensation. §40-2-303

Workers' compensation. §85-48

Tools of Trade

Implements needed to farm land that is your homestead. Tools, books, and other apparatus for your business or profession, up to $10,000 total. §31-1(A)(5); 31-1(C)

Wages

You may exempt 75% of your wages that you earned in the 90 days before your bankruptcy filing. The bankruptcy judge may allow you to keep more if you can demonstrate hardship. §12-1171.1; §31-1(A)(18); §31-1.1

Life Insurance

The following life and other insurance are exempt.

• Annuity benefits and cash value. §36-3631.1
• Assessment of mutual benefits. §36-2410
• Fraternal benefit society benefits. §36-2718.1
• Funeral benefits if they are prepaid and placed in a trust. §36-6125
• Group life policy or proceeds. §36-3632
• Insurance proceeds and cash value of life, health, accident, and mutual benefit insurance if there is a provision in the contract that prohibits them from being used to pay creditors. §36-3631.1
• Stock insurance benefits in a limited amount. §36-2510

Miscellaneous

Alimony and child support. §31-1(A)(19)

Beneficiary’s interest in a statutory support trust. §6-3010

Liquor license. §37-532

Property of a business partnership. §54-1-504

Confirming the Oklahoma Bankruptcy Exemptions

This list includes some of the more commonly used Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions. There may be others. In addition, Oklahoma periodically updates its exemption amounts and sometimes adds new exemptions. To find the most current laws, visit Oklahoma Statutes Annotated   section of the Oklahoma legislature’s website.  Be forewarned, however, that the exemptions are found in various parts of the code. To save time and ensure you’ve got the correct information, consider consulting with a Oklahoma bankruptcy attorney.

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