Whether you can protect your home is a big question for many people considering bankruptcy. Many states allow bankruptcy filers to protect some or all of the equity in their home in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This protection is called the homestead exemption. The homestead exemption comes into play in Chapter 13 bankruptcy too.
Homestead exemptions vary widely by state. For example:
To learn about the homestead exemption in your state, start with our overview articles and then read the article about your state in particular. Each state article has information about the state's homestead exemption amount, what types of property it applies to, whether married filers can double the exemption, where you can find the state's homestead exemption laws (so you can go right to the source if necessary), and more.
The Homestead Exemption in Bankruptcy
The homestead exemption in bankruptcy protects your home equity from creditors in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and helps reduce your payments in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.