Utah Bankruptcy Exemptions

Find out what property you can protect in bankruptcy using the Utah exemptions.

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

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

No Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions in Utah

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

Although you can't use the federal exemptions in Utah, 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.

Spouses Can Double Utah Bankruptcy Exemptions

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

Utah Domicile Requirements

You must be a Utah resident for at least 730 days before filing the bankruptcy petition. If you weren't living in any one state during the two years before filing for bankruptcy, you'd use the exemptions of the state you lived in for most of the 180 days before the two-year period that immediately preceded your filing. Learn more about filing for bankruptcy after moving to a new state.

Common Utah Bankruptcy Exemptions

Below are some of the most commonly used bankruptcy exemptions. The statute citations, unless otherwise noted, are to the Utah Code.

Homestead Exemption

In Utah, you can exempt up to $42,700 of the equity in any real estate if it's your primary residence, including your home, mobile home, or any water rights you have. You can exempt up to $5,100 in real estate that is not your primary residence. §78B-5-504 Learn more in The Utah Homestead Exemption.

Personal Property

In Utah, you can exempt the following types of personal property. §78B-5-505 and §78B-5-506

  • animals, books, and musical instruments, up to $1,000 total
  • artwork depicting or produced by a family member
  • bed, bedding, and carpets
  • burial plot
  • clothing (but not furs or jewelry)
  • dining and kitchen tables and chairs, up to $1,000 total
  • firearms: one shotgun, one handgun, one shoulderarm; 1,000 rounds of ammunition for each of the foregoing firearms
  • food to last one year
  • health aids
  • heirlooms, up to $1,000 total
  • personal injury and wrongful death recoveries for you or someone you depended on
  • proceeds from sold, lost, or damaged exempt property
  • refrigerator, freezer, microwave, stove, sewing machine, washer, and dryer
  • sofas, chairs, and other furniture, up to $1,000 total
  • education savings plan up to $200,000

Motor Vehicle Exemption

In Utah, you can exempt up to $3,000 of equity in a car, van, motorcycle, truck, SUV, or another motor vehicle. Learn more in The Utah 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 $1,512,350 per person (valid for bankruptcy cases filed between April 1, 2022, and April 1, 2025) 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(C)(n); §15-41-30(A)(13)

Erisa-qualified benefits, IRAs, Roth IRA, if the benefits have accrued or the contributions were made at least one year before you filed for bankruptcy. §78B-5-505(1)(a)(xiv)

Public employees. §49-11-612

Public Benefits

Crime victims' compensation. §63-25a-421(4)

General assistance. §35A-3-112

Occupational disease disability benefits. §34A-3-107

Unemployment compensation. §34A-3-103(4)(b)

Veteran's benefits. §78B-5-505(1)(a)(v)

Workers' compensation. §34A-2-422

Tools of Trade

Tools, books, and implements used in your trade or profession, up to $5,000. §78B-5-506(2)

Wages

Earnings to the lesser of (1) 75% of disposable income, or (2) 37 times the federal minimum wage per week. R. Civ. Proc., Rule 64D(a)

Unpaid earnings due as of the bankruptcy filing in an amount equal to 1/24 of the median Utah annual income if you are paid more than once per month and 1/12 if you are paid monthly. §78B-5-505(1)(a)(xvi)

Insurance

Disability, illness, medical, surgical, or hospital benefits. §78B-5-505(1)(a)(iii) and (iv)

Fraternal benefit society benefits. §31A-9-603

Life insurance policy cash surrender value, but not payments you've made on policy within the year before filing. §78B-5-505(1)(a)(xiii)

Life insurance proceeds if the beneficiary is the insured's spouse or dependent and if the proceeds are needed for support. §78B-5-505(1)(a)(xi)

Confirming the Utah Bankruptcy Exemptions

This list includes commonly used Utah bankruptcy exemptions, but others exist. Also, Utah periodically updates its exemption amounts and sometimes adds new exemptions. To find the most current laws, visit the Utah Code (exemptions appear in various parts of the code—see statutory citations above). Also, consider consulting with a Utah bankruptcy attorney to ensure that you're protecting all of your property properly.

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You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

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