Like all states, Washington has a set of exemptions you can use to protect some property when filing for bankruptcy, such as a home, car, and retirement account. In this article, you'll learn:
If you have more questions, read How to File Bankruptcy in Washington State. Not only will you find answers, but it includes helpful checklists and a link to an interactive bankruptcy quiz. Or, try the start-to-finish "Filing for Bankruptcy" guide.
You can protect property covered by an exemption regardless of whether you file for Chapter 7 or 13. But each chapter treats nonexempt property—things not covered by an exemption—differently.
The different approaches ensure that creditors receive the same amount regardless of the chapter filed.
Washington is one of the few states that let you choose between state and federal bankruptcy exemptions. You won't be able to select exemptions from each list—you must pick the system that will work best overall. If you choose the Washington state exemptions, you can also use another set known as the "federal nonbankruptcy exemptions."
Here are some commonly-used Washington exemptions. Keep in mind that married couples filing together in a joint bankruptcy can double most exemption amounts if both spouses have an ownership interest in the exempt property.
The Washington homestead exemption is generous—much more so than the federal homestead exemption. You can use it to protect a house, condominium, mobile, or manufactured home serving as your principal residence; however, spouses can't double the amount. The exemption amount will depend on the home's location:
| Adams $216,900 | Franklin $329,500 | Lewis $304,100 | Snohomish $549,400 |
| Asotin $216,900 | Garfield $216,900 | Lincoln $202,100 | Spokane $318,200 |
| Benton $329,500 | Grant $258,500 | Mason $319,600 | Stevens $242,00 |
| Chelan $418,600 | Grays Harbor $251,100 | Okanogan $254,500 | Thurston $383,600 |
| Clallam $352,600 | Island $442,700 | Pacific $234,300 | Wahkiakum $313,900 |
| Clark $403,700 | Jefferson $455,900 | Pend $242,000 | Walla Walla $305,500 |
| Columbia $214,700 | King $729,600 | Pierce $424,300 | Whatcom $444,400 |
| Cowlitz $307,500 | Kitsap $425,100 | San Juan $694,800 | Whitman $291,300 |
| Douglas $373,200 | Kittitas $411,000 | Skagit $421,800 | Yakima $281,500 |
| Ferry $172,900 | Klickitat $370,800 | Skamania $340,500 |
(Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 6.13.030.) Learn more about the Washington homestead exemption and protecting your home in bankruptcy.
A filer can exempt the equity in one motor vehicle up to $3,250 in value using Washington's motor vehicle exemption. Spouses filing jointly can each exempt a vehicle. (RCW § 6.15.010(1)(d)(iii).) Find out about protecting cars in bankruptcy and how the motor vehicle exemption works in a Chapter 7 case.
A filer can exempt up to $3,000 worth of any type of personal property other than wages with the following limitations: no more than $1,500 total in cash and $500 total in bank accounts (with the exception that you can have $2,000 in bank accounts for consumer debt and $2,500 for educational loans). (RCW § 6.15.010(1)(d)(ii).) Find out about the wildcard exemption in bankruptcy.
A debtor can exempt up to $10,000 in tools, instruments, and materials used to carry on his or her trade. Special exemptions are available for farmers, physicians, attorneys, and clergymen. (RCW § 6.15.010(1)(e)(i)-(iii).)
A debtor may exempt federal pension benefits except for child support, and retirement disability benefits except for alimony and child support. (RCW §§ 6.15.020(2), (3).) Police and firefighter retirement benefits are exempt. (RCW §§ 41.26.053, 41.20.180, 41.24.240, 43.43.310.) Retirement benefits of teachers are exempt. (RCW §§ 41.32.590, 41.32.052, 41.32.055.) City employee retirement benefits are exempt. (RCW §§ 41.44.240, 41.28.200.)
Tax-exempt retirement accounts such as 401ks and IRAS are exempt under the federal rules, even if you use Washington exemptions. For current amounts, see Your Retirement Plan in Bankruptcy.
You can exempt the following personal property:
You can file for bankruptcy in Washington after living there for more than 180 days. However, you must live in Washington much longer before using Washington exemptions—at least 730 days before filing, to be exact. Otherwise, you'd use the previous state's exemptions.
But suppose you weren't living in any particular state during the two years before filing for bankruptcy. In that case, 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. (11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(A).)
Also, to claim the total value of the Washington homestead exemption, you must have purchased and owned the property for at least 1,215 days before the bankruptcy filing. If you can't meet this requirement, your homestead exemption is limited by federal law to $189,050 (valid for bankruptcy cases filed between April 1, 2022, and April 1, 2025).
Learn more about filing for bankruptcy after moving to a new state and who can and can't file for bankruptcy.
If you don't exempt your property carefully, you could lose the property in bankruptcy. Answers to these questions might help you steer clear of common issues.
Do I automatically get to keep exempt property? Generally, no. Here's the procedure you'll need to follow: You'll select the exemption set that best protects your property, list the exempt assets and applicable exemption laws on Schedule C: The Property You Claim as Exempt, and file it with your other required paperwork.
Will someone check my exemptions? The bankruptcy trustee—the court-appointed official tasked with managing your case—will review Schedule C to ensure that you have the right to protect the claimed property. A trustee who disagrees with your exemptions will file an objection with the court. The judge will decide whether you can keep the property.
Example. Jeff owns a rare, classic car worth $15,000, but the state vehicle exemption won't adequately protect it. Believing that the car qualifies as art—at least in his mind—Jeff exempts it using his state's unlimited artwork exemption. The trustee reviews Schedule C, disagrees with Jeff's characterization and files an objection with the court. After consideration, the judge will likely side with the trustee, determining that the vehicle doesn't qualify as a piece of art.
What if I make a mistake? Most trustees won't file an objection unless it's clear that the debtor is trying to pull something over on the court. At least not without trying to resolve the issue first. If there's a minor exemption problem, the trustee will likely call you to work out the matter informally.
It's worth noting that it's not a good idea to finesse exemptions. Not only do you have an obligation to supply correct information on your bankruptcy forms, purposefully making inaccurate statements could be considered fraudulent. Bankruptcy fraud is punishable by up to $250,000, 20 years in prison, or both.
You'll find the Washington Revised Code on the Washington State Legislature webpage. You should be aware that Washington's exemption amounts adjust periodically. Consider consulting with a local bankruptcy lawyer.
Did you know Nolo has been making the law easy for over fifty years? It's true—and we want to make sure you find what you need. Below you'll find more articles that explain what bankruptcy is and how bankruptcy works. And don't forget that our bankruptcy homepage is the best place to start if you have other questions!
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We wholeheartedly encourage research and learning, but online articles can't address all bankruptcy issues or the facts of your case. The best way to protect your assets in bankruptcy is by hiring a local bankruptcy lawyer.
Updated March 15, 2022
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