Arizona State Bankruptcy Exemptions
S§ 33-1101. Homestead exemptions; persons entitled to hold homesteads
A. Any person the age of eighteen or over, married or single, who resides
within the state may hold as a homestead exempt from attachment, execution and
forced sale, not exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars in value, any one
of the following:
1. The person's interest in real property in one compact body upon which exists
a dwelling house in which the person resides.
2. The person's interest in one condominium or cooperative in which the person
resides.
3. A mobile home in which the person resides.
4. A mobile home in which the person resides plus the land upon which that
mobile home is located.
B. Only one homestead exemption may be held by a married couple or a single
person under this section. The value as specified in this section refers to the
equity of a single person or married couple. If a married couple lived together
in a dwelling house, a condominium or cooperative, a mobile home or a mobile
home plus land on which the mobile home is located and are then divorced, the
total exemption allowed for that residence to either or both persons shall not
exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars in value.
C. The homestead exemption, not exceeding the value provided for in subsection
A, automatically attaches to the person's interest in identifiable cash
proceeds from the voluntary or involuntary sale of the property. The homestead
exemption in identifiable cash proceeds continues for eighteen months after the
date of the sale of the property or until the person establishes a new
homestead with the proceeds, whichever period is shorter. Only one homestead
exemption at a time may be held by a person under this section.
§ 33-1123. Household furniture, furnishings and appliances
The following household furniture, furnishings and appliances personally used
by the debtor are exempt from process provided their aggregate fair market
value does not exceed four thousand dollars:
1. One kitchen and one dining room table with four chairs each, plus one
additional chair for each dependent of the debtor who resides in the household
if the debtor and dependents exceed four in number.
2. One living room couch.
3. One living room chair, plus one additional chair for each dependent of the
debtor who resides in the household.
4. Three living room coffee or end tables.
5. Three living room lamps.
6. One living room carpet or rug.
7. Two beds, plus one additional bed for each dependent of the debtor who
resides in the household.
8. One bed-table, dresser and lamp for each bed allowed by paragraph
9. Bedding for each bed allowed by this section.
10. Pictures, oil paintings and drawings, drawn or painted by debtor and family
portraits in their necessary frames.
11. One television set or radio or stereo.
12. One radio alarm clock.
13. One stove.
14. One refrigerator.
15. One washing machine.
16. One clothes dryer.
17. One vacuum cleaner.
§ 33-1124. Food, fuel and provisions
All food, fuel and provisions actually provided for the debtor's individual or
family use for six months are exempt from process.
§ 33-1125. Personal items
The following property of a debtor used primarily for personal, family or
household purposes shall be exempt from process:
1. All wearing apparel not in excess of a fair market value of five hundred
dollars.
2. All musical instruments provided for the debtor's individual or family use
not in excess of an aggregate fair market value of two hundred fifty dollars.
3. Domestic pets, horses, milk cows and poultry not in excess of an aggregate
fair market value of five hundred dollars.
4. All engagement and wedding rings not in excess of an aggregate fair market
value of one thousand dollars.
5. The library of a debtor, including books, manuals, published materials and
personal documents not in excess of an aggregate fair market value of two
hundred fifty dollars.
6. One watch not in excess of a fair market value of one hundred dollars.
7. One typewriter, one bicycle, one sewing machine, a family bible, a lot in
any burial ground, one shotgun or one rifle or one pistol, not in excess of an
aggregate fair market value of five hundred dollars.
8. One motor vehicle not in excess of a fair market value of five thousand
dollars. If the debtor is physically disabled, the fair market value of the
motor vehicle shall not exceed ten thousand dollars.
9. Professionally prescribed prostheses for the debtor or a dependent of the
debtor, including a wheelchair.
§ 33-1126. Money benefits or proceeds; exception
A. The following property of a debtor shall be exempt from execution,
attachment or sale on any process issued from any court:
1. All money received by or payable to a surviving spouse or child upon the
life of a deceased spouse, parent or legal guardian, not exceeding twenty
thousand dollars.
2. The earnings of the minor child of a debtor or the proceeds thereof by
reason of any liability of such debtor not contracted for the special benefit
of such minor child.
3. All monies received by or payable to a person entitled to receive child
support or spousal maintenance pursuant to a court order.
4. All money, proceeds or benefits of any kind to be paid in a lump sum or to
be rendered on a periodic or installment basis to the insured or any
beneficiary under any policy of health, accident or disability insurance or any
similar plan or program of benefits in use by any employer, except for premiums
payable on such policy or debt of the insured secured by a pledge, and except
for collection of any debt or obligation for which the insured or beneficiary
has been paid under the plan or policy and except for payment of amounts
ordered for support of a person from proceeds and benefits furnished in lieu of
earnings which would have been subject to such order and subject to any
exemption applicable to earnings so replaced.
5. All money arising from any claim for the destruction of, or damage to,
exempt property and all proceeds or benefits of any kind arising from fire or
other insurance upon any property exempt under this article.
6. The cash surrender value of life insurance policies where for a continuous
unexpired period of two years such policies have been owned by a debtor and
have named as beneficiary the debtor's surviving spouse, child, parent, brother
or sister, or any other dependent family member, in the proportion that the
policy names any such beneficiary, except that, subject to the statute of
limitations, the amount of any premium which is recoverable or avoidable by a
creditor pursuant to title 44, chapter 8, article 1 with interest thereon,
shall not be exempt. The exemption provided by this paragraph does not apply to
a claim for the payment of a debt of the insured or beneficiary that is secured
by a pledge or assignment of the cash value of the insurance policy or the
proceeds of the policy. For the purposes of this paragraph "dependent" means a
family member who is dependent upon the insured debtor for not less than half
support.
7. An annuity contract where for a continuous unexpired period of two years
such contract has been owned by a debtor and has named as beneficiary the
debtor, debtor's surviving spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, or any
other dependent family member, except that, subject to the statute of
limitations, the amount of any premium, payment or deposit with respect to such
contract is recoverable or avoidable by a creditor pursuant to Title 44,
Chapter 8, Article 1 shall not be exempt. The exemption provided by this
paragraph does not apply to a claim for a payment of a debt of the annuitant or
beneficiary that is secured by a pledge or assignment of the contract or its
proceeds. For the purposes of this paragraph, "dependent" means a family member
who is dependent on the debtor for not less than half support.
8. Any claim for damages recoverable by any person by reason of any levy upon
or sale under execution of his exempt personal property or by reason of the
wrongful taking or detention of such property by any person, and the judgment
recovered for such damages.
9. A total of one hundred fifty dollars held in a single account in any one
financial institution as defined by section 6-101. The property declared exempt
by this paragraph is not exempt from normal service charges assessed against
the account by the financial institution at which the account is carried.
B. Any money or other assets payable to a participant in or beneficiary of, or
any interest of any participant or beneficiary in, a retirement plan under
section 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408a or 409 or a deferred compensation
plan under section 457 of the United States internal revenue code of 1986, as
amended, shall be exempt from any and all claims of creditors of the
beneficiary or participant. This subsection shall not apply to any of the
following:
1. An alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in
section 414(p) of the United States internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
The interest of any and all alternate payees is exempt from any and all claims
of any creditor of the alternate payee.
2. Amounts contributed within one hundred twenty days before a debtor files for
bankruptcy.
3. The assets of bankruptcy proceedings filed before July 1, 1987.
C. Any person the age of eighteen years or over, married or single, who resides
within this state and who does not exercise the homestead exemption under
article 1 of this chapter may claim as a personal property homestead exempt
from all process prepaid rent, including security deposits as provided in
section 33-1321, subsection A, for the claimant's residence, not exceeding the
lesser of one thousand dollars or one and one-half months' rent.
D. Nothing in this section exempts property from orders which are the result of
a judgment for arrearages of child support or for a child support debt.
§ 33-1127. School equipment
The library and philosophical and chemical or other apparatus belonging to a
debtor and used for the instruction of youth in any university, college,
seminary of learning, or school shall be exempt from execution, attachment or
sale on any process issued from any court.
§ 33-1130. Tools and equipment used in a commercial activity, trade, business or
profession
The following tools and equipment of a debtor used in a commercial activity,
trade, business or profession shall be exempt from process:
1. The tools, equipment, instrument and books of a debtor or the spouse of a
debtor primarily used in, and necessary to carry on, the commercial activity,
trade, business or profession of the debtor or the debtor's spouse, not in
excess of an aggregate fair market value of two thousand five hundred dollars.
For the purpose of this paragraph, "tools" do not include a motor vehicle
primarily used by a debtor for personal, family or household purposes such as
transportation to and from the debtor's place of employment.
2. Farm machinery, utensils, implements of husbandry, feed, seed, grain and
animals not in excess of an aggregate value of two thousand five hundred
dollars belonging to a debtor whose primary income is derived from farming.
3. All arms, uniforms and accoutrements required by law to be kept by a debtor.
§ 33-1131. Definition; wages; salary; compensation
A. For the purposes of this section, "disposable earnings" means that remaining
portion of a debtor's wages, salary or compensation for his personal services,
including bonuses and commissions, or otherwise, and includes payments pursuant
to a pension or retirement program or deferred compensation plan, after
deducting from such earnings those amounts required by law to be withheld.
B. Except as provided in subsection C, the maximum part of the disposable
earnings of a debtor for any workweek which is subject to process may not
exceed twenty-five per cent of disposable earnings for that week or the amount
by which disposable earnings for that week exceed thirty times the minimum
hourly wage prescribed by federal law in effect at the time the earnings are
payable, whichever is less.
C. The exemptions provided in subsection B do not apply in the case of any order
for the support of any person. In such case, one-half of the disposable
earnings of a debtor for any pay period is exempt from process.
D. The exemptions provided in this section do not apply in the case of any order
of any court of bankruptcy under chapter XIII of the federal bankruptcy act or
any debt due for any state or federal tax.
§ 33-1133. Other exemption laws
A. Nothing in this article shall be construed to displace other provisions of
law which afford additional or greater protection to a debtor's property.
B. Notwithstanding subsection A, in accordance with 11 U.S.C. 522 (b), residents
of this state are not entitled to the federal exemptions provided in 11 U.S.C.
522 (d). Nothing in this section affects the exemptions provided to residents
of this state by the constitution or statutes of this state.
§ 20-877. Benefits not attachable
Any money or other benefit, charity, relief or aid that a society pays,
provides or renders is not subject to attachment, garnishment or other process
and shall not be seized, taken, appropriated or applied to pay any debt or
liability of any member, beneficiary or other person who may have a right under
a benefit contract, either before or after the society pays the benefit.
§ 23-783. Assignment or pledge of benefits void; exemption from attachment or
execution; waiver of exemption void
A. No assignment, pledge or encumbrance of the right to benefits which are or
may become due or payable under this chapter shall be valid, and the rights to
benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment or any other remedy
provided for the collection of debts. Benefits received by an individual, as
long as they are not commingled with other funds of the recipient, shall be
exempt from any remedy for the collection of all debts except debts incurred
for necessaries furnished to the individual or his or her spouse or dependents
during the time when the individual was unemployed. No waiver of an exemption
provided for in this section shall be valid.
B. This section does not apply to actions to recover child support obligations
which are being enforced by the department pursuant to a plan under the child
support enforcement act, as amended, which has been approved by the United
States secretary of health and human services under part D of title IV of the
social security act, as amended.
C. This section does not apply to actions to recover overissuances of food stamp
coupons pursuant to section 13(c)(3)(A) or (B) of the food stamp act of 1977.
§ 23-1068. Assignment of compensation; exemption from attachment or execution;
payment to nonresident
A. Compensation, whether determined or not, is not, prior to the delivery of
the warrant therefor, assignable.
B. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, compensation is exempt
from attachment, garnishment and execution and does not pass to another person
by operation of law, except that:
1. The amount of compensation payable to a person at the time of death, whether
payable in periodic payments or converted to a lump sum, and whether or not the
warrant therefor has been issued or delivered after that person's death, shall
be paid to that person's personal representative.
2. If medical, wage loss or disability benefits are paid or otherwise provided
by an employer to or for the benefit of an employee for an injury or illness
for which medical or compensation benefits payable pursuant to this article
have been denied or for which a claim for compensation under this article has
not been filed, and the injury or illness is subsequently determined to be
compensable under this article, the employer or the person authorized by the
employer to provide such benefits is entitled to a direct payment out of, or a
direct credit against, the medical or compensation benefits payable under this
article in the amount of the benefits previously paid or provided.
C. Any dispute as to the amount of the direct payment or credit against the
medical or compensation benefits payable shall be resolved pursuant to section
23-1061, subsection J.
D. Compensation is subject to an assignment for the payment of support as
defined in section 25-500, spousal maintenance and the fee for handling child
support and spousal maintenance payments authorized by section 25-510.
E. Payment to the consular agent, or the consular agent's representative, of the
nation of which a dependent is a resident or subject, of compensation due the
dependent residing outside the United States, any power of attorney to receive
or receipt for such compensation to the contrary notwithstanding, is a full
discharge of the benefits or compensation as if made directly to the
beneficiary.
§ 46-208. Nontransferability and nonassignability of assistance; exemption from
process
Assistance granted under this title is not transferable or assignable at law or
in equity, and none of the money paid or payable under this title shall be
subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process, or
to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law.
§ 9-968. Exemption of pension from process; prohibition of assignments; exception
A. No portion of the pension fund or the distributive portions thereof shall be
subject to attachment, execution or other judicial process for the satisfaction
of a debt or claim against the member or his beneficiaries, and assignments or
transfers of any distributive portion shall be void.
B. Nothing in this section exempts property from court orders which are the
result of a judgment for arrearages of child support or for a child support
debt.
§ 9-931. Exemption of pensions from process; prohibition on assignments;
exception
A. No pension allowed under this article shall be subject to garnishment,
attachment, judgment, execution or other legal process. No person entitled to a
pension shall have the right to assign it, nor shall the board recognize an
attempted assignment of the pension or pay over any sum which has been assigned
or attempted to be assigned.
B. Nothing in this section exempts property from court orders which are the
result of a judgment for arrearages of child support or for a child support
debt.
§ 38-792. Exemptions from execution, attachment and taxation; exception
A. The benefits and annuities, the member and employer contributions and the
securities in ASRS accounts provided for in this article are not subject to
execution or attachment and are nonassignable except as specifically provided
in this article. The member and employer contributions and the securities in
ASRS accounts are exempt from state, county and municipal income taxes.
Contributions that are withdrawn after December 31, 1974 by a public officer or
employee from the accounts of ASRS and that are not received as benefits from
ASRS and benefits and annuities received by a public officer or employee from
ASRS after December 31, 1988 are subject to tax pursuant to title 43.
B. Interest, earnings and all other credits pertaining to benefits and annuities
are not subject to execution or attachment and are nonassignable.
§ 29-1027. Actions by and against partnership and partners
A. A partnership may sue and be sued in the name of the partnership.
B. Except as otherwise provided in subsection F of this section, an action may
be brought against the partnership and any or all of the partners in the same
action or in separate actions.
C. A judgment against a partnership is not by itself a judgment against a
partner. A judgment against a partnership may not be satisfied from a partner's
assets unless there is also a judgment against the partner.
D. A judgment creditor of a partner may not levy execution against the assets of
the partner to satisfy a judgment based on a claim against the partnership
unless either:
1. The claim is for a debt, obligation or liability for which the partner is
liable as provided in section 29-1026 and either:
(a) A judgment based on the same claim has been obtained against the
partnership and a writ of execution on the judgment has been returned
unsatisfied in whole or in part.
(b) The partnership is a debtor in bankruptcy.
(c) The partner has agreed that the creditor need not exhaust partnership
assets.
(d) A court grants permission to the judgment creditor to levy execution
against the assets of a partner based on a finding that partnership assets
subject to execution are clearly insufficient to satisfy the judgment, that
exhaustion of partnership assets is excessively burdensome or that the grant of
permission is an appropriate exercise of the court's equitable powers.
2. Liability is imposed on the partner by law or contract independent of the
existence of the partnership.
E. This section applies to any partnership liability or obligation resulting
from a representation by a partner or purported partner under section 29-1028.
F. A partner is not a proper party to an action against a limited liability
partnership where that partner would not be personally liable for the claim
under section 29-1026.
Note: Exemptions may have changed since our last update. For the latest updates on these property exemptions, speak to a local bankruptcy lawyer.
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