Texas Bankruptcy Laws : Texas State Exemptions
Complete state of Texas bankruptcy exemptions laws which protect a debtor’s property when personal bankruptcy is filed.
Prop. Sec. 41.001. INTERESTS IN LAND EXEMPT FROM SEIZURE.
(b) Encumbrances may be properly fixed on homestead property for:
(2) taxes on the property;
(3) work and material used in constructing improvements on the property if contracted for in writing as provided by Sections 53.254(a), (b), and (c);
(4) an owelty of partition imposed against the entirety of the property by a court order or by a written agreement of the parties to the partition, including a debt of one spouse in favor of the other spouse resulting from a division or an award of a family homestead in a divorce proceeding;
(5) the refinance of a lien against a homestead, including a federal tax lien resulting from the tax debt of both spouses, if the homestead is a family homestead, or from the tax debt of the owner;
(6) an extension of credit that meets the requirements of Section 50(a)(6), Article XVI, Texas Constitution; or
(7) a reverse mortgage that meets the requirements of Sections 50(k)-(p), Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
(c) The homestead claimant’s proceeds of a sale of a homestead are not subject to seizure for a creditor’s claim for six months after the date of sale.
Prop. Sec. 41.002. DEFINITION OF HOMESTEAD.
(b) If used for the purposes of a rural home, the homestead shall consist of:
(c) A homestead is considered to be urban if, at the time the designation is made, the property is:
(2) served by police protection, paid or volunteer fire protection, and at least three of the following services provided by a municipality or under contract to a municipality:
(B) natural gas;
(C) sewer;
(D) storm sewer; and
(E) water.
(d) The definition of a homestead as provided in this section applies to all homesteads in this state whenever created.
Prop. Sec. 42.001. PERSONAL PROPERTY EXEMPTION.
(a) Personal property, as described in Section 42.002, is exempt from garnishment, attachment, execution, or other seizure if:
(2) the property is owned by a single adult, who is not a member of a family, and has an aggregate fair market value of not more than $30,000, exclusive of the amount of any liens, security interests, or other charges encumbering the property.
(b) The following personal property is exempt from seizure and is not included in the aggregate limitations prescribed by Subsection (a):
(2) professionally prescribed health aids of a debtor or a dependent of a debtor;
(3) alimony, support, or separate maintenance received or to be received by the debtor for the support of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor; and
(4) a religious bible or other book containing sacred writings of a religion that is seized by a creditor other than a lessor of real property who is exercising the lessor’s contractual or statutory right to seize personal property after a tenant breaches a lease agreement for or abandons the real property.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (b)(4), this section does not prevent seizure by a secured creditor with a contractual landlord’s lien or other security in the property to be seized.
(d) Unpaid commissions for personal services not to exceed 25 percent of the aggregate limitations prescribed by Subsection (a) are exempt from seizure and are included in the aggregate.
(e) A religious bible or other book described by Subsection (b)(4) that is seized by a lessor of real property in the exercise of the lessor’s contractual or statutory right to seize personal property after a tenant breaches a lease agreement for the real property or abandons the real property may not be included in the aggregate limitations prescribed by Subsection (a).
Prop. Sec. 42.002. PERSONAL PROPERTY.
(a) The following personal property is exempt under Section 42.001(a):
(2) provisions for consumption;
(3) farming or ranching vehicles and implements;
(4) tools, equipment, books, and apparatus, including boats and motor vehicles used in a trade or profession;
(5) wearing apparel;
(6) jewelry not to exceed 25 percent of the aggregate limitations prescribed by Section 42.001(a);
(7) two firearms;
(8) athletic and sporting equipment, including bicycles;
(9) a two-wheeled, three-wheeled, or four-wheeled motor vehicle for each member of a family or single adult who holds a driver’s license or who does not hold a driver’s license but who relies on another person to operate the vehicle for the benefit of the nonlicensed person;
(10) the following animals and forage on hand for their consumption:
(B) 12 head of cattle;
(C) 60 head of other types of livestock; and
(D) 120 fowl; and
(11) household pets.
(b) Personal property, unless precluded from being encumbered by other law, may be encumbered by a security interest under Subchapter B, Chapter 9, Business & Commerce Code, or Subchapter F, Chapter 501, Transportation Code, or by a lien fixed by other law, and the security interest or lien may not be avoided on the ground that the property is exempt under this chapter.
Crim. Proc. 56.49. EXEMPTION; ASSIGNABILITY. (Crime Victims’ Compensation)
(b) An assignment or agreement to assign a right to benefits for loss accruing in the future is unenforceable except:
(2) an assignment of a right to benefits is enforceable to the extent that the benefits are for the cost of products, services, or accommodations:
(B) provided or to be provided by the assignee.
Educ. 54.639. EXEMPTION FROM CREDITORS’ CLAIMS. (Prepaid Tuition Plans)
(b) The rights of a purchaser, beneficiary, or successor in interest of a purchaser or beneficiary in and under a prepaid tuition contract and the payment of tuition and required fees for a beneficiary under a prepaid tuition contract to an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education under this chapter are exempt from attachment, levy, garnishment, execution, and seizure for the satisfaction of any debt, judgment, or claim against a purchaser, beneficiary, or successor in interest of a purchaser or beneficiary.
(c) A claim or judgment against a purchaser, beneficiary, or a successor in interest of a purchaser or beneficiary does not impair or entitle the claim or judgment holder to assert or enforce a lien against:
(2) the right of a beneficiary to the payment of tuition and required fees to an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education under a prepaid tuition contract.
Educ. 54.709. ADMINISTRATION OF ACCOUNTS.
(b) An account owner or beneficiary may not direct the investment of any contributions to or earnings on an account.
(c) If the board terminates the contract of a financial institution to act as a plan manager and accounts must be transferred from that financial institution to another financial institution, the board shall select the financial institution to which the balances of the accounts are transferred.
(d) A savings trust agreement must provide that, if after a specified period the savings trust agreement has not been terminated and the beneficiary’s rights in the account have not been exercised, the board, after making reasonable efforts to contact the owner and beneficiary of the account or their agents, shall report the unclaimed money in the account to the comptroller.
(e) Money in a savings trust account is exempt from attachment, execution, and seizure for the satisfaction of debt or liability of an account owner or beneficiary.
(f) A savings trust account may not be assigned for the benefit of creditors, used as security or collateral for any loan, or otherwise subject to alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge.
(g) A distribution from an account to any individual or for the benefit of any individual during a calendar year shall be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and to the account owner or the beneficiary to the extent required by federal law.
(h) A plan manager shall provide an annual statement to each account owner not later than the January 31 after the end of each calendar year and may provide statements more frequently than annually. A statement must identify the contributions made during the reporting period, the total contributions made through the end of the reporting period, the value of the account at the end of the reporting period, withdrawals made during the reporting period, and any other information the board requires.
(i) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), if Section 529, Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is amended to permit an account owner to direct the investment of a contribution to or an account balance in a qualified state tuition program, the board in each subsequent plan manager contract shall provide that each plan manager must provide a savings trust account owner with the ability to direct the investment of a contribution to the account or the balance in the account among a wide variety of investment options.
Gov’t. 615.005. ASSISTANCE NOT ASSIGNABLE; PAYMENTS EXEMPT. (Law Enforcement, Firefighters, EMTs)
(b) Money paid or payable under this chapter is not subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process or to the operation of any insolvency law.
All retirement annuity payments, optional benefit payments, member contributions, money in the various retirement system funds, and rights accrued or accruing under this subtitle to any person are exempt from garnishment, attachment, state and local taxation, levies, sales, and any other process, and are unassignable except as provided by Section 813.103.
All retirement allowances, annuities, refunded contributions, optional benefits, money in the various retirement system accounts, and rights accrued or accruing under this subtitle to any person are exempt from garnishment, attachment, state and municipal taxation, sale, levy, and any other process, and are unassignable.
All annuity and other benefit payments from the retirement system, contribution refunds, and rights accrued or accruing under this subtitle to any person are exempt from garnishment, attachment, state and local taxation, levy, sale, and any other process, and are unassignable.
The right to financial assistance granted to recipients under this chapter may not be transferred or assigned at law or in equity, and the funds are not subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process or to the operation of an insolvency law.
Hum. Res. 32.036. PROGRAM PAYMENTS NONASSIGNABLE AND EXEMPT FROM LEGAL PROCESS.
(b) No money paid or payable under the provisions of this chapter is subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or any other legal process, or the operation of any insolvency law.
(c) This section does not apply to the extent that it conflicts with the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396a(a)(32)).
Money or another benefit or charity to be paid or provided by a fraternal benefit society, before or after payment is not subject to attachment, garnishment, or other process and may not be seized or applied by any legal or equitable process or operation of law to pay any debt or liability of a member, a beneficiary, or any other person who may have a right under the benefit contract.
Ins. 1108.051. EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN INSURANCE AND ANNUITY BENEFITS.
(a) Except as provided by Section 1108.053, this section applies to any benefits, including the cash value and proceeds of an insurance policy, to be provided to an insured or beneficiary under:
(2) an annuity or benefit plan used by an employer or individual.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, insurance or annuity benefits described by Subsection (a):
(2) are fully exempt from:
(A) garnishment, attachment, execution, or other seizure;
(B) seizure, appropriation, or application by any legal or equitable process or by operation of law to pay a debt or other liability of an insured or of a beneficiary, either before or after the benefits are provided; and
(C) a demand in a bankruptcy proceeding of the insured or beneficiary.
All benefit payments, contributions of employees and annuitants, and optional benefit payments, any rights, benefits, or payments accruing to a person under this chapter, and all money in a fund created by this chapter:
(2) may not be assigned, except:
(B) as specifically provided by this chapter.
Ins. 1575.006. EXEMPTION FROM PROCESS. (Texas Public School Employees)
(a) The following are exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or any other process:
(2) any rights, benefits, or payments accruing to any person under this chapter; and
(3) any money in the fund.
(b) The items listed in Subsection (a) may not be assigned except for direct payment to benefit providers as authorized by the trustee by contract, rule, or otherwise.
All insurance benefits and other payments and transactions made under this chapter to a participant under this chapter are exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or any other process.
Labor 207.075. ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS PROHIBITED; BENEFIT EXEMPTIONS. (Unemployment Compensation)
(b) A right to benefits is exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or any other remedy for debt collection.
(c) Benefits received by an individual are exempt from debt collection if the benefits are not mingled with other funds of the individual except for debts incurred for necessaries furnished to the individual or the individual’s spouse or dependents during the time that the individual was unemployed.
(d) A waiver of an exemption provided by this section is not valid.
(e) Subchapter E prevails over this section to the extent of any conflict.
Benefits are exempt from:
(2) attachment;
(3) judgment; and
(4) other actions or claims
Prop. 42.0021. ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN SAVINGS PLANS.
(b) Contributions to an individual retirement account, other than contributions to a Roth IRA described in Section 408A, Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or an annuity that exceed the amounts deductible under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any accrued earnings on such contributions are not exempt under this section unless otherwise exempt by law. Amounts qualifying as nontaxable rollover contributions under Section 402(a)(5), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), or 408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 before January 1, 1993, are treated as exempt amounts under Subsection (a). Amounts treated as qualified rollover contributions under Section 408A, Internal Revenue Code of 1986, are treated as exempt amounts under Subsection (a). In addition, amounts qualifying as nontaxable rollover contributions under Section 402(c), 402(e)(6), 402(f), 403(a)(4), 403(a)(5), 403(b)(8), 403(b)(10), 408(d)(3), or 408A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 on or after January 1, 1993, are treated as exempt amounts under Subsection (a). Amounts qualifying as nontaxable rollover contributions under Section 223(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 on or after January 1, 2004, are treated as exempt amounts under Subsection (a).
(c) Amounts distributed from a plan or contract entitled to the exemption under Subsection (a) are not subject to seizure for a creditor’s claim for 60 days after the date of distribution if the amounts qualify as a nontaxable rollover contribution under Subsection (b).
(d) A participant or beneficiary of a stock bonus, pension, profit-sharing, retirement plan, or government plan is not prohibited from granting a valid and enforceable security interest in the participant’s or beneficiary’s right to the assets held in or to receive payments under the plan to secure a loan to the participant or beneficiary from the plan, and the right to the assets held in or to receive payments from the plan is subject to attachment, execution, and seizure for the satisfaction of the security interest or lien granted by the participant or beneficiary to secure the loan.
(e) If Subsection (a) is declared invalid or preempted by federal law, in whole or in part or in certain circumstances, as applied to a person who has not brought a proceeding under Title 11, United States Code, the subsection remains in effect, to the maximum extent permitted by law, as to any person who has filed that type of proceeding.
(f) A reference in this section to a specific provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 includes a subsequent amendment of the substance of that provision.
Note: While this reference information is current as of October 2010, it may not reflect the most up-to-date exemption figures on official state of Texas bankruptcy court statutes.
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