Washington DC Bankruptcy Exemptions
The chart below contains a summary of Washington DC state bankruptcy exemptions and other relevant statutory laws.
Click here for complete State of Washington DC bankruptcy exemptions laws
Note: Federal bankruptcy exemptions are available.
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Personal exemptions allowed by Washington DC Bankruptcy Law
Note: Under the 2005 bankruptcy law, almost all types of tax-exempt retirement accounts are exempt in bankruptcy whether state or Federal exemptions are used. Exemptions for 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, and defined benefit plans include the entire account amounts. However, with traditional and Roth IRAs, the exemption is limited to a total value of $1,171,650 per person for all accounts held by the debtor (not per account). The total value amount is adjusted every three years for inflation. The relevant statutes: 11 U.S.C. §522(d)(12) for Federal bankruptcy exemptions; 11 U.S.C. §522(b)(3)(C) for state bankruptcy exemptions.
| ASSET | EXEMPTION | LAW |
|---|---|---|
| Washington DC Homestead | Unlimited for any property used as a residence or co-op by debtor or debtor’s dependent | 15-501(a)(14) |
| Wages | Minimum 75% of earned but unpaid wages, and pension payments. Bankruptcy judge may authorize more for low-income debtors. | 16-572 |
| Automobile | Up to $2,575 | 15-501(a)(1) |
| Other property | Life insurance payments | 15-501(a)(11) |
| Alimony and child support | 15-501(a)(7) | |
| Appliances, books, clothing, household furnishings, goods, musical instruments, pets to $425 per item, $8,625 total | 15-501(a)(2) | |
| Health aids | 15-501(a)(6) | |
| Cemetery and burial funds | 43-111 | |
| Tools of trade or business to $1,625 | 15-501(a)(4) | |
| Wildcard | Up to $850 in any property, and up to $8,075 of unused homestead exemption | 15-501(a)(3) |
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 Washington DC bankruptcy court statutes.
Back to all State Bankruptcy Exemptions
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