What are exempt properties?
Sophia Koch
Updated on February 14, 2026
Exempt property is any property that creditors cannot seize and sell in order to satisfy debt during chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy. The type of property exempted differs from state to state but often includes clothes, home furnishings, retirement plans, and small amounts of equity in a house and car.
What assets can creditors take?
If you lose a court case and the judge decides you must pay the creditor, a judgment will be “entered” against you. When a judgment has been entered against you, creditors can take some of your income or your “assets” to pay back the money you owe. Assets are things you own, like a bank account, a car, or jewelry.
What happens to a property not claimed to be exempt?
What happens to nonexempt property in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy? The trustee won’t sell your nonexempt property. Instead, you’ll pay an amount equal to the value of the nonexempt property to your unsecured creditors (creditors whose debt isn’t guaranteed by collateral).
What is family exempt property?
If you have a spouse or minor children, then a certain amount of household furniture, furnishings, appliances and automobiles in your name that are regularly used by you or members of your family are exempt from your will. This is called exempt property.
Which is property exempt from execution of judgment?
The Rules of Court explicitly enumerates properties which are exempt from execution of judgment, one of which is the judgment obligor’s family home (Section 13 (a), Rule 39, Rules of Court).
What is exempt from a judgment in Florida?
What Property Is Exempt From the Judgment of a Creditor in Florida? 1 Real Estate. A home that is owned and lived in by the creditor can be exempted from a judgment under Florida’s homestead law. 2 Vehicles. Vehicles are exempted if the equity value is $1,000 or less. 3 Wages. 4 Personal Property. 5 Joint Property. …
What kind of property can a judgment debtor not take?
There are certain types of property that a judgment creditor cannot take from a judgment debtor, even to pay a civil judgment. This property is called “exempt” property because it is excluded from the execution process.
Can a non-debtor get an exemption from a judgment?
If the debtor owns property jointly with a spouse, and the judgment in question is only against one of the couple, the non-debtor spouse can get an exemption for such jointly owned property. Such an exemption is applicable to all types of property, including real estate.