Property & exemptions
California bankruptcy exemptions
Verified California exemptions — 12 categories below, each quoted from the statute that states it. A category not listed is one we have not published for California, not a finding that California law is silent on it.
Which exemption list applies in California
California law, for filers California law governs. California has opted out of the federal exemption set, so a filer whose applicable exemption law is California’s cannot instead choose the list in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d).
Which state’s exemption law applies to you is set by 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(A) from where you were domiciled during the periods it measures before filing — not simply where you live now. If a recent move means you are living in one state and governed by another’s list, this page may not be the one that applies to you. Where that rule would leave a filer with no exemptions at all, § 522(b)(3) permits the federal list.
Homestead — your home
California publishes more than one current amount here. Which applies depends on your circumstances — compare the conditions below rather than assuming the largest.
- California Article 4 homestead — annual county-median formulaNo single dollar figure — see the rule
The statute uses the greater of an annually inflation-adjusted floor or the prior-calendar-year countywide median single-family-home sale price, capped by an annually adjusted ceiling. No single statewide amount is asserted.
- California § 703.140(b)(1) residence interest$36,750
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) bankruptcy set; covers the listed real, personal, cooperative, or burial-plot residence interest.
Motor vehicle
- California § 703.140(b)(2) motor vehicles$8,625
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) bankruptcy set; the amount is an aggregate interest in one or more motor vehicles.
Wildcard and general personal property
- California § 703.140(b)(5) wildcardNo single dollar figure — see the rule
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; the base amount may be increased by the unused portion of paragraph (1).
Household goods and furnishings
California publishes more than one current amount here. Which applies depends on your circumstances — compare the conditions below rather than assuming the largest.
- California Article 3 necessary household effectsNo single dollar figure — see the rule
Applies to ordinarily and reasonably necessary household furnishings, appliances, provisions, wearing apparel, and other personal effects; extraordinary value can limit an item.
- California § 703.140(b)(3) household goods per itemNo single dollar figure — see the rule
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; the cap applies to the value of each particular qualifying item.
Wages and earnings
- California § 703.140(b)(10)(F) leave and wage credits$8,625
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; applies to qualifying vacation, sick, family-leave, or wage credits.
Retirement accounts and pensions
- California Article 3 retirement plansNo single dollar figure — see the rule
All covered plan-held or distributing amounts are generally exempt, but support judgments, IRA/self-employed-plan necessity limits, taxes, fraud adjustments, and distribution rules can alter protection.
Life insurance and annuities
California publishes more than one current amount here. Which applies depends on your circumstances — compare the conditions below rather than assuming the largest.
- California § 703.140(b)(7) unmatured life insuranceNo dollar limit stated
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; credit life insurance contracts are excluded.
- California § 703.140(b)(8) unmatured life-insurance value$19,625
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; applies to aggregate accrued dividend, interest, or loan value.
Public benefits
- California § 703.140(b)(10) benefit rightsNo single dollar figure — see the rule
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set. Social Security, unemployment, local public assistance, veterans', disability, and illness rights are listed; support and retirement items carry additional conditions.
Tools of the trade
- California § 703.140(b)(6) tools of trade$10,950
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; applies to qualifying implements, professional books, or tools of the debtor's or dependent's trade.
Personal-injury recoveries
- California § 703.140(b)(11)(E) bodily injury$36,750
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) set; applies to the qualifying right to receive or traceable bodily-injury payment.
Health aids
- California § 703.140(b)(9) prescribed health aidsNo dollar limit stated
Available only as part of the alternative § 703.140(b) bankruptcy exemption set; includes qualifying disability-converted vehicles.
Jewelry
- California § 703.140(b)(4) jewelry$2,175
Available only under the alternative § 703.140(b) bankruptcy set; this is the aggregate qualifying jewelry interest.
What these amounts do and do not mean
- An exemption protects your EQUITY — what the property is worth beyond what you still owe on it — not the item’s sticker price.
- More than one amount can apply in the same category. Where that is true the entries below are listed separately with the condition that selects each one; we do not pick for you.
- Federal limits can still apply on top of state law. 11 U.S.C. § 522(p) and (q) can cap a homestead claim for someone who moved recently or in specific circumstances.
- Which set of exemptions you may use depends on where you were domiciled during the period 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(A) measures, which is not always the state you live in today.
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