Washington D.C. Bankruptcy Exemption List

Federal or State Exemptions Allowed

In the District of Columbia you can choose either the federal bankruptcy exemptions or the District of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions. There may be certain federal supplemental exemptions you can use if you choose the state list. All exemptions should be discussed with your District of Columbia Bankruptcy Attorney.

The District of Columbia has created bankruptcy exemptions to allow you to maintain enough public benefits, wages, personal property and insurance to start over after filing bankruptcy in the District of Columbia. There may be certain residency requirements to use the District of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemption List.

The following table will outline the District of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions. Some of your property or assets may not have a matching exemption.

Exemptions	Exemption Amount	Statutes
Homestead	Any property that the debtor or debtor's dependants uses as their residence; can include co-op.	15-501
Personal Property	Motor vehicle to $2,575; household furnishings, goods, clothing, appliances, books, pets, or musical instruments up to $425 per item and $8,625 total; health aids; family pictures; family library to $400; provisions for 3 months; wrongful death payment; payments for the loss of the debtor or a person depended on including pain and suffering payments. Coop association holdings up to $50. Uninsured motorist benefits. Residential condominium deposit. Cemetery and burial funds. Higher education tuition savings account.	15-501 29-298 31-2408.01 42-1904.09 43-1147 4510
Wages	Nonwage earning, including pensions, up to $200 per month for head of family; or $60 per month otherwise for up to two months. Minimum of 75% of earned but unpaid wages or pension payments. Judge may authorize more for low-income debtors.	15-503 16-572
Pensions	Tax exempt retirement accounts; Traditional and Roth IRAs up to $1,095,000 per person. Judges. ERISA-qualified retirement plans, including IRAs. Stock bonus, pension, or profit-sharing plans. DC public school teachers.	11 U.S.C. § 522 11-1570 15-501 38-2001.17 & 38-2021.17
Public Benefits	Public assistance. Crime victims’ compensation. Social Security benefit; veteran's benefits. Workers' compensation. Unemployment compensation.	4-215.01 4-507 15-501 32-1517 51-118
Tools of Trade	Notary public seals and documents. Implements, professional books, or tools of the trade up to $1,625; library, office furniture, and implements of a professional person or artist, up to $300. Mechanic's tools up to $200.	1-1206 15-501 15-503
Alimony and Child Support	Alimony or child support	15-501
Insurance	Life insurance payments; non-matured life insurance (but not credit life insurance). Other insurance proceeds up to $200 per month for a maximum of 2 months if they are for the head of family; up to $60 per month for all others. Life insurance proceeds. Disability benefits. Group life insurance policy or proceeds. Life insurance proceeds that are exempt from being used to pay creditors as per a clause in their contract. Fraternal benefit society benefits.	15-501 15-503 31-4716 31-4717 31-4719 31-5315
Miscellaneous	Any property up to $850, plus up to $8,075 of any unused amount of the homestead exemption.	15-501

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