Property Exemptions
A debtor in Washington State may choose to use either Federal or State exemptions. The Federal exemptions to which a debtor is entitled are listed below, as are the exemptions for Washington State. Either the federal or the state exemptions may be used, but not both. This chart should be used for general information only, as there are additional exemptions, as well as limitations on some of the ones listed below. The method of valuing items of property varies depending on the nature of the property. Please see an attorney before taking any action regarding your property if you are considering filing for bankruptcy.
Federal Exemptions
Type of Property |
Amount of Exemption |
Statute Creating Exemption |
Debtor’s interest in real or personal property that debtor uses as residence |
$17,425 |
11 USC 522(d)(1) |
1 Motor vehicle |
$2,775 |
11 USC 522(d)(2) |
Household furnishings |
$9,300 aggregate value limitations with $450 limitation on value of each item |
11 USC 522(d)(3) |
Jewelry |
$1,150 |
11 USC 522(d)(4) |
Any property selected by debtor |
$925 plus up to $8,725 of unused portion of 11 USC 522(d)(1) exemption |
11 USC 522(d)(5) |
Implements, professional books, or tools, of the trade of debtor or a dependent of the debtor |
$1,750 |
11 USC 522(d)(6) |
Unmatured life insurance contracts owned by debtor except credit life insurance contracts |
100% |
11 USC 522(d)(7) |
Accrued dividends or interest under, or loan value of, any unmatured life insurance contract owned by debtor in which the insured is the debtor or a person of whom the debtor is a dependent |
$9,300 less any amounts transferred by insurer for payment of premiums |
11 USC 522(d)(8) |
Professionally prescribed health aids |
100% |
11 USC 522(d)(9) |
Social security, unemployment compensation, or public assistance benefits |
100% |
11 USC 522(d)(10)(A) |
Veterans benefits |
100% |
11 USC 522(d)(10)(B) |
Disability, illness or unemployment benefits |
100% |
11 USC 522(d)(10)(C) |
Alimony, support, or separate maintenance |
100% of amount reasonably necessary for support of debtor and dependents |
11 USC 522(d)(10)(D) |
Payments under stock bonus, pension, profitsharing, annuity, or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, age, or length of service |
100% of amount reasonably necessary for support of debtor and dependents |
11 USC 522(d)(10)(E) |
Crime victims reparation law benefits or awards |
100% |
11 USC 522(d)(11)(A) |
Payments on account of the wrongful death of individual of whom debtor was a dependent |
100% of amount reasonably necessary for support of debtor and dependents |
11 USC 622(d)(11)(B) |
Payment under life insurance contract insuring life of an individual of whom debtor was a dependent |
100% of amount reasonably necessary for support of debtor and dependents |
11 USC 522(d)(11)(C) |
Payments on account of personal bodily injury (does not include compensation for pain and suffering or actual pecuniary loss) |
$17,425 |
11 USC 522(d)(11)(D) |
Payments in compensation for loss of future earnings |
100% of amount reasonably necessary for support of debtor and dependents |
11 USC 522(d)(11)(E) |
Washington State Exemptions
Type of Property |
Amount of Exemption |
Statute Creating Exemption |
Homestead consisting of house or mobile home in which
owner resides, plus appurtenances and land, if any, on which situate |
$40,000 |
RCW 6.13.030 |
All wearing apparel |
No limit, except furs, jewelry and personal ornaments cannot exceed $1,000 |
RCW 6.15.010(1) |
Private library or debtor |
$1,500 |
RCW 6.15.010(2) |
Family pictures and keepsakes |
100% |
RCW 6.15.010(2) |
Household goods, appliances, furniture and home and yard equipment, including provisions and fuel |
$2,700 |
RCW 6.15.010(3)(a) |
Other personal property of debtor and family, except personal earnings |
$1,000 with $100 limit on cash and $100 limit on bank accounts and securities |
RCW 6.15.010(3)(b) |
2 motor vehicles |
$2,500 aggregate value |
RCW 6.15.010(3)(c) |
Farm trucks, stock, tools, equipment, supplies |
$5,000 |
RCW 6.15.010(4)(a) |
Library and office furniture, equipment, supplies |
$5,000 |
RCW 6.15.010(4)(b) |
Tools, instruments, and materials used to carry on trade |
$5,000 |
RCW 6.15.010(4)(c) |
Disposable earnings (earnings less deductions required by law) |
75% OR 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage per week, WHICHEVER IS GREATER |
RCW 6.27.150 |
Federal pension benefits |
100% |
RCW 6.15.020(2) |
Debtor'#8217;s right to retirement, disability or death benefits from employee benefit plans qualified under Internal Revenue Code |
100% of qualified amounts (support claims and QDRO benefits excepted) |
RCW 6.15.020(3) |
Fire insurance proceeds of policies covering exempt property |
100% of exemption for covered property |
RCW 6.15.030(E) |
Industrial insurance benefits |
100% |
RCW 51.32.040 |
Unemployment compensation benefits |
100% (support claims excepted) |
RCW 50.40.020 |
Disability insurance benefits |
100% |
RCW 48.18.400 |
Proceeds and avails of life insurance policies wherein beneficiary is person other than insured |
100% |
RCW 48.18.410 |
Group life insurance proceeds |
100% |
RCW 48.18.420 |
Annuity contract benefits |
$250 per month |
RCW 48.18.430 |
Public assistance grants and payments |
100% |
RCW 74.08.210, 74.13.070 |
Income or proceeds from trust for benefit of debtor created and funded by another person |
100% |
RCW 6.32.250 |
Personal or family burying grounds |
100% |
RCW 68.24.220, 68.20.120 |
City employees retirement benefits |
100% |
RCW 41.44.240, 41.28.200, 41.20.180 |
Police and fireman'#8217;s retirement benefits |
100% |
RCW 41.20.180, 41.24.240, 43.43.310 |
State employees retirement benefits |
100% |
RCW 41.40.052 |
Teachers retirement benefits |
100% |
RCW 41.32.052 |
Judges retirement benefits |
100% |
RCW 2.10.180, 2.12.090 |
Specific partnership property |
100% of partner'#8217;s interest |
RCW 25.04.250 |
Crime victim'#8217;s compensation |
100% |
RCW 7.68.070, 51.32.040 |
Earnings from work release |
100% |
RCW 72.65.060 |
Property of incompetent |
100% |
RCW 11.92.060(3) |
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