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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
Note Homestead declaration must be recorded in county recording office if property is not yet occupied as homestead

$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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