Law Office of Jeffrey Solomon
Bankruptcy attorney Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, 954-967-9800.
exemption list
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     The following is a list of several exemptions for Florida residents.  Florida residents who have not resided in Florida for two years cannot use these exemptions in bankruptcy.  However, the debtor often is better off using the prior states' exemptions, except as to the homestead. 

      This list does not mean you can now transfer the asset to make it exempt. The exemption can be rejected because you fraudulently transferred the asset to make it exempt. Exemptions must be reviewed on a case by case basis.

  •      Tenancy by the entireties.  Assume only the husband has debts.  If property is owned by husband and wife, the property cannot be seized  by creditors.  Even a million dollar business property would be exempt. (But if a car is titled as husband or wife, this is not the same as husband and wife).
  •      A qualified retirement account, such as a 401(k), IRA, Thrift Savings Plan, or pension.  
  •      $1,000 in personal property, $2,000 for husband and wife (so $5,000 in a savings account could not be all exempt).
  •      $1,000 in equity in a motor vehicle; husband and wife, $1,000 per vehicle up to 2 vehicles
  •      July 1, 2007:  A new exemption allows an additional $4,000 personal property exemption if the debtor does not claim a homestead exemption. 
  •      Wages of head of household (primary wage-earner).
  •      Bank account consisting of the deposits from the wages of the head of household
  •      Florida Prepaid Tuition Fund and a portion of 529 Plans.
  •      Earned income credit portion of tax refund(tax refunds can be taken by the chapter 7 trustee).
  •      Social Security or disability income (lump sum award received for social security disability might not be entirely exempt).
  •      Worker's compensation award.
  •      Right to receive child support or alimony necessary for support.
  •      Life insurance cash value (not the death benefit)
  •      Annuities.
  •      Homestead protection applies to mobile homes that remain on the real estate lot.
  •      Florida homestead.  Under Florida law, unlimited homestead protection if under one-half of an acre in a municipality, otherwise 160 acres.  No value limit.  But if bankruptcy is filed, property must be owned for 1215 days, or only $125,000 exemption.(Probably a total of $250,000 for husband and wife).  If prior homestead sold and proceeds used to buy a new homestead, exemption continues.  But remember, even the $125,000 is not protected  if debtor had not been a Florida resident for two years.  This change was designed to prevent people from moving from out of state to take advantage of Florida's homestead protection.  This exemption adjusts due to inflation.  As of April 1, 2007, the amount increased to $136,875.00.

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   Contact us at  solomonjeffrey@hotmail.com ;  Ph.  (954)967-9800 Fax (954)963-2227

An act of Congress requires that we inform you that the Law Office of Jeffrey Solomon is a debt relief agency.  We provide assistance to individuals to file bankruptcy under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.  Jeffrey Solomon is a proud member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.