Table of ContentsOhio Bankruptcy Exemptions: How do they work?Will I lose my property if I file for bankruptcy in Ohio?How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Ohio? Ohio, The Buckeye State, is home to America’s first professional baseball team (the Cincinnati Reds), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and John Glenn, the oldest man to venture into outer space. It’s also ranked among the top 10 states in terms of bankruptcy filings. But why? Courtney Miller, a NerdWallet analyst, offers some insight: Ohio has a higher unemployment rate right now than the rest of the country, just slightly higher than the national average. The median household income is also below the national average. If you’ve landed at this post, you might be one of the 37,000 or so Ohioans who file for bankruptcy each year and you’re looking for some information. Most likely, you’ll want to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Whether you’re filing bankruptcy in Ohio or another part of the country, the basics of Chapter 7 bankruptcy are very similar. In exchange for the forgiveness of the vast majority of your debts, including the discharge of all of your unsecured debts, you agree to put your assets temporarily under the control of the bankruptcy court. Your property becomes part of a “bankruptcy estate” and is divided into two basic piles: exempt and nonexempt. The exempt property you keep; the nonexempt property is subject to sale by the bankruptcy trustee to satisfy some of the claims of your creditors. If all of your property is exempt, you can discharge your debts without losing a single item of property. With that out of the way, let’s delve into the details of how to file bankruptcy in Ohio, what sort of exemptions you can claim so you can keep your property, and where the bankruptcy courts are located. See also: Qualifying for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Timing and the Means Test Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions: How do they work? Bankruptcy exemptions will protect your property, including the biggest items of value, such as a house and retirement funds. The Ohio homestead exemption, for example, allows debtors to protect up to $136,925 of value in real or personal property that they use as a residence. Married couples filing jointly can double the exemption. When determining if your residence is protected by the Ohio homestead exemption, it is important to remember that the law applies to your primary residence only — investment property is not protected. Additionally, homestead exemptions are concerned with equity and not debt. You could have a home in Cleveland worth $450,000, but if you are underwater with a mortgage balance of $600,000, there is no equity and therefore nothing for the bankruptcy trustee to come after in the event you file for Chapter 7 protection. See also: Can I File Bankruptcy Without My Spouse? In addition to protection for the homestead, Ohio law also allows for exemption of a car up to $3,775 of equity. Again, this law allows for protection of a car greater than $3,775 in value. The focus for exemption purposes is on the equity in the car, not on the Blue Book value. For example, you could own a car worth $10,000 with a $7,000 loan. In this case, the car would be exempt under Ohio law because there is only $3,000 of equity. By contrast, if you owned the car outright, you would have nonexempt equity that the trustee would likely come after. Take a look at some more of the top bankruptcy exemptions in Ohio below. It’s important to note that the exemption amounts periodically change, so an attorney would be able to help best guide you through the process. Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions The top 5 exemptions under Ohio state law. Type of exemptionOhio law Homestead$145,425 Personal property$13,400 of value in household goods, such as furnishing and appliances, plus $1,325 wildcard exemption Vehicle$4,000 Wages75% Pension/retirementExempt Will I lose my property if I file for bankruptcy in Ohio? This will be a function of the value of your property, but generally speaking, no you will not. As the above discussion of Ohio bankruptcy exemptions illustrates, state law will protect most, if not all, of your property. One of the biggest misconceptions about the bankruptcy process is that you will lose all of your property if you file. To the contrary, most consumers find that available exemptions are sufficient to allow them to retain their assets. Let’s use real estate as an example. Ohio, like the rest of the country, has been hard hit by the recession and has seen a steep decline in property values. For this reason, it is relatively rare to find homeowners with large amounts of home equity. With property values currently down, many Ohio debtors have the opportunity to seek bankruptcy protection while keeping their family homes. If you are the exception to the rule and own a home with considerable equity that exceeds the $136,925 exemption, you may want to reconsider filing for bankruptcy as your home would be placed into the nonexempt property pile upon filing. Additionally, if you are considered about losing any retirement funds, there are provisions of the Ohio bankruptcy exemptions that apply to and protect pensions. In addition, federal non-bankruptcy law has provisions that make most retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs exempt from the claims of creditors and the bankruptcy trustee. For the vast majority of consumers, their retirements are not as risk when they file bankruptcy. Keep in mind that while Chapter 7 bankruptcy does sometimes involve the liquidation of assets, it is not the desire of the bankruptcy trustee to sell your property. To the contrary, marketing homes and real estate for sale takes quite a bit of time, effort, and money. In most cases, the trustee would rather negotiate a cash settlement then actually go through with selling property. If you have equity in property that only slightly exceeds the Ohio exemption limits, you may be able to negotiate a cash payment in lieu of an auction. This is something that is best left to your attorney to negotiate. How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Ohio? Attorneys fees in bankruptcy vary by region of the country. And large cities the cost of filing cases higher, and rural areas where overhead is lower, the fees are more reasonable. As a general rule, the cost of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Ohio will usually range between $900 and $1,500. Keep in mind though that this is just a ballpark figure, the cost of bankruptcy will vary by complexity of the case. In addition, there is a $335 filing fee to proceed with Chapter 7; however, in cases of severe financial hardship, debtors can ask that the fee be waived or paid in installments. Similarly, bankruptcy attorneys are used to helping families who find themselves struggling with that and most firms offer some type of payment plan so that their clients can afford to pay their fee. See also: How Much Does it Cost to File Bankruptcy? FacebookPinTweetEmail National Bankruptcy Forum Help us match you with a local attorney Free Bankruptcy Evaluation "*" indicates required fields First Name* Last Name* Phone* Email* Δ
Table of ContentsOhio Bankruptcy Exemptions: How do they work?Will I lose my property if I file for bankruptcy in Ohio?How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Ohio? Ohio, The Buckeye State, is home to America’s first professional baseball team (the Cincinnati Reds), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and John Glenn, the oldest man to venture into outer space. It’s also ranked among the top 10 states in terms of bankruptcy filings. But why? Courtney Miller, a NerdWallet analyst, offers some insight: Ohio has a higher unemployment rate right now than the rest of the country, just slightly higher than the national average. The median household income is also below the national average. If you’ve landed at this post, you might be one of the 37,000 or so Ohioans who file for bankruptcy each year and you’re looking for some information. Most likely, you’ll want to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Whether you’re filing bankruptcy in Ohio or another part of the country, the basics of Chapter 7 bankruptcy are very similar. In exchange for the forgiveness of the vast majority of your debts, including the discharge of all of your unsecured debts, you agree to put your assets temporarily under the control of the bankruptcy court. Your property becomes part of a “bankruptcy estate” and is divided into two basic piles: exempt and nonexempt. The exempt property you keep; the nonexempt property is subject to sale by the bankruptcy trustee to satisfy some of the claims of your creditors. If all of your property is exempt, you can discharge your debts without losing a single item of property. With that out of the way, let’s delve into the details of how to file bankruptcy in Ohio, what sort of exemptions you can claim so you can keep your property, and where the bankruptcy courts are located. See also: Qualifying for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Timing and the Means Test Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions: How do they work? Bankruptcy exemptions will protect your property, including the biggest items of value, such as a house and retirement funds. The Ohio homestead exemption, for example, allows debtors to protect up to $136,925 of value in real or personal property that they use as a residence. Married couples filing jointly can double the exemption. When determining if your residence is protected by the Ohio homestead exemption, it is important to remember that the law applies to your primary residence only — investment property is not protected. Additionally, homestead exemptions are concerned with equity and not debt. You could have a home in Cleveland worth $450,000, but if you are underwater with a mortgage balance of $600,000, there is no equity and therefore nothing for the bankruptcy trustee to come after in the event you file for Chapter 7 protection. See also: Can I File Bankruptcy Without My Spouse? In addition to protection for the homestead, Ohio law also allows for exemption of a car up to $3,775 of equity. Again, this law allows for protection of a car greater than $3,775 in value. The focus for exemption purposes is on the equity in the car, not on the Blue Book value. For example, you could own a car worth $10,000 with a $7,000 loan. In this case, the car would be exempt under Ohio law because there is only $3,000 of equity. By contrast, if you owned the car outright, you would have nonexempt equity that the trustee would likely come after. Take a look at some more of the top bankruptcy exemptions in Ohio below. It’s important to note that the exemption amounts periodically change, so an attorney would be able to help best guide you through the process. Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions The top 5 exemptions under Ohio state law. Type of exemptionOhio law Homestead$145,425 Personal property$13,400 of value in household goods, such as furnishing and appliances, plus $1,325 wildcard exemption Vehicle$4,000 Wages75% Pension/retirementExempt Will I lose my property if I file for bankruptcy in Ohio? This will be a function of the value of your property, but generally speaking, no you will not. As the above discussion of Ohio bankruptcy exemptions illustrates, state law will protect most, if not all, of your property. One of the biggest misconceptions about the bankruptcy process is that you will lose all of your property if you file. To the contrary, most consumers find that available exemptions are sufficient to allow them to retain their assets. Let’s use real estate as an example. Ohio, like the rest of the country, has been hard hit by the recession and has seen a steep decline in property values. For this reason, it is relatively rare to find homeowners with large amounts of home equity. With property values currently down, many Ohio debtors have the opportunity to seek bankruptcy protection while keeping their family homes. If you are the exception to the rule and own a home with considerable equity that exceeds the $136,925 exemption, you may want to reconsider filing for bankruptcy as your home would be placed into the nonexempt property pile upon filing. Additionally, if you are considered about losing any retirement funds, there are provisions of the Ohio bankruptcy exemptions that apply to and protect pensions. In addition, federal non-bankruptcy law has provisions that make most retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs exempt from the claims of creditors and the bankruptcy trustee. For the vast majority of consumers, their retirements are not as risk when they file bankruptcy. Keep in mind that while Chapter 7 bankruptcy does sometimes involve the liquidation of assets, it is not the desire of the bankruptcy trustee to sell your property. To the contrary, marketing homes and real estate for sale takes quite a bit of time, effort, and money. In most cases, the trustee would rather negotiate a cash settlement then actually go through with selling property. If you have equity in property that only slightly exceeds the Ohio exemption limits, you may be able to negotiate a cash payment in lieu of an auction. This is something that is best left to your attorney to negotiate. How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Ohio? Attorneys fees in bankruptcy vary by region of the country. And large cities the cost of filing cases higher, and rural areas where overhead is lower, the fees are more reasonable. As a general rule, the cost of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Ohio will usually range between $900 and $1,500. Keep in mind though that this is just a ballpark figure, the cost of bankruptcy will vary by complexity of the case. In addition, there is a $335 filing fee to proceed with Chapter 7; however, in cases of severe financial hardship, debtors can ask that the fee be waived or paid in installments. Similarly, bankruptcy attorneys are used to helping families who find themselves struggling with that and most firms offer some type of payment plan so that their clients can afford to pay their fee. See also: How Much Does it Cost to File Bankruptcy?