Table of ContentsDistrict of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions: Can I keep my property? Washington, D.C. dates back to 1791, when it was founded to be our nation’s capital. The District of Columbia is the location of all three branches of our government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Here, Congress passes laws, the President develops policies, and the Supreme Court rules on cases that affect us all. The city is dotted with monuments and museums, and some of the popular sites to visit include the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian. Washington, D.C. is not only our nation’s capital, it is also a city of where 681,170 people live and work. The per capita personal income (PCPI) is $75,596, which is a whopping 153% of the national average of $49,571. This reflects a 2.8% increase from 2015, which is close to the national increase of 2.9%. D.C.’s current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016 was $126.8 billion. Its real GDP grew 2.4% compared to the national change of 1.5% from 2015 to 2016. It’s no surprise that government is Washington’s largest industry and is responsible for 33.8% of its GDP. The second-largest industry is professional and business services, which accounts for 24.7% of the GDP. For those who live in D.C., they’re used to paying higher prices for rent, transportation, and food. The cost of living in D.C. ranks third in the U.S. and North America, and eighth-highest in the entire world. When those costs start to build up and turn into debt, D.C. residents may be able to turn to bankruptcy to help with their financial situation. District of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions: Can I keep my property? You may choose whether you want to use the federal bankruptcy exemptions or the Washington, D.C. bankruptcy exemptions, but you cannot pick and choose between the two. You must choose one and commit to it, so it’s important that you and your Washington bankruptcy lawyer go through all your property to determine which exemption list is best for you. Should you decide to use D.C.’s bankruptcy exemptions, you may also use additional exemptions that are called the federal non-bankruptcy exemptions, which may be found in various sections of the federal bankruptcy code. These cover federal benefits. Below we highlight just some of the Washington, D.C. exemptions. Talk with your attorney about the complete list and whether or not choosing District of Columbia exemptions or federal bankruptcy exemptions is best for your specific circumstances. District of Columbia vs. Federal Exemptions The top 5 exemptions under D.C. law compared to federal law. Type of exemptionDistrict of Columbia lawFederal law HomesteadExempt, full equity$27,900 Personal property$8,625 total in household furnishings and goods, clothing, appliances, books, and more, not to exceed $425 per item$12,625 aggregate value on household goods, plus federal wildcard exemption applicable ($1,250 plus $11,850 of any unused portion of your homestead exemption) Vehicle$2,575$3,775 Wages75% of earned but unpaid wages or pension payments; non-wage earnings including pension up to $200 per month for head of familyIncome you’ve earned but not yet received becomes part of your bankruptcy estate Pension/retirementERISA-qualified retirement plans, stock bonus, pension, and profit-sharing plansExempt, with a cap of about $1.28 million on IRAs and Roth IRAs Homestead Washington, D.C. has the best homestead exemption in the country. It gives you an exemption for the full equity of real property used as your residence, including a cooperative. § 15–501 The federal list gives you a homestead exemption only up to $23,675 under 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1), (5). Example: You bought a $300,000 home and have $100,000 in equity in it. Under D.C. exemptions, you may keep your house. Under federal exemptions, the trustee can sell your house because you have more than $23,675 in equity in it. Personal Property D.C. bankruptcy exemptions include: Household furnishings, household goods, clothing, appliances, books, animals, or musical instruments not to exceed $425 per item or $8,625 in total. § 15–501 Up to $1,625 in professional books, or tools of your trade. § 15–501 Professionally prescribed health aids. § 15–501 Family pictures; all the family library not exceeding $400 in value. § 15–501 Provisions for three months, whether provided or growing. § 15–501 Burial plot. § 15–501 Higher education tuition savings account. § 47-4510 Examples of some of the federal exemptions under 11 U.S.C. § 522 are: Household goods up to $600 per item and an aggregate of $12,625. Jewelry up to $1,600. Tools of your trade including implements and books up to $2,375. Health aids. Vehicle Washington, D.C. allows an exemption not to exceed $2,575 in one motor vehicle. § 15–501. The federal exemption is more beneficial at $3,775. Insurance, Awards and Maintenance D.C. bankruptcy exemptions include: Unmatured life insurance contract. § 15–501 Fraternal benefit society benefits. § 31-5315 Disability benefits. § 15–501 Wrongful death payment. § 15–501 Award for pecuniary loss or pain and suffering. § 15–501 Payment under a stock bonus, pension, profit-sharing, annuity, or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, age, or length of service, to the extent reasonably necessary for support. § 15–501 Crime victim’s reparation. § 15–501 Alimony. § 15–501 Unemployment compensation. § 51-118 Social Security and veterans’ benefits., § 15–501 Workers’ compensation. § 32-1517 Unemployment compensation. § 51-118 Talk with your attorney about the differences between the federal and the D.C. exemptions, but as an example, some federal exemptions include: Up to $12,625 in loan value, accrued dividends, or interest in a life insurance policy. Up to $23,675 for a personal injury award. Federal exemptions include most of the others that have been listed above for D.C. Wages D.C. exemptions allow: Non-wage earnings including pension up to $200 per month for head of family, or $60 per month for up to two months if not head of family. § 15-503 Minimum of 75% of earned but unpaid wages or pension payments. Judge may allow more for low-income debtors. § 16-572 Under the federal exemption, wages you earn after filing are not part of your bankruptcy estate. Income you’ve earned but not yet received do become part of your bankruptcy estate. Unless wages fall under an exemption, they can be taken by the bankruptcy trustee to pay your debts. Retirement Plans Washington, D.C. exempts ERISA-qualified retirement plans, stock bonus, pension, and profit-sharing plans. The federal code generally allows you to exempt pensions and retirement money, but there is a cap of $1,283,025 on IRAs and Roth IRAs. Wildcard Washington, D.C. allows you to exempt property not to exceed $850 in value plus up to $8,075 of any unused amount for homestead exemption or burial plot. The federal exemption is $1,250 of any property and unused portion of homestead up to $11,850. 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 Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
Table of ContentsDistrict of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions: Can I keep my property? Washington, D.C. dates back to 1791, when it was founded to be our nation’s capital. The District of Columbia is the location of all three branches of our government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Here, Congress passes laws, the President develops policies, and the Supreme Court rules on cases that affect us all. The city is dotted with monuments and museums, and some of the popular sites to visit include the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian. Washington, D.C. is not only our nation’s capital, it is also a city of where 681,170 people live and work. The per capita personal income (PCPI) is $75,596, which is a whopping 153% of the national average of $49,571. This reflects a 2.8% increase from 2015, which is close to the national increase of 2.9%. D.C.’s current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016 was $126.8 billion. Its real GDP grew 2.4% compared to the national change of 1.5% from 2015 to 2016. It’s no surprise that government is Washington’s largest industry and is responsible for 33.8% of its GDP. The second-largest industry is professional and business services, which accounts for 24.7% of the GDP. For those who live in D.C., they’re used to paying higher prices for rent, transportation, and food. The cost of living in D.C. ranks third in the U.S. and North America, and eighth-highest in the entire world. When those costs start to build up and turn into debt, D.C. residents may be able to turn to bankruptcy to help with their financial situation. District of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions: Can I keep my property? You may choose whether you want to use the federal bankruptcy exemptions or the Washington, D.C. bankruptcy exemptions, but you cannot pick and choose between the two. You must choose one and commit to it, so it’s important that you and your Washington bankruptcy lawyer go through all your property to determine which exemption list is best for you. Should you decide to use D.C.’s bankruptcy exemptions, you may also use additional exemptions that are called the federal non-bankruptcy exemptions, which may be found in various sections of the federal bankruptcy code. These cover federal benefits. Below we highlight just some of the Washington, D.C. exemptions. Talk with your attorney about the complete list and whether or not choosing District of Columbia exemptions or federal bankruptcy exemptions is best for your specific circumstances. District of Columbia vs. Federal Exemptions The top 5 exemptions under D.C. law compared to federal law. Type of exemptionDistrict of Columbia lawFederal law HomesteadExempt, full equity$27,900 Personal property$8,625 total in household furnishings and goods, clothing, appliances, books, and more, not to exceed $425 per item$12,625 aggregate value on household goods, plus federal wildcard exemption applicable ($1,250 plus $11,850 of any unused portion of your homestead exemption) Vehicle$2,575$3,775 Wages75% of earned but unpaid wages or pension payments; non-wage earnings including pension up to $200 per month for head of familyIncome you’ve earned but not yet received becomes part of your bankruptcy estate Pension/retirementERISA-qualified retirement plans, stock bonus, pension, and profit-sharing plansExempt, with a cap of about $1.28 million on IRAs and Roth IRAs Homestead Washington, D.C. has the best homestead exemption in the country. It gives you an exemption for the full equity of real property used as your residence, including a cooperative. § 15–501 The federal list gives you a homestead exemption only up to $23,675 under 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1), (5). Example: You bought a $300,000 home and have $100,000 in equity in it. Under D.C. exemptions, you may keep your house. Under federal exemptions, the trustee can sell your house because you have more than $23,675 in equity in it. Personal Property D.C. bankruptcy exemptions include: Household furnishings, household goods, clothing, appliances, books, animals, or musical instruments not to exceed $425 per item or $8,625 in total. § 15–501 Up to $1,625 in professional books, or tools of your trade. § 15–501 Professionally prescribed health aids. § 15–501 Family pictures; all the family library not exceeding $400 in value. § 15–501 Provisions for three months, whether provided or growing. § 15–501 Burial plot. § 15–501 Higher education tuition savings account. § 47-4510 Examples of some of the federal exemptions under 11 U.S.C. § 522 are: Household goods up to $600 per item and an aggregate of $12,625. Jewelry up to $1,600. Tools of your trade including implements and books up to $2,375. Health aids. Vehicle Washington, D.C. allows an exemption not to exceed $2,575 in one motor vehicle. § 15–501. The federal exemption is more beneficial at $3,775. Insurance, Awards and Maintenance D.C. bankruptcy exemptions include: Unmatured life insurance contract. § 15–501 Fraternal benefit society benefits. § 31-5315 Disability benefits. § 15–501 Wrongful death payment. § 15–501 Award for pecuniary loss or pain and suffering. § 15–501 Payment under a stock bonus, pension, profit-sharing, annuity, or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, age, or length of service, to the extent reasonably necessary for support. § 15–501 Crime victim’s reparation. § 15–501 Alimony. § 15–501 Unemployment compensation. § 51-118 Social Security and veterans’ benefits., § 15–501 Workers’ compensation. § 32-1517 Unemployment compensation. § 51-118 Talk with your attorney about the differences between the federal and the D.C. exemptions, but as an example, some federal exemptions include: Up to $12,625 in loan value, accrued dividends, or interest in a life insurance policy. Up to $23,675 for a personal injury award. Federal exemptions include most of the others that have been listed above for D.C. Wages D.C. exemptions allow: Non-wage earnings including pension up to $200 per month for head of family, or $60 per month for up to two months if not head of family. § 15-503 Minimum of 75% of earned but unpaid wages or pension payments. Judge may allow more for low-income debtors. § 16-572 Under the federal exemption, wages you earn after filing are not part of your bankruptcy estate. Income you’ve earned but not yet received do become part of your bankruptcy estate. Unless wages fall under an exemption, they can be taken by the bankruptcy trustee to pay your debts. Retirement Plans Washington, D.C. exempts ERISA-qualified retirement plans, stock bonus, pension, and profit-sharing plans. The federal code generally allows you to exempt pensions and retirement money, but there is a cap of $1,283,025 on IRAs and Roth IRAs. Wildcard Washington, D.C. allows you to exempt property not to exceed $850 in value plus up to $8,075 of any unused amount for homestead exemption or burial plot. The federal exemption is $1,250 of any property and unused portion of homestead up to $11,850.