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| Attention: All 94-bankruptcy
districts charge the same filing fees. Chapter 7: $306 Chapter 13: $281 |
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EXEMPTION LISTRemember, you may use Federal Exemptions; however, you cannot mix and match exemptions from the federal bankruptcy code and District Of Columbia law. You must choose one system or the other! How to use this table of exemptions, by Attorney Thomas A. Prediletto. The following is a summary of the District of Columbia exemptions that can be claimed (used) to exempt both your real and personal property in a bankruptcy petition. District of Columbia residents may use either the District of Columbia exemptions or the Federal exemptions; however, if your residence has not been continuously in the District of Columbia for the two years prior to filing a bankruptcy petition, there are laws as whether you are able use the state versus federal exemptions. Exempt property of a debtor is property of the debtor that is not available to be used (sold) to pay his/her unsecured creditors and is not subject to the claims of unsecured creditors, but may be subject to the rights of secured creditors and lien holders. When reviewing the list for exemptions for your own property you should be aware that there may not be a “matching” exemption. Some state exemptions contain a “wildcard” which can be used if a matching exemption cannot be found in the list of exemptions. Also, an individual must own an interest in the property to claim the property as exempt. The debtor may exempt the equity (value of property less the total amount owed against it) however; any equity value in the property above the exemption amount may be subject to the claims of unsecured creditors. By way of example, if you own a home worth $250,000 and owe a total of $200,000 against it (combining all mortgage/home equity lines of credit and/or liens against the property) the amount of equity you would need to protect is $50,000. So long as the homestead exemption is more than $50,000 the full amount of the equity is exempt and not subject to the claims of your unsecured creditors. In the alternative, say the home is worth $250,000 and you only owe $100,000 against it, anything over the exemption amount is subject to the claims of the unsecured creditors. The same type example would apply to a motor vehicle, though the exemption for a motor vehicle is less than the amount of the exemption for a home. Please note that all of the exemptions may be doubled if a married couple is filing, with the exception of the homestead exemption. |
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| Description | LAW |
Max Individual Amount |
Max Joint Amount |
| Alimony, Support | § 15-501(a)(7) | UNLIMITED | |
| Alternate Payee’s Interest In Qualified Retirement Plan | DCC §15-501(a)(10) | UNLIMITED | |
| Any Property | DCC §15-501(a)(3) | UNLIMITED | |
| Benefits | DCC §15-501(a)(7) | UNLIMITED | |
| Condominium Escrow Deposits | DCCE § 42-1904.09 | UNLIMITED | |
| Crime Victim Reparation Award, Wrongful Death | § 15-501(a)(11) | UNLIMITED | |
| Crime Victim’s Compensation | DCC §4-507 | UNLIMITED | |
| Crime Victim’s Compensation Award | DCC §15-501(a)(11), DCC §4-507 | UNLIMITED | |
| Disability Benefits Provided By Life Insurance Companies | DCC. §31-4716.01 | UNLIMITED | |
| Disability Insurance Benefits | DCCE Ann. § 31-4716.01 | UNLIMITED | |
| Disposable Wages | DCCE § 16-572 | UNLIMITED | |
| Escrow Deposits Relating To Residential Condominium | DCC §42-1904.09 | UNLIMITED | |
| Family Pictures, Family Library (head of family) | DCC § 15-501(a)(8) | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Fraternal Benefit Society Benefits | DCCE § 31-5313 | UNLIMITED | |
| Fraternal Benefit Society Benefits | DCCE § 31-5313 | UNLIMITED | |
| Group Life Insurance | DCC §31-4717 | UNLIMITED | |
| Health Aids | § 15-501(a)(6) | UNLIMITED | |
| Homestead or burial plot | § 15-501(a)(14) | UNLIMITED | |
| Household Furnishings | DCC §15-501(a)(2) | UNLIMITED | |
| Household Furniture, Wearing Apparel (head of family) | DCCE § 15-501(a)(2) | $8,625.00 | $8,625.00 |
| Interest In Qualified Retirement Plan | DCC §15-501(a)(9) | UNLIMITED | |
| Interest In Real Property Used As Residence, Etc. | DCC §15-501(a)(14) | UNLIMITED | |
| Judicial Retirement And Survivor’s Annuity Fund | DCC § 11-1570 | UNLIMITED | |
| Library, Office Furniture, Implements Of Professional | DCC §15-501(a)(13) | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Life Insurance Benefits - Group | DCCE § 31-4717 | UNLIMITED | |
| Life Insurance Proceeds | DCCE § 31-4716 | UNLIMITED | |
| Life Insurance Proceeds | DCCE § 31-4716 | UNLIMITED | |
| Mechanics Tools - Not Family Supporter | DCCE § 15-503(b) | $200.00 | $0.00 |
| Motor Vehicle (head of family) | DCC §15-501(a)(1) | $2,575.00 | $2,575.00 |
| Notary’s Official Seal And Documents | DCC §1-1206 | UNLIMITED | |
| Partner’s Partnership Interest (If Otherwise Exempt). | DCC §33-105.04 | UNLIMITED | |
| Payment - Wrongful Death | DCC §15-501(a)(11) | UNLIMITED | |
| Payment For Actual Pecuniary Loss of Debtor | DCC §15-501(a)(11) | UNLIMITED | |
| Payment For Loss Of Future Earnings Of Debtor | DCC §15-501(a)(11) | UNLIMITED | |
| Payment Under Life Insurance Contract | DCC §15-501(a)(11), DCC §31-4716) | UNLIMITED | |
| Prescribed Health Aids | DCC §15-501(a)(6) | UNLIMITED | |
| Property Of Cemetery Association | DCC §43-111 | UNLIMITED | |
| Provisions & Fuel For 3 Months | DCCE § 15-501(a)(12) | UNLIMITED | |
| Provisions For 3 Months’ Support | DCC §15-501(a)(12) | UNLIMITED | |
| Public Assistance | DCC § 4-215.01 | UNLIMITED | |
| Public Assistance Payments | DCCE § 4-215.01 | UNLIMITED | |
| Retirement Benefits - Judicial | DCCE § 11-1570 | UNLIMITED | |
| Retirement Benefits - Public Employees | 5 USC § 8346(a) | UNLIMITED | |
| Retirement Benefits - Teachers | DCCE § 38-2001.17, 38-2021.17 | UNLIMITED | |
| Retirement Contributions | DCCE § 15-501(a)(9) | UNLIMITED | |
| Seal Of Notary Public | DCCE § 1-1206 | UNLIMITED | |
| Shares, Certificate In Coop Assoc. | DCCE § 29-928 | $50.00 | $100.00 |
| Sinking Funds; Blanket Policies | DCC § 50-315 | UNLIMITED | |
| Social Security, Disability, Unemployment | § 15-501(a)(7) | UNLIMITED | |
| Teachers’ Retirement And Disability (After 6/30/1946) | DCC §38-2021.17 | UNLIMITED | |
| Teachers’ Retirement And Disability (Before 6/30/1946) | DCC §38-2001.17 | UNLIMITED | |
| Tools Of The Trade (head of household) | DCC §15-501(a)(4) | $1,625.00 | $1,625.00 |
| Tools Of Trade - Professional (head of household) | § 15-501(a)(13) | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Trust Fund For Prison Inmates’ Earnings | DCC §24-241.06 | UNLIMITED | |
| Two Months’ Non-Wage Earnings, Etc. (Non-principal) | DCC §15-503(a) | UNLIMITED | |
| Two Months’ Non-Wage Earnings, Etc. (Principal) | DCC §15-503(a) | UNLIMITED | |
| Two-months Earnings - Family Supporter(up to $200/month) | § 15-503(a) | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Two-months Earnings - Non-family Supporter | § 15-503(b) | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Unemployment Compensation | DCC §51-118 | UNLIMITED | |
| Unemployment Compensation Benefits | DCCE Ann. § 46-119(b) | UNLIMITED | |
| Uninsured Motorist Fund | DCC §31-2408.01 | UNLIMITED | |
| Unmatured Life Insurance Contract | DCC §15-501(a)(5) | UNLIMITED | |
| Up To $50 In Holdings Of Member Of Cooperative Association | DCC §29-928 | UNLIMITED | |
| Wages | DCC §16-5724 | UNLIMITED | |
| Wages Of Prisoner On Work Release | DCCE § 24-241.06 | UNLIMITED | |
| Wearing Apparel - Not Family Supporter | DCCE § 15-503(b) | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Workers’ Compensation Benefits | DCC §32-1517 | UNLIMITED | |
| Workmen's Compensation Benefits | DCCE § 32-1517 | UNLIMITED | |
| Wrongful Death Recoveries | DCCE § 16-2703 | UNLIMITED |
