Bankruptcy Laws
53 articles
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11 U.S.C. § 362 (Automatic Stay) Explained: What It Stops
Plain-English guide to 11 U.S.C. § 362, the bankruptcy automatic stay: what it stops, the exceptions, repeat-filer rules, and damages for violations.
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Bankruptcy in Alabama (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Alabama bankruptcy guide: the state opts out of federal exemptions, an $18,800 homestead (4/1/24), the means-test median income for 2026, and where to file.
Bankruptcy in Alaska (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Alaska lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead is $72,900, the vehicle exemption is $4,050, and see the 2026 means test income figures.
Bankruptcy in Arizona (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Arizona bankruptcy guide: the state opts out of federal exemptions, a $400,000 homestead, the 2026 means-test median income, and the District of Arizona court.
Bankruptcy in Arkansas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Arkansas lets filers choose federal or state exemptions. Its constitutional homestead is limited by acreage rather than value, and see the 2026 means test income.
Bankruptcy in California (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
California opted out of federal exemptions but offers two state systems, one with a large inflation-indexed homestead and one with a bigger wildcard, plus the means test.
Bankruptcy in Colorado (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Colorado opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects $250,000 in equity, or $350,000 if elderly or disabled, plus the vehicle exemption and means test.
Bankruptcy in Connecticut (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Connecticut bankruptcy: filers may choose state or federal exemptions, a $250,000 homestead (Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-352b), the means test, and where to file.
Bankruptcy in DC (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
DC bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, an unlimited homestead under D.C. Code 15-501(a)(14), the 522(p) cap, plus 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Delaware (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Delaware bankruptcy: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $200,000 homestead (10 Del. C. 4914), the means-test median income, and where to file.
Bankruptcy in Florida (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Florida bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the unlimited homestead with acreage limits and the 522(p) cap, plus current means-test figures.
Bankruptcy in Georgia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Georgia opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead is $50,000 through June 2026 and rises to $50,000 after, the vehicle exemption is $5,000, plus the means test.
Bankruptcy in Hawaii (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Hawaii lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $30,000 for heads of family or seniors, or $20,000 for others, plus the means test.
Bankruptcy in Idaho (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Idaho opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects up to $175,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $10,000, and see the 2026 means test income figures.
Bankruptcy in Illinois (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Illinois bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the new $50,000 homestead under 735 ILCS 5/12-901 (2026), vehicle and wildcard amounts, means test.
Bankruptcy in Indiana (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Indiana bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the $22,750 homestead under IC 34-55-10-2 (indexed every six years), and current means-test income figures.
Bankruptcy in Iowa (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Iowa bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, an unlimited homestead under Iowa Code 561 (acreage limits), the $7,000 vehicle exemption, and the means test.
Bankruptcy in Kansas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Kansas opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead has no dollar cap and is limited only by acreage, the vehicle exemption is $20,000, and see the means test income.
Bankruptcy in Kentucky (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Kentucky lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead is only $5,000 and the vehicle exemption is $2,500, so many filers pick the larger federal set.
Bankruptcy in Louisiana (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Louisiana opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects $35,000 in value, the vehicle exemption is $7,500, and see the 2026 means test income figures.
Bankruptcy in Maine (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Maine opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects up to $94,300 of equity, more for older or disabled filers, plus the 2026 means test income figures.
Bankruptcy in Maryland (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Maryland opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Learn the $31,575 homestead cap, the $6,000 wildcard used to protect a vehicle, and the 2026 means test income.
Bankruptcy in Massachusetts (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Massachusetts lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The declared homestead protects up to $1,000,000, the automatic homestead is $125,000, plus the means test.
Bankruptcy in Michigan (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Michigan bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, an inflation-adjusted homestead up to $51,150 under MCL 600.5451, plus 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Minnesota (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Minnesota bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, a high $540,000 homestead under Minn. Stat. 510.02, plus 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Mississippi (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Mississippi bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a fixed $75,000 homestead under Miss. Code 85-3-21, plus 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Missouri (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Missouri bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a fixed $15,000 homestead under RSMo 513.475, plus the April 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Montana (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Montana bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $425,827 (2026) indexed homestead under MCA 70-32-104, plus the April 2026 means test.
Bankruptcy in Nebraska (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Nebraska bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $120,000 homestead under Neb. Rev. Stat. 40-101, plus the April 2026 means test.
Bankruptcy in Nevada (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Nevada bankruptcy: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $605,000 homestead (NRS 115.010), a $15,000 vehicle, the 2026 means test, and where to file.
Bankruptcy in New Hampshire (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New Hampshire bankruptcy: choose state or federal exemptions, a homestead raised to $400,000 (RSA 480:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026), the 2026 means test, and filing.
Bankruptcy in New Jersey (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New Jersey bankruptcy: choose state or federal exemptions, no state homestead so filers use the federal $31,575 homestead, the 2026 means test, and filing.
Bankruptcy in New Mexico (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New Mexico bankruptcy guide: filers may choose federal or state exemptions, the homestead is $150,000, plus the April 2026 means-test median income.
Bankruptcy in New York (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New York bankruptcy guide: filers may choose federal or state exemptions, the homestead is tiered by county up to $204,825, plus the 2026 means test.
Bankruptcy in North Carolina (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
North Carolina bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, the homestead is $35,000, plus the April 2026 means-test median income.
Bankruptcy in North Dakota (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
North Dakota opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead protects up to $150,000 of equity, an alternative exemption covers a vehicle, and see the means test income.
Bankruptcy in Ohio (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Ohio opted out of federal exemptions. The inflation-indexed homestead protects up to $125,000, the vehicle exemption is $3,225, and see the 2026 means test income.
Bankruptcy in Oklahoma (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Oklahoma opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead has no dollar cap and is limited only by acreage, the vehicle exemption is $7,500, and see the means test income.
Bankruptcy in Oregon (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Oregon lets bankruptcy filers choose state or federal exemptions. Compare the $150,000 state homestead, the $10,000 vehicle exemption, and the 2026 means test income.
Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Pennsylvania bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions. PA has no state homestead, so home equity is protected by the federal $31,575 homestead.
Bankruptcy in Rhode Island (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Rhode Island lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $500,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $12,000, plus the means test.
Bankruptcy in South Carolina (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
South Carolina opted out of federal exemptions. The inflation-indexed homestead is about $80,125, the vehicle exemption is about $8,000, and see the means test income.
Bankruptcy in South Dakota (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
South Dakota opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead has no dollar cap and is limited only by acreage, and a personal-property allowance covers a vehicle.
Bankruptcy in Tennessee (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Tennessee opted out of federal exemptions. See the $35,000 homestead ($52,500 for joint owners), the $10,000 personal-property wildcard, and the means test.
Bankruptcy in Texas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Texas lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead is unlimited in value but limited by acreage, plus a large personal-property allowance and the means test.
Bankruptcy in Utah (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Utah opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead is inflation-indexed to about $53,700, the vehicle exemption is $3,000, and see the 2026 means test income.
Bankruptcy in Vermont (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Vermont lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $125,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $2,500, plus the means test.
Bankruptcy in Virginia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Virginia opted out of federal exemptions: a $50,000 homestead claimed by homestead deed under Va. Code 34-4, vehicle exemption, plus the 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Washington (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Washington filers choose state or federal exemptions: a homestead of the greater of $125,000 or the county median price (RCW 6.13.030), plus 2026 means test.
Bankruptcy in West Virginia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
West Virginia filers choose state or federal exemptions: a $35,000 homestead under W. Va. Code 38-10-4, vehicle and wildcard exemptions, plus 2026 means test.
Bankruptcy in Wisconsin (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Wisconsin bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, a $75,000 homestead under Wis. Stat. 815.20, vehicle limits, plus 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy in Wyoming (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Wyoming bankruptcy guide: opted out of federal exemptions, a $100,000 homestead per person under Wyo. Stat. 1-20-101, plus 2026 means-test income.
Bankruptcy Laws by State (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Learn how Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy work, then find your state's exemptions, opt-out status, and Chapter 7 means test income figures for all 50 states.