Missouri
Bankruptcy in Missouri (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 16, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 16, 2026. · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Filing bankruptcy in Missouri means following one set of property rules: Missouri has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions, so filers must use Missouri's own exemption statutes in Chapter 513 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Bankruptcy itself is federal, but the exemptions that decide what you keep, and the means-test income that decides which chapter you can use, are state-specific. Missouri's homestead exemption is a fixed dollar amount rather than an inflation-adjusted or unlimited one. The figures below are the amounts in force now, and a 2026 amendment raises several of them on January 1, 2027, which is flagged where it applies.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. It is part of our Bankruptcy by State series.
Does Missouri use state or federal bankruptcy exemptions?
Missouri has opted out of the federal exemption system. Under RSMo 513.427, a person filing under Title 11 may exempt only property that is exempt under Missouri law or under federal law other than 11 U.S.C. 522(d), and no filer may claim the property listed in 522(d). In plain terms, a debtor domiciled in Missouri must use the state exemptions found in Chapter 513 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The menu of federal bankruptcy exemptions is not available here. About two-thirds of states have opted out in this way.
Even though the federal exemption schedule is off the table, a Missouri filer may still claim the federal nonbankruptcy exemptions preserved by 11 U.S.C. 522(b)(3). Those include things like Social Security benefits, certain veterans' and federal-employee benefits, and tax-exempt retirement accounts. Married couples filing jointly can generally each claim a full set of the Missouri exemptions, which often doubles the protected amounts.
Missouri homestead exemption
Missouri's homestead exemption is the headline protection for homeowners. Under RSMo 513.475, a person may exempt a homestead, consisting of a dwelling house and the land used with it, up to a value of $15,000. A mobile home used as a principal residence but not attached to real property the debtor owns is separately exempt up to $5,000 under a different statute, RSMo 513.430(6). The homestead exemption is measured against equity, so it protects up to $15,000 after subtracting mortgages and other liens.
The statute limits the homestead to one exemption per dwelling. If more than one owner of the same homestead claims the exemption, their combined claims cannot exceed the single $15,000 total for that homestead. The amount is fixed in the statute and does not adjust automatically, but the Legislature has amended it: 2026 H.B. 1870, merged with S.B. 835 and 1111, raises the homestead exemption to $40,000 and the mobile-home exemption to $12,000 effective January 1, 2027. If your equity falls between $15,000 and $40,000, ask a Missouri lawyer for a free bankruptcy evaluation on filing before or after January 1, 2027 (attorney advertising).
Homestead protection covers equity, not the full value of the home. A Missouri homeowner with equity above $15,000 can have non-exempt equity that a Chapter 7 trustee may reach, which is one reason homeowners with equity above the exemption often look at Chapter 13 instead.
Vehicle, wildcard, and personal-property exemptions
Missouri's personal-property exemptions are set mainly in RSMo 513.430. A debtor may exempt:
- One or more motor vehicles, up to $3,000 in aggregate value.
- Household furnishings, goods, appliances, books, animals, crops, and wearing apparel, up to $3,000 in aggregate value.
- A wedding ring up to $1,500 and other jewelry up to $500 in the aggregate.
- Implements, professional books, or tools of the trade, up to $3,000.
- Health aids and certain other categories.
RSMo 513.430 allows $600 of "any other property of any kind" as a general wildcard. On top of that, RSMo 513.440 gives the head of a family an additional exemption of $1,250 in any property, plus $350 for each unmarried dependent child, while a person who is not the head of a family receives a smaller base. These add-ons help fill gaps but are smaller than the broad wildcards available in some states.
The same 2026 amendment that raises the homestead exemption also increases these personal-property figures for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027: motor vehicles to $5,000, plus up to $10,000 of any unused household-goods allowance that can be applied to a vehicle; household goods to $15,000; other jewelry to $1,700; and the wildcard to $1,700.
Missouri also protects wages. Under RSMo 525.030, a head of family keeps at least 90 percent of weekly earnings and other workers keep at least 75 percent, mirroring and in part exceeding the federal floor. Tax-qualified retirement accounts are protected under separate Missouri exemptions and federal law.
The Chapter 7 means test in Missouri
The means test screens Chapter 7 filings for a presumption of abuse. The first step compares your household's current monthly income, annualized, to the median family income for a Missouri household of the same size. If your income is at or below the Missouri median, there is no presumption of abuse and you do not need to complete Form 122A-2, but that alone does not make you eligible for Chapter 7. If it is above the median, you complete the longer calculation that subtracts allowed expenses to see whether you have disposable income that should fund a Chapter 13 plan instead.
The U.S. Trustee Program publishes the median figures and updates them periodically. For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026, the Missouri median family income is:
| Household size | Missouri median annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $64,972 |
| 2 | $82,075 |
| 3 | $100,228 |
| 4 | $118,530 |
Add $11,100 for each additional person beyond four. These figures apply only to cases filed on or after April 1, 2026. The U.S. Trustee Program revises the median income data roughly twice a year, so confirm the current numbers for your filing date.
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 in Missouri
Chapter 7 is a liquidation. A trustee can sell non-exempt property to pay creditors, but many Chapter 7 cases are "no-asset" cases where nothing is sold. Most remaining unsecured debt, such as credit cards and medical bills, is discharged in a few months. Because Missouri's homestead exemption is capped at $15,000, homeowners with equity above that amount need to look carefully at whether it is fully protected.
Chapter 13 is a reorganization for filers with regular income. You keep your property and repay some or all of what you owe through a three-to-five-year plan. Chapter 13 is often chosen by Missouri homeowners who are behind on a mortgage or who have home equity above the $15,000 homestead exemption, because the plan can spread out missed payments and stop a foreclosure while you catch up.
In both chapters, filing triggers the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. 362. The stay immediately halts most collection activity, including foreclosure sales, wage garnishment, repossession, and collection calls, while the case proceeds.
Where you file bankruptcy in Missouri
Missouri is divided into two federal bankruptcy districts. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri is based in St. Louis, with divisional sites in Cape Girardeau and Hannibal, and covers the eastern counties. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri sits in Kansas City and serves the western and central counties, with proceedings also held in Springfield, Joplin, and Jefferson City. Which court you file in depends on the county where you live. Before filing, federal law requires you to complete an approved credit-counseling course, and you must complete a debtor-education course before your debts are discharged.
What bankruptcy can and cannot do
Bankruptcy discharges most unsecured debts, but several categories generally survive: most student loans (absent a separate showing of undue hardship), recent income taxes, child support and alimony, and debts from fraud or willful injury. Secured debts like a car loan or mortgage continue if you want to keep the collateral and keep paying.
Because Missouri's homestead is low and the choice between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 depends on your full financial picture, many people consult a licensed Missouri bankruptcy attorney before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Missouri use state or federal bankruptcy exemptions?
Missouri uses state exemptions. It has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions under RSMo 513.427, so filers domiciled in Missouri must use the state exemptions in Chapter 513 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, along with the federal nonbankruptcy exemptions such as Social Security and tax-qualified retirement accounts.
What is the homestead exemption in Missouri?
Missouri's homestead exemption protects up to $15,000 of equity in a primary residence under RSMo 513.475. A mobile home used as a principal residence but not attached to real property the debtor owns is separately exempt up to $5,000 under RSMo 513.430(6). A 2026 amendment raises these figures to $40,000 and $12,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027.
What is the Missouri median income for the means test?
For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026, the Missouri median family income is $64,972 for 1 person, $82,075 for 2, $100,228 for 3, and $118,530 for 4, adding $11,100 for each additional person. The U.S. Trustee Program updates these figures periodically.
Will I lose my house or car if I file bankruptcy in Missouri?
Not necessarily. Missouri protects up to $15,000 of home equity under RSMo 513.475 and $3,000 of vehicle equity under RSMo 513.430. Filers who stay current on the related loans usually keep the property, but home equity above $15,000 can be at risk in Chapter 7, which leads many homeowners to consider Chapter 13. Both exemptions increase for cases filed on or after January 1, 2027.
How much equity can I protect in my car in Missouri?
Missouri exempts up to $3,000 of equity in one or more motor vehicles under RSMo 513.430. A head of family can stack the $1,250 RSMo 513.440 allowance and the $600 wildcard on top to cover additional vehicle equity. For cases filed on or after January 1, 2027, the vehicle exemption rises to $5,000, plus up to $10,000 of any unused household-goods allowance.
Where do I file for bankruptcy in Missouri?
Missouri has two federal bankruptcy districts. The Eastern District is based in St. Louis (with sites in Cape Girardeau and Hannibal), and the Western District sits in Kansas City and serves the western and central counties. The court you use depends on your county. You must complete approved credit counseling before filing.
What debts cannot be discharged in a Missouri bankruptcy?
Most student loans (absent a showing of undue hardship), recent income taxes, child support, alimony, and debts arising from fraud generally are not discharged. Most credit-card and medical debt usually is.
Does filing bankruptcy stop a foreclosure in Missouri?
Filing triggers the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. 362, which immediately halts most collection activity, including foreclosure and wage garnishment. Chapter 13 can also let a homeowner cure missed mortgage payments over time.
Updates
Clarified that income at or below the state median means the presumption of abuse does not arise under the Chapter 7 means test, not that a filer qualifies for Chapter 7.
Corrected the Missouri exemption amounts, which had been taken from a 2026 amendment that does not take effect until January 1, 2027: the homestead exemption is $15,000 (not $40,000), the motor-vehicle exemption $3,000, household goods $3,000, the mobile-home exemption $5,000 and the wildcard $600, with the January 2027 increases now flagged separately.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected six understated Missouri bankruptcy exemption figures throughout the page (homestead $15,000 to $40,000, mobile home $5,000 to $12,000 under the correct statute, motor vehicle $3,000 to $5,000, household goods $3,000 to $15,000, and wildcard $600 to $1,700) so readers see the actual RSMo 513.475/513.430 amounts, not figures that understated protected property by up to 5x.
Corrected the Missouri jewelry exemption from $500 to $1,700 in the aggregate, matching RSMo 513.430(1)(2)'s actual cap for jewelry other than a wedding ring.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XXXV (CIVIL PROCEDURE AND LIMITATIONS), Chapter 513
§ 513.427Bankruptcy, exemptions allowed.In force
Every person by or against whom an order is sought for relief under Title 11, United States Code, shall be permitted to exempt from property of the estate any property that is exempt from attachment and execution under the law of the state of Missouri or under federal law, other than Title 11, United States Code, Section 522(d), and no such person is authorized to claim as exempt the property that is specified under Title 11, United States Code, Section 522(d).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-06 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 73 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Asmus v. Capital Region Family Practice (Missouri Court of Appeals 2003, 115 S.W.3d 427)“…d any exemptions allowed under state law. Id.; § 513.427, RSMo 2000. Section 513.427 allows an exempti…”
- In Re Gaines (United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Missouri 1989, 106 B.R. 1008)“…73 B.R. 93 (Bankr.E.D.Mo.1987) and the provisions of Mo.Rev.Stat. § 513.427, debtors were entitled to exempt their…”
- Gaines v. Nelson (In Re Gaines) (District Court, W.D. Missouri 1990, 121 B.R. 1015)“…and Trust as an asset that was entitled to exemption under Mo. Rev.Stat. § 513.427, § 513.430(10)(e), and 29 U.S.C. § 105…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 513.475Homestead defined — exempt from execution — spouses debarred from selling, when.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
1. The homestead of every person, consisting of a dwelling house and appurtenances, and the land used in connection therewith, not exceeding the aggregate value of forty thousand dollars, which is or shall be used by such person as a homestead, shall, together with the rents, issues and products thereof, be exempt from attachment and execution. The exemption allowed under this section shall not be allowed for more than one owner of any homestead if one owner claims the entire amount allowed under this subsection; but, if more than one owner of any homestead claims an exemption under this section, the exemption allowed to each of such owners shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the total exemption allowed under this subsection as to any one homestead.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 55 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Haney (Supreme Court of Missouri 1955, 277 S.W.2d 632)“…is conferred on every “housekeeper” or “head of a family". Section 513.475 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S. The words “housekeeper”…”
- South Side National Bank in St. Louis v. Winfield Financial Services Corp. (Missouri Court of Appeals 1989, 783 S.W.2d 140)“…set-off based upon his homestead interest. See Section 513.475, RSMo (1986). We therefore find that t…”
- Springfield General Osteopathic Hospital v. West (Missouri Court of Appeals 1990, 789 S.W.2d 197)“…n that such interest was exempt from execution by reason of § 513.475, RSMo 1986, the “homestead” exemption. *20…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Missouri Homestead Exemption: Property Tax Credit and Senior Freeze
§ 513.430Property exempt from attachment — construction of section.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
1. The following property shall be exempt from attachment and execution to the extent of any person's interest therein: (1) Household furnishings, household goods, wearing apparel, appliances, books, animals, crops or musical instruments that are held primarily for personal, family or household use of such person or a dependent of such person, not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars in value in the aggregate; (2) A wedding ring not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars in value and other jewelry held primarily for the personal, family or household use of such person or a dependent of such person, not to exceed one thousand seven hundred dollars in value in the aggregate; (3) Any other property of any kind, not to exceed in value one thousand seven hundred dollars in the aggregate; (4) Any implements or professional books or tools of the trade of such person or the trade of a dependent of such person not to exceed three thousand dollars in value in the aggregate; (5) Any motor vehicles, not to exceed five thousand dollars in value in the aggregate plus up to ten thousand dollars of any unused amount of the exemption provided under subdivision (1) of this subsection…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 84 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Bullard v. Bullard (Missouri Court of Appeals 1998, 969 S.W.2d 880)“…ife is entitled to the exemptions under Sections 513.440 and 513.430 RSMo 1994. However, Husband claims the trial…”
- Lynn v. Lynn (Missouri Court of Appeals 1995, 890 S.W.2d 694)“…(3)” was attributable to the exemptions from execution in § 513.430, RSMo Cum.Supp.1992, and § 513.475, RSMo 1986…”
- Collins, Webster & Rouse v. Coleman (Missouri Court of Appeals 1989, 776 S.W.2d 930)“…om Social Security checks and claiming his exemptions under RSMo 513.430(10)(a). 8. After hearing evidence and…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Missouri Debt Collection Laws: Wage Garnishment, Statute of Limitations, and Repossession
§ 513.440Other property exempt — provisions — exceptions.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
Each head of a family may select and hold, exempt from execution, any other property, real, personal or mixed, or debts and wages, not exceeding in value the amount of one thousand two hundred fifty dollars plus three hundred fifty dollars for each of such person's unmarried dependent children under the age of twenty-one years or dependent as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, determined to be disabled by the Social Security Administration, except ten percent of any debt, income, salary or wages due such head of a family.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 19 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Bullard v. Bullard (Missouri Court of Appeals 1998, 969 S.W.2d 880)“…child support, but for his share of marital property. Under Section 513.440 RSMo 1994, Wife, as the head of the househol…”
- Velma L. Mitchell, Tanisha L. Winston and Kayla Sanders v. J&M Securities, LLC and Shannon Metzger, Respondents/Cross-Appellants. (Missouri Court of Appeals 2019)“…vied. Certain funds may be exempt under sections 513.430 and 513.440, RSMo, or under Title 31 C.F.R. Part 212. You…”
- In Re Townsend (United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Missouri 2006, 344 B.R. 915)“…en, may claim the “head of household” exemption provided in Mo.Rev.Stat. § 513.440. The statute provides that a person mus…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
United States Code Title 11
§ 522ExemptionsIn forcecited in 54 of our articles
In this section— “dependent” includes spouse, whether or not actually dependent; and “value” means fair market value as of the date of the filing of the petition or, with respect to property that becomes property of the estate after such date, as of the date such property becomes property of the estate. Notwithstanding section 541 of this title, an individual debtor may exempt from property of the estate the property listed in either paragraph (2) or, in the alternative, paragraph (3) of this subsection. In joint cases filed under section 302 of this title and individual cases filed under section 301 or 303 of this title by or against debtors who are husband and wife, and whose estates are ordered to be jointly administered under Rule 1015(b) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, one debtor may not elect to exempt property listed in paragraph (2) and the other debtor elect to exempt property listed in paragraph (3) of this subsection. If the parties cannot agree on the alternative to be elected, they shall be deemed to elect paragraph (2), where such election is permitted under the law of the jurisdiction where the case is filed.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-16 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 7,574 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Taylor v. Freeland & Kronz (1992) held that a trustee who does not object within the 30-day period cannot later challenge an exemption claimed under 522(l), even one with no statutory basis. Owen v. Owen (1991) held that 522(f) lien avoidance is not defeated by a state exemption written to exclude lien-encumbered property.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Taylor v. Freeland & Kronz (Supreme Court of the United States 1992, 503 U.S. 638)✓A Chapter 7 debtor listed the entire proceeds of her TWA discrimination suit as exempt and the trustee let the 30-day objection window lapse; the Court held that under § 522(l) the property is exempt once no one objects, even absent a colorable statutory basis.
- Patterson v. Shumate (Supreme Court of the United States 1992, 504 U.S. 753)✓A debtor's $250,000 ERISA pension interest was excluded from his estate under § 541(c)(2); answering a surplusage argument, the Court read § 522(d)(10)(E) as exempting a broader set of plans, and expressly declined to decide whether § 522(b)(2)(A) also applied.
- Owen v. Owen (Supreme Court of the United States 1991, 500 U.S. 305)✓An ex-wife's judgment lien attached to a Florida condo before state law made it a homestead; the Court held § 522(f) measures impairment against the exemption the debtor would have had but for the lien, so Florida's carve-out for prior liens did not defeat avoidance.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Bankruptcy Laws by State (2026): Exemptions & Means Test, Bankruptcy in Alabama (2026): Exemptions & Means Test, Bankruptcy in Alaska (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
§ 362Automatic stayIn forcecited in 54 of our articles
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a petition filed under section 301, 302, or 303 of this title, or an application filed under section 5(a)(3) of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, operates as a stay, applicable to all entities, of— the commencement or continuation, including the issuance or employment of process, of a judicial, administrative, or other action or proceeding against the debtor that was or could have been commenced before the commencement of the case under this title, or to recover a claim against the debtor that arose before the commencement of the case under this title; the enforcement, against the debtor or against property of the estate, of a judgment obtained before the commencement of the case under this title; any act to obtain possession of property of the estate or of property from the estate or to exercise control over property of the estate; any act to create, perfect, or enforce any lien against property of the estate; any act to create, perfect, or enforce against property of the debtor any lien to the extent that such lien secures a claim that arose before the commencement of the case under this title; any act to…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-16 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 19,606 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):United Sav. Assn. of Tex. v. Timbers of Inwood Forest Associates, Ltd. (1988) held that an undersecured creditor gets no interest as adequate protection under 362(d)(1) for delay caused by the stay. NLRB v. Bildisco & Bildisco (1984) applied 362(a) in requiring claims be pursued through bankruptcy administration, not suit.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Clinton v. Jones (Supreme Court of the United States 1997, 520 U.S. 681)“…ublic interests. Brief for Petitioner 34-36. See, e. g., 11 U. S. C. § 362 (litigation against debtor stayed upon…”
- United Sav. Assn. of Tex. v. Timbers of Inwood Forest Associates, Ltd. (Supreme Court of the United States 1988, 484 U.S. 365)✓An undersecured lender on a Houston apartment project sought monthly payments as the price of continuing the § 362(a) automatic stay; the Court held that 'adequate protection' under § 362(d)(1) does not entitle it to interest for the delay in foreclosing on its collateral.
- Pennzoil Co. v. Texaco Inc. (Supreme Court of the United States 1987, 481 U.S. 1)“…if it were forced to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. 11 U. S. C. §362 . Texaco, or its successor in interest,…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Bankruptcy in Arizona (2026): Exemptions & Means Test, Bankruptcy in Arkansas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test, Bankruptcy in California (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XXXVI (STATUTORY ACTIONS AND TORTS), Chapter 525
§ 525.030Persons exempted from summons as garnishee, when — amount to be withheld from wages, how computed — earnings defined — penalty.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
1. No sheriff or other officer charged with the collection of money shall, prior to the return day of an execution or other process upon which the same may be made, be liable to be summoned as garnishee; nor shall any county collector, county treasurer or municipal corporation, or any officer thereof, or any administrator or executor of an estate, prior to an order of distribution, or for payment of legacies, or the allowance of a demand found to be due by his estate, be liable to be summoned as garnishee; nor shall any person be so charged by reason of his having drawn, accepted, made or endorsed any promissory note, bill of exchange, draft or other security, in its nature negotiable, unless it be shown at the hearing that such note, bill or other security was the property of the defendant when the garnishee was summoned, and continued so to be until it became due.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-02 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Cited in 30 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Electrical Workers, Local No. 1 Credit Union v. IBEW-NECA Holiday Trust Fund (1979) held holiday-fund payments are earnings under Section 525.030 and voided a spendthrift clause barring their garnishment; Ferneau v. Armour and Company (1957) held only Missouri residents may claim the statute's wage exemption.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Electrical Workers, Local No. 1 Credit Union v. IBEW-NECA Holiday Trust Fund (Supreme Court of Missouri 1979, 583 S.W.2d 154)✓A credit union garnished a union holiday-pay trust to collect a judgment against an electrician; the court held the trust payments were earnings within section 525.030 and that the trust's spendthrift clause could not shelter them from wage garnishment.
- Dyer v. Martin Loan & Finance Co. (Missouri Court of Appeals 1955, 281 S.W.2d 633)“…e Eldon Dyer, judgment debtor, the exemption provided under Section 525.030 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S. The plaintiff, appella…”
- Brown v. Brewington (Missouri Court of Appeals 1974, 513 S.W.2d 768)“…o defendant, as an “exemption” from garnishment pursuant to § 525.030 RSMo Supp. 1971. Plaintiff Brown then moved…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Sources and References
- RSMo 513.475, Missouri homestead exemption ($40,000 dwelling)(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 513.430, Missouri personal-property exemptions (motor vehicle $5,000, household goods $15,000, mobile home $12,000, wildcard $1,700)(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 513.440, additional head-of-family exemption ($1,250 plus $350 per unmarried dependent child)(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 513.427, Missouri opt-out of the federal 11 U.S.C. 522(d) exemptions(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- U.S. Trustee Program, Census Bureau Median Family Income by family size, cases filed on or after April 1, 2026(justice.gov).gov
- 11 U.S.C. 522, exemptions, including the state opt-out authority in 522(b) and federal nonbankruptcy exemptions in 522(b)(3)(law.cornell.edu)
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Hannibal)(moeb.uscourts.gov).gov
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri (Kansas City, Springfield, Joplin, Jefferson City)(mow.uscourts.gov).gov
- RSMo 513.475 as in force (effective 28 Aug 2003 through 1 Jan 2027), homestead exemption of $15,000(revisor.mo.gov)
- RSMo 513.430 as in force (effective 28 Aug 2022 through 1 Jan 2027), personal-property exemptions: motor vehicle $3,000, household goods $3,000, mobile home $5,000, wildcard $600, other jewelry $500(revisor.mo.gov)
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