Property Exemptions for Bankruptcy in Texas

 Posted on March 17, 2014 in Chapter 7

Losing your job or getting expensive medical bills can have devastating effects on your budget.  Without ample savings, it can be hard to make monthly payments, and eventually you may lose your car or even your home.

However, bankruptcy can stop foreclosure, repossession and wage garnishment through selling property or reorganizing existing debts if you are earning income. However, filing for bankruptcy does not mean losing all your worldly possessions. When filing your paperwork, you may choose to use either federal exemptions or the exemptions set out by the statutes of Texas.

Both the Federal and State exemptions allow the debtor to protect equity in their primary residence. This is called the Homestead Exemption and it does not provide any protection to rental or investment properties. Under the federal exemption, you can shield up to $22,975 of equity from a bankruptcy trustee. The homestead exemption in Texas is not limited by the amount of equity in the home, but the size and location of the property. It cannot exceed an acre if it is located in a populated city, village or town.  In rural areas, the exemption can be as large as 100 acres.

Personal property, other than real estate, also has exemptions that protect it during bankruptcy based on the kinds of property. For example, up to $3,450 can be exempted for a motor vehicle under Federal exceptions.

The exemptions in Texas allow for each driver in a household to use.  But the total allowance for all types of property in Texas is mere $30,000 and double for a family. In that case it is important to have a clear idea of how you can use the most of your exemptions to cover home furniture, food, clothing, and other important supplies.

There are other exemptions that should be reviewed while filing for bankruptcy, such as, wages, pensions, insurance.  Contact an experienced bankruptcy in San Antonio today who can help you determine the best step for your finances if bankruptcy is in your future.