Though not included in the District of Columbia statutory homestead exemption, a court has held that property owned by a married couple as a tenancy by the entirety is exempt if only one spouse owes the debt.
The references to District of Columbia statutes are to the District of Columbia Code.
Resources:
United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Columbia
Washington DC Bankruptcy Attorneys
| DC Bankruptcy Exemptions | ||
| Assets | Exemption | State Statute |
| Homestead | Residence of debtor or debtor’s dependents: all. | 15-501(a)(14) |
| Insurance | Life insurance contract (unmatured) other than credit life insurance: all. | 15-501(a)(5) |
| Disability benefits: all. | 15-501(a)(7); 31-4716.01 | |
| Life insurance payments: all. | 15-501(a)(11) | |
| Other insurance proceeds: up to $200 per month for a maximum of 2 months for the person providing the principal support for a family; up to $60 a month for 2 months for all others. | 15-503 | |
| Life insurance proceeds or avails: all. | 31-4716 | |
| Group life insurance policy/proceeds: all. | 31-4717 | |
| Life insurance proceeds: all if policy has a clause prohibiting the proceeds from being used to pay the creditors of the beneficiary. | 31-4719 | |
| Benefits from a fraternal benefit society: all. | 31-5315 | |
| Miscellaneous | Child support and alimony payments: all. | 15-501(a)(7) |
| Pensions | Federal pension exemptions. | |
| Judge pensions: all. | 11-1570(f) | |
| Stock bonuses, annuity payments, pensions payments, and profit-sharing plans: all. | 15-501(a)(7) | |
| IRA’s, Keoghs, and other ERISA-qualified benefits: up to maximum tax-deductible contribution. | 15-501(b)(9) | |
| Public school teacher pensions: all. | 38-2001.17; 38-2021.17 | |
| Personal Property | Motor vehicle: up to $2,575. | 15-501(a)(1) |
| Household furnishings, appliances, musical instruments, books, clothing, and pets: up to $425 for each item and $8,625 total. | 15-501(a)(2) | |
| Professionally prescribed health aids. | 15-501(a)(6) | |
| Family pictures: all. | 15-501(a)(8) | |
| Family library: up to $400. | 15-501(a)(8) | |
| Recovery for loss, including pain and suffering of the debtor or someone the debtor depends upon: all. | 15-501(a)(11) | |
| Recovery for wrongful death: all. | 15-501(a)(11); 16-2703 | |
| Food: enough to last 3 months. | 15-501(a)(12) | |
| Holdings in cooperative association: up to $50. | 29-928 | |
| Deposit for a residential condominium: all. | 42-1904.09 | |
| Burial and cemetery funds: all. | 43-111 | |
| Savings account for higher education: all. | 47-4510 | |
| Public Benefits | General assistance: all. | 4-215.01 |
| Blind, aged, or disabled aid: all. | 4-215.01 | |
| Crime victim's compensation benefits: all. | 4-507(e); 15-501(a)(11) | |
| Social Security benefits: all. | 15-501(a)(7) | |
| Veterans' benefits: all. | 15-501(a)(7) | |
| Workers' compensation benefits: all. | 32-1517 | |
| Unemployment compensation benefits: all. | 51-118 | |
| Tools of Your Trade | Seal and documents of notary public: all. | 1-1206 |
| Tools needed for trade or business: up to $1,625. | 15-501(a)(5) | |
| Furniture, tools, and library of artist or professional: up to $300. | 15-501(a)(13) | |
| Tools of mechanic: up to $200. | 15-503(b) | |
| Wages | Recovery for loss of future earnings: all. | 15-501(e)(11) |
| Earnings other than wages, such as pensions and retirement funds: up to $200 per month for head of family; up to $60 per month for 2 months for those not head of family. | 15-503 | |
| Wages earned but not yet paid: at least 75% of wages and pension payments. The bankruptcy judge may allow a larger percentage for low-income debtors. | 16-572 | |
| Wildcard | Any property: up to $850. | 15-501(a)(3) |
| Any property: up to $8,075 of unused homestead exemption. | 15-501(a)(3) | |