Arizona Bankruptcy Exemptions

The Arizona bankruptcy exemptions chart, see below, details the property you can exempt or protect from creditors when you file bankruptcy in Arizona. You may exempt any property that falls into one of the exemptions categories below, up to the dollar amount listed. You will be able to kept this exempted property after you file bankruptcy. Please note that there are certain debts which you will not be able to erase in bankruptcy. (see Non-dischargeable Debts)

An exemption limit applies to any equity you have in the property. Equity is the difference between the value of the property and what is owed on the property. For example, a car valued at $5000 with a loan of $4500 has an equity value of only $500.

If the property is secured by a loan, such as a car or home, and you are current on the payments and the equity is covered by your exemptions, you may elect to keep making payments on the loan and keep this property through the bankruptcy. If all the equity is not covered by your exemptions the trustee may elect to liquidate this asset and distribute the proceeds. Generally, in this case, you would be entitled to the value of your exemption in the asset as a cash payment.

Bankruptcy law allows married couples filing jointly to each claim a full set of exemptions, unless otherwise noted.

To keep non-exempt property, a debtor must generally pay the trustee the value of the non-exempt property.

When you file bankruptcy in Arizona you may also use certain federal exemptions in addition to your Arizona exemptions.

ASSET

EXEMPTION DESCRIPTION

LAW SECTION

HOMESTEAD

 

Real property; an apartment or mobile home you occupy to $150,000; sale proceeds exempt 18 months after sale or until new home purchased, whichever occurs first (husband and wife may not double)

 

33-1101

Must record homestead declaration before attempted sale of home

33-1102

PERSONAL PROPERTY

husband and wife may double all personal property exemptions

2 beds and living room chair per person; 1 dresser, table, lamp, bedding per bed; kitchen table; dining room table and 4 chairs (1 more per person); living room carpet or rug; couch; 3 lamps; 3 coffee or end tables; pictures, paintings, drawings created by debtor; family portraits; refrigerator; stove; TV, radio or stereo; alarm clock; washer; dryer; vacuum cleaner to $4,000 total

 33-1123

 

Bank deposit to $150 in one account

33-1126(A)(8)

 

Bible; bicycle; sewing machine; typewriter; burial plot; rifle, pistol or shotgun to $500 total

33-1125

 

Books to $250; clothing to $500; wedding and engagement rings to $1,000; watch to $100; pets, horses, milk cows and poultry to $500; musical instrument to $250; prostheses, including wheelchair

 

33-1125

 

Food and fuel to last 6 months

33-1124

 

Motor vehicle to $1,500 ($4,000, if disabled)

33-1125(8)

 

Prepaid rent or security deposit to $1,000 or 1-1/2 times your rent, whichever is less, in lieu of homestead

33-1126(D)

 

Proceeds for sold or damaged exempt property

33-1126 (A)(5), (7)

INSURANCE

Fraternal benefit society benefits

20-881

 

Group life insurance policy or proceeds

20-1132

 

Health, accident or disability benefits

33-1126(A)(3)

 

Life insurance cash value to $1,000 per dependent ($25,000 total) (husband and wife may double)

33-1126 \(A)(3)

 

Life insurance cash value to $2,000 per dependent ($10,000 total)

20-1131(D)

 

Life insurance proceeds to $20,000 if beneficiary is spouse or child (husband and wife may double)

33-1126(A)(1)

MISC.

Minor child's earnings, unless debt is for child

33-1126(A)(2)

 

Property of business partnership

29-225

PENSIONS

see also wages

Board of regents members

15-1628(I)

 

ERISA-qualified benefits deposited more than 120 days before filing bankruptcy

33-1126(B)

 

IRAs

In re Herrscher, 121 B.R. 29 (D. Ariz. 1990)

 

Firefighters

9-968

 

Police officers

9-931

 

Public safety personnel

38-850(C)

 

Rangers

41-955

 

State employees

38-762

PUBLIC BENEFITSUnemployment compensation23-783
 Welfare benefits46-208
 Workers' compensation23-1068
TOOLS OF TRADEArms, uniforms and accouterments you are required to keep33-1130(3)
 Farm machinery, utensils, seed, instrument of husbandry, feed, grain and animals to $2,500 total (husband and wife may double)33-1130(2)
 Teaching aids of teacher33-1127
 Tools, equipment, instruments and books (except vehicle driven to work) to $2,50033-1130(1)
WAGESMinimum 75% of earned but unpaid wages, pension payments; bankruptcy judge may authorize more for low-income debtors33-1131

For more information on filing bankruptcy in Arizona explore Arizona Bankruptcy Law.