Ohio’s bankruptcy exemption amounts change on April 1, 2019. The state has its own exemptions, but the amounts match the Federal Bankruptcy exemption amounts, which also change April 1, 2019.
You can find the major Ohio exemptions in Section 2329.66 of the Ohio Revised Code. They include a real estate exemption, motor vehicle exemption, exemptions for household property and professional tools, and many others. The old and new exemption amounts are as follows:
2019 Ohio Bankruptcy Exemption Amounts Adjusted for Inflation
Ohio Bankruptcy Exemption Law (2329.66) | Old | New |
---|---|---|
Homestead (A)(1) | $136,925 | $145,425 |
Motor Vehicle (A)(2) | $3,775 | $4,000 |
Cash (A)(3) | $475 | $500 |
Household Property (per item) | $600 | $625 |
Household Property (aggregate) | $12,625 | $13,400 |
Jewelry (A)(4)(b) | $1,600 | $1,700 |
Professional Books and Tools of Trade (A)(5) | $2,400 | $2,550 |
Personal Injury Awards (A)(12)(c) | $23,700 | $25,175 |
Wildcard (A)(18) | $1,250 | $1,325 |
Federal Nonbankruptcy Exemptions in Ohio
If you file for bankruptcy in Ohio, you must use the bankruptcy exemptions found in the state code as described above—but you may also use so-called federal “nonbankruptcy” exemptions in addition to Ohio’s bankruptcy exemptions. You can find nonbankruptcy exemptions in parts of the federal law outside of the bankruptcy code.
There are many federal nonbankruptcy exemptions, but these are the most common:
- Social Security benefits
- retirement benefits for civil, federal, and military service
- death and disability benefits for government employees, and
- survivors benefit for those in the military and some judicial employees
More Information
To find a complete list of Ohio bankruptcy exemptions for 2019 and other essential information to help you with your bankruptcy case, see Legal Consumer’s Ohio Bankruptcy learning center.