Missouri Bankruptcy Exemptions

This list of exemptions updated August 2007. All law references are to Annotated Missouri Statutes unless otherwise noted. Federal bankruptcy exemptions are not available in Missouri.

Homestead

513.430 & 513.475 - Real property up to $15,000, or mobile home up to $5,000. Tenancies by the entirety are exempt without limit as to debts of one spouse [In re Anderson, 12 B.R. 483 (WD. Mo. 1981)].

Personal Property

214.190 - Burial grounds up to $100 or 1 acre.

513.430 - Motor vehicle up to $3,000; clothing, household goods, appliances, furnishings, books, animals, musical instruments and crops up to $3,000 total; health aids; jewelry up to $500 (wedding ring up to $1,500); wrongful death recoveries for a person you depended upon.

513.430 & 513.440 - Any property up to $1,250 plus $350 per child for head of family; up to $600 for others.

Other - Personal injury causes of action. Refer to as: "In re Mitchell, 73 B.R. 93".

Wages

513.470 - Wages of a servant or common laborer up to $90.

525.030 - The greater of the following: 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage or 75% minimum of weekly earnings (90% for head of household). Judge may approve more for low income debtor.

Pensions

11 U.S.C. § 522 - Tax exempt retirement accounts; Traditional and Roth IRAs up to $1,095,000 per person.

70.695 - Public officers and employees.

71.207 - Employees of cities with more than 100,000 population.

86.190 & 86.365 & 86.1430 - Police department employees.

87.090 & 87.365 & 87.485 - Firefighters.

104.250 - Highway and transportation employees.

104.540 - State employees.

169.090 - Teachers.

513.430 - IRAs, Roth IRAs, ERISA-qualified benefits and other retirement needed for support.

Public Benefits

287.260 - Workers' compensation.

288.380 & 513.430 - Unemployment compensation.

513.430 - Social Security, veterans' benefits, and public assistance.

595.025 - Crime victims' compensation.

Tools of Trade

513.430 - Tools, books, and implements to $3,000.

Alimony and Child Support

513.430 - Alimony arid child support up to $750 per month.

Insurance

376.530 & 376.560 - Life insurance proceeds if policy owned by woman insuring her husband.

376.550 - Life insurance proceeds if policy owned by an unmarried woman and beneficiary is her father or brother.

377.090 - Assessment plan or life insurance proceeds.

377.330 - Stipulated insurance premiums.

513.430 - Disability, or illness benefits needed for support; unmatured life insurance policy; fraternal benefit society benefits up to $5,000 that were purchased more than 6 months before filing; life insurance interest, loan value or dividends that were purchased more than 6 months before filing for bankruptcy.

Miscellaneous

358.250 - Business partnership property.

Other - Add any applicable Federal Nonbankruptcy Exemptions

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