New Jersey Bankruptcy Exemptions

This list of exemptions updated December 2009. All law references are to New Jersey Statutes Annotated unless otherwise noted. Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions are allowed in New Jersey.

Personal Property

2A:17-19 - Clothing; goods, personal property, and stock or interest in corporations up to $1,000 total.

2A:26-4 - Household good and furniture up to $1,000.

45:27-21 - Burial plots.

Wages

2A:17-56 - 90% of earned but unpaid wages if your annual income is less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level. If income is higher, 75%.

38A:4-8 Military personnel wages and allowances.

Pensions

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

A:9-57.6 - Civil defense workers.

18A:66-51 - Teachers.

18A:66-116 - School district employees.

25:2-1 - Trust containing personal property if it was created pursuant to federal tax law.

43:6A-41 - Judges.

43:7-13 - Prison employees.

43:8A-20 - Alcohol beverage control officers.

43:10-57 & 43:10-105 - County employees.

43:13-9 - City workers' ERISA-qualified benefits.

43:13-44 - Municipal employees.

43:15A-53 - Public employees.

43:16-7 & 43:16A-17 - Police officers, firefighters, and traffic officers.

43:18-12 - City boards of health employees.

43:19-17 - Street and water department employees.

53:5A-45 - State police.

Public Benefits

34:15-29 - Workers' compensation.

43:21-53 - Unemployment compensation.

44:7-35 - Old-age, permanent disability assistance.

Insurance

A:9-57.6 - Civil defense workers' disability, death, medical or hospital benefits.

17:18-12 & 17B:24-8 - Health and disability benefits.

17B:24-6b - Life insurance proceeds, dividends, interest, loan, cash, or surrender value, if not the insured.

17B:24-7 - Annuity contract proceeds up to $500 per month.

17B:24-9 - Group life or health policy or proceeds.

17B:24-10 - Life insurance proceeds if policy prohibits use to pay creditors.

38A:4-8 - Military member disability or death benefits.

Other - Add any applicable Federal Nonbankruptcy Exemptions

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