Updated May 24, 2016

Like all states, New York has its own set of exemptions that you may use when filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Exemptions determine what property (such as a home, car, instrument, retirement account, etc.) you may keep in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and how much you must pay to certain creditors in Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

In New York, you may use either the New York state exemptions (listed below), or the federal bankruptcy exemptions (you can find these in  Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions). You cannot mix and match from each list. If you choose to use the New York  state exemptions, you may also use any applicable amounts in the  federal nonbankruptcy exemptions.

Unless noted otherwise, if a couple is married and filing jointly in New York, each spouse may claim the full amount of each exemption. This is informally called “doubling.”

To learn more about bankruptcy exemptions, including how they work, which state exemption system you should use, and special rules for the homestead exemption, see  Bankruptcy Exemptions – What Can I Keep When I File for Bankruptcy?  

New York Bankruptcy Exemptions

Unless otherwise noted, all law references are to the  Consolidated Laws of New York, Civil Practice Law and Rules unless otherwise noted.  

Homestead

5206(a) - Real property, including mobile home, condominium, or co-op, up to $82,775, $137,950, or $165,550, depending on the county.

Personal Property

5205 - Clothing, furniture, refrigerator, TV, radio, sewing machine, security deposits with landlord or utility company, tableware, cooking utensils and crockery; stoves with fuel to last 120 days, health aids (including service animals with food), church pew or seat, wedding ring, bible, schoolbooks, pictures; books up to $550; domestic animals with food to last 120 days and up to $1,100; wedding ring, jewelry, art, watch to $1,100; spendthrift trust fund principal; 90% of trust fund income if not created by debtor; college tuition savings program trust fund; recovery for injury to exempt property up to 1 year after receiving. Exemptions cannot exceed a total of $11,025 including tools of trade and limited annuity.

5206 - Burial plot up to 1/4 acre without a structure on it.

Banking 407 - Savings and loan savings up to $600.

Debtor & Creditor 282 - Motor vehicle up to $4,425 ($11,025 if equipped for disabled person); lost future earnings recoveries needed for support; personal injury recoveries up to 1 year after receipt; wrongful death recoveries for a person you depended upon for support.

Debtor & Creditor 282(3)(iii) - Personal injury recoveries to $8,275.

Debttor & Creditor 283(2) - Cash (including savings bonds, tax refunds, bank & credit union deposits) to $5,525 or, if debtor does not use homestead exemption, whatever is left of the $11,025 personal property limit  

Wages

5205 - 90% of earned but unpaid wages received within 60 days of filing for bankruptcy; 90% of earnings from milk sales to milk dealers; 100% for a noncommissioned private, officer or musician in the U.S. or N.Y. state armed forces.  In re Wiltsie, 463 B.R. 223 (Bankr .N.D. N.Y. 2011)

Soc. Serv. Law 137-2 - Wages exempt from installment payments while on public assistance.

Pensions

11 U.S.C. § 522 -  Tax exempt retirement accounts (including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined benefit plans).  

11 U.S.C.   §  522(b)(3)(C)(n) - IRAS and Roth IRAs to $1,283, 025.

5205 & Debtor & Creditor 282 - ERISA-qualified plans, Keoghs and IRAs needed for support.

Educ.524 - Teachers.

Ins. 4607 - Public retirement benefits.

Ret. and Soc. Sec. 10 - State employees.

Unconsolidated 5711-o - Village police officers.

Vol. Amb. Wkr. Ben. 23 - Benefits of volunteer ambulance workers.

Vol. Fire. Ben. 23 - Benefits of volunteer firefighters.

Public Benefits

Debtor & Creditor 282 - Unemployment benefits; veterans' benefits; Social Security; aid to blind, aged, and disabled; crime victims' compensation; home relief, local public assistance; public assistance; worker's compensation.  Public benefits does not include earned income tax credit (In re Fasarakis, 423 B.R. 34 (E.D.N.Y 2010)) but might include rent controlled lease (In re Santiago-Monteverde, 2014 N.Y. Slip Op. 08051 (Ct. App. N.Y. 2014).

Tools of Trade

5205 - Professional furniture, books, instruments, farm machinery, team and food for 60 days, up to $3,300 total; arms, swords, uniforms, equipment, horse, emblem and medal of a military member.

Alimony and Child Support

C.P.L.R. 5205 - Alimony and child support.

Insurance

Debtor & Creditor 283 - Annuity contract benefits due to the debtor if he or she paid for the contract up to $5,000, if purchased within 6 months of filing for bankruptcy and not tax-deferred.

Estates Powers & Trusts 7-1.5 - Life insurance proceeds left at death if policy prohibits use to pay creditors.

Insurance 3212 - Disability or illness benefits up to $400 per month; life insurance proceeds, dividends, interest, loan, cash, or surrender value if beneficiary is not the debtor or if the debtor's spouse has taken out the policy.

Miscellaneous

Partnership 51 - Business partnership property.

Wildcard

Debtor & Creditor 283 - In lieu of homestead, $1,100 of personal property, bank accounts, or cash.  

Other

Add any applicable Federal Nonbankruptcy Exemptions.

Confirming Exemptions

This list includes the majority of bankruptcy exemptions available in New York. However, it may not include all exemptions, and states often create exceptions to specific exemptions. In addition, New York may have changed the amounts since this list was last updated. Consider checking with your local bankruptcy court or a local bankruptcy attorney.

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