Homestead Exemption: Simplified

What is a Homestead Exemption?

Homestead exemption helps keep your home safe from people you owe money to (creditors), like credit card companies or medical bills, especially if your facing bankruptcy. It protects the equity you have in your home (the homes value minus any mortgage owed) so creditors can’t use your home like other assets you might have to pay off debts. This only works for the home you live in full-time (your primary residence), not a vacation house or rental property. Every state has different rules about how much of your home’s value is protected and what you need to do to get this protection.

For example:

• In Florida and Texas, your whole home’s value might be safe, no matter how expensive it is, as long as it’s not too many acres.

  
  

This protection doesn’t stop a bank from taking your home if you don’t pay your mortgage, but it can stop other kinds of debts from forcing you to sell your home.

Homestead Exemption Is NOT About Property Taxes

Some people mix up homestead exemptions with property tax exemptions on homesteaded property. Those are different! Property tax exemptions lower your tax bill. We’re only looking how your states homestead exemptions protect your home equity from creditors or bankruptcy. Don’t get them confused!

How It Protects Your Home

Here’s how a homestead exemption helps:

1. Keeps Creditors Away: If you owe money (like credit card debt), creditors can’t force you to sell your home to pay them, if the exemption covers your home’s value. If it only covers part of it- then the exemption safeguards a portion of your equity.

2. Helps in Bankruptcy: If you go bankrupt, the exemption can stop the court from selling your home or it may protect a portion of your home equity if it is sold and used to pay debts.

3. Protects Your Family: In some states, if you pass away, your spouse can keep the home safe from creditors.

Do Your Homework!

• Call your local property appraiser’s office to ask about your state’s rules.

• Look up your state’s rules on exemptions. Or use the links below.

• Keep checking for new rules, because they can change every year.

Wrap-Up

A homestead exemption is like a shield for your home’s value against creditors and bankruptcy. Much to every planning professionals dismay, every state does it differently. Don’t assume you’re covered—check with your local property appraiser or state website to make sure you’re protected. It’s an easy step to keep your home safe!

Use the table below to check your states exemption limits. Please keep in mind these limits changes. Some states change them frequently or have amounts that vary by county. If your state is out of date- let us know! Use our contact us page to send an email that includes your state and a reputable resource we can reference to verify the correct exemption limits.

Updated Homestead Exemptions by State (May  13, 2025)

State	Exemption Type	Homestead Exemption Amount	May vary by	Relevant Statute	Notes
Alabama	Limited	$15,000 ($30,000 for married couples)	N/A	Ala. Code § 6-10-2	Up to 160 acres; unchanged since 2015.
Alaska	Limited	$72,900	Borough, Municipality	Alaska Stat. § 09.38.010	Principal residence; fixed statewide, updated 2015; joint owners split, max $72,900 total. Fixed statewide; tax exemptions may vary by municipality.
Arizona	Limited	$400,000	N/A	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1101	Updated 2023; adjusts annually from 2024 baseline.
Arkansas	Unlimited	Unlimited (1/4 acre urban, 80 acres rural)	N/A	Ark. Const. Art. 9, § 3	Additional $2,500 if rural exceeds 80 acres.
California	Limited	$361,113 - $722,151	County Media Price	Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 704.730	Varies by county median sale price from prior year. Adjusted annually for inflation.
Colorado	Limited	$250,000 ($350,000 if 60+ or disabled)	N/A	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-41-201	No acreage limit; updated 2021.
Connecticut	Limited	$250,000 ($500,000 for married couples)	N/A	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-352b	Doubled for spouses; applies post-1993 claims.
Delaware	Limited	$125,000	N/A	10 Del. Code § 4914	Principal residence equity; unchanged since 2012.
Florida	Unlimited	Unlimited (1/2 acre urban, 160 acres rural)	County	Fla. Const. Art. X, § 4	Broad protection; constitutional provision. County may offer additional exemptions for seniors, widows and veterans.
Georgia	Limited	$21,500 ($43,000 for married couples)	County	Ga. Code § 44-13-100(a)(1)	Unchanged since 2012. Local ordinances may increase; rarely implemented
Hawaii	Limited	$30,000 ($40,000 if 65+ or head of household)	County	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 651-92	The amount varies significantly by county, some offer additional exemptions for seniors, veterans, etc.,
Idaho	Limited	$200,000	N/A	Idaho Code § 55-1003	Increased 2023; no acreage limit.
Illinois	Limited	Varies Significantly	N/A	735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/12-901	Modest limits $15,000 ($30,000 for couples) madatory for state creditors, federal bankruptcy limits may be an option; may be based on county inhabitants. May stack additional exemption with the GHE.
Indiana	Limited	$22,750	N/A	Ind. Code § 34-55-10-2(c)(1)	Real/personal property; no inflation adjustment.
Iowa	Unlimited	Unlimited (no acreage limit)	N/A	Iowa Code § 561.16	Broad protection; rare unlimited scope.
Kansas	Unlimited	Unlimited (1 acre urban, 160 acres rural)	N/A	Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-2301	Constitutional protection with acreage caps.
Kentucky	Limited	$6,250	N/A	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 427.060	Lowest in U.S.; adjusted in 2024.
Louisiana	Limited	$35,000	N/A	La. Rev. Stat. § 20:1	Excludes certain debts; unchanged since 2009.
Maine	Limited	$80,000 ($160,000 if 60+ or disabled)	N/A	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 4422(1)	730 Day Residency Restriction; last increase in July 1, 2022.
Maryland	None	None (federal exemption: $30,225)	N/A	Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504	No state exemption; federal applies.
Massachusetts	Limited	$500,000 (automatic; $1M if filed)	N/A	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 188, § 1	Generous; declaration boosts amount.
Michigan	Limited	$34,750 ($52,125 if 65+ or disabled)	N/A	Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451(1)(n)	Adjusted periodically; bankruptcy-specific.
Minnesota	Limited	$510,000 ($1,275,000 for agricultural property)	N/A	Minn. Stat. § 510.02	High limit; 160-acre cap.
Mississippi	Limited	$75,000 (up to 160 acres)	N/A	Miss. Code Ann. § 85-3-21	Unchanged since 2010.
Missouri	Limited	$15,000	N/A	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 513.475	Modest; no recent updates. Modest tax credits for seniors and may vary by county.
Montana	Limited	$350,000	N/A	Mont. Code Ann. § 70-32-104	Adjusted in 2022; no acreage limit.
Nebraska	Limited	$60,000	N/A	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 40-101	Head of family; unchanged recently.
Nevada	Limited	$605,000	N/A	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 21.090(1)(m)	High fixed amount; updated 2019.
New Hampshire	Limited	$120,000 ($240,000 Married Couples)	N/A	N.H. Rev. Stat. § 480:1	Equity protection; unchanged since 2013.
New Jersey	None	None (federal exemption: $30,225)	N/A	N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:17-17	No state exemption; federal applies.
New Mexico	Limited	$60,000	N/A	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 42-10-9	Real/personal property; unchanged recently. Tax exemptions may vary by county.
New York	Limited	$132,450-$216.250 (Doubles for married couples)	County	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 5206(a)	Adjusted 2025; varies significantly.
North Carolina	Limited	$35,000 ($70,000 for married couples)	N/A	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1C-1601(a)(1)	Higher if 65+ and spouse deceased.
North Dakota	Limited	$100,000	N/A	N.D. Cent. Code § 28-22-02(7)	Primary residence; no recent updates.
Ohio	Limited	$161,375	N/A	Ohio Rev. Code § 2329.66(A)(1)(b)	Adjusted 2023 for inflation.
Oklahoma	Unlimited	Unlimited (1 acre urban, 160 acres rural)	N/A	Okla. Stat. tit. 31, § 1(A)(1)	Strong protection with acreage limits.
Oregon	Limited	$40,000 ($50,000 for married couples)	N/A	Or. Rev. Stat. § 18.395	Modest limit; unchanged recently.
Pennsylvania	None	None (federal exemption: $30,225)	N/A	42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8124	No state exemption; federal applies.
Rhode Island	Limited	$500,000	Cities, Towns	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-4.1	Generous protection; unchanged since 2011. May vary by town.
South Carolina	Limited	$73,875 ($147,750 for married couples)	N/A	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-41-30(A)(1)	Adjusted 2024 for inflation.
South Dakota	Unlimited	Unlimited (1 acre urban, 160 acres rural)	N/A	S.D. Codified Laws § 43-31-1	Strong protection with acreage caps.
Tennessee	Limited	$12,500 ($25,000 for married couples; $25,000 if 62+)	N/A	Tenn. Code Ann. § 26-2-301	Low limit; higher for 62+ or disabled. Adjusted in 2024.
Texas	Unlimited	Unlimited (10 acres urban, 100 acres rural)	N/A	Tex. Prop. Code § 41.001	20/200 acres for families; constitutional protection.
Utah	Limited	$50,000	N/A	Utah Code Ann. § 78B-5-503	Adjusted periodically; primary residence.
Vermont	Limited	$125,000	N/A	Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 27, § 101	Up to 160 acres; unchanged recently.
Virginia	Limited	$5,000 ($10,000 for couples; $500 per dependent; $25,000 if 65+)	N/A	Va. Code Ann. § 34-4	Additional $5,000 if 65+; modest limit.
Washington	Limited	Greater of $125,000 or county media sale price.	N/A	Wash. Rev. Code § 6.13.030	Couples can not double.
West Virginia	Limited	$35,000 ($70,000 for married couples)	N/A	W. Va. Code § 38-9-1	Modest limit; no recent updates.
Wisconsin	Limited	$75,000 ($150,000 for married couples)	N/A	Wis. Stat. § 815.20	Up to 40 acres; unchanged since 2014.
Wyoming	Limited	$20,000 ($40,000 for married couples)	N/A	Wyo. Stat. § 1-20-101	Equity protection; unchanged recently
Washington, D.C.	None	None (federal exemption: $30,225)	N/A/		Uniform; uses federal limit (11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(1)).