Email this page to a friendWashington Exemptions
RCW 6.13.010
Homestead, what constitutes — "Owner," "net value" defined.
(1) The homestead consists of real or personal property that the owner uses as a residence. In the case of a dwelling house or mobile home, the homestead consists of the dwelling house or the mobile home in which the owner resides or intends to reside, with appurtenant buildings, and the land on which the same are situated and by which the same are surrounded, or improved or unimproved land owned with the intention of placing a house or mobile home thereon and residing thereon. A mobile home may be exempted under this chapter whether or not it is permanently affixed to the underlying land and whether or not the mobile home is placed upon a lot owned by the mobile home owner. Property included in the homestead must be actually intended or used as the principal home for the owner.
(2) As used in this chapter, the term "owner" includes but is not limited to a purchaser under a deed of trust, mortgage, or real estate contract.
(3) As used in this chapter, the term "net value" means market value less all liens and encumbrances senior to the judgment being executed upon and not including the judgment being executed upon.
RCW 6.13.030
Homestead exemption limited.
A homestead may consist of lands, as described in RCW 6.13.010, regardless of area, but the homestead exemption amount shall not exceed the lesser of (1) the total net value of the lands, manufactured homes, mobile home, improvements, and other personal property, as described in RCW 6.13.010, or (2) the sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars in the case of lands, manufactured homes, mobile home, and improvements, or the sum of fifteen thousand dollars in the case of other personal property described in RCW 6.13.010, except where the homestead is subject to execution, attachment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever to satisfy a judgment in favor of any state for failure to pay that state's income tax on benefits received while a resident of the state of Washington from a pension or other retirement plan, in which event there shall be no dollar limit on the value of the exemption.
RCW 6.15.010
Exempt property.
Except as provided in RCW 6.15.050, the following personal property shall be exempt from execution, attachment, and garnishment:
(1) All wearing apparel of every individual and family, but not to exceed one thousand dollars in value in furs, jewelry, and personal ornaments for any individual.
(2) All private libraries of every individual, but not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars in value, and all family pictures and keepsakes.
(3) To each individual or, as to community property of spouses maintaining a single household as against a creditor of the community, to the community:
(a) The individual's or community's household goods, appliances, furniture, and home and yard equipment, not to exceed two thousand seven hundred dollars in value for the individual or five thousand four hundred dollars for the community, said amount to include provisions and fuel for the comfortable maintenance of the individual or community;
(b) Other personal property, except personal earnings as provided under RCW 6.15.050(1), not to exceed two thousand dollars in value, of which not more than two hundred dollars in value may consist of cash, and of which not more than two hundred dollars in value may consist of bank accounts, savings and loan accounts, stocks, bonds, or other securities;
(c) For an individual, a motor vehicle used for personal transportation, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars or for a community two motor vehicles used for personal transportation, not to exceed five thousand dollars in aggregate value;
(d) Any past due, current, or future child support paid or owed to the debtor, which can be traced;
(e) All professionally prescribed health aids for the debtor or a dependent of the debtor; and
(f) To any individual, the right to or proceeds of a payment not to exceed sixteen thousand one hundred fifty dollars on account of personal bodily injury, not including pain and suffering or compensation for actual pecuniary loss, of the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is a dependent; or the right to or proceeds of a payment in compensation of loss of future earnings of the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is or was a dependent, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor. The exemption under this subsection (3)(f) does not apply to the right of the state of Washington, or any agent or assignee of the state, as a lienholder or subrogee under RCW 43.20B.060.
(4) To each qualified individual, one of the following exemptions:
(a) To a farmer, farm trucks, farm stock, farm tools, farm equipment, supplies and seed, not to exceed five thousand dollars in value;
(b) To a physician, surgeon, attorney, clergyman, or other professional person, the individual's library, office furniture, office equipment and supplies, not to exceed five thousand dollars in value;
(c) To any other individual, the tools and instruments and materials used to carry on his or her trade for the support of himself or herself or family, not to exceed five thousand dollars in value.
For purposes of this section, "value" means the reasonable market value of the debtor's interest in an article or item at the time it is selected for exemption, exclusive of all liens and encumbrances thereon.
(5) Tuition units, under chapter 28B.95 RCW, purchased more than two years prior to the date of a bankruptcy filing or court judgment.
RCW 6.15.020
Pension money exempt — Exceptions — Transfer of spouse's interest in individual retirement account.
(1) It is the policy of the state of Washington to ensure the well-being of its citizens by protecting retirement income to which they are or may become entitled. For that purpose generally and pursuant to the authority granted to the state of Washington under 11 U.S.C. Sec. 522(b)(2), the exemptions in this section relating to retirement benefits are provided.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by federal law, any money received by any citizen of the state of Washington as a pension from the government of the United States, whether the same be in the actual possession of such person or be deposited or loaned, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever, and when a debtor dies, or absconds, and leaves his or her family any money exempted by this subsection, the same shall be exempt to the family as provided in this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to child support collection actions issued under chapter 26.18, 26.23, or 74.20A RCW, if otherwise permitted by federal law.
(3) The right of a person to a pension, annuity, or retirement allowance or disability allowance, or death benefits, or any optional benefit, or any other right accrued or accruing to any citizen of the state of Washington under any employee benefit plan, and any fund created by such a plan or arrangement, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever. This subsection shall not apply to child support collection actions issued under chapter 26.18, 26.23, or 74.20A RCW if otherwise permitted by federal law. This subsection shall permit benefits under any such plan or arrangement to be payable to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant in such plan to the extent expressly provided for in a qualified domestic relations order that meets the requirements for such orders under the plan, or, in the case of benefits payable under a plan described in sections 403(b) or 408 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or section 409 of such code as in effect before January 1, 1984, to the extent provided in any order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that provides for maintenance or support. This subsection shall not prohibit actions against an employee benefit plan, or fund for valid obligations incurred by the plan or fund for the benefit of the plan or fund.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the term "employee benefit plan" means any plan or arrangement that is described in RCW 49.64.020, including any Keogh plan, whether funded by a trust or by an annuity contract, and in sections 401(a) or 403(a) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended; or that is a tax-sheltered annuity described in section 403(b) of such code or an individual retirement account described in section 408 of such code; or a Roth individual retirement account described in section 408A of such code; or a medical savings account described in section 220 of such code; or an education individual retirement account described in section 530 of such code; or a retirement bond described in section 409 of such code as in effect before January 1, 1984. The term "employee benefit plan" also means any rights accruing on account of money paid currently or in advance for purchase of tuition units under the advanced college tuition payment program in chapter 28B.95 RCW. The term "employee benefit plan" shall not include any employee benefit plan that is established or maintained for its employees by the government of the United States, by the state of Washington under chapter 2.10, 2.12, 41.26, 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.37, 41.40, or 43.43 RCW or RCW 41.50.770, or by any agency or instrumentality of the government of the United States.
(5) An employee benefit plan shall be deemed to be a spendthrift trust, regardless of the source of funds, the relationship between the trustee or custodian of the plan and the beneficiary, or the ability of the debtor to withdraw or borrow or otherwise become entitled to benefits from the plan before retirement. This subsection shall not apply to child support collection actions issued under chapter 26.18, 26.23, or 74.20A RCW, if otherwise permitted by federal law. This subsection shall permit benefits under any such plan or arrangement to be payable to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant in such plan to the extent expressly provided for in a qualified domestic relations order that meets the requirements for such orders under the plan, or, in the case of benefits payable under a plan described in sections 403(b) or 408 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or section 409 of such code as in effect before January 1, 1984, to the extent provided in any order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that provides for maintenance or support.
(6) Unless contrary to applicable federal law, nothing contained in subsection (3), (4), or (5) of this section shall be construed as a termination or limitation of a spouse's community property interest in an individual retirement account held in the name of or on account of the other spouse, the account holder spouse. At the death of the nonaccount holder spouse, the nonaccount holder spouse may transfer or distribute the community property interest of the nonaccount holder spouse in the account holder spouse's individual retirement account to the nonaccount holder spouse's estate, testamentary trust, inter vivos trust, or other successor or successors pursuant to the last will of the nonaccount holder spouse or the law of intestate succession, and that distributee may, but shall not be required to, obtain an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, including a nonjudicial dispute resolution agreement or other order entered under chapter 11.96A RCW, to confirm the distribution. For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, the distributee of the nonaccount holder spouse's community property interest in an individual retirement account shall be considered a person entitled to the full protection of subsection (3) of this section.
The nonaccount holder spouse's consent to a beneficiary designation by the account holder spouse with respect to an individual retirement account shall not, absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, be deemed a release, gift, relinquishment, termination, limitation, or transfer of the nonaccount holder spouse's community property interest in an individual retirement account. For purposes of this subsection, the term "nonaccount holder spouse" means the spouse of the person in whose name the individual retirement account is maintained. The term "individual retirement account" includes an individual retirement account and an individual retirement annuity both as described in section 408 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, a Roth individual retirement account as described in section 408A of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, and an individual retirement bond as described in section 409 of the internal revenue code as in effect before January 1, 1984. As used in this subsection, an order of a court of competent jurisdiction includes an agreement, as that term is used under RCW 11.96A.220.
RCW 6.15.025
Exemption of pension or retirement plan benefits from execution for judgment for out-of-state income tax.
Where a judgment is in favor of any state for failure to pay that state's income tax on benefits received while a resident of the state of Washington from a pension or other retirement plan, all property in this state, real or personal, tangible or intangible, of a judgment debtor shall be exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment, or seizure by or under any legal process whatever, and when a debtor dies, or absconds, and leaves his or her spouse and dependents any property exempted by this section, the same shall be exempt to the surviving spouse and dependents.
[1991 c 123 § 3.]
RCW 6.15.030
Insurance money on exempt property exempt.
If property, which by the laws of this state is exempt from execution, attachment, or garnishment, is insured and the same is lost, stolen, or destroyed, then the insurance money coming to or belonging to the person thus insured, to an amount equal to the exempt property thus destroyed, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, and garnishment.
RCW 6.15.035
Exemption of proceeds of life, disability insurance, and annuities.
See RCW 48.18.400, 48.18.410, 48.18.420, and 48.18.430.
RCW 48.18.400
Exemption of proceeds — Disability.
The proceeds or avails of all contracts of disability insurance and of provisions providing benefits on account of the insured's disability which are supplemental to life insurance or annuity contracts heretofore or hereafter effected shall be exempt from all liability for any debt of the insured, and from any debt of the beneficiary existing at the time the proceeds are made available for his use.
[1947 c 79 § .18.40; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 45.18.40.]
RCW 48.18.410
Exemption of proceeds — Life.
(1) The lawful beneficiary, assignee, or payee of a life insurance policy, other than an annuity, heretofore or hereafter effected by any person on his own life, or on the life of another, in favor of a person other than himself, shall be entitled to the proceeds and avails of the policy against the creditors and representatives of the insured and of the person effecting the insurance, and such proceeds and avails shall also be exempt from all liability for any debt of such beneficiary, existing at the time the proceeds or avails are made available for his own use.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall apply
(a) whether or not the right to change the beneficiary is reserved or permitted in the policy; or
(b) whether or not the policy is made payable to the person whose life is insured or to his estate if the beneficiary, assignee or payee shall predecease such person; except, that this subsection shall not be construed so as to defeat any policy provision which provides for disposition of proceeds in the event the beneficiary shall predecease the insured.
(3) The exemptions provided by subsection (1) of this section, subject to the statute of limitations, shall not apply
(a) to any claim to or interest in such proceeds or avails by or on behalf of the insured, or the person so effecting the insurance, or their administrators or executors, in whatever capacity such claim is made or such interest is asserted; or
(b) to any claim to or interest in such proceeds or avails by or on behalf of any person to whom rights thereto have been transferred with intent to defraud creditors; but an insurer shall be liable to all such creditors only as to amounts aggregating not to exceed the amount of such proceeds or avails remaining in the insurer's possession at the time the insurer receives at its home office written notice by or on behalf of such creditors, of claims to recover for such transfer, with specification of the amounts claimed; or
(c) to so much of such proceeds or avails as equals the amount of any premiums or portion thereof paid for the insurance with intent to defraud creditors, with interest thereon, and if prior to the payment of such proceeds or avails the insurer has received at its home office written notice by or on behalf of the creditor, of a claim to recover for premiums paid with intent to defraud creditors, with specification of the amount claimed.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section a policy shall also be deemed to be payable to a person other than the insured if and to the extent that a facility-of-payment clause or similar clause in the policy permits the insurer to discharge its obligation after the death of the individual insured by paying the death benefits to a person as permitted by such clause.
(5) No person shall be compelled to exercise any rights, powers, options or privileges under any such policy.
[1947 c 79 § .18.41; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 45.18.41.]
RCW 48.18.420
Exemption of proceeds — Group life.
(1) A policy of group life insurance or the proceeds thereof payable to the individual insured or to the beneficiary thereunder, shall not be liable, either before or after payment, to be applied to any legal or equitable process to pay any liability of any person having a right under the policy. The proceeds thereof, when not made payable to a named beneficiary or to a third person pursuant to a facility-of-payment clause, shall not constitute a part of the estate of the individual insured for the payment of his debts.
(2) This section shall not apply to group life insurance policies issued under RCW 48.24.040 (debtor groups) to the extent that such proceeds are applied to payment of the obligation for the purpose of which the insurance was so issued.
[1947 c 79 § .18.42; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 45.18.42.]
RCW 48.18.430
Exemption of proceeds, commutation — Annuities.
(1) The benefits, rights, privileges, and options under any annuity contract that are due the annuitant who paid the consideration for the annuity contract are not subject to execution and the annuitant may not be compelled to exercise those rights, powers, or options, and creditors are not allowed to interfere with or terminate the contract, except:
(a) As to amounts paid for or as premium on an annuity with intent to defraud creditors, with interest thereon, and of which the creditor has given the insurer written notice at its home office prior to making the payments to the annuitant out of which the creditor seeks to recover. The notice must specify the amount claimed or the facts that will enable the insurer to determine the amount, and must set forth the facts that will enable the insurer to determine the insurance or annuity contract, the person insured or annuitant and the payments sought to be avoided on the basis of fraud.
(b) The total exemption of benefits presently due and payable to an annuitant periodically or at stated times under all annuity contracts may not at any time exceed two thousand five hundred dollars per month for the length of time represented by the installments, and a periodic payment in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars per month is subject to garnishee execution to the same extent as are wages and salaries.
(c) If the total benefits presently due and payable to an annuitant under all annuity contracts at any time exceeds payment at the rate of two thousand five hundred dollars per month, then the court may order the annuitant to pay to a judgment creditor or apply on the judgment, in installments, the portion of the excess benefits that the court determines to be just and proper, after due regard for the reasonable requirements of the judgment debtor and the judgment debtor's dependent family, as well as any payments required to be made by the annuitant to other creditors under prior court orders.
(2) The benefits, rights, privileges, or options accruing under an annuity contract to a beneficiary or assignee are not transferable or subject to commutation, and if the benefits are payable periodically or at stated times, the same exemptions and exceptions contained in this section for the annuitant apply to the beneficiary or assignee.
(3) An annuity contract within the meaning of this section is any obligation to pay certain sums at stated times, during life or lives, or for a specified term or terms, issued for a valuable consideration, regardless of whether or not the sums are payable to one or more persons, jointly or otherwise, but does not include payments under life insurance contracts at stated times during life or lives, or for a specified term or terms.
RCW 6.15.040
Separate property of spouse exempt.
All real and personal property belonging to any married person at the time of his or her marriage, and all which he or she may have acquired subsequently to such marriage, or to which he or she shall hereafter become entitled in his or her own right, and all his or her personal earnings, and all the issues, rents and profits of such real property, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, and garnishment upon any liability or judgment against the other spouse, so long as he or she or any minor heir of his or her body shall be living: PROVIDED, That the separate property of each spouse shall be liable for debts owing by him or her at the time of marriage.
[1987 c 442 § 304; 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 14; Code 1881 § 341; 1877 p 71 § 345; 1869 p 85 § 337; 1854 p 178 § 252; RRS § 570. Formerly RCW 6.16.070.]
RCW 6.15.050
Exemptions under RCW 6.15.010 — Limitations on exemptions.
(1) Wages, salary, or other compensation regularly paid for personal services rendered by the debtor claiming the exemption shall not be claimed as exempt under RCW 6.15.010, but the same may be claimed as exempt in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding to the same extent as allowed under the statutes relating to garnishments.
(2) No property may be exempt under RCW 6.15.010 from execution, attachment, or garnishment issued upon a judgment for all or any part of the purchase price of the property.
(3) No property may be exempt under RCW 6.15.010 from legal process issued upon a judgment for restitution ordered by a court to be paid for the benefit of a victim of a criminal act.
(4) No property may be exempt under RCW 6.15.010 from legal process issued upon a judgment for any tax levied upon such property.
(5) Nothing in this chapter shall be so construed as to prevent a debtor from creating a security interest in personal property which might be claimed as exempt, or the enforcement of such security interest against the property.
(6) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to exempt personal property of a nonresident of this state or of an individual who has left or is about to leave this state with the intention to defraud his or her creditors.
(7) Personal property exemptions are waived by failure to claim them prior to sale of exemptible property under execution or, in a garnishment proceeding, within the time specified in RCW 6.27.160.
(8) Personal property exemptions may not be claimed by one spouse in a bankruptcy case that is not a joint case or a joint administration of the estate with the bankruptcy estate of the other spouse where (a) bankruptcy is filed by both spouses within a six-month period, and (b) one spouse exempts property from property of the estate under the bankruptcy exemption provisions of 11 U.S.C. Sec. 522(d).
(9) No property may be exempt under RCW 6.15.010 from execution, levy, attachment, or garnishment issued by or on behalf of a child support agency operating under Title IV-D of the federal social security act or by or on behalf of any agent or assignee of the child support agency.
RCW 6.15.060
Manner of claiming exemptions — Appraisement — Appraiser's fee.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, property claimed exempt under RCW 6.15.010 shall be selected by the individual entitled to the exemption, or by the husband or wife entitled to a community exemption, in the manner described in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) If, at the time of seizure under execution or attachment of property exemptible under *RCW 6.15.010(3) (a), (b), or (c), the individual or the husband or wife entitled to claim the exemption is not present, then the sheriff or deputy shall make a selection equal in value to the applicable exemptions and, if no appraisement is required and no objection is made by the creditor as permitted under subsection (4) of this section, the officer shall return the same as exempt by inventory. Any selection made as provided shall be prima facie evidence (a) that the property so selected is exempt from execution and attachment, and (b) that the property so selected is not in excess of the values specified for the exemptions.
(3)(a) A debtor who claims personal property as exempt against execution or attachment shall, at any time before sale, deliver to the officer making the levy a list by separate items of the property claimed as exempt, together with an itemized list of all the personal property owned or claimed by the debtor, including money, bonds, bills, notes, claims and demands, with the residence of the person indebted upon the said bonds, bills, notes, claims and demands, and shall verify such list by affidavit. The officer shall immediately advise the creditor, attorney, or agent of the exemption claim and, if no appraisement is required and no objection is made by the creditor as permitted under subsection (4) of this section, the officer shall return with the process the list of property claimed as exempt.
(b) A debtor who claims personal property exempt against garnishment shall proceed as provided in RCW 6.27.160.
(c) A debtor who claims as a homestead, under chapter 6.13 RCW, a mobile home that is not yet occupied as a homestead and that is located on land not owned by the debtor shall claim the homestead as against a specific levy by delivering to the sheriff who levied on the mobile home, before sale under the levy, a declaration of homestead that contains (i) a declaration that the debtor owns the mobile home, intends to reside therein, and claims it as a homestead, and (ii) a description of the mobile home, a statement where it is located or was located before the levy, and an estimate of its actual cash value.
(d) A debtor who claims as a homestead, under RCW 6.13.040, any other personal property, shall at any time before sale, deliver to the officer making the levy a notice of claim of homestead in a statement that sets forth the following: (i) The debtor owns the personal property; (ii) the debtor resides thereon as a homestead; (iii) the debtor's estimate of the fair market value of the property; and (iv) the debtor's description of the property in sufficient detail for the officer making the levy to identify the same.
(4)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a creditor, or the agent or attorney of a creditor, who wishes to object to a claim of exemption shall proceed as provided in RCW 6.27.160 and shall give notice of the objection to the officer not later than seven days after the officer's giving notice of the exemption claim.
(b) A creditor, or the agent or attorney of the creditor, who wishes to object to a claim of exemption made to a levying officer, on the ground that the property claimed exceeds exemptible value, may demand appraisement. If the creditor, or the agent or attorney of the creditor, demands an appraisement, two disinterested persons shall be chosen to appraise the property, one by the debtor and the other by the creditor, agent or attorney, and these two, if they cannot agree, shall select a third; but if either party fails to choose an appraiser, or the two fail to select a third, or if one or more of the appraisers fail to act, the court shall appoint one or more as the circumstances require. The appraisers shall forthwith proceed to make a list by separate items, of the personal property selected by the debtor as exempt, which they shall decide as exempt, stating the value of each article, and annexing to the list their affidavit to the following effect: "We solemnly swear that to the best of our judgment the above is a fair cash valuation of the property therein described," which affidavit shall be signed by two appraisers at least, and be certified by the officer administering the oaths. The list shall be delivered to the officer holding the execution or attachment and be annexed to and made part of the return, and the property therein specified shall be exempt from levy and sale, but the other personal estate of the debtor shall remain subject to execution, attachment, or garnishment. Each appraiser shall be entitled to fifteen dollars or such larger fee as shall be fixed by the court, to be paid by the creditor if all the property claimed by the debtor shall be exempt; otherwise to be paid by the debtor.
(c) If, within seven days following the giving of notice to a creditor of an exemption claim, the officer has received no notice from the creditor of an objection to the claim or a demand for appraisement, the officer shall release the claimed property to the debtor.
RCW 6.15.070
Procedure if value of property claimed exempt exceeds exemptible value.
If from an appraisal it appears that the value of the property claimed exempt, exclusive of liens and encumbrances, exceeds the exemptible value and the property is indivisible, the property shall be put up for sale on execution, but at the sale no bid may be received unless it exceeds the exempt value. The proceeds of a sale in excess of the exempt value shall be paid, first, to the debtor to the extent of the exempt amount; second, up to the amount of the execution, to the satisfaction of the execution; third, the balance to be paid to the debtor. A judgment creditor who is the successful bidder at the sale must pay the exempt amount in cash.
Bankrupt? Our free legal evaluation is the place to start
