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Missouri State Exemptions

Homestead

• Real property to $8000 or mobile home to $1000 (joint owners may not double)
• Property held as tenancy for the entirety may be exempt against debts owed by only one spouse

Insurance

• Assessment or insurance premium proceeds
• Disability or illness benefits
• Fraternal benefit society benefits to $5000, bought over 6 months before filing
• Life insurance dividends, loan value or interest to $5000, bought over 6 months before filing
• Life insurance proceeds if policy owned by woman & insures her husband
• Life insurance proceeds if policy owned by unmarried woman and insures her father or brother
• Stipulated insurance premiums
• Unmatured life insurance policy

Miscellaneous

• Alimony, child support to $500 per month
• Property of business partnership

Pensions

• Employees of cities with 100,000 or more people
• ERISA-qualified benefits needed for support (only payments being received) Firefighters
• Highway & transportation employees
• Police Department employees
• State employees
• Teachers

Personal Property

• Appliances, household goods, furnishings, clothing, books, crops, animals & musical instruments to $1,000
• Burial grounds to 1 acre or $100
• Health aids
• Jewelry to $500
• Motor vehicle to $1000
• Personal injury causes of action
• Wrongful death recoveries for person debtor depended on

Public Benefits

• AFDC
• Social security
• Unemployment compensation
• Veterans’ benefits
• Workers’ compensation

Tools of Trade

• Implements, books & tools of trade to $2000

Wages

• Minimum 75% of earned but unpaid wages (90% for head of family); bankruptcy judge may authorize more for low-income debtors
• Wages of servant or common laborer to $90

Wild Card

• $1250 of any property if head of family, else $400; head of family may claim an additional $250 per child