Homestead exemptions protect a portion (or all) of the equity in your primary residence from creditors, judgments, or bankruptcy, depending on state law. These exemptions vary widely: some states offer unlimited protection (subject to acreage limits), while others cap it at low amounts. The focus here is on asset protection from unsecured creditors (e.g., lawsuits), not property tax reductions. Amounts can adjust annually for inflation or legislative changes; for example, California’s range is based on county median home prices. Data is compiled from recent sources as of mid-2025, with no major updates noted since May 2025
Below is a comprehensive table for all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). Columns include:
| State | Exemption Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $15,000 | Applies to real property or mobile home; cannot exceed 160 acres. Doubles to $30,000 for married couples. |
| Alaska | $72,900 | Principal residence only; joint owners share the amount (no doubling). Applies in bankruptcy. |
| Arizona | $400,000 | Automatic for equity in home, condo, or mobile home; adjusts annually with CPI. No doubling; sale proceeds exempt for 18 months. |
| Arkansas | Unlimited | Limited to 1/4 acre urban or 80 acres rural (up to $2,500 additional for larger parcels); no doubling. |
| California | $300,000–$600,000 | Varies by county median home price; indexed for inflation. Applies to dwelling; no acreage limit specified. No doubling. |
| Colorado | $250,000 ($350,000 for elderly/disabled) | Real property or mobile home; sale proceeds exempt for 2 years. No doubling. |
| Connecticut | $75,000 | Applies to claims after 1993; $125,000 for hospital judgments. Doubles to $150,000 for married couples. |
| Delaware | $125,000 | Equity in real property or manufactured home; applies in bankruptcy. No doubling. |
| District of Columbia (DC) | Unlimited | Any property used as residence or co-op. No acreage limit; no doubling. |
| Florida | Unlimited | Limited to 0.5 acre urban or 160 acres rural; must be primary residence. Doubles for husband/wife; 40-month residency for bankruptcy. |
| Georgia | $21,500 | Real or personal property as residence; up to $5,000 unused can apply elsewhere. Doubles to $43,000 if solely owned by one spouse. |
| Hawaii | $20,000 ($30,000 for head of household/over 65) | No doubling. |
| Idaho | $175,000 | Real property or mobile home; sale proceeds exempt for 6 months. No doubling. |
| Illinois | $15,000 | Farm, lot, buildings, condo, co-op, or mobile home; sale proceeds exempt for 1 year. Doubles to $30,000 for married couples. |
| Indiana | $19,300 | Real or personal property as residence; tenancy by entirety exempt from one spouse’s debts. Doubles to $38,600 for married couples. |
| Iowa | Unlimited | Limited to 0.5 acre urban or 40 acres rural. No doubling. |
| Kansas | Unlimited | Limited to 1 acre urban or 160 acres rural. No doubling. |
| Kentucky | $5,000 | Per person; no doubling. |
| Louisiana | $35,000 | Equity in residence. No doubling. |
| Maine | $47,500 | Higher for elderly/disabled. No doubling. |
| Maryland | $25,150 | Bankruptcy only. No doubling. |
| Massachusetts | $125,000–$500,000 | Must declare for full $500,000. No doubling. |
| Michigan | $40,475 ($60,725 for elderly/disabled) | No doubling. |
| Minnesota | $450,000 ($1.125M for agricultural) | No doubling. |
| Mississippi | $75,000 | Land and dwelling. No doubling. |
| Missouri | $15,000 | Single-family residence. No doubling. |
| Montana | $378,560 (adjusted annually) | Updated based on CPI. No doubling. |
| Nebraska | $60,000 | Must occupy as residence. No doubling. |
| Nevada | $605,000 | Automatic upon occupancy. No doubling. |
| New Hampshire | $120,000 | Home and land. No doubling. |
| New Jersey | None | No general homestead exemption for asset protection. |
| New Mexico | $60,000 | Doubles to $120,000 for married couples. |
| New York | $82,775–$165,550 | Varies by county; doubles for joint owners. |
| North Carolina | $35,000 | Doubles to $70,000 for spouses. |
| North Dakota | $100,000 | House and land. No doubling. |
| Ohio | $145,425 | Updated periodically. No doubling. |
| Oklahoma | Unlimited | Limited to 1 acre urban or 160 acres rural. No doubling. |
| Oregon | $40,000 | Doubles to $50,000 for joint owners. |
| Pennsylvania | None | No general homestead exemption. |
| Rhode Island | $500,000 | Must file declaration. No doubling. |
| South Carolina | $63,250 | Doubles to $126,500 for joint owners. |
| South Dakota | Unlimited | Limited to 1 acre urban or 160 acres rural. No doubling. |
| Tennessee | $5,000–$25,000 | Higher for elderly, disabled, or with minors; doubles to $7,500 for married. |
| Texas | Unlimited | Limited to 10 acres urban or 100 acres rural (200 for family). Doubles for husband/wife. |
| Utah | $42,000 | Doubles to $84,000 for joint owners. |
| Vermont | $125,000 | Primary residence; doubles to $250,000 for married couples. |
| Virginia | $25,000 | Sources conflict; most cite $25,000, no doubling specified. |
| Washington | $125,000 | No doubling. |
| West Virginia | $25,000 | Doubles to $50,000 for married couples. |
| Wisconsin | $75,000 | Doubles to $150,000 for married couples. |
| Wyoming | $20,000 | Doubles to $40,000 for married couples. |
Helpful resources: Common follow-up reading includes Revocable vs Irrevocable Trust, Case Studies, and official CFPB guidance for heirs for broader context on the planning choices involved.
Questions that usually come up next
People exploring Homestead Exemptions by State for Asset Protection Purposes (as of 2025) often move next to the practical questions: when to act, what to fund, and how much control can stay with the original owner.
Details that often change the outcome
- Timing matters because planning choices usually become narrower once a problem is already close.
- Control matters because the answer often depends on how much access or authority the owner wants to keep.
- Funding matters because a trust or entity has to be set up and maintained correctly to matter.
What usually helps after the main answer
Many readers narrow the decision by comparing Asset Protection Trust, Irrevocable Trust, and How It Works. When the question turns from reading to implementation, many readers move from these guides to a direct planning conversation.
