West Virginia Bankruptcy Property Exemptions

Pursuant to the provisions of 11 U.S.C. §522(b)(1), this state specifically does not authorize debtors who are domiciled in this state to exempt the property specified under the provisions of 11 U.S.C. §522(d).

Any person who files a petition in West Virginia under the federal bankruptcy law may take the following exemptions from property of the estate in a bankruptcy proceeding the following property (West Virginia bankruptcy property exemptions):

(a) The debtor's interest, not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars in value, in real property or personal property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence, in a cooperative that owns property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence or in a burial plot for the debtor or a dependent of the debtor: Provided, That when the debtor is a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state under article three or article fourteen, chapter thirty of this code, and has commenced a bankruptcy proceeding in part due to a verdict or judgment entered in a medical professional liability action, if the physician has current medical malpractice insurance in the amount of at least one million dollars for each occurrence, the debtor physician's interest that is exempt under this subsection may exceed twenty-five thousand dollars in value but may not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars per household.

(b) The debtor's interest, not to exceed two thousand four hundred dollars in value, in one motor vehicle.

(c) The debtor's interest, not to exceed four hundred dollars in value in any particular item, in household furnishings, household goods, wearing apparel, appliances, books, animals, crops or musical instruments that are held primarily for the personal, family or household use of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor: Provided, That the total amount of personal property exempted under this subsection may not exceed eight thousand dollars.

(d) The debtor's interest, not to exceed one thousand dollars in value, in jewelry held primarily for the personal, family or household use of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor.

(e) The debtor's interest, not to exceed in value eight hundred dollars plus any unused amount of the exemption provided under subsection (a) of this section in any property.

(f) The debtor's interest, not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars in value, in any implements, professional books or tools of the trade of the debtor or the trade of a dependent of the debtor.

(g) Any unmeasured life insurance contract owned by the debtor, other than a credit life insurance contract.

(h) The debtor's interest, not to exceed in value eight thousand dollars less any amount of property of the estate transferred in the manner specified in 11 U.S.C. §542(d), in any accrued dividend or interest under, or loan value of, any unmeasured life insurance contract owned by the debtor under which the insured is the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is a dependent.

(i) Professionally prescribed health aids for the debtor or a dependent of the debtor.

(j) The debtor's right to receive:

(1)  A social security benefit, unemployment compensation or a local public assistance benefit;

(2) A veterans' benefit;

(3) A disability, illness or unemployment benefit;

(4) Alimony, support or separate maintenance, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor;

(5) A payment under a stock bonus, pension, profit sharing, annuity or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, age or length of service, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor, and funds on deposit in an individual retirement account (IRA), including a simplified employee pension (SEP) regardless of the amount of funds, unless:

(A) The plan or contract was established by or under the auspices of an insider that employed the debtor at the time the debtor's rights under the plan or contract arose;

(B) The payment is on account of age or length of service;

(C) The plan or contract does not qualify under Section 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408 or 409 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and

(D) With respect to an individual retirement account, including a simplified employee pension, the amount is subject to the excise tax on excess contributions under Section 4973 and/or Section 4979 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any successor provisions, regardless of whether the tax is paid.

(k) The debtor's right to receive or property that is traceable to:

(1) An award under a crime victim's reparation law;

(2) A payment on account of the wrongful death of an individual of whom the debtor was a dependent, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor;

(3) A payment under a life insurance contract that insured the life of an individual of whom the debtor was a dependent on the date of the individual's death, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor;

(4) A payment, not to exceed fifteen thousand 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;

(5) 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;

(6) Payments made to the prepaid tuition trust fund or to the savings plan trust fund, including earnings, in accordance with article thirty, chapter eighteen of this code on behalf of any beneficiary.

This West Virginia bankruptcy property exemptions list is provided for informational purposes only.  Please consult with us to determine how property exemptions apply to your bankruptcy case.