What Are The Oklahoma Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Oklahoma law protects all or a portion of your property from being seized by creditors or the bankruptcy trustee in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you are generally allowed to keep all of your assets and property. Certain exceptions may apply, so it’s wise to consult with an Oklahoma bankruptcy attorney to find which of your assets will be protected in a bankruptcy filed in Oklahoma. In general, the major Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions include:
| GENERAL OKLAHOMA EXEMPTIONS |
|---|
| Real Estate (the Homestead Exemption) The debtor’s principal residence (including a manufactured home) is protected. A provision in the new bankruptcy law caps the homestead exemption at $125,000 if you have not lived in the state for at least 40 months prior to the time you file a bankruptcy petition. In some situations, the cap may be permanent. You should consult with an Oklahoma bankruptcy attorney for specific information. |
| Automobiles One motor vehicle valuing up to $7,500 can be protected. |
| Other Property All household and kitchen furniture; all cemetery lots; all tools, implements, apparatus and books used in any trade, profession, or in farming; all books, portraits and pictures; $4,000 in clothing; all professionally prescribed health aids; various farm animals; guns not to exceed $2,000 in the aggregate. |
| View the complete list of Oklahoma bankruptcy exemptions |
Please remember that this page provides general information only, and is not intended to provide legal advice. The information is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified bankruptcy attorney. If you need legal assistance, consult an attorney.
Which state’s exemption laws apply in your bankruptcy?
Generally, the laws of the state in which you lived for the 730 days (2 years) prior to filing a bankruptcy petition will apply in your bankruptcy.
If you have not lived in the same state for the 2 years immediately prior to filing your bankruptcy petition, the laws of the state in which you lived for the majority of the 180-day period preceding the 2-year period will likely apply.
If application of the preceding general rules renders you ineligible for exemptions under any state’s laws, you may be allowed to choose the federal exemptions applicable in your bankruptcy.
Is Oklahoma a Community Property State?
No, Oklahoma is not a community property state. Because it is not a community property state, you will be responsible for your spouse’s debts only if you voluntarily assumed those debts by, for example, co-signing on a loan given to your spouse. In a non-community property state, one spouse can file for bankruptcy and be eligible to eliminate all of their unsecured debts without the involvement of the other spouse.
How did your senator vote on the new bankruptcy laws?
Following years of intense lobbying by creditors, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). How did your Senators vote on these largely pro-creditor provisions?
Coburn (R-OK) — YEA
Inhofe (R-OK) — YEA
Oklahoma Bankruptcy Court Locations:
111 West 4th Street
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 758-0126
224 South Boulder Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
(918) 699-4000
15 Dean A. McGee Avenue
Oklahoma City OK 73102
(405) 609-5700
Note: You may not have to actually go to one of the above bankruptcy courts. Trustees often conduct your meeting at a local venue.
Although bankruptcy is federal law, the bankruptcy courts in each jurisdiction have local rules that must be followed. A local bankruptcy attorney will be familiar with the specific rules in your area.
Oklahoma Bankruptcy Attorney Locations:
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