Bankruptcy Exemption Worksheet — California
BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION WORKSHEET — CALIFORNIA
Table of Contents
- Exemption System Election
- System 1 — CCP § 704 Exemptions
- System 2 — CCP § 703.140 Exemptions
- Comparison Worksheet
- Special Considerations
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
_____________ DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
| Case Information |
|---|
| In re: _________________________________________ |
| Debtor(s) |
| Case No.: ______________________________________ |
| Chapter: ☐ 7 ☐ 11 ☐ 13 |
PART 1: EXEMPTION SYSTEM ELECTION
Critical Election
California debtors MUST choose one exemption system. Systems cannot be combined.
☐ SYSTEM 1 — CCP § 704 (State Exemptions)
Best for: Homeowners with significant home equity
☐ SYSTEM 2 — CCP § 703.140 (Federal-Style Exemptions)
Best for: Renters, or homeowners with little/no equity; includes wildcard
PART 2: SYSTEM 1 — CCP § 704 EXEMPTIONS
Section A: Homestead Exemption (CCP § 704.730)
| Factor | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Homestead Exemption | At least $300,000, up to $743,681 |
| Adjusted amount (based on county median home price) | $[________________] |
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Property Address | [________________________________] |
| Fair Market Value | $[________________] |
| Mortgage Balance(s) | $[________________] |
| Other Liens | $[________________] |
| Equity | $[________________] |
| Exemption Claimed | $[________________] |
| Nonexempt Amount | $[________________] |
☐ Debtor resides in the property as of the petition date
☐ Property is in [________________________________] County
Section B: Personal Property Exemptions (System 1)
| Category | CCP Section | Exemption Limit | Property Value | Exempt Amount | Nonexempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle | § 704.010 | $8,625 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Household furnishings | § 704.020 | Ordinary & necessary | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Materials for repair of residence | § 704.030 | $4,300 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Jewelry, heirlooms, art | § 704.040 | $10,775 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Health aids | § 704.050 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Personal injury causes of action | § 704.140 | Unlimited (except pain/suffering) | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Wrongful death cause of action | § 704.150 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Tools of trade | § 704.060 | $10,775 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Life insurance (unmatured) | § 704.100 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Public benefits | § 704.170 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Retirement/pension (ERISA) | § 704.115 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Retirement (IRA/Roth) | § 704.115 | Necessary for support | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Wages (75%) | § 704.070 | 75% of paid earnings | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Bank deposits (wages) | § 704.070 | Per CCP formula | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
Note: System 1 has NO wildcard exemption.
PART 3: SYSTEM 2 — CCP § 703.140 EXEMPTIONS
Section A: Homestead Exemption
| Factor | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Homestead Exemption (§ 703.140(b)(1)) | $36,750 |
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Property Address | [________________________________] |
| Fair Market Value | $[________________] |
| Mortgage Balance(s) | $[________________] |
| Equity | $[________________] |
| Exemption Claimed | $[________________] |
| Nonexempt Amount | $[________________] |
Section B: Wildcard Exemption (§ 703.140(b)(5))
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base wildcard | $1,950 |
| Plus unused homestead (up to $36,750) | $[________________] |
| Total wildcard available | $[________________] (max $38,700) |
☐ Wildcard applied to: [________________________________]
Section C: Personal Property Exemptions (System 2)
| Category | § 703.140 Subsection | Exemption Limit | Property Value | Exempt Amount | Nonexempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle | (b)(2) | $8,625 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Household goods (per item) | (b)(3) | $850 per item | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Jewelry | (b)(4) | $2,125 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Wildcard | (b)(5) | $1,950 + unused (b)(1) | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Tools of trade | (b)(6) | $10,775 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Unmatured life insurance | (b)(7) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Life insurance cash value | (b)(8) | $17,225 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Health aids | (b)(9) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Personal injury recovery | (b)(11)(D) | $32,175 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Retirement (ERISA) | (b)(10)(E) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
PART 4: COMPARISON WORKSHEET
System 1 vs. System 2 Analysis
| Asset Category | System 1 Exempt | System 2 Exempt | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Motor Vehicle | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Household Goods | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Tools of Trade | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Wildcard | $0 | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Other | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| TOTAL PROTECTED | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
Recommended System: ☐ System 1 ☐ System 2
Reason: [________________________________]
PART 5: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Section A: Joint Filing
In a joint case, each debtor may claim a full set of exemptions under the elected system. This effectively doubles the available exemption amounts.
Section B: Recent Amendments
California exemption amounts are adjusted every three years. Last adjustment: April 1, 2025. Next adjustment: April 1, 2028. Verify current amounts before filing at the California Judicial Council website.
Section C: Domicile Requirements (11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3))
To use California exemptions, the debtor must have been domiciled in California for at least 730 days (2 years) before filing. If not, the debtor must use the exemptions of the state of domicile for the greater part of the 180-day period ending 730 days before filing.
SIGNATURES
Debtor 1 Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Debtor 2 Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Attorney Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
This worksheet provides guidance for California bankruptcy exemptions under CCP §§ 703.140 and 704. Exemption amounts are subject to periodic adjustment. Always verify current amounts before filing. This worksheet does not substitute for professional legal advice.
About This Template
Bankruptcy is a federal legal process for people and businesses who cannot pay their debts. The right chapter depends on your income, what you own, and whether you want to keep assets like a home or car. The paperwork is extensive and the deadlines are strict, so using the right template for your situation is the first step toward getting your filing accepted and your case moving.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: May 2026