Bankruptcy Exemption Worksheet — Florida
BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION WORKSHEET — FLORIDA
Table of Contents
- Homestead Exemption
- Personal Property Exemptions
- Wages and Earnings
- Retirement and Insurance
- Tenancy by the Entireties
- Special Considerations
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
_____________ DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
| Case Information |
|---|
| In re: _________________________________________ |
| Debtor(s) |
| Case No.: ______________________________________ |
| Chapter: ☐ 7 ☐ 11 ☐ 13 |
PART 1: HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
Section A: Constitutional Homestead (Fla. Const. Art. X, § 4)
Florida provides an UNLIMITED dollar amount exemption for the homestead, subject to acreage limits.
| Location | Acreage Limit |
|---|---|
| Within a municipality | 1/2 acre (0.5 acres) |
| Outside a municipality | 160 acres |
Section B: Homestead Worksheet
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Property Address | [________________________________] |
| Within or outside municipality | ☐ Within municipality ☐ Outside municipality |
| Acreage | [________] acres |
| Within acreage limit | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Fair Market Value | $[________________] |
| Mortgage Balance(s) | $[________________] |
| Home Equity Line | $[________________] |
| Other Liens | $[________________] |
| Equity | $[________________] |
| Exempt Amount | $[________________] |
| Nonexempt Amount | $[________________] |
☐ Debtor resides in the property as primary residence
☐ Debtor has declared property as Florida homestead
☐ Debtor is a natural person (constitutional homestead applies only to natural persons)
Section C: Federal Homestead Cap (11 U.S.C. § 522(p))
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Date homestead acquired | [__/__/____] |
| Owned for more than 1,215 days before filing? | ☐ Yes — No federal cap applies ☐ No — Federal cap applies |
| Federal cap amount | $189,050 (as adjusted) |
| Equity acquired during 1,215-day period | $[________________] |
Section D: Exceptions to Homestead Exemption
The Florida homestead is NOT exempt from:
☐ Property taxes and assessments (Fla. Const. Art. X, § 4(a))
☐ Obligations contracted for the purchase, improvement, or repair of the property
☐ Obligations contracted for house, field, or other labor performed on the property
PART 2: PERSONAL PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS
Section A: Standard Personal Property (Fla. Stat. § 222.25(4))
If the debtor does NOT claim a homestead exemption, a personal property exemption of up to $4,000 is available for any property (wildcard).
☐ Homestead exemption claimed — wildcard NOT available
☐ Homestead NOT claimed — $4,000 wildcard available
Section B: Specific Personal Property Exemptions
| Category | Authority | Limit | Value | Exempt | Nonexempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle (1) | § 222.25(1) | $1,000 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Personal property (wildcard, no homestead) | § 222.25(4) | $4,000 | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Prescribed health aids | § 222.25(2) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
| Benefits paid under § 222 | § 222.25(3) | As provided | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
Section C: Additional Statutory Exemptions
| Category | Authority | Limit | Value | Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability income benefits | § 222.18 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| Prepaid college trust fund | § 222.22 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| Hurricane savings accounts | § 222.22(2) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| Professionally prescribed health aids | § 222.25(2) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
PART 3: WAGES AND EARNINGS
Section A: Wage Exemption (Fla. Stat. § 222.11)
| Status | Exemption |
|---|---|
| Head of family (earnings up to $750/week) | 100% exempt |
| Head of family (earnings over $750/week) | Exempt unless debtor agrees in writing to garnishment |
| Non-head of family | 75% exempt or amount exceeding 30x federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is greater |
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Debtor is head of family | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Weekly disposable earnings | $[________________] |
| Exempt amount | $[________________] |
Section B: Wages Deposited in Bank
☐ Wages deposited in a bank account maintain their exempt status if traceable (Fla. Stat. § 222.11)
| Account | Institution | Balance | Traceable Wages | Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [________________] | [________________] | $[______] | $[______] | $[______] |
PART 4: RETIREMENT AND INSURANCE
Section A: Retirement Funds (Fla. Stat. § 222.21)
| Type | Authority | Limit | Value | Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERISA-qualified plans | § 222.21(2)(a) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| IRA / Roth IRA | § 222.21(2)(a) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| 403(b) plans | § 222.21(2)(a) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| 457 plans | § 222.21(2)(a) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| Government retirement | § 222.21(2)(a) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| SEP / SIMPLE IRA | § 222.21(2)(a) | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
Note: Florida provides unlimited protection for virtually all tax-qualified retirement accounts.
Section B: Life Insurance and Annuities
| Type | Authority | Limit | Value | Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life insurance cash value | § 222.14 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| Life insurance proceeds | § 222.13 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
| Annuity proceeds | § 222.14 | Unlimited | $[______] | $[______] |
PART 5: TENANCY BY THE ENTIRETIES
Section A: Overview
Property held as tenants by the entireties (married couples only) is fully exempt from the claims of individual creditors of either spouse. This is a powerful Florida exemption recognized in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(B).
Section B: Entireties Property Worksheet
| Property | Type | Value | Individual Debt? | Joint Debt? | Exempt? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [________________] | ☐ Real ☐ Personal | $[______] | ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ |
| [________________] | ☐ Real ☐ Personal | $[______] | ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ |
| [________________] | ☐ Real ☐ Personal | $[______] | ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ Yes ☐ No | ☐ |
PART 6: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Section A: Domicile Requirements (11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3))
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Has debtor been domiciled in Florida for at least 730 days? | ☐ Yes — Florida exemptions apply ☐ No — See analysis below |
| If no, state of domicile for greater part of 180 days ending 730 days before filing: | [________________] |
Section B: Conversion of Assets
☐ Debtor converted non-exempt assets to exempt assets before filing
Type of conversion: [________________________________]
Time before filing: [________________________________]
Note: Florida courts and the Eleventh Circuit scrutinize pre-bankruptcy conversions. While generally permitted, conversions made with intent to defraud creditors may be challenged under 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2) or state fraudulent transfer law.
SUMMARY
| Category | Total Value | Exempt Amount | Nonexempt Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Personal Property | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Wages | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Retirement | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Insurance/Annuities | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| Entireties Property | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
| TOTAL | $[________________] | $[________________] | $[________________] |
SIGNATURES
Debtor 1 Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Debtor 2 Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Attorney Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
This worksheet provides guidance for Florida bankruptcy exemptions under the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes Chapter 222. Florida is among the most debtor-friendly exemption states. Always verify current amounts and consult a bankruptcy attorney.
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