Bankruptcy Exemption Worksheet — District of Columbia
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BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION WORKSHEET — DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Debtor Identification and Domicile
- Part A — Threshold Domicile Determination
- Part B — D.C. Exemption Schedule (D.C. Code § 15-501 et seq.)
- Part C — Federal Exemption Schedule (11 U.S.C. § 522(d))
- Part D — Comparison and Election
- Part E — Federal Caps That Override Either Schedule
- Part F — Transcription to Official Form 106C
- Attorney Certification
- Sources and References
1. Debtor Identification and Domicile
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Debtor name | [_________________________________] |
| Joint debtor name (if any) | [_________________________________] |
| Last 4 of SSN / ITIN | [____] / [____] |
| Current D.C. address | [_________________________________] |
| Date D.C. residency began | [__/__/____] |
| Petition date (anticipated) | [__/__/____] |
| Chapter | ☐ 7 ☐ 11 ☐ 13 |
| Case number (if assigned) | [_____________] |
2. Part A — Threshold Domicile Determination
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Has the debtor been domiciled in the District of Columbia for the entire 730 days preceding the anticipated petition date? | ☐ | ☐ |
| 2.2 If 2.1 is "No," was the debtor domiciled in a single other State for the greater part of the 180 days preceding that 730-day period? | ☐ | ☐ |
| 2.3 Has the debtor acquired any interest in real property used as a principal residence within the 1,215 days preceding the petition date? | ☐ | ☐ |
| 2.4 Within the past 10 years, has the debtor been convicted of a felony, or is the debtor liable for any debt arising from securities fraud, fiduciary breach, or willful and malicious injury within 11 U.S.C. § 522(q)(1)? | ☐ | ☐ |
Threshold conclusion: Debtor is eligible to claim ☐ D.C. exemptions ☐ Federal § 522(d) exemptions ☐ Other-State exemptions per § 522(b)(3)(A) [explain: ___________________________].
3. Part B — D.C. Exemption Schedule (D.C. Code § 15-501 et seq.)
3.1 Real Property — Homestead — § 15-501(a)(14)
| Item | Citation | Exempt amount | Debtor claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate interest in real property used as residence of debtor or dependent, including cooperative interests and burial plots | D.C. Code § 15-501(a)(14) | UNLIMITED (subject to 11 U.S.C. §§ 522(p), 522(q) caps — see Part E) | $[__________] |
NOTE — UNUSUAL PROVISION. The District of Columbia is one of a small group of U.S. jurisdictions (with FL, IA, KS, OK, SD, TX) offering an unlimited homestead exemption. The D.C. exemption applies only to property that the debtor or a dependent uses as a residence. Liens of record (deed of trust, mortgage, mechanic's lien, tax lien) are not impaired by the exemption.
3.2 Personal Property — Itemized
| Item | Citation | Exempt amount | Asset value | Debtor claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle (one) | § 15-501(a)(1) | $2,575 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Household furnishings, goods, wearing apparel, appliances, books, animals, crops, musical instruments — per item | § 15-501(a)(2) | $425 each | n/a | $[______] |
| Same — aggregate cap | § 15-501(a)(2) | $8,625 aggregate | $[______] | $[______] |
| Wildcard — any property | § 15-501(a)(3) | $850 + up to $8,075 of unused homestead | $[______] | $[______] |
| Tools of the trade, professional books, implements | § 15-501(a)(4) | $1,625 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Unmatured life insurance contract (excluding credit life) | § 15-501(a)(5) | full value | $[______] | $[______] |
| Professionally prescribed health aids | § 15-501(a)(6) | full value | $[______] | $[______] |
| Family pictures and family library | § 15-501(a)(8) | $400 (library) / unlimited (pictures) | $[______] | $[______] |
| Professional library / office furniture | § 15-501(a)(13) | $300 | $[______] | $[______] |
3.3 Income, Benefits, and Support
| Item | Citation | Exempt amount | Debtor claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security, veterans', disability, unemployment, alimony, qualified retirement payments | D.C. Code § 15-501(a)(7) | full value | $[______] |
| Qualified retirement plans under IRC §§ 401(a), 403(a)–(b), 408, 408A, 414(d)–(e) | § 15-501(a)(9) | full value | $[______] |
| Alternate-payee interest in qualified plan | § 15-501(a)(10) | full value | $[______] |
| Crime-victim reparations, wrongful-death recoveries, life-insurance proceeds, personal-injury awards | § 15-501(a)(11) | full value (subject to sub-limits) | $[______] |
| 3 months of family support, whether provided or growing | § 15-501(a)(12) | full value | $[______] |
3.4 Wages and Earnings — § 15-503; 15 U.S.C. § 1673
| Item | Citation | Exempt amount | Debtor claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wages of head of family — non-bankruptcy attachment cap | D.C. Code § 15-503(a) | $200/month for 2 months preceding process | $[______] |
| Wages of non-head — non-bankruptcy attachment cap | D.C. Code § 15-503(a) | $60/month for 2 months preceding process | $[______] |
| Federal CCPA wage garnishment ceiling (applies in bankruptcy as floor) | 15 U.S.C. § 1673(a) | the greater of 75% disposable earnings OR 30 × federal minimum wage per week | $[______] |
| Non-resident wages earned outside D.C. | D.C. Code § 15-503(b) | as provided by State of residence | $[______] |
3.5 D.C. Schedule Subtotal
| Category | Total claimed |
|---|---|
| Homestead (Part 3.1) | $[__________] |
| Personal property (Part 3.2) | $[__________] |
| Income and benefits (Part 3.3) | $[__________] |
| Wages (Part 3.4) | $[__________] |
| TOTAL D.C. exemptions | $[__________] |
4. Part C — Federal Exemption Schedule (11 U.S.C. § 522(d))
4.1 Federal Exemption Items
| Item | Citation | Exempt amount | Asset value | Debtor claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead — debtor's interest in real or personal property used as residence | 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(1) | $31,575 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Motor vehicle | § 522(d)(2) | $5,025 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Household goods and apparel — per item | § 522(d)(3) | $800 each | n/a | $[______] |
| Same — aggregate | § 522(d)(3) | $16,850 aggregate | $[______] | $[______] |
| Jewelry | § 522(d)(4) | $2,125 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Wildcard ($1,675 + up to $15,800 unused homestead) | § 522(d)(5) | up to $17,475 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Tools of trade, professional books | § 522(d)(6) | $3,175 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Unmatured life insurance contract (other than credit) | § 522(d)(7) | full value | $[______] | $[______] |
| Accrued dividend / interest in unmatured life policy | § 522(d)(8) | $16,850 | $[______] | $[______] |
| Professionally prescribed health aids | § 522(d)(9) | full value | $[______] | $[______] |
| Public benefits — SS, unemployment, VA, disability, alimony | § 522(d)(10) | full value (alimony to extent reasonably necessary) | $[______] | $[______] |
| Crime-victim reparation, wrongful-death, life-insurance proceeds, personal-injury award (≤ $31,575 PI), lost-future-earnings | § 522(d)(11) | per sub-limits | $[______] | $[______] |
| Retirement funds in tax-exempt accounts | § 522(d)(12) | full (IRA/Roth IRA capped at $1,711,975) | $[______] | $[______] |
4.2 Federal Schedule Subtotal
| Category | Total claimed |
|---|---|
| Real property / homestead | $[__________] |
| Personal property | $[__________] |
| Wildcard | $[__________] |
| Income, benefits, retirement | $[__________] |
| TOTAL Federal exemptions | $[__________] |
5. Part D — Comparison and Election
| Comparison | D.C. (Part B) | Federal (Part C) |
|---|---|---|
| Total exemption value | $[__________] | $[__________] |
| Homestead protection | UNLIMITED (capped at $214,000 if 1,215-day rule triggered) | $31,575 |
| Wildcard available | $850 + up to $8,075 unused homestead | $1,675 + up to $15,800 unused homestead |
| Motor vehicle | $2,575 | $5,025 |
| Tools of trade | $1,625 | $3,175 |
| Household aggregate | $8,625 | $16,850 |
Election: Debtor elects to claim exemptions under:
☐ D.C. Code § 15-501 et seq. (Part B)
☐ 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) (Part C)
| Signature | Date |
|---|---|
| Debtor: _____________________________ | [__/__/____] |
| Joint debtor: _______________________ | [__/__/____] |
6. Part E — Federal Caps That Override Either Schedule
6.1 — 11 U.S.C. § 522(p) — 1,215-Day Cap on Recently-Acquired Homestead
| Determination | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Was any portion of the homestead interest acquired within the 1,215 days preceding the petition? | ☐ | ☐ |
| If yes, dollar amount of homestead interest acquired in the 1,215-day window | $[__________] | |
| Excess over $214,000 cap (becomes property of the estate) | $[__________] |
6.2 — 11 U.S.C. § 522(q) — Bad-Acts Cap
| Determination | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Felony conviction within the past 10 years that demonstrates abuse of bankruptcy laws? | ☐ | ☐ |
| Liability for debt arising from securities-law violation, fiduciary breach, RICO, or intentional/willful/reckless act causing serious physical injury or death within preceding 5 years? | ☐ | ☐ |
| If yes to either, homestead exemption capped at $214,000 | ☐ noted |
6.3 — 11 U.S.C. § 522(o) — Pre-Petition Equity-Building Reduction
Reduce homestead by value of any nonexempt property converted into homestead with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud creditors during the 10 years preceding the petition: $[__________].
7. Part F — Transcription to Official Form 106C
| # | Property description | Sched. A/B line | Current value | Exemption claimed | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 2 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 3 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 4 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 5 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 6 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 7 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
| 8 | [_____________________] | [____] | $[______] | $[______] | [_______________] |
8. Attorney Certification
I certify that I have:
☐ Confirmed the debtor's domicile satisfies 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(A);
☐ Reviewed both D.C. and federal exemption schedules with the debtor;
☐ Considered application of the §§ 522(o), 522(p), and 522(q) caps;
☐ Verified all dollar amounts against the most current triennial adjustment;
☐ Advised the debtor of the 30-day window for objections under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4003(b).
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Attorney name | [_____________________________] |
| D.C. Bar No. / U.S. Bankr. Ct. D.D.C. admission | [_____________________________] |
| Firm | [_____________________________] |
| Address | [_____________________________] |
| Telephone | [_____________________________] |
| [_____________________________] | |
| Signature | _________________________________ |
| Date | [__/__/____] |
9. Sources and References
- D.C. Code § 15-501 — Exempt property of householder. https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/15-501
- D.C. Code § 15-503 — Wages exemption. https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/15-503
- 11 U.S.C. § 522 — Exemptions. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/522
- 15 U.S.C. § 1673 — Restriction on garnishment. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1673
- Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4003 — Exemptions. https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frbp/rule_4003
- Official Form 106C — Schedule C (The Property You Claim as Exempt). https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/individual-debtors/schedule-c-property-you-claim-exempt-individuals
- 90 Fed. Reg. 5,884 (Jan. 17, 2025) — Triennial adjustment of dollar amounts (effective 4/1/2025–3/31/2028).
END OF WORKSHEET
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Last updated: May 2026