This list of exemptions updated January 2009. All law references are to Annotated Missouri Statutes unless otherwise noted. Federal bankruptcy exemptions are not available in Missouri.

Homestead

513.430 & 513.475 - Real property up to $15,000, or mobile home up to $5,000. Tenancies by the entirety are exempt without limit as to debts of one spouse [In re Anderson, 12 B.R. 483 (WD. Mo. 1981)].

 

Personal Property

214.190 - Burial grounds up to $100 or 1 acre.

513.430 - Motor vehicle up to $3,000; clothing, household goods, appliances, furnishings, books, animals, musical instruments and crops up to $3,000 total; health aids; jewelry up to $500 (wedding ring up to $1,500); wrongful death recoveries for a person you depended upon.

513.430 & 513.440 - Any property up to $1,250 plus $350 per child for head of family; up to $600 for others.

Wages

513.470 - Wages of a servant or common laborer up to $90.

525.030 - The greater of the following: 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage or 75% minimum of weekly earnings (90% for head of household). Judge may approve more for low income debtor.

Pensions

11 U.S.C. § 522 - Tax exempt retirement accounts; Traditional and Roth IRAs up to $1,095,000 per person.

70.695 - Public officers and employees.

71.207 - Employees of cities with more than 100,000 population.

86.190 & 86.365 & 86.1430 - Police department employees.

87.090 & 87.365 & 87.485 - Firefighters.

104.250 - Highway and transportation employees.

104.540 - State employees.

169.090 - Teachers.

513.430 - IRAs, Roth IRAs, ERISA-qualified benefits and other retirement needed for support.

Public Benefits

287.260 - Workers' compensation.

288.380 & 513.430 - Unemployment compensation.

513.430 - Social Security, veterans' benefits, and public assistance.

595.025 - Crime victims' compensation.

Tools of Trade

513.430 - Tools, books, and implements to $3,000.

Alimony and Child Support

513.430 - Alimony arid child support up to $750 per month.

Insurance

376.530 & 376.560 - Life insurance proceeds if policy owned by woman insuring her husband.

376.550 - Life insurance proceeds if policy owned by an unmarried woman and beneficiary is her father or brother.

377.090 - Assessment plan or life insurance proceeds.

377.330 - Stipulated insurance premiums.

513.430 - Disability, or illness benefits needed for support; unmatured life insurance policy; fraternal benefit society benefits up to $5,000 that were purchased more than 6 months before filing; life insurance interest, loan value or dividends that were purchased more than 6 months before filing for bankruptcy up to $150,000.

Miscellaneous

358.250 - Business partnership property.

Other - Add any applicable Federal Nonbankruptcy Exemptions