11 U.S.C. § 362 (Automatic Stay) Explained: What It Stops
Plain-English guide to 11 U.S.C. § 362, the bankruptcy automatic stay: what it stops, the exceptions, repeat-filer rules, and damages for violations.
14 min read
Bankruptcy Laws
53 articles
Bankruptcy in Alabama (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Alabama bankruptcy guide: the state opts out of federal exemptions, an $18,800 homestead (4/1/24), the means-test median income for 2026, and where to file.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Alaska (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Alaska lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead is $72,900, the vehicle exemption is $4,050, and see the 2026 means test income figures.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Arizona (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Arizona bankruptcy guide: the state opts out of federal exemptions, a $400,000 homestead, the 2026 means-test median income, and the District of Arizona court.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Arkansas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Arkansas lets filers choose federal or state exemptions. Its constitutional homestead is limited by acreage rather than value, and see the 2026 means test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in California (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
California opted out of federal exemptions but offers two state systems, one with a large inflation-indexed homestead and one with a bigger wildcard, plus the means test.
8 min read
Bankruptcy in Colorado (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Colorado opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects $250,000 in equity, or $350,000 if elderly or disabled, plus the vehicle exemption and means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Connecticut (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Connecticut bankruptcy: filers may choose state or federal exemptions, a $250,000 homestead (Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-352b), the means test, and where to file.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in DC (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
DC bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, an unlimited homestead under D.C. Code 15-501(a)(14), the 522(p) cap, plus 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Delaware (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Delaware bankruptcy: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $200,000 homestead (10 Del. C. 4914), the means-test median income, and where to file.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Florida (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Florida bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the unlimited homestead with acreage limits and the 522(p) cap, plus current means-test figures.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Georgia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Georgia opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead is $50,000 through June 2026 and rises to $50,000 after, the vehicle exemption is $5,000, plus the means test.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Hawaii (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Hawaii lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $30,000 for heads of family or seniors, or $20,000 for others, plus the means test.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Idaho (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Idaho opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects up to $175,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $10,000, and see the 2026 means test income figures.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Illinois (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Illinois bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the new $50,000 homestead under 735 ILCS 5/12-901 (2026), vehicle and wildcard amounts, means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Indiana (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Indiana bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, the $22,750 homestead under IC 34-55-10-2 (indexed every six years), and current means-test income figures.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Iowa (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Iowa bankruptcy: opted out of federal exemptions, an unlimited homestead under Iowa Code 561 (acreage limits), the $7,000 vehicle exemption, and the means test.
8 min read
Bankruptcy in Kansas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Kansas opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead has no dollar cap and is limited only by acreage, the vehicle exemption is $20,000, and see the means test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Kentucky (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Kentucky lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead is only $5,000 and the vehicle exemption is $2,500, so many filers pick the larger federal set.
8 min read
Bankruptcy in Louisiana (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Louisiana opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects $35,000 in value, the vehicle exemption is $7,500, and see the 2026 means test income figures.
8 min read
Bankruptcy in Maine (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Maine opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead protects up to $94,300 of equity, more for older or disabled filers, plus the 2026 means test income figures.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Maryland (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Maryland opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Learn the $31,575 homestead cap, the $6,000 wildcard used to protect a vehicle, and the 2026 means test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Massachusetts (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Massachusetts lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The declared homestead protects up to $1,000,000, the automatic homestead is $125,000, plus the means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Michigan (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Michigan bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, an inflation-adjusted homestead up to $51,150 under MCL 600.5451, plus 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Minnesota (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Minnesota bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, a high $540,000 homestead under Minn. Stat. 510.02, plus 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Mississippi (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Mississippi bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a fixed $75,000 homestead under Miss. Code 85-3-21, plus 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Missouri (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Missouri bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a fixed $15,000 homestead under RSMo 513.475, plus the April 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Montana (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Montana bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $425,827 (2026) indexed homestead under MCA 70-32-104, plus the April 2026 means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Nebraska (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Nebraska bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $120,000 homestead under Neb. Rev. Stat. 40-101, plus the April 2026 means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Nevada (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Nevada bankruptcy: the state opted out of federal exemptions, a $605,000 homestead (NRS 115.010), a $15,000 vehicle, the 2026 means test, and where to file.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in New Hampshire (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New Hampshire bankruptcy: choose state or federal exemptions, a homestead raised to $400,000 (RSA 480:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026), the 2026 means test, and filing.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in New Jersey (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New Jersey bankruptcy: choose state or federal exemptions, no state homestead so filers use the federal $31,575 homestead, the 2026 means test, and filing.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in New Mexico (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New Mexico bankruptcy guide: filers may choose federal or state exemptions, the homestead is $150,000, plus the April 2026 means-test median income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in New York (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
New York bankruptcy guide: filers may choose federal or state exemptions, the homestead is tiered by county up to $204,825, plus the 2026 means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in North Carolina (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
North Carolina bankruptcy guide: the state opted out of federal exemptions, the homestead is $35,000, plus the April 2026 means-test median income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in North Dakota (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
North Dakota opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead protects up to $150,000 of equity, an alternative exemption covers a vehicle, and see the means test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Ohio (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Ohio opted out of federal exemptions. The inflation-indexed homestead protects up to $125,000, the vehicle exemption is $3,225, and see the 2026 means test income.
8 min read
Bankruptcy in Oklahoma (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Oklahoma opted out of federal exemptions. The homestead has no dollar cap and is limited only by acreage, the vehicle exemption is $7,500, and see the means test income.
8 min read
Bankruptcy in Oregon (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Oregon lets bankruptcy filers choose state or federal exemptions. Compare the $150,000 state homestead, the $10,000 vehicle exemption, and the 2026 means test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Pennsylvania (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Pennsylvania bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions. PA has no state homestead, so home equity is protected by the federal $31,575 homestead.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Rhode Island (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Rhode Island lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $500,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $12,000, plus the means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in South Carolina (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
South Carolina opted out of federal exemptions. The inflation-indexed homestead is about $80,125, the vehicle exemption is about $8,000, and see the means test income.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in South Dakota (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
South Dakota opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead has no dollar cap and is limited only by acreage, and a personal-property allowance covers a vehicle.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Tennessee (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Tennessee opted out of federal exemptions. See the $35,000 homestead ($52,500 for joint owners), the $10,000 personal-property wildcard, and the means test.
6 min read
Bankruptcy in Texas (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Texas lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead is unlimited in value but limited by acreage, plus a large personal-property allowance and the means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Utah (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Utah opted out of federal exemptions. Its homestead is inflation-indexed to about $53,700, the vehicle exemption is $3,000, and see the 2026 means test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Vermont (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Vermont lets filers choose state or federal exemptions. The state homestead protects up to $125,000 of equity, the vehicle exemption is $2,500, plus the means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Virginia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Virginia opted out of federal exemptions: a $50,000 homestead claimed by homestead deed under Va. Code 34-4, vehicle exemption, plus the 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Washington (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Washington filers choose state or federal exemptions: a homestead of the greater of $125,000 or the county median price (RCW 6.13.030), plus 2026 means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in West Virginia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
West Virginia filers choose state or federal exemptions: a $35,000 homestead under W. Va. Code 38-10-4, vehicle and wildcard exemptions, plus 2026 means test.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Wisconsin (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Wisconsin bankruptcy guide: choose state or federal exemptions, a $75,000 homestead under Wis. Stat. 815.20, vehicle limits, plus 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy in Wyoming (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Wyoming bankruptcy guide: opted out of federal exemptions, a $100,000 homestead per person under Wyo. Stat. 1-20-101, plus 2026 means-test income.
7 min read
Bankruptcy Laws by State (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
Learn how Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy work, then find your state's exemptions, opt-out status, and Chapter 7 means test income figures for all 50 states.
10 min read