Massachusetts · Bankruptcy exemptions

Massachusetts Bankruptcy Exemptions

Automatic $125,000 / declared $1,000,000 (elderly 62+ or disabled $1,000,000 per person)

Four rules checked against governing sourcesSources checked through Jun 29, 2026Inspect the coverage gate

Answer first, sources attached

The four rules to check first

These are current source-linked reference points, not a conclusion about which exemptions apply to a particular filing.

Transportation

Motor vehicle

$7,500 wholesale resale value for an automobile necessary for transportation or employment; $15,000 if owned or substantially used by a handicapped person or person age 60 or older.

M.G.L. c.235 § 34, Sixteenth

Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027

Other property

Wildcard and personal property

$1,000 aggregate interest in any personal property, plus up to $5,000 of unused household furniture, tools, and automobile exemptions.

M.G.L. c.235 § 34, Seventeenth

Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027

System choice

State or federal exemption system

Massachusetts has not opted out of the federal §522(d) exemption scheme; debtors may elect federal bankruptcy exemptions or Massachusetts exemptions.

11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(2); M.G.L. c.235 § 34

Verified Jul 3, 2026 · Next review by Jul 3, 2027

What changes the answer

The number is only the starting point

  • Petition date and domicileTiming can change the applicable state system and the operative amount.
  • Equity, liens, and ownershipThe protected interest is not simply the property’s market value.
  • Joint filing and doublingWhether spouses can combine an exemption depends on the rule and facts.
  • Federal limits and case lawFederal provisions, including 11 U.S.C. § 522(p), and controlling decisions can limit the result.

Organize home equity

Work through value, secured balances, selling costs, and an optional exemption reference.

View published income figures

See the current U.S. Trustee table by household size for Massachusetts.

Find licensed help

Use public directories to find a lawyer who can apply the rules to a filing.

For bankruptcy attorneys

Put the rule into the matter, not another note

DocketBuddy carries source-linked exemption data into the client record, organizes the facts that affect the analysis, and leaves the legal decision with the attorney.

Open a sample bankruptcy brief Watch Ready check a sample packet

This page reports source-linked state rules and review dates. It does not select an exemption system, determine eligibility, calculate protected equity, or apply law to an individual situation. Verify the cited authority and current law before relying on a figure.