West Virginia bankruptcy exemptions help you understand which items such as a house or car are at risk of losing if you file bankruptcy.
Unfortunately, bankruptcy exemptions in West Virginia are complex.
The purpose of this article is to present the West Virginia bankruptcy exemptions in an understandable format.
There is a list of exemptions for West Virginia, but it can be difficult to parse through. If you prefer to answer a simple set of questions, feel free to use the West Virginia bankruptcy exemptions calculator below to estimate which belongings are at risk.
Bankruptcy exemptions can help you keep specific belonging when filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In many states, there are bankruptcy exemptions that cover your home, vehicle, jewelry, tools of your trade, etc. The bankruptcy exemptions can also help guide your Chapter 13 plan payment.
Here’s a couple of things to note:
Below are some of the most common bankruptcy exemptions for West Virginia. Let’s get into the numbers. Please note the below is the best estimate at the time of writing, but check the actual legal text for the most accurate exemption data.
The homestead exemption is often broken down by age and whether you are married.
Single and under 65: $35,000
Single is 65 or older: $35,000
Married and under 65: $70,000
Married is 65 or older: $70,000
West Virginia specific homestead bankruptcy exemption text: “W. Va. Code § 38-10-4(a). Real or personal property used as residence; unused portion of homestead may be applied to any property.” (Source)
The automobile bankruptcy exemption in West Virginia is $7,500.
The jewelry bankruptcy exemption in West Virginia is $1,000.
The tools of the trade bankruptcy exemption in West Virginia is $1,500.
The wildcard bankruptcy exemption in West Virginia is $800.
Below is specific special handling of bankruptcy exemptions in West Virginia.
Here are other common exemptions. There may be limits to the amount of the bankruptcy exemption, so please be sure to check each one individually.
Not covered here include less common exemptions such as illness benefits, firefighter pensions, retirements involving stock. However, we encourage you to research the official West Virginia legal text for more information.
You may have too much equity in a belonging, which makes you consider other options. For example, let’s say you own a boat outright that is valued at $100,000. With the wildcard exemption in West Virginia, you may be at risk of losing that vehicle.
There’s an opportunity to still do the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but the trustee may liquidate the boat to pay off some of the creditors. You have a couple more prominent options:
The Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in West Virginia is called wage earner's bankruptcy where you pay a monthly payment plan. You would be set up on a 3 or 5-year plan that would be a set monthly rate based on what you can afford. This option is generally more expensive than a Chapter 7 after legal fees, but it is a valid option for many folks who are above the exemptions
Debt Settlement is where a company or you would negotiate a lower amount owed with the creditors directly because of the financial hardship that is preventing you from paying your bills. For example, a debt settlement company would try to negotiate a $10,000 credit bill down to $5,000. This option would still negatively affect your credit and there are fees associated with this option, but it is a valid option for many and can be quicker than a Chapter 13 bankruptcy depending on how aggressive you are with negotiating and paying off the debt.
Debt Management is where a company would negotiate a lower interest rate with your creditors because of financial hardship. For example, a debt management company would try to negotiate a credit card’s interest rate from 22% to 8%. This option is often the most expensive of the debt relief options and can work best for credit cards, but debt management is a valid option for many folks.
Understand what items you may lose when filing bankruptcy to help you make a more informed decision. The bankruptcy exemptions in bankruptcy exemptions calculator or reach out to us directly at support@tryascend.com if you have any questions.
