Michigan Personal Property Exemptions

This category covers your car, your non-retirement bank accounts, and most of your other personal possessions, other than your house.

States vary widely on how generous they are in this area. Some exemptions may be for any combination of property up to an aggregate amount. Other exemptions apply only to specific items, such as jewelry.

Remember that an exemption will not protect your car from being repossessed by the holder of the car loan you used to purchase the vehicle if you pledged the vehicle as security for the loan. To keep the car, you will have to pursue other options such as ‘redemption’ or ‘reaffirmation.’

As always seek professional advice, call Firebaugh and Andrews at 734-722-2229 for your free evaluation.

Michigan Exemptions

• 1 Computer & accessories to $650
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(h)
• 1 Motor Vehicle to $3,475
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(g)
• Appliances, utensils, books, furniture, & household goods, to $600 each, to $3,775 total
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(c)

• Burial plots, cemeteries
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(a)(vi)
• Church pew, slip, seat for entire family to $650
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(d)
• Clothing; family pictures
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(a)
• Crops, farm animals, and feed for the farm animals to $2,525
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(e)
• Food & fuel to last family for 6 months
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(b)
• Household pets to $650
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(f)
• Professionally prescribed health aids
  Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5451 (1)(a)

Federal Exemptions

• Animals, crops, clothing, appliances, books, furnishings, household goods, musical instruments to $575 per item, $12,250 total
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(3)
• Health aids
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(9)
• Jewelry to $1,550
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(4)
• Lost earnings payments
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(11)(E)
• Motor vehicle to $3,675
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(2)
• Personal injury recoveries to $22,975 (not to include pain & suffering or pecuniary loss)
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(11)(D)
• Wrongful death recoveries for person you depended on
  11 U.S.C. § 522 (d)(11)(B)