Exemptions from Enforcement of Judgment

The following is a list of assets that may be exempt from levy on a judgment. Exemptions are found in the United States Code (USC) and in the California Codes, primarily the Code of Civil Procedure (CCP).

Because of periodic changes in the law, the list may not include all exemptions that apply in your case. The exemptions may not apply in full or under all circumstances. Some are not available after a certain period of time. You must read the statutes to determine how much of your property may be exempt from collection.

CLICK ON A LINK TO READ THE CODE SECTION.

Type of Property	Code and Section
Accounts (See Deposit Accounts)
Appliances	CCP § 704.020
Art and Heirlooms	CCP § 704.040
Automobiles	CCP § 704.010
Benefit Payments:
--BART District Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & PUC § 28896
--Charity	CCP § 704.170
--Civil Service Retirement Benefits (Federal)	5 USC § 8346
--County Employees Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code §31452
--Disability Insurance Benefits	CCP § 704.130
--Fire Service Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code §32210
--Fraternal Organization Funds Benefits	CCP § 704.130 & CCP § 704.170
--Health Insurance Benefits	CCP § 704.130
--Judges Survivors Benefits (Federal)	28 USC § 376(n)
--Legislators Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code §9359.3
--Life Insurance Benefits:
----Group	CCP § 704.100
----Individual	CCP § 704.100
--Lighthouse Keepers Widows Benefits	33 USC § 775
--Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation or Benefits	33 USC § 916
--Military Benefits:
----Retirement	10 USC § 1440
----Survivors	10 USC § 1450
--Municipal Utility District Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & PUC § 12337
--Peace Officers Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code § 31913
--Pension Plans (and Death Benefits):
----Private	CCP § 704.115
----Public	CCP § 704.010
--Public Assistance	CCP § 704.170 & Welfare & I C § 17409
--Relocation Benefits	CCP § 704.180
--Retirement Benefits and Contributions:
----Private	CCP § 704.115
----Public	CCP § 704.110
----Segregated Benefit Funds	Ins. Code § 10498.5
--Social Security Benefits	42 USC § 407
--Strike Benefits	CCP § 704.120
--Transit District Retirement Benefits (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties)	CCP § 704.110 & PUC § 25337
--Unemployment Benefits and Contributions	CCP § 704.120
--Veteran's Benefits	38 USC § 3101
--Welfare Payments	CCP § 704.170 & Welfare & I C § 17409
--Workers Compensation	CCP § 704.170
Boats	CCP § 704.060 & CCP § 704.710
Books	CCP § 704.060
Building Material (Residential)	CCP § 704.030
Business:
--Licenses	CCP § 695.060 & CCP § 699.720(a)(1)
--Tools of Trade	CCP § 704.060
Cars and Trucks (Including Proceeds)	CCP § 704.010
Cemeteries:
--Land Proceeds	Health & S C § 7925
--Plots	CCP § 704.200
Charity	CCP § 704.170
Claims, Actions and Awards:
-- Personal Injury	CCP § 704.140
--Worker's Compensation	CCP § 704.160
-- Wrongful Death	CCP § 704.150
Clothing	CCP § 704.020
Condemnation Proceeds	CCP 704.720(b)
County Employees Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code §31452
Damages (See Personal Injury and Wrongful Death)
Deposit Accounts:
--Escrow or Trust Funds	Fin C § 17410
--Social Security Direct Deposits	CCP § 704.080
--Direct Deposit Account: Social Security	CCP § 704.080
Disability Insurance Benefits	CCP § 704.130
Dwelling House	CCP § 704.740
Earnings	CCP § 704.070 & CCP § 706.050 & 15 USC § 1673(a)
Educational Grant	Ed C § 21116
Employment Bonds	Lab C § 404
Financial Assistance:
--Charity	CCP § 704.170
--Public Assistance	CCP § 704.170 & Welfare & I C § 17409
--Student Aid	CCP § 704.190
--Welfare (See Public Assistance)
Fire Service Retirement	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code §32210
Fraternal Organizations Funds and Benefits	CCP § 704.130 & CCP § 704.170
Fuel for Residence	CCP § 704.020
Furniture	CCP § 704.020
General Assignment for Benefit of Creditors	CCP § 1801 &
Health Aids	CCP § 704.050
Health Insurance Benefits	CCP § 704.130
Home:
--Building Materials	CCP § 704.030
--Dwelling House	CCP § 704.740
-- Homestead	CCP § 704.720 & CCP § 704.730
--House Trailer	CCP § 704.710
--Mobilehome	CCP § 704.710
Homestead	CCP § 704.720 & CCP § 704.730
Household Furnishings	CCP § 704.720
Insurance:
--Disability Insurance	CCP § 704.130
-- Fraternal Benefit Society	CCP § 704.110
--Group Life	CCP § 704.100
--Health Insurance Benefits	CCP § 704.130
--Individual	CCP § 704.130
--Insurance Proceeds- Motor Vehicle	CCP § 704.010
Irrigation System Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110
Jewelry	CCP § 704.040
Judges Survivor Benefits (Federal)	28 USC § 376(n)
Legislators Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt Code §9359.3
Licensees	CCP § 695.060 & CCP § 720(a)(1)
Lighthouse Keepers Widows Benefits	33 USC § 775
Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation or Benefits	33 USC § 916
Military Benefits:
--Retirement	10 USC § 1440
-- Survivors	10 USC § 1450
Military Personnel - Property	50 USC § 523(b)
Motor Vehicle (including proceeds)	CCP § 704.010 & CCP § 704.060
Municipal Utility District Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.010 & PUC § 12337
Peace Officers Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110 & Govt § 31913
Pension Plans:
--Public	CCP § 704.115
--Private	CCP § 704.110
Personal Effects	CCP § 704.020
Personal Injury Actions or Damages	CCP § 704.140
Prisoner's Funds	CCP § 704.090
Property Not Subject to Enforcement of Money Judgments	CCP § 704.210
Prosthetic and OrthopedicDevices	CCP § 704.050
Provisions for Residence	CCP § 704.020
Public Assistance	CCP § 704.170 & Welfare & I C § 17409
Public Employees:
--Death Benefits	CCP § 704.110
--Pension	CCP § 704.110
--Retirement Benefits	CCP § 704.110
-- Vacation Credits	CCP § 704.113
Railroad Unemployment Insurance	45 USC § 352(e)
Relocation Benefits	CCP § 704.180
Retirement Benefits and Contributions:
--Private	CCP § 704.115
--Public	CCP § 704.110 & Ins. Code § 10498.5
Segregated Benefit Funds	Ins C § 10498.6
Servicemembers Property	50 USC § 523(b)
Social Security	42 USC § 407
Social Security Direct Deposit Account	CCP § 704.080
Strike Benefits	CCP § 704.120
Student Aid	CCP § 704.190
Tools of Trade	CCP § 704.060
Transit District Retirement Benefits (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties)	CCP § 704.110 & PUC § 25337
Travelers Check Sales Proceeds	Fin C § 1875
Unemployment Benefits and Contributions	CCP § 704.120
Uniforms	CCP § 704.060
Vacation Credits (Public Employees)	CCP § 704.113
Veterans Benefits	38 USC § 3101
Wages	CCP § 704.070 & CCP § 706.050 & CCP § 706.051
Welfare Payments	CCP § 704.170 & Welfare & I C § 17409
Workers Compensation Claims or Awards	CCP § 704.160
Wrongful Death Actions or Damages	CCP § 704.150

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS GUIDE, OR IF YOU NEED HELP FINDING OR USING THE MATERIALS LISTED, DON'T HESITATE TO ASK A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN.

August, 2011