New Hampshire Bankruptcy Exemptions

This list of exemptions updated August 2007. All law references are to New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated unless otherwise noted. Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions are allowed in New Hampshire.

Homestead

  • 480:1 – Real property, or manufactured home, up to $100,000.

Personal Property

  • 511:2 – (1) clothing; (2) beds and bedding; (3) furniture up to $3,500; (4) Refrigerator, cooking stove, and heating stove, and utensils for each; (5) sewing machine; (6) provisions and fuel up to $400; (7) books up to $800; (8) 1 hog and 1 pig, or pork if already slaughtered; (9) 6 sheep and their fleeces; (10) 1 cow, 1 yoke of oxen or a horse (if needed for farming, etc.), and hay up to 4 tons; (11) domestic fowls up to $300; (12) church pew; (13) automobile up to $4,000; (14) jewelry up to $500; (15) any property up to $1,000; and (16) Burial plot or lot: Also up to $7,000 in any property for any unused amounts allowed for items (3), (G), (7), (13), (14), and tools of trade.
  • 512:21 – Proceeds for lost or destroyed exempt property.

Wages

  • 512:21 – Earned but unpaid wages of debtor and spouse; payroll account deposits when designated as such; 50 times the federal minimum hourly wage per week; jury and witness fees; wages of a minor child.

Pensions

  • 11 U.S.C. § 522 – Tax exempt retirement accounts; Traditional and Roth IRAs up to $1,095,000 per person.
  • 100A:26 – Public employees.
  • 103:18 – Police officers.
  • 102:23 – Firefighters.
  • 512:21 – Federally created pensions accruing; ERISA-qualified, IRA and Roth IRA retirement accounts.

Public Benefits

  • 167:25 – Public assistance; aid to blind, aged, and disabled.
  • 281A:52 – Workers’ compensation.
  • 282A:159 – Unemployment compensation.

Tools of Trade

  • 511:2 – Tools of trade up to $5,000; arms, uniforms, and equipment of a military member; 1 yoke of oxen or horse needed for farming or teaming.

Insurance

  • 402:69 – Firefighters’ aid insurance.
  • 418:17 – Fraternal benefit society benefits.
  • 512:21 – Homeowners’ insurance proceeds up to $5,000.

Miscellaneous

David S. Osterman 603-626-5452