FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE
All law references are to Illinois Bankruptcy Code unless noted.

ASSET

EXEMPTION

LAW PROVISION

HOMESTEAD

Real or personal property including a farm, lot and building, condo, co-op or mobile home to $15,000; sale proceeds exempt 1 year from sale

735-5/12-901, 735-5/12-906

Spouse or child of deceased owner may claim homestead exemption

735-5/12-902

Husband and wife may double

515 N.E. 2d 1356

(App. Ct. Ill. 1998)

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Bible, family pictures, schoolbooks and needed clothing

735-5/12-1001(a)

Health aids

735-5/12-1001(e)

Motor vehicle to $2,400

735-5/121001(c)

Personal injury recoveries to $15,000

735-5/12-1001(g)(4)

Proceeds of sold exempt property

735-5/12-1001

Title certificate for boat over 12 feet

652-45/3A-7

Wrongful death recoveries needed for support

735-5/12-1001(h)(2)

INSURANCE

Fraternal benefit society benefits

215-5/299.1a

Health or disability benefits

735-5/12-1001(g)(3)

Homeowners’ proceeds if home destroyed, to $7,500

735-5/12-907

Life insurance, annuity proceeds or cash value if beneficiary is insured’s child, parent, spouse or other dependent

215-5/238

Life insurance policy if beneficiary is insured’s spouse or chil

735-5/12-1001(f)

Life insurance proceeds if clause prohibits from being used to pay beneficiary’s creditors

215-5/238

Life insurance proceeds needed for support

735-5/12-1001(f), (g)(3)

MISCELLANEOUS

Alimony, child support needed for support

735-5/12-1001(g)(4)

Property of business partnership

805-205/25

PENSIONS

Civil service employees

40-5/11-223

County employees

40-5/9-228

Disabled firefighters; widows and children fo firefighters

40-5/22-230

ERISA-qualified benefits

735-5/12-1006

Firefighters

40-5/4-135, 40-5/6-213

General assembly members

40-5/2-154

House of correction employees

40-5/19-117

Judges

40-5/18-161

Municipal employees

40-5/7-217(a), 40-5/8-224

Park employees

40-5/12-190

Police officers

40-5/3-144.1, 40-5/5-218

Public employees

735-5/12-1006

Public library employees

40-5/19-218

Sanitation district employees

40-5/13-808

State employees

40-5/14-147

State university employees

40-5/15-185

Teachers

40-5/16-190, 40-5/17-151

PUBLIC BENEFITS

Aid to aged, blind, disabled, AFDC

305-5/11-3

Crime victims’ compensation

735-5/12-1001(h)(1)

Restitution payments on account of WWII relocation of Aleuts and Japanese Americans

735-5/12-1001(12)(h)(5)

Social security

735-5/12-1001(g)(1)

Unemployment compensation

735-5/12-1001(g)(1), (3)

Veterans’ benefits

735-5/12-1001(g)(2)

Workers’ compensation

820-305/21

Workers’ occupational disease compensation

820-310/21

TOOLS OF TRADE

Implements, books and tools of trade to $1,500

735-5/12-1001(d)

WAGES

Minimum 85% of earned but unpaid wages; bankruptcy judge may authorize more for low-income debtors

740-170/4

WILD CARD

$1,500 of any personal property

735-5/12-1001(b)

Includes wages

57 B.R. 635 (N.D. ILL 1986)