Iowa Economy:

Iowa’s top industry remains agriculture & food production, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. As in most states forced to shut down due to the pandemic, unemployment is high, but Iowa is starting to bounce back.

Texas Bankruptcy Court Locations:

Northern District of Iowa

111 7th Ave. SE, 6th Floor
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
(319) 286-2200
320 6th Street
Sioux City, Iowa
(319) 286-2200

Southern District of Iowa

U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Southern District of Iowa
110 East Court Avenue
Suite 300 Des Moines, Iowa
50309 (515) 284-6230

District of Columbia Bankruptcy Exemptions:

Washington DC Homestead Exemption

The District of Columbia has a generous homestead exemption. You can protect all of the equity in your home or co-op as long as you or your dependents live there. (§ 15-501(1)(14).)

Washington DC Motor Vehicle Exemption

You can protect up to $2,575 of equity in a car, van, truck, SUV, motorcycle, or another motor vehicle. (§ 15-501(a)(1).)

Washington DC Wildcard Exemption

You can protect up to $850 in any property, plus up to an additional $8,075 if you don’t use the homestead exemption. (§ 15-501(a)(3).)

Other Bankruptcy Exemptions in Washington DC

  • Personal property. Appliances, books, clothing, household furnishings, goods, musical instruments, and pets, up to $425 per item and $8,625 total; cemetery and burial funds (§ 43-111); co-op holdings to $500 (§ 29-928); food for three months; health aids; higher education tuition savings account (§ 47-4510); condo deposit (§ 42-1904.09); family pictures; family library up to $400; pain and suffering recovery; uninsured motorist benefits (§ 31-2408.01(h)); wrongful death damages (§§ 15-501(a)(11), 16-2703)). (Unless otherwise stated, these exemptions are found in § 15-501(a).)
  • Tools of the trade. Library, furniture, tools of a professional or artist to $300; tools of your trade or business to $1,625; mechanic’s tools to $200; notary public’s seal and documents (§ 1-1206). (§ 15-501, unless otherwise noted.)
  • Wages. 75% of earned but unpaid wages and pension payments for up to two months; nonwage earnings (including pension and retirement payments) for the head of a family up to $200 per month for two months; if you’re not the head of the family, up to $60 per month for two months; payments for loss of future earnings. (§ 16-572.)
  • Pensions. Stock bonus, annuity, pension, or profit-sharing plan (§ 15-501(a)(7)); judges (§ 11-1570(f)); public school teachers (§§ 38-2001.17, 38-2021.17); police, firefighters and teachers retirement benefits (§ 1-911.03); tax-exempt retirement accounts, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined benefit plans; IRAS and Roth IRAs to currently allowed amount. Some accounts, such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined-benefit plans, are exempt under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(C), as well. Learn more about retirement accounts in bankruptcy.
  • Public benefits. Aid to the blind, aged, and disabled (§ 4-215.01); crime victims’ compensation (§§ 4-507(e), 15-501(a)(11)); general assistance (§ 4-215.01); Social Security (§ 15-501(a)(7)); unemployment compensation (§ 51-118); veteran’s benefits (§ 15-501(a)(7)); workers’ compensation (§ 32-1517).
  • Insurance. Disability benefits (§§ 15-501(a)(7), 31-4716.01); fraternal benefit society benefits (§ 42-10-4); group life insurance policy or proceeds (§ 31-4717); life insurance payments (§ 15-501(a)(11)); life insurance proceeds if a provision in the contract states that the proceeds cannot be used to pay creditors (§ 31-4719); life insurance proceeds or avails (§ 31-4716); other insurance proceeds up to $200 per month for two months (head of family) and up to $60 per month for two months (non-head of family) (§ 15-503); unmatured life insurance contract, other than credit life insurance (§ 15-501(a)(5)).
  • Miscellaneous. Alimony or child support. (§ 15-501(a)(7).)