EJ-156 Current Dollar Amounts of Exemptions from Enforcement of Judgments

Source: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej156.pdf

EJ-156 CURRENT DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF EXEMPTIONS FROM ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS Code of Civil Procedure sections 703.140(b) and 704.010 et seq.

EXEMPTIONS UNDER SECTION 703.140(b)

The following lists the current dollar amounts of exemptions from enforcement of judgment under Code of Civil Procedure section 703.140(b) used in a case under title 11 of the United States Code (bankruptcy). Unless otherwise provided by statute, these amounts are effective April 1, 2025, and will be adjusted at each three-year interval ending on March 31. The amount of the adjustment to the prior amounts is based on the change in the annual California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the most recent three-year period ending on the preceding December 31, with each adjusted amount rounded to the nearest $25. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 703.150(e).)

Code Civ. Proc., § 703.140(b) Type of Property Amount of Exemption

(1) The debtor's aggregate interest in real property or
personal property that the debtor or a dependent of
the debtor uses as a residence, or in a cooperative
that owns property that the debtor or a dependent of
the debtor uses as a residence $ 36,750

(2) The debtor's interest in one or more motor vehicles $ 8,625

(3) The debtor's interest in household furnishings,
household goods, wearing apparel, appliances,
books, animals, crops, or musical instruments, that
are held primarily for the personal, family, or
household use of the debtor or a dependent of the
debtor (value is of any particular item) $ 925

(4) The debtor's aggregate interest in jewelry held
primarily for the personal, family, or household use of
the debtor or a dependent of the debtor $ 2,175

(5) The debtor's aggregate interest, plus any unused
amount of the exemption provided under paragraph
(1), in any property $ 1,950

(6) The debtor's aggregate interest in any implements,
professional books, or tools of the trade of the debtor
or the trade of a dependent of the debtor $ 10,950

(8) The debtor's aggregate interest in any accrued dividend or interest under, or loan value of, any unmatured life insurance contract owned by the debtor under which the insured is the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is a dependent $ 19,625

(10)(F) The debtor's aggregate interest in vacation credits or
accrued, or unused, vacation pay, sick leave, family
leave, or wages, as defined in Section 200 of the
Labor Code $ 8,625

(11)(E) The debtor's right to receive, or property traceable to,
a payment on account of personal bodily injury of the
debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is a
dependent $ 36,750

Judicial Council of California, Rev. July 20, 2026, Optional Form courts.ca.gov Current Dollar Amounts of Exemptions EJ-156, Page 1 of 2 Code Civ. Proc., §§ 703.140, 703.150, 704.010 et seq. From Enforcement of Judgments

EJ-156 CURRENT DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF EXEMPTIONS FROM ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS Code of Civil Procedure sections 703.140(b) and 704.010 et seq.

EXEMPTIONS UNDER SECTION 704.010 et seq.

The following lists the current dollar amounts of exemptions from enforcement of judgment under title 9, division 2, chapter 4, article 3 (commencing with section 704.010) of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The amount of the automatic exemption for a deposit account under section 704.220(a) is effective July 1, 2026, and unless otherwise provided by statute after that date, will be adjusted annually, effective July 1, by the Department of Social Services under Welfare and Institutions Code section 11453 to reflect the minimum basic standard of care for a family of four as established by section 11452.*

Unless otherwise provided by statute, the other amounts are all effective April 1, 2025, and will be adjusted at each three-year interval, ending on March 31. The amount of the adjustment to the prior amounts is based on the change in the annual California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the most recent three-year period ending on the preceding December 31, with each adjusted amount rounded to the nearest $25. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 703.150(e).)

Code Civ. Proc. Section Type of Property Amount of Exemption

704.010 Motor vehicle (any combination of aggregate equity, proceeds $ 8,625 of execution sale, and proceeds of insurance or other indemnification for loss, damage, or destruction) 704.030 Material to be applied to repair or maintenance of residence $ 4,400 704.040 Jewelry, heirlooms, art $ 10,950 704.060 Personal property used in debtor's or debtor's spouse's trade, $ 10,950 business, or profession (amount of exemption for commercial motor vehicle not to exceed $4,850) 704.060 Personal property used in debtor's and spouse's common $ 21,900 trade, business, or profession (amount of exemption for commercial motor vehicle not to exceed $9,700) 704.220 Deposit account, generally (exemption without claim; amount $ 2,325* per judgment debtor, section 704.220(a) & (e))1 704.080 Deposit account with direct payment of social security or public benefits (exemption without claim, section 704.080(b))2 Public benefits, one depositor is designated payee $ 2,175 Social security benefits, one depositor is designated $ 4,400 payee Public benefits, two or more depositors are $ 3,250 designated payees3 Social security benefits, two or more depositors are $ 6,575 designated payees3 704.090 Inmate trust account $ 2,175 Inmate trust account (restitution fine or order) $ 3254 704.100 Aggregate loan value of unmatured life insurance policies $ 17,525 704.113 The aggregate interest in vacation credits or accrued, or $ 8,625 unused, vacation pay, sick leave, or family leave 1 This exemption does not preclude or reduce other exemptions for deposit accounts. However, if the exemption amount for the deposit account applicable under other automatic exemptions—such as those applicable for direct deposit of social security benefits or public benefits—is greater under the other exemptions, then those apply instead of this one. (Code Civ. Proc., § 704.220(b).) 2 The amount of a deposit account with direct deposited funds that exceeds exemption amounts shown is also exempt to the extent it consists of payments of public benefits or social security benefits. (Code Civ. Proc., § 704.080(c).)

3 If only one joint payee is a beneficiary of the payment, the exemption is in the amount available to a single designated payee. (Code Civ.
Proc., § 704.080(b)(3) & (4).)
4 This amount is not subject to adjustments under Code of Civil Procedure section 703.150.

Rev. July 20, 2026 Current Dollar Amounts of Exemptions EJ-156, Page 2 of 2 From Enforcement of Judgments Print Save