Filing Bankruptcy in Mississippi: Means Test, Exemptions and Courts

Mississippi has two federal bankruptcy districts: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Mississippi (https://www.msnb.uscourts.gov) and the Southern District of Mississippi (https://www.mssb.uscourts.gov).

1 person: $53,978; 2 people: $70,328; 3 people: $82,846; 4 people: $97,464; add $11,100 for each additional person over 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026 (the Census median income data was last updated for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026).

Mississippi filers must use Mississippi exemptions: "residents of the State of Mississippi shall not be entitled to the federal exemptions" in 11 U.S.C. 522(d).

Up to $75,000 in value (including improvements, after existing encumbrances), on no more than 160 acres of land.

No separate vehicle amount. Motor vehicles are one of the categories of tangible personal property (with household goods, tools of the trade, cash on hand, health aids and items under $200) that a debtor may select up to a combined $10,000.

The $10,000 tangible personal property exemption lets the debtor choose among the listed categories (including cash on hand). A Mississippi resident 70 or older may also exempt an additional $50,000 in property of any type.

Assets in, and money payable from, qualified retirement arrangements (including 401(a), 403(a), 403(b) and 457(b) plans, IRAs, Roth IRAs and SEPs) are exempt, whether vested or not.

Wages are exempt from attachment, execution or garnishment for 30 days after a writ is served; after that, no more than the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage can be taken (support orders and state or local tax debts excepted).

N.D. Miss. links to the federal judiciary's "Filing Without an Attorney" guide, bankruptcy forms and helpful sites. S.D. Miss. has a "Filing Without An Attorney" page, local forms, and emergency filing procedures.

Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi (joint order): the Amended Standing Order Regarding Use of "No-Look" Fee in Awarding Reasonable Compensation and Reimbursable Expenses to Attorneys of Debtors in Chapter 13 Cases (Order 2025-02, dated February 10, 2025; effective May 1, 2025) allows debtor's counsel, absent objection, to charge a presumptively reasonable "No-Look Fee" of up to $4,600 for cases filed on or after May 1, 2025 ($4,000 for cases filed January 1, 2023 through April 30, 2025). The No-Look Fee covers representation during the pre-confirmation and post-confirmation stages of the chapter 13 case (not adversary proceedings) and is full compensation for services and expenses except the statutory filing fee, credit report charges, and the credit counseling fee. Counsel may seek an enhancement by itemized application for extraordinary matters, and the court may reduce the fee.