What Creditors Can't Take in Florida
Money, home and vehicle exemptions that protect your property from creditors in Florida.
Short answer: No general bank account exemption. A head of family's exempt wages stay exempt for 6 months after being deposited, if they can be traced. Fla. Stat. §§ 222.11(3), 222.25(4); Fla. Const. art. X, § 4(a)(2)
| Money protected in a bank account | No general bank account exemption. A head of family's exempt wages stay exempt for 6 months after being deposited, if they can be traced. A debtor who does not claim the homestead exemption may protect up to $4,000 of personal property, which can include money. The Florida Constitution also protects $1,000 of personal property. § 222.11: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/222.11 |
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| Homestead exemption | No dollar limit. A homestead is protected from forced sale based on size: up to 160 contiguous acres outside a city, or up to one-half acre inside a city. The protection does not apply to taxes, the mortgage or other debts to buy or improve the home, or labor performed on it. Source: Fla. Const. art. X, § 4(a)(1) |
| Vehicle exemption | Up to $5,000 in value in a single motor vehicle. Increased from $1,000 by ch. 2024-110, Laws of Florida. Source: Fla. Stat. § 222.25(1) |
| Bankruptcy exemptions | Florida has opted out of the federal exemptions. Florida residents must use the exemptions in the Florida Constitution and statutes. Source: Fla. Stat. § 222.20 |
Where to get help in Florida
- Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Division of Consumer Finance (registers consumer collection agencies)
- File a complaint or claim
More Florida debt & collections
- Statute of Limitations on Debt in Florida
- Wage Garnishment in Florida
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Florida
- Medical Debt Protections in Florida
- All Florida debt & collections rules
FAQ
How much money in a bank account is protected from creditors in Florida?
No general bank account exemption. A head of family's exempt wages stay exempt for 6 months after being deposited, if they can be traced. A debtor who does not claim the homestead exemption may protect up to $4,000 of personal property, which can include money. The Florida Constitution also protects $1,000 of personal property.
What is the homestead exemption in Florida?
No dollar limit. A homestead is protected from forced sale based on size: up to 160 contiguous acres outside a city, or up to one-half acre inside a city. The protection does not apply to taxes, the mortgage or other debts to buy or improve the home, or labor performed on it.
Can a creditor take my car in Florida?
Up to $5,000 in value in a single motor vehicle.
Which bankruptcy exemptions can I use in Florida?
Florida has opted out of the federal exemptions. Florida residents must use the exemptions in the Florida Constitution and statutes.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.