The Atlantic Cities recently published an article that depicted how various state “exemption laws” protect certain properties from debt collection. The article included in its focus laws that protect family cars, homes, and household goods.
Exemption laws vary from state to state and the extent to which certain items are protected from debt collection depends on where a person lives. According to the article, some states provide some protection from debt collection for the assets listed above, while other states provide little or no protection at all.
Under Connecticut law, a car valued at up to $3,500 is considered exempt property and is therefore not subject to any form of process or court order for debt collection purposes (CGS § 52-352b(j)). A home worth up to $75,000 is protected from collection in Connecticut (CGS § 52-352b(t)). Connecticut law also protects all of a debtor’s necessary household goods, such as necessary apparel, bedding, foodstuffs, household furniture, and appliances (CGS § 52-352b(a)).
