Insights

If you own a home in Tennessee and think your residence is fully protected in a lawsuit or bankruptcy, you could be in for an expensive surprise.

If you own a home in New York, it’s easy to assume your property is protected from lawsuits or bankruptcy. After all, the state offers one of the strongest homestead exemptions in the country. But here’s the catch: even New York’s generous homestead amount may not be enough to fully shield all of your equity.

Discover South Carolina’s homestead protection—learn how much equity you can shield from creditors and the key limits on property rights.

If you own a home in North Carolina, you might assume your equity is fully protected under state law. But in reality, North Carolina’s homestead exemption only shields a limited portion of your home equity. If your equity exceeds that limit, your home could be exposed in the event of a lawsuit, financial hardship, or bankruptcy.

If you own a home in Massachusetts, you already benefit from a valuable layer of legal protection through the state’s Homestead Protection Act. But here’s the part most homeowners overlook: if the equity in your home exceeds the exemption limit, that excess equity is vulnerable in the event of a lawsuit.

If you live in Georgia, you might assume your home equity is safe from lawsuits. But the reality is, Georgia’s homestead protection is far more limited than many homeowners realize. Unless you take additional steps, a large portion of your equity may be exposed.

If you live in North Dakota and are concerned about protecting your home from creditors or lawsuits, it’s important to understand what the state’s homestead laws actually cover—and where their limits leave you vulnerable.

Florida is well known for having some of the strongest homestead protections in the country. If you live in the Sunshine State, your primary residence may be shielded from most creditor claims—but here’s the catch: those protections only apply under certain conditions.

Homestead protection in California is a legal provision that effectively shields a percentage of your primary residence’s equity from creditors, in the event of an adverse judgment. This protected amount is referred to as the “homestead exemption.” 

The primary asset clients typically want to protect is their residence. After all, the prospect of being kicked out of your home not only impacts where you live, but also your neighbor relationships, children’s schooling and church activity.