Bankruptcy by State
Bankruptcy in District of Columbia
How District of Columbia's bankruptcy exemptions, Chapter 7 income limits, and filing volume compare to the rest of the country.
Homestead exemption
Unlimited
No dollar cap
Vehicle exemption
$2,575
#20 of 51
Median income (1 person)
$85,391
Chapter 7 means-test threshold
Annual filings
4,291
Year 2025
District of Columbia vs. national medians
National medians are calculated across all 51 states plus the District of Columbia. Ranks run from #1 (highest) to #51 (lowest). Where a state publishes a range or a conditional amount, the exemption is shown in full and ranked by its guaranteed minimum.
| Metric | District of Columbia | National median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead exemption | Unlimited | $90,000 | Unlimited |
| Motor vehicle exemption | $2,575 | $7,250 | #20 of 51 |
| Median income (1-person household) | $85,391 | $71,745 | #9 of 51 |
| Median income (4-person household) | $166,598 | $126,058 | #3 of 51 |
| Annual bankruptcy filings | 4,291 | 8,707 | #33 of 51 |
District of Columbia provides an unlimited homestead exemption (subject to federal acreage and time-of-ownership limits under the Bankruptcy Code).