Connecticut Homestead Exemption Statute

Connecticut's law providing for a homestead exemption protects a person's home from the claim of creditors, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. The homestead exemption protects against creditors attaching the home, forcing a sale to collect an awarded judgment and claims of creditors in a bankruptcy filing.

Homestead Exemption Amount

The homestead exemption protects the equity of the debtor's home that is an eligible homestead property. This is the value of the home less any mortgage balance. The basic amount of equity protected is up to $75,000, with debts related to hospital bills protected up to $125,000. Married couples can double this protection up to $150,000 and $250,000. As long as the debt involved is under the maximum equity protected, the creditor can not force the sale of the debtor's home.

Homestead Eligibility

The property must be located in Connecticut and can be a house, condo, manufactured home or mobile home. The person claiming the homestead exemption must a legal owner of the property. The debtor must be physically occupying the home at the time homestead protection is sought. In addition, the home must be the primary residence of the debtor. All three of these personal eligibility requirements must be met. The occupancy and primary residence requirements must be bona fide and in good faith, not just for the purpose of acquiring homestead protection.

Bankruptcy and Foreclosure

The homestead exemption protection can be applied to a bankruptcy filing, if the debtor chooses to use state exemptions rather than federal ones. However, the debtor must use only state bankruptcy exemptions to do so and forgo any eligible federal ones. While the homestead exemption protects against the home's forced sale by a creditor such as a credit card company, it does not provide protection against a foreclosure by a mortgage lender or by the local government to collect unpaid property taxes.

Other Provisions

The state law does not require any form to be filed for homestead protection. It is automatic for eligible properties and debtors. The maximum equity amounts are subject to adjustment to reflect inflation. The double amount protected for married couples is applicable only if they own the home jointly and for a joint debt or bankruptcy. Creditors can't seize or sell the homestead property, but they can file a lien against the property. They can execute this if the equity amount falls below the amount of the debt.