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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54766</law_id><section_number>34-26</section_number><catch_line>Poor debtor&amp;#8217;s exemption; exempt articles enumerated</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>34-13</reference><reference>34-22</reference><reference>34-27</reference><reference>34-28</reference><reference>34-3</reference><reference>34-4</reference><reference>34-4.1</reference><reference>34-4.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="34">Homestead and Other Exemptions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Other Articles Exempt</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In addition to the <span class="dictionary">exemptions</span> provided in Chapter 2 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption created" href="/34-4/">34-4</a> et seq.), every <span class="dictionary">householder</span> shall be entitled to hold <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> from <span class="dictionary">creditor process</span> the following enumerated items:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The family Bible.
			1a. Wedding and engagement rings. <a id="paragraph-201015" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Family portraits and family heirlooms not to exceed $5,000 in value. <a id="paragraph-201016" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> (i) A lot in a burial ground and (ii) any preneed funeral <span class="dictionary">contract</span> not to exceed $5,000. <a id="paragraph-201017" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> All wearing apparel of the <span class="dictionary">householder</span> not to exceed $1,000 in value.
			4a. All household furnishings including, but not limited to, beds, dressers, floor coverings, stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, sewing machines, pots and pans for cooking, plates, and eating utensils, not to exceed $5,000 in value.
			4b. Firearms, not to exceed a total of $3,000 in value. <a id="paragraph-201018" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> All animals owned as pets, such as cats, dogs, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other pets not kept or raised for sale or profit. <a id="paragraph-201019" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Medically prescribed health aids. <a id="paragraph-201020" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Tools, books, instruments, implements, equipment, and machines, including motor vehicles, vessels, and aircraft, which are necessary for use in the course of the <span class="dictionary">householder</span>&#x2019;s occupation or trade not exceeding $10,000 in value, except that a perfected security interest on such personal property shall have priority over the claim of <span class="dictionary">exemption</span> under this section. A motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft used to commute to and from a place of occupation or trade and not otherwise necessary for use in the course of such occupation or trade shall not be <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> under this subdivision. &#x201C;Occupation,&#x201D; as used in this subdivision, includes enrollment in any public or private elementary, secondary, or career and technical education school or institution of higher education. <a id="paragraph-201021" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Motor vehicles, not held as <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> under subdivision 7, owned by the <span class="dictionary">householder</span>, not to exceed a total of $10,000 in value, except that a perfected security interest on a motor vehicle shall have priority over the claim of <span class="dictionary">exemption</span> under this subdivision. <a id="paragraph-201022" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Those portions of a tax refund or governmental payment attributable to the Child Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit pursuant to &#xA7; 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Earned Income Credit pursuant to &#xA7; 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. <a id="paragraph-201023" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Unpaid spousal or child support.
			The value of an item claimed as <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> under this section shall be the fair market value of the item less any prior security interest.
			The monetary limits, where provided, are applicable to the total value of property claimed as <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> under that subdivision.
			The purchase of an item claimed as <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> under this section with nonexempt property in contemplation of <span class="dictionary">bankruptcy</span> or <span class="dictionary">creditor process</span> shall not be deemed to be in <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> of <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>.
			No officer or other person shall <span class="dictionary">levy</span> or distrain upon, or attach, such articles, or otherwise seek to subject such articles to any <span class="dictionary">lien</span> or process. It shall not be required that a <span class="dictionary">householder</span> designate any property <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> under this section in a deed in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to secure such <span class="dictionary">exemption</span>.
			On April 1, 2027, and at each three-year interval ending on April 1 thereafter, each monetary limit in effect under this section immediately before such April 1 shall be adjusted to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, for the most recent three-year period ending immediately before January 1 preceding such April 1, and rounded to the nearest $25, the dollar amount that represents such change. Adjustments made in this section shall not apply with respect to <span class="dictionary">bankruptcy</span> cases commenced before April 1, 2027. <a id="paragraph-201024" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-26/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 6552; 1934, p. 371; 1936, p. 322; 1956, c. 637; 1970, c. 428; 1975, c. 466; 1976, c. 150; 1977, cc. 253, 496; 1990, c. 942; 1992, c. 644; 1993, c. 150; 2001, c. 483; 2002, c. 88; 2011, cc. 761, 835; 2015, c. 686; 2024, c. 656.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
