Kassandra is a writer and attorney with a passion for consumer financial education. Outside of consumer law, she is focused on pro bono work in the fields of International Human Rights Law, Constitutional and Human Rights Law, Gender and the Law. Kassandra graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Articles written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl
What Are the Wyoming Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 9, 2025
Wyoming requires residents to use state exemptions when filing for bankruptcy, so you don’t need to worry about federal bankruptcy exemptions. The state offers specific exemptions to protect your assets, such as up to $20,000 of equity in your primary residence and up to $5,000 in equity for one vehicle. However, Wyoming does not provide a wildcard exemption, which means you must use the designated categories to protect your property. The only exception is if you’ve lived in Wyoming for less than two years; in this case, you may need to use federal exemptions or those from your previous state.
Read More →What Are the West Virginia Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Ben Jackson
Updated September 9, 2025
West Virginians filing Chapter 7 will need to use the state’s exemptions to protect their property during their bankruptcy case. West Virginia’s homestead exemption is $35,000 for single filers (you can double this amount if you’re married, filing jointly, and jointly own the property). The motor vehicle exemption is $7,500. There’s also a wildcard exemption you can use to protect any property that’s not otherwise protected. The wildcard exemption is $800 plus any unused portion of the homestead exemption.
Read More →What Are the Montana Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
If you’ve lived in Montana for at least two years when you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ll use the state’s exemptions to protect your home, household goods, car, and other personal property you own. Montana has a generous homestead exemption, which was set at $350,000 in 2021, with a 4% increase to take place annually. The motor vehicle exemption in Montana is $4,000.
Read More →What Are the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 2, 2025
Massachusetts law allows for most residents to choose between federal bankruptcy exemptions and state exemptions to property that could be affected by the bankruptcy process. The only time that this choice is not available is if a filer is a new Massachusetts resident and has lived in the state for less than two years. By examining each approach below, you can determine whether your case will be served best by applying Massachusetts exemptions or by claiming those available under federal law. Oftentimes, both schemes do an equally adequate job of safeguarding a filer’s property. But sometimes, it’s advantageous to choose one option over the other.
Read More →What Are the South Dakota Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
South Dakota is among the majority of states that doesn’t allow residents to claim federal bankruptcy exemptions. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia allow residents to choose from their state exemption structure or the federal exemption structure per the federal Bankruptcy Code. As South Dakota does not, this makes the process of claiming exempt property more straightforward because you won’t have to compare two schemes to see which is more advantageous. As long as you’ve lived in South Dakota for a minimum of two years, you’ll apply state bankruptcy law and federal nonbankruptcy exemptions only when claiming exemptions for your personal property.
Read More →What Are the New Hampshire Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
Exemptions protect certain property throughout a bankruptcy case. New Hampshire residents have a choice to make when claiming bankruptcy exemptions. As long as you’ve lived in New Hampshire for a minimum of two years, you can choose to claim either the New Hampshire exemptions or the federal exemptions. You aren’t allowed to pick and choose exemptions from both structures, so you’ll want to carefully compare the values of each to decide which will protect more of the property you own.
Read More →What Are the Mississippi Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
Under Mississippi law, almost all Mississippi residents must apply state exemptions to their property, as Mississippi doesn’t allow filers to claim federal exemptions unless an exception for a certain kind of property is allowed under federal law. Mississippi isn’t alone in this approach, as only 17 states allow filers to apply federal bankruptcy exemptions to their property instead of state exemptions. The only scenario under which you’d claim anything other than Mississippi exemptions is if you moved to Mississippi less than two years ago. Because Mississippi residents only have one exemption model to apply to their assets, the process of claiming exemptions is relatively straightforward.
Read More →What Are the New Mexico Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 2, 2025
Exemptions help bankruptcy filers hold on to certain property by protecting it from being sold by the bankruptcy trustee. New Mexico filers are generally allowed to choose between applying the federal bankruptcy exemptions or the state's bankruptcy exemptions. You'll want to look at each set of exemptions to see which will best protect the property you own.
Read More →What Are the South Carolina Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 2, 2025
Only 17 states allow their residents to choose between claiming state exemptions and federal bankruptcy exemptions. South Carolina is not one of these states. Instead, South Carolina law provides residents with state-specific exemptions and does not allow its residents to claim federal exemptions. While some federal law in the Bankruptcy Code does influence how some South Carolina exemptions are structured, the kinds of exempt property filers can claim and the exemption amounts that apply to bankruptcy cases are state-specific. It’s important to note that if you have lived in South Carolina for less than 2 years, you may not be able to claim South Carolina’s exemptions to your property.
Read More →What Are the Iowa Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
You may have heard about federal exemptions before, but you won’t need to worry about them when filing bankruptcy in Iowa. State law only allows Iowa residents to claim Iowa exemptions and doesn’t give filers the choice to apply federal bankruptcy exemptions to their property instead. This Iowa law isn’t an unusual approach, as only 17 states in the U.S. allow residents to choose between state-specific bankruptcy exemptions and exemption laws provided by the federal Bankruptcy Code. Note however that if you moved to Iowa within 2 years of filing for bankruptcy, you may be subject to a different set of exemption standards than long-time Iowa residents are.
Read More →What Are the North Dakota Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
One straightforward thing about filing for bankruptcy in North Dakota is that it doesn’t allow residents to claim federal bankruptcy exemptions. Although 17 jurisdictions in the United States do allow residents to apply federal exemptions to their property, North Dakota law doesn’t provide a choice between federal exemptions and state exemptions. Therefore, unless you moved to North Dakota less than 2 years ago, you don’t have to worry about comparing state law with federal law in this regard. Simply evaluate the North Dakota exemptions listed below and claim them if they apply to you. However, if you have qualifying assets, you will also want to take the federal nonbankruptcy exemptions into consideration in addition to the state-specific structure.
Read More →What Are the Rhode Island Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
When you fill out your bankruptcy petition, you'll have to choose which exemptions you’ll apply to your property. Exemptions are a part of bankruptcy law that allow filers to protect some or all of their property. Rhode Island bankruptcy law allows residents who've lived in the state for at least two years to claim either state bankruptcy exemptions or the federal bankruptcy exemptions. This article explains the most common exemptions and compares the state and federal exemptions.
Read More →What Are the Kentucky Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 2, 2025
Bankruptcy exemptions allow filers to protect certain property they own. Kentucky residents who've lived in the state for two years or more can choose between the state's exemptions or the federal bankruptcy exemptions. Below, you’ll find detailed information about each so that you can determine which will be best for you.
Read More →What Are the Connecticut Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 2, 2025
Bankruptcy exemptions allow filers to protect their possessions and property. Some states allow residents of two years or more to choose between state exemptions or the federal bankruptcy exemptions. Connecticut is one such state. Below we'll look at each set of exemptions to help you understand which may be best for you.
Read More →What Are the Utah Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 1, 2025
Utah law requires residents who have lived in the state for at least two years to use its state exemptions when filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Exemptions protect your property during the bankruptcy process so that you can get a financial fresh start without having to start from scratch. If you’re filing as a single person, the homestead exemption in Utah is $42,000. The motor vehicle exemption is $3,000. Utah doesn’t offer a wildcard exemption.
Read More →What Are the Oklahoma Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 1, 2025
If you file Chapter 7 in Oklahoma, you’ll use the state’s bankruptcy exemptions to protect your property. Oklahoma has a generous homestead exemption that allows bankruptcy filers to protect all the equity in their home provided the home isn’t on more than one acre in an urban area or 160 acres in a rural area. The motor vehicle exemption for single filers in Oklahoma is $7,500.
Read More →What Are the Maine Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 1, 2025
If you’ve lived in Maine for more than two years, you’ll have to use the state’s bankruptcy exemptions when you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. These exemptions allow you to protect certain property from being sold to pay your creditors. Key exemptions in Maine include the homestead exemption, which protects up to $80,000 of equity in your home or up to $160,000 if you live with dependents. The Maine motor vehicle exemption, which covers up to $10,000 in equity in your car. Maine also offers a $500 wildcard exemption. You can also access an additional $10,500 wildcard exemption to protect other property, but only if you don’t use the full homestead exemption.
Read More →What Are the Arkansas Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 25, 2025
If you’ve lived in Arkansas for at least two years and you’re filing Chapter 7, you can choose between the federal or state bankruptcy exemptions. Bankruptcy exemptions are laws that help you protect your property when you file your case. For many types of property and belongings, federal exemptions are more generous for filers. However, Arkansas does have a generous acreage-based homestead exemption, which can be useful if you’re a homeowner.
Read More →Will My Debt Disappear After 7 Years
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 19, 2025
The idea that if debt remains unpaid for 7 years it will simply disappear is a myth in the United States. If you’re under the impression that your unpaid debts will disappear after a 7 year period, you’re certainly not alone.
Read More →What Are the Washington D.C. Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated August 13, 2025
If you’re filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Washington, D.C., you can choose between using federal bankruptcy exemptions or D.C.’s own set of exemptions. This gives you the chance to pick the option that best protects your property. The comparison below can help you decide. Just keep in mind that if you moved to D.C. less than two years ago, you may need to use the federal exemptions instead.
Read More →Can an Employer Deny Me a Job Because of My Bad Credit?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 30, 2025
In short, yes, in the majority of states, employers can deny you employment if you have bad credit. Some states and cities have passed laws that prohibit the practice, though there are some exceptions, such as for jobs in the financial sector. Employers must get your written consent before they run a credit check as part of the hiring process. Having certain negative items on your credit report may not hurt your chances for all jobs. If you’re looking for a job and have bad credit, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of landing your dream job.
Read More →Repossession Laws in West Virginia
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of West Virginia's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.
Repossession Laws in Vermont
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated September 2, 2025
Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Vermont's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.
What Are Missouri's Car Repossession Laws?
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl. Legally reviewed by Ben Jackson
Updated August 27, 2025
Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Missouri's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.
Your Guide to Virginia's Repossession Laws
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl, Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Tina Tran
Updated August 27, 2025
Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Virginia's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.
Repossession Laws in South Dakota
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated August 27, 2025
Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of South Dakota's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.
Wage Garnishment in Nevada
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated August 25, 2025
A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Nevada regulates wage garnishments.
Repossession Laws in Minnesota
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated August 22, 2025
Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Minnesota's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.
Wage Garnishment in Kentucky
Written by Attorney Kassandra Kuehl.
Updated August 20, 2025
A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Kentucky regulates wage garnishments.
