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Can a creditor take my exempt income or property if they have a judgment against me?

Produced by Mariah Jennings-Rampsi, South Coastal Counties Legal Services, with funding from American College of Bankruptcy Foundation
Reviewed December 2019

No. Even if a creditor has a judgment against you, they cannot take exempt income or property to pay most debts.

Only a priority creditor can take exempt income or property.  Priority creditors include those who are collecting money you owe to

  • the government,
  • child support,
  • alimony
  • fines or restitution in criminal cases.

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