{"id":286869,"date":"2021-04-14T14:32:18","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T19:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/bankruptcy\/bankruptcy-laws-by-state\/ohio-bankruptcy-exemptions-and-law.html"},"modified":"2021-04-23T09:41:25","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T14:41:25","slug":"ohio-bankruptcy-exemptions-and-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/bankruptcy-laws-by-state\/ohio-bankruptcy-exemptions-and-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions and Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions and Law<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/j-p-finet-j-d\/\">J.P. Finet, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/maddy-teka-esq\/\">Maddy Teka, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            April 23, 2021\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<blockquote>If you are having difficulty paying your bills and you don&#8217;t see your situation improving in the future, filing for bankruptcy may be your best option. Bankruptcy could give you the breathing space you need to restructure or eliminate your debt so you can start over with a clean slate.<\/blockquote>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Basics\"><\/a>Ohio Bankruptcy Law<br>\r\n<\/h2>\r\n<p>Bankruptcy is governed by federal law under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The code provides federal bankruptcy exemptions. But states can also decide what property is exempt from the bankruptcy process and Ohio has created its own <a href=\"http:\/\/codes.ohio.gov\/orc\/2329.66\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">state exemptions<\/a>. You can keep the exempt property and it is generally protected from your creditors.<\/p>\r\n<p>When you file for personal bankruptcy, you have two options:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><b>Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.<\/b> This is also referred to as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/chapter-7.html\">\u201cliquidation&quot; bankruptcy<\/a> and your assets will be sold to pay your creditors in return for eliminating some types of debt. To qualify for Chapter 7 your household income must be lower than the median income for Ohio.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.<\/b> This is sometimes known as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/chapter-13.html\">debt \u201crestructuring&quot;<\/a> and can be used when you have enough income to pay your debts but need to rework them so you can pay them off under a court-approved repayment plan. This type of bankruptcy is popular with homeowners because it often allows them to keep their home.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>No matter which bankruptcy option you choose, the bankruptcy court will issue an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/what-is-bankruptcy\/the-automatic-stay-stopping-creditors-with-bankruptcy.html\">automatic stay<\/a> when you file. This is one of the primary benefits of bankruptcy because it stops all collection actions by creditors until a judge determines who should get paid. For example, if you have been unable to pay your mortgage, filing will stop the foreclosure process.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Secured vs. Unsecured Debt<\/h2>\r\n<p>When filing for bankruptcy, it is critical to understand that not all of your debts will be treated the same. Your debt will be labeled as either <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/secured-debt.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">secured<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/unsecured-claim.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unsecured<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>With unsecured debt, your creditors have no right to seize your property if you fail to repay them. Some common examples of unsecured debt are credit card debt, medical bills, and court judgments. Some types of unsecured debt, like child support payments, must be paid in full.<\/p>\r\n<p>Secured debt covers situations where your creditor can seize your property if you fail to pay. The two most common secured debt situations are when you have either a mortgage or a car loan.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you choose Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most of your unsecured debt will be eliminated. But you will have three options for secured debt:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><b>Return it to the lender. <\/b>In this case, you lose your property but are no longer responsible for the debt.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Keep the property and continue your payments.<\/b> If you can protect your equity in the property using an exemption and are current with your payments, you can often keep the property and continue paying down the debt.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Purchase the property. <\/b>In the unlikely situation where you can afford to purchase the property, you will be allowed to do so. However, the property must fall within one of the exemptions, and other requirements must be met.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>With Chapter 13 bankruptcy secured debt is usually restructured so that you can keep your property, but with smaller payments over a longer period. Your home mortgage is not included in the Chapter 13 plan, but if you keep making payments you will keep your home. In most cases the bankruptcy trustee will negotiate an agreement to repay any missed mortgage payments. Much of your unsecured debt can be eliminated, but you will usually need to pay at least some of it.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Exemptions\"><\/a>Ohio Bankruptcy Exemptions<\/h2>\r\n<p>The goal of personal bankruptcy is not to punish those who can&#8217;t pay their bills. The goal is to give you a fresh start. To help with this, Ohio residents can take advantage of certain exemptions. Property that is exempt is protected from creditors and cannot be taken from you in bankruptcy if it has not been pledged as collateral.<\/p>\r\n<p>Ohio also allows married couples who file jointly to double the amount of each exemption. But each spouse is only allowed to claim an exemption for the property that belongs to them. For example, there is a $4,000 exemption for motor vehicles. If the husband owns a car valued at $8,000 he will only be allowed to apply a $4,000 exemption to the vehicle because he cannot use his wife&#8217;s share of the exemption for his car.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Homestead Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>You will be allowed to exempt up to $145,425 of your equity in one piece of property you use as a residence. If you file with your spouse and file jointly, that lets you protect up to $290,850 from your creditors. The exemption amount applies to houses, condos, manufactured homes, or mobile homes.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Wild Card Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>This protects up to $1,250 of the value of any property you choose. You can use it to protect something not covered by the other exemptions or add it to another exemption to increase the exempt amount. However, this exemption cannot be applied to real estate.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Personal Property Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>The following types of personal property enjoy an exemption in Ohio:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>$500 in cash.<\/li>\r\n<li>$13,400 in household goods up to a maximum of $625 for each item. This applies to furniture and appliances.<\/li>\r\n<li>$4,000 of the value of one motor vehicle.<\/li>\r\n<li>$1,700 of jewelry.<\/li>\r\n<li>$25,175 of a personal injury award that you received in the 12 months before filing.<\/li>\r\n<li>Your interest in one burial plot.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Wage Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>You can exempt either 30 times the federal minimum wage or 75 percent of your disposable weekly earnings, whichever is higher. Disposable income is what you have leftover after payroll deductions for taxes and allowed bankruptcy expenses.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Tools of the Trade Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>Up to $2,550 of the value of tools of your trade, business, or occupation. This includes books, instruments, and other items you use to make a living.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Pension Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>Most types of retirement benefits are exempt in Ohio, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Tax-exempt retirement accounts like your 401(k) or profit-sharing plan.<\/li>\r\n<li>IRAs and Roth IRAs<\/li>\r\n<li>Private pensions<\/li>\r\n<li>Benefits through the state teacher retirement system<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Spouse and Child Support<\/h3>\r\n<p>Any reasonably necessary payments you receive for spousal or child support are exempt.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Public Benefits Exemption<\/h3>\r\n<p>Most state and federal benefits are exempt in bankruptcy, including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Unemployment compensation<\/li>\r\n<li>Earned income and child tax credits<\/li>\r\n<li>Workers&#8217; compensation<\/li>\r\n<li>Disability assistance payments<\/li>\r\n<li>Crime victim&#8217;s compensation that you received in the 12 months before filing<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Miscellaneous Exemptions<\/h3>\r\n<p>Other commonly used exemptions include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>529 college savings plans.<\/li>\r\n<li>Business partnership property.<\/li>\r\n<li>Benevolent society death benefits of up to $5,000.<\/li>\r\n<li>Group life insurance policies or proceeds.<\/li>\r\n<li>Life, endowment, or annuity contracts for your spouse, child, or other dependents.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><i style=\"background-color: transparent;\"><b>Note:<\/b> State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><br>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\n<section class=\"fl-faq\">\n    <div\n            class=\"fl-accordion fl-faq-container fl-container\"\n            id=\"faq\"\n            data-testid=\"fl-accordion\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-heading-row fl-flex\">\n            <ul\n                    class=\"fl-faq-buttons fl-flex fl-flex-row fl-items-center fl-no-spacing\"\n                    aria-label=\"View all Frequently Asked Questions\"\n            >\n                <li class=\"fl-faq-buttons-item\">\n                    <button\n                            id=\"button-show-faq\"\n                            data-testid=\"button-show-faq\"\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-filter-button fl-accordion-filter-button-show\"\n                            type=\"button\"\n                            data-focus-other-button=\"true\"\n                            aria-current=\"true\"\n                            aria-disabled=\"true\"\n                            disabled=\"\"\n                    >\n                        Show All\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/li>\n                <li><span aria-hidden=\"true\">|<\/span><\/li>\n                <li class=\"fl-faq-buttons-item\">\n                    <button\n                            id=\"button-hide-faq\"\n                            data-testid=\"button-hide-faq\"\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-filter-button fl-accordion-filter-button-hide\"\n                            type=\"button\"\n                            data-focus-other-button=\"true\"\n                            aria-current=\"true\"\n                            aria-disabled=\"true\"\n                            disabled=\"\"\n                    >\n                        Hide All\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-questions\">\n            <h3\n                    class=\"fl-faq-title fl-no-margin\"\n                    data-testid=\"fl-faq-title\"\n            >\n                Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio Bankruptcy\n            <\/h3>\n                            <div\n                        class=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                        id=\"section-1-faq\"\n                        aria-labelledby=\"button-1-faq\"\n                        data-testid=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                >\n                    <h4\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-header fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-between fl-no-margin\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-header-1\"\n                    >\n                        <button\n                                id=\"button-1-faq\"\n                                aria-expanded=\"true\"\n                                aria-controls=\"content-1-faq\"\n                                class=\"fl-accordion-button fl-accordion-button-h4 fl-flex fl-flex-auto fl-justify-between is-opened fl-text-underline\"\n                                type=\"button\"\n                        >\n                            How Do I Start Bankruptcy in Ohio?\n                            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                                <i\n                                        class=\"fa fa-angle-down small\"\n                                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                                ><\/i>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/button>\n                    <\/h4>\n                    <div\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-content active\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-content-1\"\n                            id=\"content-1-faq\"\n                            role=\"region\"\n                            aria-labelledby=\"button-1-faq\"\n                    >\n                        <p>If you are filing for bankruptcy, you must have received credit counseling within 180 days of filing. You must submit to the court a copy of the certificate of completion and any payment plan you may have come up with during counseling. You may file for a 30-day waiver if there was a legitimate reason for not getting counseling.\n<\/p>\n<p>If you are filing for bankruptcy in Ohio without a lawyer you will start by downloading the correct&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.uslegalforms.com\/cgi-bin\/forms\/search.pl?query=bankruptcy&amp;state=OH&amp;field=anywhere&amp;rating=all&amp;altform=fdlaw&amp;memform=&amp;topic=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">form for your district<\/a>. You will use the same form whether filing bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or 13. The instructions on the petition will inform you of the other forms you need to file.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div\n                        class=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                        id=\"section-2-faq\"\n                        aria-labelledby=\"button-2-faq\"\n                        data-testid=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                >\n                    <h4\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-header fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-between fl-no-margin\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-header-2\"\n                    >\n                        <button\n                                id=\"button-2-faq\"\n                                aria-expanded=\"true\"\n                                aria-controls=\"content-2-faq\"\n                                class=\"fl-accordion-button fl-accordion-button-h4 fl-flex fl-flex-auto fl-justify-between is-opened fl-text-underline\"\n                                type=\"button\"\n                        >\n                            Where Do I File for Bankruptcy in Ohio?\n                            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                                <i\n                                        class=\"fa fa-angle-down small\"\n                                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                                ><\/i>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/button>\n                    <\/h4>\n                    <div\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-content active\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-content-2\"\n                            id=\"content-2-faq\"\n                            role=\"region\"\n                            aria-labelledby=\"button-2-faq\"\n                    >\n                        <p>Ohio&#8217;s federal court system is split between the Northern District and the Southern District. Each district operates its own bankruptcy courts. While the Northern District is headquartered in Cleveland and the Southern District in Cincinnati, there are divisional courts in most metropolitan areas.\n<\/p>\n<p>Not all federal courthouses have a bankruptcy court, so before going. Searching under \u201cU.S. Bankruptcy Courts&quot; in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscourts.gov\/federal-court-finder\/search\" title=\"U.S. Court Locator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Court Locator<\/a>&nbsp;is usually the easiest way to find the closest place to file.<\/p>\n<p>The Northern District has courts in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Akron<\/li>\n<li>Canton<\/li>\n<li>Cleveland<\/li>\n<li>Toledo<\/li>\n<li>Youngstown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Southern District has courts in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cincinnati<\/li>\n<li>Columbus<\/li>\n<li>Dayton<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the Northern District of Ohio, the clerks for each divisional office require that you fill out and submit additional forms to accompany your petition. To see the forms required for each division, check out the Northern District&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohnb.uscourts.gov\/content\/clerks-office-forms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div\n                        class=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                        id=\"section-3-faq\"\n                        aria-labelledby=\"button-3-faq\"\n                        data-testid=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                >\n                    <h4\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-header fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-between fl-no-margin\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-header-3\"\n                    >\n                        <button\n                                id=\"button-3-faq\"\n                                aria-expanded=\"true\"\n                                aria-controls=\"content-3-faq\"\n                                class=\"fl-accordion-button fl-accordion-button-h4 fl-flex fl-flex-auto fl-justify-between is-opened fl-text-underline\"\n                                type=\"button\"\n                        >\n                            How Much Does Bankruptcy Cost in Ohio?\n                            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                                <i\n                                        class=\"fa fa-angle-down small\"\n                                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                                ><\/i>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/button>\n                    <\/h4>\n                    <div\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-content active\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-content-3\"\n                            id=\"content-3-faq\"\n                            role=\"region\"\n                            aria-labelledby=\"button-3-faq\"\n                    >\n                        <p>The court filing fees for Chapter 7 bankruptcy are $338, and the Chapter 13 fee is $313. These fees must normally be paid at the time you file. However, you can ask to pay in installments or to waive the fee entirely.\n<\/p>\n<p>To pay in installments, you must submit a Form 103A Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments. The form includes a statement that you can only afford to pay in installments and layout a payment schedule. The proposed schedule cannot include more than four payments and the final installment must be within 120 days of filing the petition.<\/p>\n<p>For the court to waive the fee, you must be unable to pay in installments and your income must be below 150% of the poverty line. You can request a fee waiver by filing a Form 103B application for a waiver. The judge may have you appear in court to answer questions.<\/p>\n<p>The costs of filing for bankruptcy using an attorney can vary greatly, but some will file a simple Chapter 7 case for between $1,000 and $1,500. Since Chapter 13 cases are more complex, they will usually charge more than $3,000 for a simple filing.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div\n                        class=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                        id=\"section-4-faq\"\n                        aria-labelledby=\"button-4-faq\"\n                        data-testid=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                >\n                    <h4\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-header fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-between fl-no-margin\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-header-4\"\n                    >\n                        <button\n                                id=\"button-4-faq\"\n                                aria-expanded=\"true\"\n                                aria-controls=\"content-4-faq\"\n                                class=\"fl-accordion-button fl-accordion-button-h4 fl-flex fl-flex-auto fl-justify-between is-opened fl-text-underline\"\n                                type=\"button\"\n                        >\n                            Am I Eligible to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Ohio?\n                            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                                <i\n                                        class=\"fa fa-angle-down small\"\n                                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                                ><\/i>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/button>\n                    <\/h4>\n                    <div\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-content active\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-content-4\"\n                            id=\"content-4-faq\"\n                            role=\"region\"\n                            aria-labelledby=\"button-4-faq\"\n                    >\n                        <p>Not everyone in Ohio qualifies for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, so you need to determine whether you qualify before filing under that chapter. The means test compares your household income to Ohio&#8217;s median household income,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/cedsci\/all?q=ohio%20median%20household%20income\" title=\"Household Median Income\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">which was $58,642<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 0.8125rem; font-weight: normal;\">&nbsp;in 2019. If you have income that is higher than the median amount, you may still qualify after subtracting allowed expenses. Check the&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/ust\" title=\"U.S. Trustee&#039;s Website\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Trustee&#8217;s website<\/a>&nbsp;for additional information on allowed expenses.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div\n                        class=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                        id=\"section-5-faq\"\n                        aria-labelledby=\"button-5-faq\"\n                        data-testid=\"fl-accordion-item\"\n                >\n                    <h4\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-header fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-between fl-no-margin\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-header-5\"\n                    >\n                        <button\n                                id=\"button-5-faq\"\n                                aria-expanded=\"true\"\n                                aria-controls=\"content-5-faq\"\n                                class=\"fl-accordion-button fl-accordion-button-h4 fl-flex fl-flex-auto fl-justify-between is-opened fl-text-underline\"\n                                type=\"button\"\n                        >\n                            Need Help Filing for Bankruptcy in Ohio?\n                            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                                <i\n                                        class=\"fa fa-angle-down small\"\n                                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                                ><\/i>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/button>\n                    <\/h4>\n                    <div\n                            class=\"fl-accordion-content active\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-faq-question-content-5\"\n                            id=\"content-5-faq\"\n                            role=\"region\"\n                            aria-labelledby=\"button-5-faq\"\n                    >\n                        <p>Personal bankruptcy was created to help ordinary people who have gotten into trouble with debt. Unfortunately, the process is usually too complicated for you to undertake on your own. This is why it is always a good idea to seek the assistance of a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy-law\/ohio\/?fli=dcta\" title=\"Ohio Bankruptcy Lawyer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bankruptcy attorney<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 0.8125rem; font-weight: normal;\">&nbsp;in your area if you are having trouble managing your debt.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<p>Not everyone who is having trouble with debt needs to file for bankruptcy. An attorney will help you decide if bankruptcy is the best option for you. An attorney will also help you determine whether Chapter 7 or 11 would allow you to keep the most assets under Ohio law.<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        \n                        \n\n<div class=\"generalCardContainer\">\n            \n<div\n    class=\"fl-image-card fl-image-card--no-max-width fl-image-card--no-min-height fl-card-with-children fl-latl-card fl-image-card-title-on-image fl-flex fl-flex-column\"\n>\n                    <span class=\"\"\n        >\n\n            <div class=\"fl-image-card-image-wrapper fl-image-card-image-wrapper-default\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\n                     src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1747061756\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/content-original-images-BankruptcyCourt\/content-original-images-BankruptcyCourt.jpg?_i=AA\"\n                     alt=\"\"\n                ><\/img>\n                                                    <div class=\"fl-image-card-title\">\n                        <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right small fl-mr5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                        <h3\n                            class=\"fl-no-margin fl-h3-landing\"\n                            data-testid=\"fl-image-card-title\"\n                        >\n                            <span class=\"fl-image-card-title-link\">Ohio Bankruptcy Court<\/span>\n                        <\/h3>\n                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                <\/span>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-image-card-content fl-flex-basis-100\">\n                    <h2><b style=\"font-size: 0.8125rem;\">State Bankruptcy Court Links:<\/b><br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohnb.uscourts.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northern District of Ohio<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohsb.uscourts.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Southern District of Ohio<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <div\n            class=\"fl-latl-card-footer fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-center\"\n        >\n                    <a class=\"fl-latl-card-footer-link fl-text-lg-medium fl-flex fl-items-center fl-justify-center\" href=\"https:\/\/secure.uslegalforms.com\/cgi-bin\/forms\/search.pl?query=bankruptcy&#038;state=OH&#038;field=anywhere&#038;rating=all&#038;altform=fdlaw&#038;memform=&#038;topic=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n                <span>Bankruptcy Forms<\/span>\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ohio law lets you protect some of your assets from creditors during bankruptcy proceedings, learn about how to file and which assets are protected in our overview of bankruptcy in Ohio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":286821,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2727],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-286869","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-bankruptcy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=286869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286869\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=286869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=286869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=286869"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=286869"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=286869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}