Clifton is one of the most populous cities in New Jersey, located in Passaic County. It is a diverse residential community with a mix of suburban neighborhoods and commercial areas along Route 46 and Route 3.
New Jersey uses federal bankruptcy exemptions exclusively -- one of the few states in the nation that does so. Federal exemptions under 11 U.S.C. section 522(d) apply: Homestead: $27,900. Vehicle: $4,450. Jewelry: $1,875. Tools of trade: $2,800. Wildcard: $1,475 plus up to $13,950 of unused homestead. Household goods: $700 per item, $14,875 total. Retirement accounts: fully exempt.
Exemptions determine what property you can keep in bankruptcy. See the full exemptions guide.
These organizations may offer free or low-cost assistance. Contact them directly to verify current services and eligibility requirements.
Clifton residents file in the District of New Jersey at 50 Walnut St, Newark, NJ 07102. The drive from Clifton is approximately 15-20 minutes southeast.
The federal wildcard exemption available in New Jersey is $1,475 plus up to $13,950 of any unused homestead exemption. If you are a renter (not using homestead), you effectively have a $15,425 wildcard to protect any personal property -- one of the more generous wildcard amounts.
The federal vehicle exemption is $4,450 per debtor. If your car equity is under $4,450, you can keep it in Chapter 7. You can also apply the wildcard exemption to protect additional vehicle equity. In Chapter 13, you keep all property while making plan payments.
Use the free 1328(f) screener to check whether a prior discharge affects your eligibility.
Free Discharge Screener