Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34 (2026)

Property exempt from execution

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 34. The following property of the debtor shall be exempt from seizure on execution:

First, The necessary wearing apparel, beds and bedding for the debtor and the debtor's family, 1 heating unit used for warming the dwelling house, 1 stove, 1 refrigerator, 1 freezer and 1 hot water heater used primarily for the personal, family or household use of the debtor or a debtor's family and the amount each month, not exceeding $500, reasonably necessary to pay for fuel, heat, refrigeration, water, hot water and light for the debtor and the debtor's family;

Second, Other household furniture necessary for the debtor and the debtor's family, not exceeding $15,000 in value;

Third, The bibles, schoolbooks and library used by the debtor or the debtor's family, not exceeding $500 in value;

Fourth, 2 cows, 12 sheep, 2 swine and 4 tons of hay;

Fifth, Tools, implements and fixtures necessary for carrying on the trade or business of the debtor, not exceeding $5,000 in value;

Sixth, Materials and stock designed and procured by the debtor which is necessary for carrying on the trade or business of the debtor and intended to be used or wrought therein, not exceeding $5,000 in value;

Seventh, Provisions necessary and procured and intended for the use of the debtor's family or the money necessary therefor, not exceeding $600 in value;

Eighth, 1 pew occupied by the debtor or the debtor's family in a house of public worship; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the sale of a pew for the nonpayment of a tax legally imposed thereon;

Ninth, Boats, fishing tackle and nets of a debtor who is a fisherman and actually used by the debtor in the course of the debtor's business, not exceeding $1,500 in value;

Tenth, The uniform of an officer or soldier in the militia and the arms and accoutrements required by law to be kept by the officer or soldier;

Eleventh, The rights of burial and tombs in use as repositories for the dead;

Twelfth, 1 sewing machine in actual use by each debtor or by his family, not exceeding $300 each in resale value, and 1 computer and 1 television, in actual use by each debtor's family;

Thirteenth, Shares in co-operative associations subject to chapter 157, not exceeding $100 in value in the aggregate;

Fourteenth, Estates of homestead as defined in chapter 188 or, in lieu thereof, the amount of money each rental period, not exceeding $2,500 per month, necessary to pay the rent for the dwelling unit occupied by the debtor and the debtor's family;

Fifteenth, $2,500 in cash or savings or other deposits in a banking or investment institution, wages equal to the greater of 85 per cent of the debtor's gross wages or 50 times the greater of the federal or the Massachusetts hourly minimum wage for each week or portion thereof and the full amount owing or paid to a person as public assistance;

Sixteenth, An automobile necessary for the debtor's personal transportation or to secure or maintain employment, not exceeding $7,500 of wholesale resale value; provided, however, that the equitable value of a vehicle owned or substantially used by debtor who is either a handicapped person or a person 60 years of age or older shall be exempt up to $15,000 in wholesale resale value;

Seventeenth, The debtor's aggregate interest in any personal property, not to exceed $1,000 in value, plus up to $5,000 of any unused dollar amount of the aggregate exemptions provided under clauses Second, Fifth and Sixteenth; and

Eighteenth, The debtor's aggregate interest, not to exceed $1,225 in value, in jewelry held primarily for the personal, family or household use of the debtor or the debtor's spouse or dependent.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1977–2024 · leading case: Slive & Hanna, Inc. v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination & Another., 178 N.E.3d 407 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021).
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Slive & Hanna, Inc. v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination & Another., 178 N.E.3d 407 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 7× “G. L. c. 235, § 34, First, Fifteenth. [Note 12] Household necessities, such as bedding, certain appliances, furniture, groceries, and a sewing machine are exempt from seizure.”
In re Plant, 503 B.R. 224 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2013). · cites it 15× “The question presented is whether the Debtor may claim as exempt under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34 certain insurance proceeds which the Debtor has earmarked to replace the types of personal property described in that section, such as household goods and furnishings, which were…”
Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Rodco Autobody, 965 F. Supp. 104 (D. Mass. 1996). · cites it 5× “Exemptions applicable to the present dispute include the following; (1) a homestead estate up to the amount of $100,000, Mass. Gen. L. ch. 235, § 34; Mass. Gen. L.”
Levin v. Mauro, 425 F. Supp. 205 (D. Mass. 1977). · cites it 4× “*206 The trustee’s report requested by Bankruptcy Rule 403(b) 2 denied the exemption because the car’s value exceeded the $700 limit set by Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 235, § 34. 3 Upon objection to the trustee’s denial, the Bankruptcy Judge heard argument on the issue.”
Koonce v. Aldo Realty Trust, 392 N.E.2d 549 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979). · cites it 2× “The landlord delivered the execution to the constable for the purpose of regaining possession of the apartment in which the plaintiff lived and to collect the dollar amounts set out in the execution, one infers by levying on those items of the plaintiffs personal property which…”
Finberg v. Sullivan, 634 F.2d 50 (3rd Cir. 1980). “” Mass.Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 235, § 34 (West) lists property exempt from execution.”
In re Corbett, 478 B.R. 62 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2012). “He also claimed as exempt a payment in the sum of $350,000 to Skomurski within 90-days of the commencement of his case pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34 (15). 3 On Schedule F-Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonp-riority Claims, he listed Skomurski as the holder of a claim in…”
Dolan v. Am. Student Assistance (In Re Dolan), 256 B.R. 230 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2000). “Under Massachusetts law, it is true that, subject to statutory exceptions, Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 235, § 34, creditors may reach property interests in satisfaction of obligations owed to them.”
In re Feliciano, 487 B.R. 47 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2013). “188, § 1 and a 1994 Toyota as exempt under Mass Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34(16). The trustee filed an objection to the debtors’ claimed ex *50 emption in the Yauco property only, on the basis that the Massachusetts homestead exemption is not applicable to out of state property.”
In Re Kellogg, 179 B.R. 379 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1995). “The Debtors reference Mass. Gen.Laws Ann. ch. 235, § 34, which protects various retirement vehicles, including SEPs, from attaching creditors under Massachusetts state law.”
In Re McConchie, 94 B.R. 245 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1988). “The debtor’s tangible personal property exempted under M.G.L. c. 235, § 34, is, by virtue of that statute, merely exempt from seizure on execution; however, M.”
In Re Tinker, 355 B.R. 380 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2006). “On Schedule C-Property Claimed as Exempt, the Debtor claimed an exemption in the amount of $500,000 pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34 , which lists estates of homestead as defined in Mass.”
Show all 28 citing cases →
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34(14) — 1 case
In Re Conroy, 224 B.R. 282 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1998).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34(15) — 2 cases
In Re DeNadai, 259 B.R. 801 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2001).
In re Plant, 503 B.R. 224 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2013). “The question presented is whether the Debtor may claim as exempt under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34 certain insurance proceeds which the Debtor has earmarked to replace the types of personal property described in that section, such as household goods and furnishings, which were…”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34(16) — 1 case
In re Feliciano, 487 B.R. 47 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2013). “188, § 1 and a 1994 Toyota as exempt under Mass Gen. Laws ch. 235, § 34(16). The trustee filed an objection to the debtors’ claimed ex *50 emption in the Yauco property only, on the basis that the Massachusetts homestead exemption is not applicable to out of state property.”
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