Va. Code » Title 34. Homestead and Other Exemptions » Chapter 1. General Provisions
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 34-3.1 (2026)

Property specified in Bankruptcy Reform Act not exempt

✓ current as of May 2026
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No individual may exempt from the property of the estate in any bankruptcy proceeding the property specified in subsection (d) of § 522 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act (Public Law 95-598), except as may otherwise be expressly permitted under this title.

1979, c. 692.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 117 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: In Re White, 11 B.R. 775 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1981).
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In Re White, 11 B.R. 775 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1981). · cites it 17× “§ 2403 (b) was delivered to the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia because of the challenge to the constitutionality of § 34-3.”
In Re Smith, 45 B.R. 100 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1984). · cites it 5× “Va.Code § 34-3.1. 1 Thus, in Virginia, a debtor may only exempt that property which is allowable under the Virginia exemption statutes, which includes, among others, Va.”
Tavenner v. Smoot (In Re Smoot), 265 B.R. 128 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1999). · cites it 5× “See Va.Code § 34-3.1. 3 Accordingly, residents of Virginia filing bankruptcy petitions may claim only those exemptions allowable under state law and general federal law.”
Eanes v. Shepherd, 33 B.R. 984 (W.D. Va. 1983). · cites it 10× “The creditors argued that Virginia Code § 34-3.1 (1981 Cum.Supp.), which states that, “no individual may exempt from the property of the estate the property specified in subsection (d) of § 522 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act, except as may otherwise be expressly permitted under…”
Thompson v. Bd. of Trs. (In Re Thompson), 182 B.R. 140 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1995). · cites it 3× “§ 522 (b)(1); Va.Code § 34-3.1 (Michie 1990). Thompson also uses a Fairfax County ordinance as a basis for the exemption.”
In re Cantu, 553 B.R. 565 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2016). · cites it 2× “Va.Code Ann. § 34-3.1 (West 2016). Debtors, therefore, are only allowed the exemptions afforded by the Virginia Code and may not claim the federal exemptions set out in the Bankruptcy Code.”
In Re Wallace, 249 B.R. 677 (Bankr. W.D. Va. 2000). · cites it 3× “See, Code of Virginia § 34-3.1 (the Virginia “opt out” statute) 3 and 11 U.”
In Re Hanes, 162 B.R. 733 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1994). · cites it 3× “See Va.Code § 34-3.1 (Michie 1990). Accordingly, we must direct our attention'to controlling Virginia law.”
In re Foster, 556 B.R. 233 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2016). · cites it 3× “"No individual may exempt from the property of the estate in any bankruptcy proceeding the property specified in subsection (d) of § 522 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act ( Public Law 95-598 ), except as may otherwise be expressly permitted under this title," Va. Code § 34-3.1. . In…”
In Re Heater, 189 B.R. 629 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1995). · cites it 5× “Va.Code Ann. § 34-3.1 (Mi-chie 1990). 5 .”
Parkinson v. Bradford Trust Co. of Boston (In Re O'Brien), 50 B.R. 67 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1985). · cites it 4× “Virginia has chosen to opt-out of the federal exemption scheme, Virginia Code § 34-3.1 (Repl.Vol.1984), and limits Virginia residents to the exemptions contained in § 522(b)(2)(A).”
Dominion Bank of the Cumberlands, Na v. James R. Nuckolls Judy M. Nuckolls, 780 F.2d 408 (4th Cir. 1985). · cites it 2× “See Va.Code § 34-3.1 (1984). If lawmaking is like sausage-making, section 522(b) is a rare piece of sausage.”
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— Va. Code Ann. § 34-3.1(1979) — 1 case
Faisal Raza (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2022).
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