What A Creditor Cannot Take
Idaho Code § 11-605, Idaho Code § 11-207 and Idaho Code § 55-1003 — the household goods, the car, a share of the pay, and the home
| Property | Exempt up to |
|---|---|
| PropertyHousehold goods, clothing, books, animals, heirlooms | Exempt up to$1,000 an item, $7,500 in all |
| PropertyJewelry | Exempt up to$1,000 in all |
| PropertyTools of the trade | Exempt up to$10,000 |
| PropertyOne motor vehicle | Exempt up to$10,000 |
| PropertyFood and water for the household | Exempt up toTwelve months' supply |
Disability benefits, support and alimony, an injury or wrongful death recovery, and life insurance paid to a spouse or dependent are exempt as far as reasonably necessary to support the person and their dependents.
25% of the pay, at most. A garnishment may take no more than 25% of a week's disposable earnings, or the amount by which they exceed thirty times the federal minimum hourly wage, whichever is less. For child support the limit is 50% where the person supports a spouse or child, or 60% where not, rising to 55% and 65% for support more than twelve weeks overdue.
The home, to $175,000. A home occupied as the owner's principal residence is protected automatically by the homestead exemption, which cannot exceed $175,000. Unimproved land not yet lived in is protected from the time a declaration of homestead is recorded.
Tax debts and bankruptcy orders fall outside the pay limit. Claiming an exemption in a particular case is a question for a licensed Idaho attorney or the court.
Sources for this section (5)
- Idaho Code § 11-605 — Exemptions of personal property and disposable earnings subject to value limitations
- Idaho Code § 11-604 — Property exempt to extent reasonably necessary for support
- Idaho Code § 11-207 — Restriction on garnishment — Maximum
- Idaho Code § 55-1003 — Homestead exemption limited
- Idaho Code § 55-1004 — Automatic homestead exemption — Conditions — Declaration of homestead — Declaration of abandonment
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Idaho attorney.