What A Creditor Cannot Take
MCL 600.6023 — property exempt from a judgment
After a court judgment, a creditor can have property seized and sold under an execution. The section lists property of the judgment debtor, and of the debtor's dependents, that is exempt from that.
| Exempt property | The limit the section sets |
|---|---|
| Exempt propertyFamily pictures, everyone's clothing, and provisions and fuel for the household | The limit the section setsProvisions and fuel for 6 months |
| Exempt propertyHousehold goods, furniture, utensils, books and appliances | The limit the section setsUp to $1,000 in value |
| Exempt propertyTools, a vehicle and other things used in the person's principal trade or business | The limit the section setsUp to $1,000 in value |
| Exempt propertyA homestead the person owns and lives in | The limit the section setsUp to $3,500 in value, and not more than 40 acres or 1 lot |
| Exempt propertyDisability insurance benefits for injury or sickness | The limit the section setsExcept against debts for necessities contracted after the benefits began |
| Exempt propertyAn IRA, and a qualified pension or 401 or 403(b) plan | The limit the section setsExcept, among others, amounts put in within 120 days before a bankruptcy, and amounts subject to a divorce or child support order |
| Exempt propertyMichigan education trust and savings accounts, and 529 and 530 accounts | The limit the section setsNo limit stated |
| Exempt propertyA pew and a burial plot in use by the family | The limit the section setsNo limit stated |
| Exempt propertyA householder's livestock | The limit the section sets10 sheep, 2 cows, 5 swine, 100 hens and 5 roosters, with feed for 6 months |
The exemptions do not reach a lien the law excludes from them, and the homestead exemption does not apply to a mortgage lawfully obtained on the homestead.
Wages and bank accounts reached by garnishment are governed by other provisions and are not covered on this page.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCL 600.6023 — Property exempt from execution
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.