What is the Nebraska homestead exemption in 2026?

Nebraska's homestead exemption protects up to $60,000 of equity in your primary residence under Nebraska Revised Statute 40-101. For married couples, the exemption is shared, not doubled.

Does Nebraska allow federal bankruptcy exemptions?

No. Nebraska has opted out of the federal exemption system. Nebraska debtors must use state exemptions under Nebraska Revised Statutes.

What is the Nebraska vehicle exemption?

Nebraska exempts up to $2,400 in equity in one motor vehicle under Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 25-1556.

← bankruptcyexemptionsbystate.com | Nebraska Guide

Nebraska Bankruptcy Exemptions 2026

Complete guide to what property you can keep when filing bankruptcy in Nebraska

$60,000

Homestead Exemption

$2,400

Vehicle Exemption

Opt-Out

State Exemptions Only

1 District

D. Neb.

Nebraska Exemptions Chart

Asset Type	Exemption Amount	Statute
Homestead	$60,000	Neb. Rev. Stat. 40-101
Vehicle	$2,400	Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-1556
Personal property	$2,500 total (clothing, furniture, household goods)	Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-1556
Wages	85% of unpaid wages or 40x federal minimum wage (greater of)	Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-1558
Retirement accounts	Fully exempt (ERISA-qualified)	Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-1563.01
IRA	Fully exempt	Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-1563.01
Tools of trade	$2,400	Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-1556
Life insurance	Cash value if beneficiary is dependent	Neb. Rev. Stat. 44-371
Public benefits	Fully exempt (unemployment, workers' comp, ADC)	Various
Wildcard	None	--

Nebraska Homestead Exemption Details

Nebraska's homestead exemption protects up to $60,000 of equity in your primary residence. This covers houses, condos, and mobile homes you occupy as your primary dwelling. Key rules:

The property must be your primary residence
The exemption protects equity (value minus mortgage and liens)
Head of household does not need to be married
Rural homesteads are limited to 160 acres

Important Notes for Nebraska Filers

No federal exemptions: Nebraska has opted out. You must use state exemptions.
No wildcard exemption: Nebraska does not offer a general-purpose wildcard. Every asset must fit within a specific exemption category.
Low vehicle exemption: At $2,400, Nebraska's vehicle exemption is among the lowest. If your car equity exceeds this, consider Chapter 13 to keep the vehicle.
Strong retirement protection: All ERISA-qualified plans and IRAs are fully exempt -- no dollar cap.
Domicile rule: You must have been domiciled in Nebraska for 730 days (2 years) before filing. Otherwise, use your prior state's exemptions.

Nebraska Bankruptcy Statistics

The District of Nebraska (D. Neb.) processes approximately 3,500-4,500 bankruptcy filings per year. Most are Chapter 7 filings. For current filing statistics, see our full Nebraska bankruptcy guide.

Related Resources

Full Nebraska Bankruptcy Guide | Homestead Exemptions by State | Vehicle Exemptions by State | Means Test Calculator