CHAPTER 20 - PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM EXECUTION OR ATTACHMENT

Every resident of the state is entitled to a homestead not exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) in value, exempt from execution and attachment arising from any debt, contract or civil obligation entered into or incurred.

(a) The homestead is only exempt as provided in W.S. 1-20-101 while occupied as such by the owner or the person entitled thereto, or his or her family.

(b) When two (2) or more persons jointly own and occupy the same residence, each shall be entitled to the homestead exemption.

When any person dies seized of a homestead leaving as survivor a widow, husband or minor children, the survivor is entitled to the homestead. If there is no such survivor, the homestead is liable for the debts of the deceased.

The homestead may consist of a house on a lot or lots or other lands of any number of acres, or a house trailer or other movable home on a lot or lots, whether or not the house trailer or other movable home is equipped with wheels or resting upon immovable support.

The necessary wearing apparel of every person not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) in value, determined in the manner provided in W.S. 1-20-106 is exempt from levy or sale upon execution, writ of attachment or any process issuing out of any court in this state. Necessary wearing apparel shall not include jewelry of any type other than wedding rings.

(a) The following property, when owned by any person, is exempt from levy or sale upon execution, writ of attachment or any process issuing out of any court in this state and shall continue to be exempt while the person or the family of the person is moving from one (1) place of residence to another in this state:

(i) The family bible, pictures and school books;

(ii) A lot in any cemetery or burial ground;

(iii) Furniture, bedding, provisions and other household articles of any kind or character as the debtor may select, not exceeding in all the value of four thousand dollars ($4,000.00). When two (2) or more persons occupy the same residence, each shall be entitled to a separate exemption;

(iv) The value in a motor vehicle not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000.00);

(v) Not more than three (3) firearms not exceeding in all the value of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) and their associated ammunition not to exceed one thousand (1,000) rounds per firearm.

(b) The tools, team, implements or stock in trade of any person, used and kept for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding in value four thousand dollars ($4,000.00), or the library, instruments and implements of any professional person, not exceeding in value four thousand dollars ($4,000.00), are exempt from levy or sale upon execution, writ of attachment or any process out of any court in this state.

(c) The value of the property selected by any debtor shall be ascertained by the appraisement of three (3) disinterested appraisers, to be selected and summoned by the officer claiming to levy upon, attach or sell the property. The appraisers shall be sworn by the officer to make a true appraisement of the value of the property.

Whenever the head of a family dies, deserts, or ceases to reside with the family, the family is entitled to all the benefits and privileges conferred upon the head of a family residing with the same, and the family, or any member thereof, may select the property claimed as exempt. Where the exempt property is the sole and separate property of the wife, it is, to the same extent and for all purposes, exempt for the debts of the wife.

(a) No property claimed as exempt under W.S. 1-20-101 through 1-20-106 is exempt from attachment or sale upon execution for the purchase money of the property.

(b) Any person claiming these exemptions shall be a bona fide resident of this state.

In accordance with 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(1), the exemptions from property of the estate in bankruptcy provided in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) are not authorized in cases where Wyoming law is applicable on the date of the filing of the petition and the debtor's domicile has been located in Wyoming for the one hundred eighty (180) days immediately preceding the date of the filing of the petition or for a longer portion of the one hundred eighty (180) day period than in any other place.

(a) The following are exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment or any other legal process:

(i) The interest of an individual or beneficiary in a retirement plan;

(A) Repealed by Laws 2015, ch. 108, § 2.

(B) Repealed by Laws 2015, ch. 108, § 2.

(ii) Money or other assets payable to an individual from a retirement plan;

(iii) The interest of a beneficiary in a retirement plan if the beneficiary acquired the interest as the result of the death of an individual. The beneficiary's interest is exempt to the same extent that the individual's interest was exempt immediately before the death of the individual;

(iv) All property in this state of the judgment debtor where the judgment is in favor of any state or any political subdivision of any state for failure to pay that state's or political subdivision's income tax on benefits received from a pension or other retirement plan. This paragraph shall apply only to judgments obtained after the judgment debtor has established residency in Wyoming and has been domiciled in Wyoming for at least one hundred eighty (180) days; and

(v) Money or other assets payable to a beneficiary from a retirement plan if the beneficiary acquired the money or other assets as the result of the death of an individual. The beneficiary's interest is exempt to the same extent that the individual's interest in the money or other assets was exempt immediately before the death of the individual.

(b) The exemptions in subsection (a) of this section do not apply to a contribution made by an individual to a retirement plan within ninety (90) days before the individual files for bankruptcy.

(c) Any fund, plan or account specified in subsection (a) of this section is not exempt from the claim of an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order. However, the interest of an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order is exempt from all claims of any creditor of the alternate payee.

(d) As used in this section:

(i) "Alternate payee" means any spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of an individual who is recognized by a domestic relations order as having a right to receive all, or a portion of, the benefits payable under a retirement plan with respect to such individual;

(ii) "Beneficiary" includes a person, trust or trustee who has, before or after the death of an individual, a direct or indirect beneficial interest in a retirement plan;

(iii) "Beneficial interest" includes an interest that is acquired:

(A) As a designated beneficiary, survivor, co-annuitant, heir or legatee; or

(B) If excludable from gross income under the Internal Revenue Code as:

(I) A rollover under 26 U.S.C. section 408 or 408A;

(II) A distribution from one (1) retirement plan to another retirement plan;

(III) A distribution under 26 U.S.C section 402 if the distributed amount is contributed to another retirement plan within sixty (60) days of the distribution; or

(IV) A distribution that is legally similar to a distribution under subdivision (I), (II) or (III) of this subparagraph.

(iv) "Individual" means a participant in, owner of or alternative payee of a retirement plan;

(v) "Qualified domestic relations order" means as that term is defined by 26 U.S.C. section 414(p);

(vi) "Retirement plan" means a plan, account or annuity that is qualified under 26 U.S.C. section 401, 403, 408, 408A, 409, 414 or 457 as amended.

Contributions by an individual to a qualified medical savings account are exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment or any other process issued by any court, except for judgments against an individual or other dependents for medical expenses, to the extent the contributions are allowable as a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.