Missouri Bankruptcy Laws

Standard federal filing fees. Missouri has two bankruptcy districts: Eastern (St. Louis) and Western (Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City).

Pre-filing credit counseling and pre-discharge debtor education are required (federal requirements).

The homestead exemption is $15,000 for real estate and $5,000 for mobile homes. Spouses cannot double the exemption. Must be the debtor's principal residence. This is one of the lowest homestead exemptions in the nation.

Key exemptions: motor vehicle up to $3,000, household goods/furniture/clothing up to $3,000 total, wedding ring up to $1,500, other jewelry up to $500, tools of the trade up to $3,000.

$600 in any non-exempt property. Additional $1,250 if head of household. Additional $350 for each dependent child.

Head of household: only 10% of disposable earnings subject to garnishment (90% exempt — very protective). Non-head of household: standard federal limits (25% of disposable earnings). Exceptions for child/spousal support and tax debts.

Tax-qualified retirement accounts (401(k), 403(b), SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA) are fully exempt. Traditional and Roth IRAs are exempt up to $1,711,975 per person (federal limit, adjusted April 2025).

Missouri has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemption scheme. Debtors must use Missouri state exemptions.