Updated September 5, 2026. Quick answer: Virginia protects up to $5,000 of a householder’s general real/personal property ($10,000 if the householder is 65 or older), plus a separate allowance of up to $50,000 specifically for real or personal property used as the householder’s (or their dependents’) principal residence, plus $500 per dependent. All these dollar figures are set to be adjusted for inflation (CPI-U) every three years starting April 1, 2027.
This is protection against an ordinary money judgment creditor under Va. Code Ann. § 34-4 (claim procedure at § 34-6), a different question from a property tax bill or exemption, which this page does not cover.
Virginia homestead exemption at a glance
| Protected amount | Virginia protects up to $5,000 of a householder’s general real/personal property ($10,000 if the householder is 65 or older), plus a separate allowance of up to $50,000 specifically for real or personal property used as the householder’s (or their dependents’) principal residence, plus $500 per dependent. All these dollar figures are set to be adjusted for inflation (CPI-U) every three years starting April 1, 2027. |
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| Filing/declaration | Filed declaration required: To secure the real-estate exemption outside of bankruptcy, the householder must record a signed ‘homestead deed’ with the county/city where the property sits, describing the property and stating its claimed value; in bankruptcy, filing the Schedule of Property Claimed as Exempt substitutes for a recorded homestead deed. |
How it works in Virginia
- A filed declaration is required. To secure the real-estate exemption outside of bankruptcy, the householder must record a signed ‘homestead deed’ with the county/city where the property sits, describing the property and stating its claimed value; in bankruptcy, filing the Schedule of Property Claimed as Exempt substitutes for a recorded homestead deed.
Read it yourself
Verbatim from Va. Code Ann. § 34-4 (claim procedure at § 34-6): “Every householder shall be entitled… to hold exempt from creditor process arising out of a debt, real and personal property, or either, to be selected by the householder, including money and debts due the householder not exceeding $5,000 in value or, if the householder is 65 years of age or older, not exceeding $10,000 in value, and, in addition, real or personal property used as the principal residence of the householder or the householder’s dependents not exceeding $50,000 in value.” Read the full official text before relying on any figure here. A second citation, the claim-procedure section Virginia’s own citation names, Va. Code Ann. 34-6, is available here. Exemption law is fact-specific, and this is a source-backed planning guide, not individualized legal advice.