Money & Debt · Homestead (creditor protection)
Homestead Exemption from Creditors in Missouri
How much of your home equity is shielded from a judgment creditor in Missouri, what the exemption does not stop, and how to claim it, cited to the statute.
What is protected in Missouri
The equity shielded from creditors, how it applies, and the debts it cannot stop.
| Rule | In Missouri | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Applies automatically | Yes | No written declaration is required. The exemption is established by proof of occupancy and intent to use the property as a homestead. |
| Married or co-owned | See note | Co-owners of one homestead share a single aggregate cap and cannot exceed the total exemption, so spouses cannot double it. |
| Statute | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 513.475 | The controlling authority. Read the full text through the source link below. |
Equity protected: $15,000 (rising to $40,000 on Jan 1, 2027)
A person’s dwelling house, appurtenances, and the land used with it are exempt from attachment and execution up to a value of $15,000. This is the current amount (set in 2003) with no acreage limit and no inflation indexing. HB 1870, signed May 6, 2026, raises the amount to $40,000 effective January 1, 2027, with CPI adjustments beginning April 1, 2029.
Does not stop
Does not stop consensual mortgages or deeds of trust, tax liens, or mechanic’s liens on the home. A creditor may still reach equity above the exempt amount.
HB 1870, signed May 6, 2026, raises the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $40,000 effective January 1, 2027, and adds CPI adjustments beginning April 1, 2029. Confirm which figure applies to your case before you rely on it.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps to protect home equity in Missouri. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Estimate your home equity
Subtract what you still owe on the mortgage from your home’s value. The homestead exemption protects that equity from a judgment creditor up to the current limit, so knowing the number tells you how much is shielded.
- Confirm which figure applies to your case
The current exemption is $15,000, but HB 1870 raises it to $40,000 effective January 1, 2027, with CPI adjustments from April 1, 2029. The date your claim is measured determines which amount applies, so check it before relying on either.
- Know the debts it cannot stop
The exemption does not defeat a consensual mortgage or deed of trust, a tax lien, or a mechanic’s lien on the home. A creditor can also still reach equity above the exempt amount.
- Get Missouri help with a judgment
If a creditor with a judgment threatens your home, act early. A local legal aid office or attorney can confirm the amount that applies to your situation and explain how to assert the exemption.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. Liens, bankruptcy choices, and local rules can change how the exemption applies to your home.
What people get wrong in Missouri
First, a distinction that trips up almost everyone: this is the homestead exemption that protects your home’s equity from creditors, not the separate property-tax break that also uses the word homestead. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 513.475, a person’s dwelling house, its appurtenances, and the land used with it are exempt from attachment and execution up to a value of $15,000. That figure was set in 2003, has no acreage limit, and is not indexed, which makes it one of the lowest homestead amounts in the country. Change is coming, though. HB 1870, signed May 6, 2026, raises the exemption to $40,000 effective January 1, 2027, and adds CPI adjustments beginning April 1, 2029. The exemption is automatic, established by proof of occupancy and intent, with no declaration to file. Co-owners share a single aggregate cap, so spouses cannot double it. And it never defeats a mortgage or deed of trust you signed, a tax lien, or a mechanic’s lien.
Common questions
How much home equity is protected from creditors in Missouri?
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 513.475, the current exemption protects up to $15,000, one of the lowest amounts in the nation. HB 1870 raises it to $40,000 effective January 1, 2027, with CPI adjustments beginning April 1, 2029.
Is the Missouri homestead exemption automatic?
Yes. No written declaration is required. The exemption is established by proof that you occupy the property and intend to use it as a homestead, so there is no creditor-exemption form to file in advance.
Does the Missouri homestead exemption stop a foreclosure?
No. The exemption protects equity from a judgment creditor, not from a debt secured by the home. It does not defeat a consensual mortgage or deed of trust, a tax lien, or a mechanic’s lien. Those can still be foreclosed despite the homestead.
Does the Missouri homestead exemption double for a married couple?
No. Co-owners of one homestead share a single aggregate cap and cannot exceed the total exemption, so spouses cannot double it. The single amount is the ceiling for the property regardless of how many owners there are.
What is the difference between the homestead creditor and homestead tax exemption in Missouri?
They are different protections. The creditor exemption on this page shields your home equity from a judgment creditor forcing a sale. A property-tax credit or exemption lowers what you owe in annual property tax. One is asset protection, and the other is a tax break.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.