Connecticut Judgment Debtor Exemptions: What Can't Be Seized

Not Everything a Debtor Owns Is Fair Game

Connecticut law shields certain assets and income from judgment collection. If you're enforcing a small claims judgment, understanding these exemptions prevents you from wasting money on enforcement actions that come back empty. If you're the debtor, knowing what's protected keeps you from losing assets you're legally entitled to keep.

The primary exemption statute is CGS § 52-352b. Here's what it covers.

The Major Exemptions

Primary Residence — Up to $250,000 in Equity

Under CGS § 52-352b(21), the debtor's primary home is protected up to $250,000 in equity. "Equity" means the property's fair market value minus all mortgages, liens, and other encumbrances.

For most small claims judgments (capped at $5,000), this exemption makes foreclosure on a primary residence virtually impossible. Even if you record a judgment lien under CGS § 52-380a, you likely can't force a sale — but the lien still blocks the debtor from selling or refinancing without paying you.

The homestead exemption only covers the debtor's primary residence. Investment properties, rental units, and commercial real estate are not protected.

Motor Vehicles — Up to $7,000 in Combined Equity

Up to two motor vehicles are protected to a combined value of $7,000 under CGS § 52-352b(10). Calculate equity by taking fair market value and subtracting any outstanding auto loans or other security interests.

A debtor driving a car worth $12,000 with a $6,000 loan has $6,000 in equity — fully protected. A debtor with a paid-off vehicle worth $15,000 has $8,000 in non-exempt equity, making the vehicle a potential target for a property execution.

Bank Accounts — First $1,000 Protected

Under CGS § 52-367b, the first $1,000 in a natural person's bank account is automatically protected during a financial institution execution. The bank sets this amount aside before calculating what to freeze.

Federal Benefits — 100% Exempt

Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Affairs benefits, and Railroad Retirement payments are fully exempt under federal law (31 CFR Part 212). When a bank receives a levy, it runs a two-month lookback on the account. Readily identifiable, electronically deposited federal benefits in that window cannot be frozen.

Wages — The Garnishment Formula

Wages aren't blanket-exempt, but CGS § 52-361a(f) limits what can be garnished to the lesser of:

• 25% of weekly disposable earnings, or
• The amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the Connecticut minimum wage ($16.94/hour = $677.60 floor in 2026)

A debtor earning less than $677.60 per week in disposable income is fully exempt from wage garnishment in 2026.

Household Necessities

CGS § 52-352b(a) protects necessary food, clothing, and household furniture. These items can't be seized through a property execution regardless of value.

Tools of Trade and Health Aids

Equipment, arms, and uniforms necessary for the debtor's profession are exempt under CGS § 52-352b(b). Medical devices and health aids are fully exempt with no dollar cap.

How Exemptions Get Claimed

Some exemptions are automatic:

• The $1,000 bank account floor is applied by the bank without any action from the debtor
• Federal benefit protection kicks in through the mandatory bank lookback

Others require the debtor to affirmatively claim them:

• Wage execution: The debtor files Form JD-CV-3a within 20 days of employer service
• Bank levy: The debtor returns Form JD-CV-24A to the bank within 15 days of the mailing date; the bank forwards the claim to court
• Property execution: The debtor's Form JD-CV-5b must reach the court within 20 days after levy

The deadlines have different effects. Form JD-CV-3a allows a wage claim to be filed after 20 days, although a timely claim pauses withholding until the court decides it.

What This Means for Creditors

Exemptions don't make collection impossible, but they narrow the target. Before spending money on a marshal and an execution, assess whether the debtor has non-exempt assets worth pursuing:

• Is their paycheck above the $677.60 weekly floor in 2026?
• Do they have bank balances meaningfully above $1,000?
• Do they own vehicles with more than $7,000 in combined equity?
• Do they own non-homestead real property?

Post-judgment discovery — interrogatories and debtor examinations — helps you answer these questions before committing to an enforcement action.

For the complete enforcement framework including how exemptions interact with each collection tool, the Collecting a Small Claims Judgment in Connecticut guide covers the forms, statutory windows, and decision logic.

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