ORS 18.395
Homestead exemption


(1)

A homestead shall be exempt from sale on execution, from the lien of every judgment and from liability in any form for the debts of the owner to the amount in value of $40,000, except as otherwise provided by law. The exemption shall be effective without the necessity of a claim thereof by the judgment debtor. When two or more members of a household are debtors whose interests in the homestead are subject to sale on execution, the lien of a judgment or liability in any form, their combined exemptions under this section shall not exceed $50,000. The homestead must be the actual abode of and occupied by the owner, or the owner’s spouse, parent or child, but the exemption shall not be impaired by:

(a)

Temporary removal or temporary absence with the intention to reoccupy the same as a homestead;

(b)

Removal or absence from the property; or

(c)

The sale of the property.

(2)

The exemption shall extend to the proceeds derived from such sale to an amount not exceeding $40,000 or $50,000, whichever amount is applicable under subsection (1) of this section, if the proceeds are held for a period not exceeding one year and held with the intention to procure another homestead therewith.

(3)

The exemption period under subsection (1)(b) and (c) of this section shall be one year from the removal, absence or sale, whichever occurs first.

(4)

When the owner of a homestead has been granted a discharge in bankruptcy or has conveyed the homestead property, the value thereof, for the purpose of determining a leviable interest in excess of the homestead exemption, shall be the value on the date of the petition in bankruptcy, whether the value is determined in the bankruptcy proceedings or not, or on the date the conveyance becomes effective, whichever shall first occur. However, with respect to judgments not discharged in the bankruptcy, or entered against the owner after discharge, the value on the effective date of conveyance shall be controlling.

(5)

Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, no homestead that is the actual abode of and occupied by the judgment debtor, or that is the actual abode of and occupied by a spouse, dependent parent or dependent child of the judgment debtor, shall be sold on execution to satisfy a judgment that at the time of entry does not exceed $3,000. However, such judgment shall remain a lien upon the real property, and the property may be sold on execution:

(a)

At any time after the sale of the property by the judgment debtor; and

(b)

At any time after the property is no longer the actual abode of and occupied by the judgment debtor or the spouse, dependent parent or dependent child of the judgment debtor.

(6)

The limitation on execution sales imposed by subsection (5) of this section is not impaired by temporary removal or temporary absence with the intention to reoccupy the property as a homestead.

(7)

The limitation on execution sales imposed by subsection (5) of this section does not apply if two or more judgments are owing to a single judgment creditor and the total amount owing to the judgment creditor, determined by adding the amount of each individual judgment as of the date the judgment was entered, is greater than $3,000.

(8)

Upon the issuance of an order authorizing sale as required by ORS 18.904 (Order required for sale of residential property), and in conformance with subsection (5) of this section, the sheriff may proceed to sell the property. If the homestead exemption applies, the sheriff shall pay the homestead owner out of the proceeds the sum of $40,000 or $50,000, whichever is applicable, and apply the balance of the proceeds on the execution. However, no sale shall be made where the homestead exemption applies unless the sum bid for the homestead is in excess of the sum of the costs of sale and $40,000 or $50,000, whichever is applicable. If no such bid is received, the expense of the sale shall be borne by the petitioner.

(9)

The homestead exemption provided by this section applies to a purchaser’s interest under a land sale contract, as defined by ORS 18.960 (Definitions).

(10)

The homestead exemption provided by this section applies to:

(a)

A floating home, as defined by ORS 830.700 (Definitions for ORS 830.060 to 830.140 and 830.700 to 830.870); and

(b)

A manufactured dwelling, as defined by ORS 446.003 (Definitions for ORS 446.003 to 446.200 and 446.225 to 446.285 and ORS chapters 195, 196, 197, 215 and 227). [Formerly 23.240; 2005 c.456 §2; 2005 c.542 §57; 2009 c.612 §2]

Source: Section 18.395 — Homestead exemption, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors018.­html.

Notes of Decisions

In general

Statutory homestead exemption did not apply where execution sale was on a judgment rendered in partition proceedings concerning land for which exemption was sought. Dressler v. Dressler, 261 Or 265, 493 P2d 1053 (1972)

Judgment lien attaches to excess value of property over homestead exemption granted in bankruptcy discharge. Mendenhall v. NW Credit Adjusters, Inc., 263 Or 104, 500 P2d 702 (1972)

Order of referee in bankruptcy of homestead exemption is not res judicata with reference to existence of lienable value above the exempt homestead; overruling Boyd v. Oregon, 249 Or 513, 439 P2d 862 (1968). Mendenhall v. NW Credit Adjusters, Inc., 263 Or 104, 500 P2d 702 (1972)

In a suit brought by a trustee in bankruptcy to set aside a conveyance for being in fraud of creditors, the grantors may claim the property was exempt as a homestead even though the exemption was not claimed in the bankruptcy petition. Garrison v. Seiber, 266 Or 368, 513 P2d 1180 (1973)

Bankruptcy discharges personal debts of bankrupt person and therefore does not remove lien on real property owned by bankrupt person. Everett v. Pape Bros., Inc., 269 Or 575, 525 P2d 996 (1974)

The value of the homestead exemption should be measured as of the time of sale or execution. Wilkinson v. Carpenter, 277 Or 557, 561 P2d 607 (1977)

This section applies to a levy of execution by a creditor so as to limit the creditor’s leviable interest following the transfer of the property and to a discharge of the debtor in bankruptcy, but not to discharge proceedings commenced under [former] ORS 23.280. Credit Service Co. v. Cameron, 41 Or App 57, 597 P2d 363 (1979)

Bankruptcy estate may not deduct homestead exemption paid to debtor when reporting taxable gain realized from sale of property. In re Sturgill, 217 B.R. 291 (Bkrtcy. D. Or. 1998)

Debtor’s homestead exemption may be applied to property located outside state. In re Stratton, 269 B.R. 716 (Bkrtcy. D. Or. 2001)

Lien created by property division judgment issued under ORS 107.105 is exception to homestead exemption from sale on execution. Maresh and Maresh, 190 Or App 228, 78 P3d 157 (2003), Sup Ct review denied

Homestead exemption claimed by person owning possessory interest in leased property where person resides applies to prepaid rents and security deposits held by landlord. In re Casserino, 290 B.R. 735 (9th Cir. BAP 2003)

Where debtor owns homestead on date bankruptcy petition is filed, proceeds from subsequent sale retain exemption from application toward prepetition debts regardless of whether debtor intends to reinvest proceeds in new homestead. In re Lane, 364 B.R. 760 (Bkrtcy. D. Or. 2007)

Monthly rent is exempt reinvestment in homestead. In re Wynn, 369 B.R. 605 (Bkrtcy. D. Or. 2007)

Persons entitled to claim

The grantee of the homestead owner is entitled to raise the homestead exemption as a defense. Smith v. Popham, 266 Or 625, 513 P2d 1172 (1973)

Judgment lien against family residence awarded husband in divorce decree was not sufficient ownership to constitute homestead under this section. In re White, 727 F2d 884 (1984)

Where real property was not homestead at time of plaintiffs’ petition for sale at execution or at time of defendants’ notice of intent to discharge property from plaintiffs’ judgment lien, defendants were not entitled to protections provided for homestead. Bourgeois v. Grenfell, 72 Or App 415, 695 P2d 974 (1985), Sup Ct review denied

Person owning possessory interest in leased property where person resides may claim homestead exemption to extent of interest. In re Casserino, 290 B.R. 735 (9th Cir. BAP 2003)

Amount of exemption

Value of the land claimed is determined at the time it is sold on execution. Smith v. Popham, 266 Or 625, 513 P2d 1172 (1973)

In determining whether or not a purchaser from the judgment debtor has sufficient equity in the homestead property to allow the judgment creditor to levy against the homestead, court should not count increase in the purchaser’s equity due solely to purchaser’s discharge of a senior lien. W. J. Seufert Land Co. v. Greenfield, 273 Or 408, 541 P2d 814 (1975)

Where $12,000 exemption, plus costs of sale, exceeded defendants’ equity in property, all of sale proceeds were exempt from judgment lien. State ex rel Nilsen v. Jones, 33 Or App 581, 577 P2d 541 (1978)

Where divorcing couple files joint petition for bankruptcy and claims single joint exemption, couple may choose amount of joint exemption allocated to each party under dissolution judgment. In re Wynn, 369 B.R. 605 (Bkrtcy. D. Or. 2007)

Law Review Citations

8 WLJ 327-340 (1972); 55 OLR 233-235 (1976); 65 OLR 481 (1986)

18.005
Definitions
18.015
Statutory references to decrees and judgments
18.025
Courts subject to chapter
18.028
Authority of Chief Justice
18.029
Effect of chapter on use of judgment
18.031
Contents of supplemental judgments
18.035
Preparation of judgment document
18.038
Form of judgment document generally
18.042
Judgment in civil action that includes money award
18.048
Judgment in criminal action that contains money award
18.049
Adjustments to money awards
18.052
Duty of judge with respect to form of judgment document
18.058
Duty of court administrator with respect to form of judgment document
18.062
Use of electronic judgment forms
18.075
Entry of judgments in circuit courts generally
18.078
Notice of entry of judgment in circuit court civil action
18.082
Effect of entry of judgment
18.107
Corrections to civil judgments
18.112
Correction of designation of judgment as general judgment
18.150
Judgment liens in circuit courts
18.152
Establishing judgment liens in other counties
18.154
Appeal
18.158
Judgment lien based on judgment for child support or spousal support entered in another state
18.162
Judgment lien based on justice and municipal court judgments
18.165
Priority of judgment lien over unrecorded conveyance
18.170
Form for lien record abstract
18.180
Expiration of judgment remedies in circuit court
18.182
Extension of judgment remedies
18.185
Extension of judgment lien of spousal support award
18.190
Spousal support awards in judgments entered before January 1, 2004
18.194
Expiration and extension of judgment remedies for justice and municipal court judgments
18.200
Release of lien
18.202
Reinstatement of lien
18.205
Assignment of judgment
18.225
Satisfaction of money awards generally
18.228
Satisfaction of support awards payable to Department of Justice
18.232
Alternate method for satisfaction of support awards payable to Department of Justice
18.235
Motion to satisfy money award
18.238
Proceedings after discharge in bankruptcy
18.242
Contribution among judgment debtors
18.245
Jurisdictional requirements
18.252
Execution
18.255
Enforcement of judgment by circuit court for county where debtor resides
18.265
Debtor examination
18.268
Conduct of debtor examination
18.270
Written interrogatories
18.300
Resident entitled to use federal exemptions or state exemptions in bankruptcy
18.305
Property not exempt from execution for purchase price
18.312
Execution not to issue against property of deceased party
18.318
Execution against property in possession or control of public officer or agency
18.322
Adjudication of claim of exemption
18.345
Exempt personal property generally
18.348
Certain funds exempt when deposited in account
18.352
Proceeds of casualty and indemnity insurance attachable on execution
18.358
Certain retirement plans exempt from execution
18.362
Exemption for firearms
18.364
Prohibition on demanding firearms
18.375
Definitions
18.385
Wage exemption
18.395
Homestead exemption
18.398
Denial of homestead exemption when judgment is for child support
18.402
Limitations on homestead exemption
18.406
Exemption not applicable to certain liens, mortgages and interests
18.412
Notice of intent to discharge judgment lien against homestead
18.415
Objections to discharge
18.422
Release of judgment lien
18.600
Definitions
18.602
Garnishment described
18.605
Debts subject to garnishment
18.607
Form of writ
18.609
Validity of writ after issuance
18.610
Court with authority over writ
18.615
Garnishable property generally
18.618
Property not subject to garnishment
18.620
Setoff for certain amounts payable to underlying lienholders
18.625
Duration of writ’s effect
18.627
Multiple writs
18.635
Who may issue writs
18.638
Writs issued by court administrators generally
18.640
Grounds for denying issuance of writ
18.645
Writs issued by Division of Child Support or district attorney
18.650
Items required to be delivered to garnishee
18.652
Manner of delivery
18.655
Proper person to receive writ
18.658
Documents to be delivered to debtor
18.665
Duties generally
18.668
Immunity by payment to court administrator or delivery to sheriff
18.670
Exceptions to garnishee’s duties
18.672
Duties of personal representative who is garnished
18.680
Response required
18.682
When response not required
18.685
Contents of response
18.688
Response of garnishee who is employer of debtor
18.690
Delivery of garnishee response
18.692
Supplemental garnishee response
18.700
Manner of making challenge to garnishment
18.702
Notice to garnishor and garnishee of challenge to garnishment
18.705
Duties of garnishor and creditor created by challenge to garnishment
18.708
Duties of garnishee created by challenge to garnishment
18.710
Hearing on challenge to garnishment
18.712
Allowance or denial of challenge
18.715
Sanctions
18.718
Special procedures for writs issued for past due support
18.725
Claim by person other than debtor for all or part of garnished property
18.730
Payment of money under writ
18.732
Money owed to debtor that is due within 45 days
18.735
Payment of wages subject to garnishment
18.736
Processing fee
18.738
Acceptance or rejection of payments by court administrator
18.740
Payments erroneously sent to court
18.742
Crediting of payments against debt
18.745
Excess payments
18.750
Application of ORS 18.750 to 18.760
18.752
Garnishee duties
18.755
Request for sale
18.758
Sheriff’s sale
18.760
Challenge to garnishment
18.770
Release of garnishment
18.775
Liability of garnishee
18.778
Order to appear
18.780
Pleadings
18.782
Hearing
18.784
Certain financial institution deposits not subject to garnishment
18.785
Duties of financial institution
18.787
Liability of financial institution
18.788
Compliance records
18.790
Search fee
18.792
Safe deposit boxes
18.795
Setoff for amounts owing to financial institution
18.798
Effect of garnishment served on financial institution
18.800
Special procedures for writs issued to enforce agency orders or warrants
18.810
Use of writ for provisional process
18.830
Writ of garnishment form
18.832
Debt calculation form
18.835
Garnishee response form
18.838
Instructions to garnishee form
18.840
Wage exemption calculation form
18.842
Release of garnishment form
18.845
Notice of exemptions form
18.847
Notice to debtor of garnishment account review
18.850
Challenge to garnishment form
18.854
Notices of garnishment generally
18.855
Notices of garnishment issued by state agencies
18.857
Notice of garnishment issued by county tax collector
18.860
Function of writ
18.862
Form of writ
18.865
Court administrator to issue writ
18.867
Issuance of writs for certain judgments awarding child support
18.868
Sheriff to whom writ is issued
18.870
Recording of writ
18.872
Return on writ of execution
18.875
Instructions to sheriff
18.878
Manner of levying on property
18.880
Alternative procedure for levying on tangible personal property
18.882
Criminal penalty for moving, using or damaging secured property
18.884
Levying on intangible personal property
18.886
Creditor’s bond
18.887
Forcible entry for purpose of levying on personal property
18.888
Notice of levy
18.890
Debtor’s bond
18.892
Challenge to writ of execution
18.894
Notice of challenge to execution
18.896
Challenge to execution form
18.898
Hearing on challenge to execution
18.899
Sanctions
18.901
Definition of residential property
18.904
Order required for sale of residential property
18.906
Motion for order authorizing sale of residential property
18.908
Notice of motion for order authorizing sale of residential property
18.912
Hearing on motion for order authorizing sale of residential property
18.918
Person entitled to written notice of sale
18.920
Notice of sale of personal property
18.922
Expedited sale of perishable personal property
18.924
Notice of sale of real property
18.926
Legal notices website
18.930
Conduct of sale generally
18.932
Postponement of sale
18.934
Amount of property to be sold
18.936
Bid by judgment creditor
18.938
Manner of payment
18.940
Bill of sale for personal property
18.942
Sheriff’s certificate of sale for real property
18.944
Notice of completed sale
18.946
Possession after sale
18.948
Confirmation of sale of real property
18.950
Delivery and distribution of proceeds
18.952
Effect of sale on judgment debtor’s or mortgagor’s title
18.954
Conduct of sale pursuant to court rule or terms of order or judgment
18.960
Definitions
18.962
Property that may be redeemed
18.963
Who may redeem
18.964
Time for redemption
18.965
Notice to seller before end of redemption period
18.966
Redemption amount payable to purchaser
18.967
Redemption amount payable to redemptioner
18.968
Setoff for rents, income and profits realized by certificate holder
18.970
Redemption notice
18.971
Objection to redemption notice
18.972
Response to redemption notice
18.973
Objection to response
18.975
Payment of redemption amount
18.978
Court proceedings on objections
18.980
Accounting
18.981
Manner of payment
18.982
Redemptioner must provide sheriff with address
18.983
Court may restrain waste
18.985
Sheriff’s deed
18.986
Manufactured dwellings and floating homes
18.987
Purchaser’s interest in land sale contract
18.988
Seller’s right to receive payments under land sale contract
18.989
Equitable interests in property
18.992
Referral of disputes to court
18.993
Effect of ORS 18.860 to 18.993 on court’s ability to direct seizure
18.995
Owner not allowed to neglect foreclosed residential real property
18.999
Recovery of amounts related to attempts to recover debt or enforce judgment
Green check means up to date. Up to date