WV HB4340

Surviving spouses who were joint owners or tenants in common with a deceased spouse may exempt the full value of their primary residence in bankruptcy proceedings, rather than the standard $35,000 homestead exemption cap

The expanded exemption applies only when the surviving spouse owned the residence jointly with their deceased spouse at the time of the spouse's death and continues to own the property

Standard bankruptcy exemptions remain unchanged, including $35,000 for homestead (or up to $250,000 for physicians with malpractice insurance facing medical liability judgments), $7,500 for one motor vehicle, and $16,000 total for household goods

Amends West Virginia Code §38-10-4 relating to property exemptions in federal bankruptcy proceedings