Skip to content
Oakclause

Homestead Exemption Laws in Maryland

Maryland's residence exemption applies only in a bankruptcy case and equals the federal bankruptcy homestead amount, which is $31,575 for cases filed on or after April 1, 2025.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Exemption amount
$31,575 (bankruptcy only)
Applies only in a bankruptcy case. The amount tracks 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1), adjusted every three years.
Unlimited in value
No
Acreage limit
No acreage limit
The exemption covers owner occupied residential real property, a condo unit or a co-op, without a land limit.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

How much home equity does the homestead exemption protect in Maryland?

Exemption amount in Maryland: $31,575 (bankruptcy only). Applies only in a bankruptcy case. The amount tracks 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1), adjusted every three years.

Is the homestead exemption unlimited in value in Maryland?

No. Unlimited in value in Maryland: no.

Is there an acreage limit on the homestead exemption in Maryland?

Acreage limit in Maryland: No acreage limit. The exemption covers owner occupied residential real property, a condo unit or a co-op, without a land limit.

Where do the Maryland homestead exemption laws come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. 11-504(f) and 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The exemption cannot be claimed on a property if the debtor or a close relative successfully claimed it on that property within the 8 years before the bankruptcy filing.

Spouses cannot both claim it in the same bankruptcy case.

What this means in practice

The exemption applies to equity, not to the full value of the home. Equity is the market value minus the mortgages and other liens on the property. A lender that holds a mortgage on the home, and certain other claims such as taxes on the property, can usually still be enforced against it regardless of the exemption.

Check whether you need to take a step to claim the protection. Some states protect a home automatically once it is your residence, while others require you to record a homestead declaration with the county or to claim the exemption in court when a creditor tries to collect.

In bankruptcy, federal law can limit a state homestead exemption for a home bought within a set period before the filing, and residency rules decide which state's exemptions apply if you moved recently. Some states also let filers choose the federal bankruptcy exemptions instead of the state list. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm which rules apply to your situation.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.