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Homestead Exemption Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee protects up to $35,000 of a principal residence ($52,500 combined for joint owners in the same proceeding).

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee at a glance

Exemption amount
$35,000 ($52,500 for joint owners)
Joint owners who both claim in the same proceeding share $52,500 equally.
Unlimited in value
No
Acreage limit
No acreage limit

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Tennessee

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

Exemption amount in Tennessee: $35,000 ($52,500 for joint owners). Joint owners who both claim in the same proceeding share $52,500 equally.

Is the homestead exemption unlimited in value in Tennessee?

No. Unlimited in value in Tennessee: no.

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

Acreage limit in Tennessee: No acreage limit.

Where do the Tennessee homestead exemption laws come from?

The rules above come from Tenn. Code Ann. 26-2-301. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.