Skip to content
Alper Law
  • Home
  • Learn MoreExpand
    • Asset ProtectionExpand
      • Asset Protection Guide
      • Annuities
      • Asset Protection Trust
      • Bank Account Protection
      • Car Accidents
      • Doctors
      • Equity Stripping
      • Exemptions
      • Florida Residency
      • Fraudulent Transfers
      • Homestead Protection
      • How Attorneys Help
      • Strategies
      • Tenants By Entireties
      • UTMA Accounts
    • Business PlanningExpand
      • Business Entities
      • LLCs
      • LLC Operating Agreement
      • Real Estate Investors
    • Offshore PlanningExpand
      • Nevis LLC
      • Offshore Bank Accounts
      • Offshore Planning
      • Offshore Trusts
    • Judgment CollectionExpand
      • Judgment Collection
      • Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
      • Deficiency Judgments
      • Fact Information Sheet
      • Head of Household
      • IRS Tax Debt
      • Not Paying Judgments
      • Statute of Limitations
      • Wage Garnishment
      • Writ of Garnishment
    • Wills and TrustsExpand
      • Avoiding Probate
      • Estate Planning
      • Gun Trusts
      • Inheritance Tax
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Last Will and Testament
      • Living Trusts
      • Living Will
      • LGBT Estate Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
      • Special Needs Trust
      • Trust Administration
    • BankruptcyExpand
      • Attorney Fees
      • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
      • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
      • Dealing With Creditors
      • Involuntary Bankruptcy
      • Moral Issues
      • Orlando Bankruptcy
    • Real EstateExpand
      • Lady Bird Deed
      • Land Trusts
      • Quit Claim Deed
      • Warranty Deed
    • AdoptionExpand
      • Grandparent and Relative Adoption
      • Readoption
      • Same-Sex Couples
      • Stepparent Adoption
  • Blog
  • AttorneysExpand
    • Gideon Alper
    • Jon Alper
Phone 407-444-0404
Contact Us
Book a Consultation (Phone or Zoom)
Search
Book a Phone or Zoom Consultation
Florida asset protection, garnishment, estate planning, and adoption law firm — Alper Law
Phone 407-444-0404

Home » Exemptions » Bankruptcy Court Addresses Self-employed Head of Household Exemption

Bankruptcy Court Addresses Self-employed Head of Household Exemption

ByJon Alper March 17, 2014May 22, 2020

I have written a few blog posts in past years concerning the ability of self-employed debtors to assert a head of household exemption from wage garnishment under Florida Statute 222.11.

There have been several Florida appellate decisions which have denied the exemption to debtors who paid themselves salary from a business they owned by themselves when the debtor alone controlled the amount of his salary and profit distributions. Most of these cases involved debtors who manipulated compensation to take advantage of the wage exemptions. For example, one debtor paid himself “salary” in varying amounts depending upon his business cash flow, and another disbursed himself a large amount of money from his business as a “bonus” just before filing bankruptcy. In these cases, the owner’s compensation was not a fixed periodic payment of salary.

I came across the issue again in a Florida bankruptcy decision decided last year. The bankruptcy court denied the bankruptcy debtor the right to exempt money earned as a sole proprietor under the head of household exemption. The court noted in a footnote that, “This is not an easy decision…” The court followed prior case law, as it should, but it also implied that the precedent from prior case when strictly applied may lead to unintended and unfair results. The court suggested that the issue eventually be referred on appeal to the Florida Supreme Court

I expect that the Florida courts will apply the head of household exemption to self-employed debtors who do not abuse the exemption. The purpose of the wage exemption is to permit debtors to provide for their families, and that this obligation and policy does not change just because the debtor is a self-employed entrepreneur. Court decisions to date make it even more risky for people to launch new businesses if they cannot segregate a portion of cash flow as their basic salary for the support of their family exempt from creditor claims.

Last updated on May 22, 2020

People also read about…

  • Florida Asset Protection: a Guide to Planning, Exemptions, and Strategies
  • Homestead Exemption Law
  • Tenancy by Entireties Ownership in Florida
  • Florida Debt Collection Laws
  • Florida Exemptions from Creditors
Jon Alper

About the Author

Jon Alper is an expert in asset protection planning for individuals and small businesses.

Book a consultation with Jon.
Jon Alper

About the Author

Jon Alper is an expert in asset protection planning for individuals and small businesses.

Book a consultation with Jon.

Get the latest blog posts by email.

Looking for help?

Schedule a phone or Zoom consultation to review your specific situation. We help clients throughout the state of Florida.

Schedule Consultation

© 2022 Alper Law, PLLC
(407) 444-0404

255 Primera Blvd. #160
Lake Mary, FL 32746
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Scroll to top
Contact Us
Search
  • Home
  • Learn More
    • Asset Protection
      • Asset Protection Guide
      • Annuities
      • Asset Protection Trust
      • Bank Account Protection
      • Car Accidents
      • Doctors
      • Equity Stripping
      • Exemptions
      • Florida Residency
      • Fraudulent Transfers
      • Homestead Protection
      • How Attorneys Help
      • Strategies
      • Tenants By Entireties
      • UTMA Accounts
    • Business Planning
      • Business Entities
      • LLCs
      • LLC Operating Agreement
      • Real Estate Investors
    • Offshore Planning
      • Nevis LLC
      • Offshore Bank Accounts
      • Offshore Planning
      • Offshore Trusts
    • Judgment Collection
      • Judgment Collection
      • Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
      • Deficiency Judgments
      • Fact Information Sheet
      • Head of Household
      • IRS Tax Debt
      • Not Paying Judgments
      • Statute of Limitations
      • Wage Garnishment
      • Writ of Garnishment
    • Wills and Trusts
      • Avoiding Probate
      • Estate Planning
      • Gun Trusts
      • Inheritance Tax
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Last Will and Testament
      • Living Trusts
      • Living Will
      • LGBT Estate Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
      • Special Needs Trust
      • Trust Administration
    • Bankruptcy
      • Attorney Fees
      • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
      • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
      • Dealing With Creditors
      • Involuntary Bankruptcy
      • Moral Issues
      • Orlando Bankruptcy
    • Real Estate
      • Lady Bird Deed
      • Land Trusts
      • Quit Claim Deed
      • Warranty Deed
    • Adoption
      • Grandparent and Relative Adoption
      • Readoption
      • Same-Sex Couples
      • Stepparent Adoption
  • Blog
  • Attorneys
    • Gideon Alper
    • Jon Alper