Homestead

Washington Homestead Protection ## Washington's Homestead Act Washington's Homestead Act (RCW Chapter 6.13) protects a homeowner's principal residence from forced sale by unsecured creditors up to a specified dollar amount. Key features that distinguish Washington's homestead from other states: Automatic protection: Washington's homestead protection attaches automatically to a principal residence — no filing or recording is required. The moment a homeowner occupies a property as their principal residence, the homestead protection exists, even if the homeowner is unaware of it. Post-2021 exemption amount: Washington substantially increased the homestead exemption in 2021 (RCW 6.13.030). The exemption amount is now the greater of $125,000 or the county median sale price of a single-family home in the county where the property is located. In high-cost counties like King (Seattle metro), the effective exemption can be several hundred thousand dollars or more — far exceeding the $125,000 floor. ## What the Homestead Protects Against The homestead protects the homeowner's equity (up to the exempt amount) from execution by unsecured creditors — credit card debt, medical bills, personal loans, most judgment liens from unsecured claims. ## What the Homestead Does NOT Protect Against - Mortgage foreclosure (purchase money liens) - Property tax liens - Mechanic's liens for work on the property - Any consensual lien the homeowner voluntarily placed on the property (home equity loans, refinances, etc.) - IRS tax liens (federal law supersedes state homestead protection) ## Declared Homestead An optional "declared homestead" — a recorded document asserting the homestead claim — provides procedural advantages in some situations. Most importantly, it protects sale proceeds for a limited time after closing, giving a seller the opportunity to reinvest in a new principal residence without…