Zimmerman v. Morgan

K. K. HALL, Circuit Judge:

Roy B. Zimmerman, trustee in bankruptcy, appeals from a bankruptcy court order permitting James P. Morgan to claim a homestead exemption despite Morgan’s failure to claim the exemption in the manner prescribed by state law.1 We reverse. 15 B.R. 620.

I

Under Virginia Code § 34 — 4, every householder or head of family residing in Virginia is entitled to a homestead exemption for real and personal property. To claim this exemption for personal property, Code § 34-14 requires the householder to describe and place a value on the property in a written instrument and to…