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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37748-8.txt b/37748-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f17c8f --- /dev/null +++ b/37748-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3502 @@ +Project Gutenberg's How to Collect a Doctor Bill, by Frank P. Davis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: How to Collect a Doctor Bill + +Author: Frank P. Davis + +Release Date: October 13, 2011 [EBook #37748] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO COLLECT A DOCTOR BILL *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, David E. Brown, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned +images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + + + + + + + + + _HOW TO COLLECT + A DOCTOR BILL_ + + + BY + FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D. + + Secretary Oklahoma State Board of Medical Examiners, 1908-11. + Superintendent Oklahoma State Institution for Feeble Minded, + 1910-11. Member County, State and American Medical Association. + Member American School Hygiene Association. Member State and + National Eclectic Associations. Member Oklahoma Association of + Charities and Corrections. Member Oklahoma Press Association. Member + Southwestern Medical Association. Late Editor Davis' Magazine of + Medicine, Etc. + + + Publishers + PHYSICIANS DRUG NEWS CO. + NEWARK, N. J., U. S. A. + 1913 + + + COPYRIGHT 1913 BY + FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D. + + + + +Contents + + + Page + +CHAPTER I +The Successful Physician 1 + +CHAPTER II +Attitude Toward Debtors 11 + +CHAPTER III +Proper Time to Collect 16 + +CHAPTER IV +Books and Bookkeeping 19 + +CHAPTER V +Letters and Forms 24 + +CHAPTER VI +Statutes of Limitations 31 + +CHAPTER VII +Exemption Laws and Their Application 33 + +CHAPTER VIII +Extracts from Exemption Laws of All States 35 + + + + +PREFACE + + +My excuse for presenting this little book to the profession is that I +have often felt the want of just such information as is herein +contained. In fourteen years of practice I have made it a point to study +my patients and the business problems that confront the man in our +profession. Some of the things that I have learned are embodied in this +book. Taking my professional experience as a whole I have collected over +=ninety per cent= of my accounts. + +If this book shall be the means of causing any physician to study the +business side of professional life, and get what is due him, I will feel +that I have not worked in vain. + +Enid, Okla., June 6, 1912. + + FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SUCCESSFUL PHYSICIAN. + + +A man with a bulging forehead once said that "Life is what you make it." +This is very true in the profession of medicine. The successful +physician must live in the manner of successful men. To do this, most +men must live upon the income from their practice. If the physician +properly cares for his wife and children, he must realize on his +investment--his medical education. A man's first duty is to his own, and +it is written that the man who fails to collect that which is due him, +and "provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own +house, is worse than an infidel." + +To successfully conduct any enterprise it is necessary to adopt business +methods. System is the key-note of modern business, and the simplest +system is the best. A cash system is by far the simplest. + +No man can succeed in practice, nor can he be considered a safe medical +adviser so long as he is handicapped by poverty, a worried mind or poor +health; or if he is compelled to dodge around corners to escape his +creditors. + +There are men who tell us that they are not in practice so much for +money as for the glory and honor of the profession. If these men are +sincere, I pity them from the bottom of my heart, and feel sorry for +their wives and children. Nor can I understand where the profession can +gain much honor from men who are financial failures. Not that money is +the only thing for which we should strive, but that the man who provides +not for his own, cannot be representative of the noble profession of +medicine. Also, I have observed that the path of glory leads in the +direction of the cemetery, and checks on the National Bank of Fame are +generally protested when the rent comes around. + +The applause and compliments of the multitude are no doubt sweet, but it +only lulls to rest the voice of duty, and fails to provide sustenance +for those dependent upon us. Man cannot live on air alone--even though +it be flavored by the ambrosia of sweet compliments and the hypnosis of +applause. Again, I have observed that a larger crowd will turn out any +time to see a man hung than to compliment him on a duty well performed. + +The man who answers calls at all hours of the day and night, for any and +every one who may request his services; with no assurance of ever +receiving pay; and who is afraid to demand settlement for fear of losing +practice, is not competent to conduct his own affairs, much less to +practice medicine. It is this class of men who make dead-beats of our +patrons, and thus reduce the income of physicians to a point where a +bare existence is all we can hope for. + +To be a safe medical advisor requires that the mind be free from the +petty cares of life. He should live in a manner in keeping with the +dignity of the profession to which he has given his life. He must have a +neat office, wear good clothes, have a happy home and a contented mind. + +It is well to achieve the reputation of being an indefatigable and +shrewd collector. It pays. It will influence your regular patrons to pay +more promptly. It will also help to keep away those who trespass upon +your time and never pay you. The only sure way to hold practice is to +require your patrons to pay their bills promptly. If they do not owe you +they are not so liable to avoid you and cease to employ you. Let a +family once get greatly in arrears, then it will happen that--not having +the cheek to face you--they will call another physician, and give every +reason but the true one for deserting you. Thus, through your own +neglect you lose patronage, friends and your good name and reputation. +The public will never place any higher value on your services than you +do yourself. The death-knell of any physician's success is tolled when +he becomes known as a "cheap doctor." + +Not only must you require others to pay you, but you must also pay your +own bills. Physicians, as a rule, are considered poor pay by business +men. It is a very good rule in life to discount all bills that you owe, +and never to discount a bill due you. Make it a rule to never owe any +man anything, and to have as few owe you as possible. + +Many physicians will cut their bills to whatever the debtor cares to +pay. In this way they lose a large part of their fees, and achieve the +reputation of being poor business men. + +I heard an old Arkansas doctor relate his experience in discounting a +bill that well illustrates the weakness of many physicians. A client +owed him $60, and after the account had run about six months, the man +came in and said, "Doc, I hain't got the money, but if you will cut that +bill in two I'll borrow it from my father-in-law." The doctor thought +$30 would be better than waiting, so agreed. Three months later the man +returned and said, "Doc, I couldn't get the money from my father-in-law, +but I have a fat hog I can sell and get some money if you will cut that +bill in two." The account was growing old and the doctor thought he had +better take the $15, so he said all right. Six months from that time the +fellow hove in view again. This time he said, "Doc, my wife thought we +needed that hog for meat and I couldn't get her consent to sell it, but +I have a job now, and if you will cut that bill in two, I'll pay you." +This time the doctor thought he saw $7.50 in sight, so again he agreed. +"All right, Doc," said the debtor, "as soon as I get in a few weeks +work, I'll be in and pay you." The doctor said the fellow did come +around a few months later and began a similar story, but he told him to +go to a country where rotary snow plows are not much in demand. + +One of the greatest mistakes is in allowing accounts for different cases +to accumulate until the amount becomes so large that it is difficult to +pay. It is always best to require settlement as soon after each case is +dismissed as possible. In sending statements, be careful to itemize by +cases only, as "John, fever, $15," "Wife, confinement, $25," etc. I +seldom give the disease unless it is some special case that required +much attention. In some cases it refreshes their memory when reference +is made to the disease. + +You must know your business. Give every man a square deal, and require +others to do the same by you. When you have completed your work, +remember the advice of old Prof. Joslyn, "Get money, still get money, +boy, no matter by what means" so long as it is justly due you for +services rendered. If you fail to require your patrons to pay you for +your services, you have not done your full duty. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ATTITUDE TOWARD DEBTORS. + + +A fundamental principle in being a good collector is to never lose the +good will of your patrons. So long as you are on friendly terms with a +man you can approach him and talk over the matter. It will be easy to +keep advised as to what he is doing, and when he is expecting to receive +money. The time will come sometime when he can pay at least a part or +secure your claim. We must not lose sight of the fact that in this +country poor men sometimes become rich, and rich men sometimes become +poor, and we should deal with them accordingly. It is poor business +policy to permit well-to-do clients to run up big bills, and at the same +time hound your poor patrons. + +One of the easiest ways to collect a bill, when they have persistently +failed to pay, is to loan them some money. This plan is fully covered in +the following editorial from =Davis' Magazine of Medicine=. + +"Let us now consider the investment of the doctor's savings. His fees +are received in small sums, generally ranging from a few dollars to a +hundred dollars at a time. He seldom has over a few hundred dollars on +hand at any one time. And failing to find a good place to invest such +sums as he has, he becomes a prey for the stock companies and the land +sharks, where he can make his investment on the installment plan. Most +physicians are earnestly seeking a safe investment for these small sums +of money, but very few have found a plan that appeals to them. Most of +the advice one gets from the journals is 'Don't' or to invest in farm +mortgages. When he looks around for a farm mortgage he finds that the +small amount of money he has to loan will not meet the requirements of +the man who desires the loan. Even should he find a small loan that he +could handle, the interest would be so low, that it would produce a very +small income after paying taxes. I believe the doctor's earnings should +net him ten per cent, and be in such form that he can realize on them in +case of emergency. To take chances on getting a greater rate of interest +would be to accept too great risk, and a less rate would be poor +business policy. + +"The problem simmers down to about this: How can we invest small sums, +from twenty-five to one hundred dollars, so they will be safe, and earn +at least ten per cent interest?" + +I solved this problem several years ago while engaged in general country +practice. In fact, it can be applied better in the country than in the +city. The plan is this, loan your money to your slow pay patrons. Sounds +risky, don't it? I have found it to prove a success. I learned that most +of my poor pay or slow pay patrons were always ready to borrow money, +and that they could generally secure me with chattel mortgages, or get +good men to sign their notes. The note and mortgage always covered the +amount loaned and the amount of my bill. There are few who cannot give +you suitable security, and these few should be turned over to the other +doctor who is practicing for the love and honor of the profession. + +"When it is known that you have a little money loaned out, and that you +will only loan to those who have you for their physician, your practice +will steadily grow." + +Be on your guard and do not permit your old accounts to become +"outlawed" by the statutes of limitations of your State. This may be +prevented in a measure by getting a small payment from time to time on +account, as the law of limitations does not apply until the lapse of the +period of time named in the law, after the last payment on the account +or note. + +The exemption laws of most states are so liberal that a very small per +cent. of physician's bills could be collected by law, should the debtor +elect to take advantage of the exemption law. The only safe method is to +put it up to your client as a debt of honor, and depend upon their +inherent honesty and pride. It does no good to sue a man for a doctor +bill except in extreme cases. You will lose more than you will gain. Not +only will you in all probability lose the account and expenses, but you +will make a lot of enemies, who will injure your practice more than the +amount of the bill. + +Treat your poor patrons with the same respect and courtesy that you do +rich ones. Mr. Smith will do his best to pay you, while Old Bill Smith +will not exert himself very much to balance your ledger. Then above all +treat the woman in the flowered Mother-Hubbard as if she were the Queen +of Sheba, and the off-color lady from the red-light district as you +would the President of the Purity Society. The child that is ragged and +dirty should receive the same cordial attention as the one in silks. +When the time comes that you cannot treat all your patrons as you would +like for them to treat you if your positions were reversed, it is time +for you to "Fold up your tent like the Arab and silently steal away," +your usefulness is at an end. The day when you can make money in that +location has passed. + +Be kind to little children. Women and children furnish the greater part +of our patrons. Men do not count for much in the practice of +medicine,--unless you are a G-U specialist. I have always found that +where grandma and the children liked me, that I had no trouble in +getting practice or in collecting my money. + +Do not pad your accounts. Charge what you consider your services worth, +and then stick to it. Deal a square hand to all. The golden rule is just +as bright and as true today as it was thousands of years ago, and it is +not recorded that any man was ever hung that lived up to it. After you +have done your full duty =demand= that your patrons do their duty by you. +Keep after the money that is justly due you. Get money; but get it +honestly. You will be criticised by some, and cussed by others, but in +the words of Carrie Nation, "Why care for the criticism of men who +change and die?" + +And finally remember, that in this world there is nothing that will pay +dividends equal to smiles--unless it is gall, and do not forget the +injunction of the prophet, "Physician, 'heel' thyself," lest in old age +the world will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter +thou--into the poor house." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PROPER TIME TO COLLECT. + + +"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the +sun."--Eccle. 3: 1. + +The time to collect depends to a considerable extent upon the location +and the class of patronage. In cities, as a rule, collections should be +made weekly, as many patrons move frequently, and you lose track of +them. It is proper and wise to present your bill as early after the +service is rendered as possible. Bills should be presented to working +men at the time of their regular payday. In country practice I have +found it best to send statements monthly and to require settlement +quarterly by cash or note. I have adopted this rule in a cotton country +where it was the rule to only pay the doctor once a year, if at all. +Farmers and planters can borrow money to pay the doctor as well as they +can to pay farm hands and cotton-choppers, or at least can give notes +bearing interest. + +When a man consults you and commences to run down some other doctor, +require him to pay cash. He's in bad with the other fellow. Dead-beats +should never be temporized with. Don't do a man's practice in the hope +that he will pay you, when you know that he has beat the other fellow. + +While every case is to a certain extent a rule unto itself, yet, there +are a few essentials that are necessary to make a success in collecting. +The two principle rules are, to keep everlastingly after them, and never +to lose their friendship. So long as you are on good terms there is +hope. + +Keep your accounts collected closely. The man who carries more than +one-third of his business on his books is a business failure. Old +accounts breed knockers. Go thou to the lawyer and consider his +ways--then cinch the money. + +Never employ a collector on commission. Your office girl will prove the +best collector if you have not time to attend to it yourself. In fact, +for general collecting, she will prove the best collector you can get. +Give her an honorium in addition to her salary if she makes good. At +many places the collector will be informed that the party she is seeking +is not at home, or is not in the office. Instruct her to stay until they +return, even if she finds it necessary to take her sewing along, and +spend the day. Frequently the party desired is just hiding in another +room, waiting until the collector leaves. Rather than stand the siege of +a determined collector they will sometimes pay the bill. The collector +should carry a note-book and jot down just what the debtor has to say. +This should be done in the presence of the debtor. Collectors should +always try to get something on account, even if only 25 or 50 cents. It +keeps the account alive, and helps defray expenses. + +Take notes if you find it impossible to get the cash. Have them well +secured if possible. Where you cannot get security get at least two +names on the note. Two dead-beats are better on a note than one on the +books, but, better still, get the "order note" shown on another page of +this book. If you take unsecured notes have them to mature in not to +exceed thirty days. Don't overlook the fact that a married woman's note +is valueless in many states. + +Frequently a debtor will promise to pay at a certain day, and then +usually fails to show up. When he makes the promise, make a note of the +time in your note-book. If he fails to keep the appointment, write him a +nice letter, something along this line: + +Dear Sir:-- + +I am sorry that I was not in the office on the 15th. when you called to +settle your account. When we were talking about the matter the other day +I neglected to tell you that if I was not in the office when you called +you could pay the office girl, and that she would give you a receipt for +the amount. + +I hope that you are well and prosperous, and that little =Mary= has fully +regained her strength. + +If I am not in when you come up again, just pay the amount to the girl +and it will be all right. + +Thanking you for your attention to this matter, and wishing you success, +I remain, + + Yours very truly, + + +This will generally bring him in with many excuses and some money. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BOOKKEEPING AND STATEMENTS. + + +A simple system of keeping accounts is necessary. There are many systems +on the market, ranging all the way from the simple blank ledger to the +elaborate desk systems. I prefer the card system or the single book. As +only records of original entry are accepted in courts as evidence of +account, a complicated system would hardly be suited to the average +physician. The entry must be so clear and simple that any ordinary +person can readily understand the account, hence, any system that +depends upon ciphers or marks is valueless. A physician that is a good +bookkeeper can no doubt handle the complicated systems successfully, +but as I was not trained as a bookkeeper, the simplest, clear, legal +system meets my needs. + +Always enter each day's work on the day it is done. Don't wait until +tomorrow, or next Sunday to make up your books. By cultivating the habit +you can get as much pleasure out of entering charges in your books as +you could from some calls. I have seen the time when I got more real joy +out of receipting one bill than I would in going seven miles in the +country on a stormy night to see a dead-beat. Life is but a joke, but it +isn't wise to let the dead-beat have the joke on you all the time. + +Don't scatter your accounts on the book. Keep them close together and +they will be seen more frequently. It is better to run over the pages +when entering charges than to refer to the index, as you will be +reminded of other entries that should be made, and accounts that need +looking after. + +Once an account goes on your books, never lose sight of it or give up +until it is settled, or otherwise disposed of. It is a bad habit to skip +an account when making out statements. Treat them all alike. It may be +advisable to classify your accounts, but you should never fail to push +the collection of every account on your books. + +In charity practice, enter on your book at the regular rate, and credit +to charity to balance. In this way you keep an account of the extent of +your contributions to charities. + +Keep a stub of each statement you send out so that your client can not +bring in an old one and dispute your account. The following form will +meet every requirement for a statement. By retaining the stub you have a +complete record of your statements. + + No................| STATEMENT + Name..............| .......................19.. + Address...........| Mr................................ + Date sent.........| To J. M. SMITH, M.D. Dr. + Previous bill sent| To Professional services + ..................| to date - - - $........... + Am't paid.........| All accounts are due and payable + Collector.........| when services are rendered. + +The best way to hold practice is to collect your accounts. More people +change doctors because they owe big bills than for any other reason. + +Never tell a debtor that you are hard up and need the money. He won't +believe you, and will not only neglect to pay you, but will change to +some other doctor. Tell them that you must have the money because it is +yours and that you want the profit that may be made with it. Put it up +to them as a plain business proposition and loan them the amount if they +pay you interest and give good security. They will respect you when you +make them pay. A man is judged in this country by his business success. +Most men would rather pay a lawyer a thousand dollars to keep them out +of the penitentiary for a year, than to pay a doctor fifty dollars to +keep them out of hell for a life time. + +Office and transient practice should be cash or an order note. The +following form will prove valuable: + + ..............191.. + + After date, for value received, I promise to pay + ............. or order...........Dollars, + the same to be paid in...............payments of + $.............each, until the sum of $............ + has been paid. + + For Value Received, I, the undersigned, hereby + sell, assign, transfer and set over unto.............. + all my right, title and interest in and to all of my + salary, wages or any moneys due, or to become due, + to the amount of.................Dollars, from any + person, firm or corporation, and order the said amount + to be paid to the bearer out of the first moneys due + me after the presentation of a copy of this instrument. + I hereby irrevocably waive all exemptions or + other rights I may have by means of any law of + any state in which I now, or may hereafter be employed + or reside. I agree to pay all costs and attorney's + fees that may be incurred in collecting the + above amount. + + Name................................. + + Occupation.............. Address.................. + Employed by............. Address.................. + +I have this form printed on cards and file them in a card file. This +contract note not only helps to get the money, but it solves the problem +of holding chronics and venerals. It is seldom necessary to present the +order for payment. When you write a letter advising your client that you +will be compelled to present the order to his employer if he doesn't +come in and see you, he will show up in a very short time. + +Subscribe to the Merchant's Exchange. If a man will not pay his store +bills you cannot expect him to pay his doctor. Get the cash when you +find his name on the list, or let the other doctor have the case. + +After entering an account on your books, make no rebates or discounts. +Buy a hog for four times its value, if necessary, but don't discount +your bill. + +If account is paid by check, remember the following points: + +When a check is post-dated (dated ahead), if payed before the date +mentioned, the money can be recovered. + +When post-dated checks fall due on Sunday or a legal holiday they should +be presented on the day following. + +Changing the dates of checks without the consent of the drawers will +make the checks void. + +Checks that are not dated, or that do not contain any statement when +they are to be paid, are never payable. + +Bank checks are but orders on the bank for the payment of money, and are +payable in the order in which they are presented at the bank. + +Do not hold checks, but present them for payment as soon as possible. + +If a check is not paid on proper presentation, resort may be made to the +original claim. Have the banker endorse the reason for non-payment on +the check. + +Certified checks are checks that have been endorsed by the bank, and +constitute payment as to the persons drawing them. + +If a check is turned down at the bank notify the drawer at once. + +If you receive a check and endorse it and place in your bank for +collection, and it is turned down, do not return it to the drawer until +you get a remittance to cover, without first erasing your endorsement. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FORMS AND COLLECTING LETTERS. + + +Nearly every form of letter that has been devised for collecting +physicians accounts has been based upon those used by installment houses +and those in general use by wholesale merchants who deal with retail +dealers. They all carry the bluff idea. This is all right in dealing +with installment customers with whom you have a contract that will take +away the goods purchased, or with retail merchants who know they must +meet their obligations if they continue in business. The credit men of +mercantile institutions keep tab on their customers through the local +merchants exchange and the commercial agencies, and are in a position to +know to what extent it is safe to extend credit. The merchant cannot +refuse to pay his bills and go to another wholesale house and buy +goods, hence if he is a little tardy in meeting his obligations the +bluff letter will awaken him to the necessity of paying the bill. + +With the doctor's customers it is altogether different. He knows that he +cannot be compelled to pay the bill, and that some other physician will +be only too ready to come at his call. + +It is then evident that the bluff idea will not work with the man who +knows that he can get another doctor whenever he wants one, and that he +is so protected by the exemption laws that the bill cannot be collected +by resorting to law. So in reaching this class we must devise other +plans if we hope to accomplish anything. Here, my experience has shown +that sentiment is the key note in an effective collecting letter for +physicians. I have found that the more human interest, sentiment and +friendly feeling that can be woven into the letter the better it is. +Every time that I write a letter to a client I try and refer in some +manner to the patient or to some member of the family, and try to +impress them with the fact that I have a personal interest in them. The +following forms are suggestive of the idea, and have proven very +successful in my practice. The classification is, of course used with +every account--they are all No. 1 until they fail to pay. The word +"Class" and the number are stamped with a rubber stamp. Letters of this +kind should be pen written--typewriter and form letters will not +answer, they lose the personal sentiment. + +A duplicator that will easily reproduce 100 copies of a pen written +letter may be had for about $5, and the letters may be "formed" on this, +leaving space in which the personal matter may be written. If properly +done they will have the appearance of a hand written letter. Don't have +your letters too polished. Remember you are a very busy man--just +writing a note to a friend. Omit the rhetorical embellishments from this +class of correspondence in all cases. + +The first of my series of letters is along the following line. + + +CLASS 1. + +Dear Sir:-- + +In looking over my books with a view of raising a small amount of money, +I note there is a balance due on your account of =$10.00=, and as you have +always been one of my best paying patrons, I have let this run, knowing +I could get it whenever I called on you. I always divide my accounts +into three classes: 1. Those who I can depend upon to pay when I call on +them. 2. Those who are slow to pay, and that I must keep after. 3. Very +poor pay and unsatisfactory clients. Whenever one of my patrons fails to +respond to my statements it reduces him to the next lower class. + +As you are one of my First Class patrons, I know you will be only too +glad to assist me at this time. I saw little Mary on the street the +other day, and she is looking well and hearty. I am glad she is so well, +as we had a hard fight to save her last spring. + +Wishing you health, happiness and success, I am, + + Yours very truly. + + + +Now if this fails to bring the money, we will try Class No. 2. + + +CLASS 2. + +Dear Sir:-- + +I was very much disappointed in not receiving the small amount of your +account, =$10.00=, as you were one of my Class 1 customers, and I felt +sure you would not fail me when I called on you. I hope you will attend +to this at once, as I would like to place you back on my Class 1 list. + +A good credit is the greatest asset that any man can have, and I find I +can only maintain my credit by making prompt payment of my bills. To do +this I must have a prompt settlement of the bills due me. I know that +you value a good credit, and feel sure that you will not again +disappoint me. + +How is baby getting along? I guess he can almost stand by this time. +Come in and see me any way, and we can no doubt make arrangements that +will help us both out, and continue the best of friends. + + Yours very truly. + + +In case he is not interested in your friendship, and does not show up +with the money, we will try our third and last shot. + + +CLASS 3. + +Dear Sir:-- + +I am very sorry that you did not see fit to reply to my letters of =July +15= and =August 15=. Not so much on account of your failure to pay me the +=$10.00= which you owe, but because I dislike to lose faith in my fellow +man, and you know it hurts a fellow when he finds his judgment was +wrong. I have often wondered how I would feel if I knew my little child +was up in heaven, looking down at me with her angelic eyes, wondering +why I did not pay the doctor who worked so hard all night to give her +ease and to keep her with me. I don't believe that I could be happy. + +Still =John=, I believe in you, and feel sure you will come in and see me +about this little matter. I just can't believe I was mistaken in you. + +Wishing you success, I am, + + Very truly yours. + + +The personal matter must be fitting to the case. If your patients do not +die, you might speak of the "innocent little babe who will grow up to +womanhood unpaid for." Lawyers in Oklahoma hold a lien on the cause of +action until their fees are paid. Wonder how that would work with the +medical profession? + +The point that I want to press home to you is that if you cannot get a +settlement with sentiment, you cannot get it any other way. You cannot +bluff them for they know they are execution proof. Read the exemption +laws of your state and you will find that there is not a third of your +patrons but could beat you if you tried to enforce payment by law. + +Here are some thoughts that have been worked into form letters that may +give you an idea that you can use in some special cases: + +"Your continued silence after receiving our previous letters, compels us +to infer that you neither propose nor intend to remit us the small +balance on your account." + +"The amount is justly due, and we now state positively that on account +of our having been patient, lenient and courteous with you in the past +we cannot let the matter drop at this time by merely writing you." + +"From information we have received from different sources we appreciate +the fact that you are amply able to pay the amount due." + +"We are placing the utmost reliance upon receiving a remittance from you +in the next few days." + +Sometimes you can get settlement by means of a sight draft. Some people +seem to fear a bank and will pay an account when held by a bank when +they would pay no attention to anyone else. + +Always get an order from a corporation before rendering service. If they +call you to attend any of their employees, have them sign an order +before giving the case any attention, otherwise you may not be paid for +your services. They will refuse to pay, and the patient will claim he +did not call you. Have some order cards with you all the time for the +signature of corporations or others who will call you to attend a +patient who is not related to them. The following form will answer: + + ......................1912 + + =Dr. John Smith:= + + You will please attend + + ...................................................... + + during his present illness. + + .................................. + + +When some corporation or other responsible party calls you up and wants +you to attend some one, have them sign the card, then they will be bound +to pay if the patient fails to do so. The person representing a +corporation should sign, as in many cases they have no authority to bind +the company. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +LIMITATIONS. + + +The following table gives the time an account or instrument of writing, +(note, judgment, etc.) will survive before becoming "out-lawed" by the +statutes of limitations in the several states. + + Open account Note Judgment + years years years + +Alabama 3 6 20 +Alaska 6 10 +Arizona 3 +Arkansas 3 10 +California 4 4 5 +Colorado 6 6 6 +Connecticut 6 17[1] +Delaware 3 6 +Florida 3 5 20 +Georgia 10 6 7 +Hawaii 6 6 20 +Idaho 4 5 6 +Illinois 5 10 10[2] +Indiana 6 10 20 +Iowa 5 10 20 +Kansas 3 5 5[3] +Kentucky 5 5 15 +Louisiana 3 5 10 +Massachusetts 6 20 20 +Michigan 6 10 +Minnesota 6 6 10 +Mississippi 3 6 7 +Missouri 10 +Montana 6 +Nebraska 4 5 +Nevada 3 4 6 +New Hampshire 20 +New Jersey 20 +New Mexico 4 6 7 +New York 10 20 +North Carolina 3 3 10 +North Dakota 6 6 +Ohio 6 6 15 +Oklahoma 3 5 +Oregon 6 6 10 +Pennsylvania 6 6 20[4] +Rhode Island 6 20 20 +South Carolina 6 6 20 +South Dakota 6 6 20[5] +Tennessee 6 10[6] +Texas 2 4 10 +Utah 4 6 8 +Vermont +Virginia 2 5 10 +Washington 6 6 +West Virginia 5 5 10 +Wisconsin 6 10 20 +British Columbia[7] +Manitoba 6 10 +Wyoming 8 5 10 +New Brunswick 6 6 20 +Nova Scotia 6 20 +Ontario 6 10 +Quebec 5[8] 5 +Mexico 1 3 + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Promissory note not negotiable. + +[2] Justice Court. Court of Record, 20 years. + +[3] Judgment may be kept alive by issuing execution every five years. + +[4] May be revived by proof of non-payment. + +[5] If judgment is from any other state, 10 years. + +[6] "Where the statute of limitations of another State or government has +created a bar to an action upon a cause accruing therein, while the +party to be charged was a resident in such State or under such +government, the bar is equally effectual in this State." (Code (M. & V.) +Sec. 3481.) + +[7] "All actions for debt upon any recognizance, shall be commenced +within twenty years after the cause of action arose." + +[8] "Surgeon's, physician's and dentist's accounts dating from the time +the services or medicine is supplied." + +This table is as near complete as we are able to make it at this time. +The laws are changed frequently. This is accurate enough to enable any +physician to look over his books and find what per cent. of his accounts +have outlawed by his failure to enforce payment. + +Remember that a payment, however small it may be, will revive an +account, even after it has become outlawed. Hence the advisability of +getting small payments at every opportunity. These payments should be +less than one year apart, as some States do not consider payments made +over one year apart. + +Under the Oklahoma law a foreign judgment is limited to one year. In +West Virginia a foreign judgment against a person who has been a +resident of the State for ten years is barred. + +A similar clause to the following, taken from the laws of the State of +Washington, is incorporated in the acts of nearly all States, and may be +considered as a general rule: + +"In an action brought to recover a balance due upon a mutual, open and +current account, where there have been reciprocal demands, the cause of +action shall be deemed to have accrued from the time of the last item of +the account proved on either side, but when more than one year shall +have intervened between any of a series of items, they are not to be +deemed such an account." + +Thus, if you do practice for a person, and a year elapses and you again +attend him, you cannot combine the two as one account, and enforce +collection by law. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +EXEMPTION LAWS. + + +Before starting a suit to collect money due you, carefully read up on +the exemption laws of your State. After carefully considering the +matter you will find that a judgment, if obtained, will avail you +nothing, should the debtor elect to take advantage of the exemption +allowed him by law. + +Some States are very liberal in the amount of property a man may hold +which is exempt from execution on a judgment for indebtedness. Take for +instance, the State of North Dakota, where the head of a family may hold +a homestead and personal property to the value of $6,450, and in case +the head of the family should die, and was insured, the widow and +children could hold an additional $5,000 of life insurance money, making +a total exemption of $11,450. + +Delaware is the only State that has made a special provision for +physicians in any manner. Here the statutes provide that a physician's +bill shall be a preferred claim for services in the last illness of the +patient. + +In nearly all States the exemption runs to the widow and minor children. +This is so general a rule that I have not included that part of the +statutes covering this phase of the law. There is no exemption against +money due on mortgages, for the purchase price of property, for manual +labor or taxes. Tennessee also provides that there shall be no exemption +on fines for failure to work the roads, for voting out of the district +the voter lives in, for carrying concealed weapons, or for giving away +or selling intoxicating liquors on election day. + +Rhode Island exempts wages due or accruing to seamen. + +Pennsylvania does not exempt the homestead, and personal property to the +value of three hundred dollars only is exempt. The chances to collect a +bill in Pennsylvania are better than in any other State, so far as the +exemption laws are concerned. + +Oregon exempts one gun or revolver to each white citizen over sixteen +years of age, in addition to the other exemptions. + +Public buildings owned by the State or municipality are always exempt. +Other buildings are not exempt against liens for material or labor used +in their construction. + +The exempt property may be selected by the debtor, or on his failure to +make such selection, some States permit the wife to make the selection, +but in case no selection is made, the proper officer will make the +selection for them. + +The exemption of estates generally runs until the youngest child is of +age. Judgments usually expire in twenty years or less if not renewed. +Hence you will see that the attorney's fees that you will have to pay to +secure judgment will generally be worth more to you than the judgment, +if you have to wait so many years to satisfy it. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +EXEMPTION LAWS. + + +The following extracts from the statutes of the various States gives the +exemption laws in so far as they apply to the collection of accounts. + + +ALABAMA. + +The personal property of any resident of the State, to the amount of one +thousand dollars, to be selected by such resident, is exempt for any +debt contracted since the 13th of July, 1868. Every homestead, not over +eighty acres of land, if in the country, or any lot in a city, town or +village, to be selected by the owner, together with the improvements +thereon, not exceeding two thousand dollars in value, is exempt from +execution for any debt contracted since July 13th, 1868. The Statutes +provide that the homestead may consist of as much as one hundred and +sixty acres not exceeding in value two thousand dollars. (Code of Ala. +Sec. 4164 et seq.) + + +ALASKA. + +1. Earnings of judgment debtor, for personal services rendered within +sixty days next preceding the levy of execution or attachment, when +necessary for the use of his family, supported in whole or in part by +his labor. 2. Books, pictures and musical instruments owned by any +person, to the value of seventy-five dollars. 3. Necessary wearing +apparel owned by any person for the use of himself or family, but +watches or jewelry exceeding one hundred dollars in value are not +exempt. 4. The tools, implements, apparatus, team, vehicle, harness, or +library necessary to enable any person to carry on the trade, occupation +or profession by which such person habitually earns his living, to the +value of five hundred dollars; also sufficient quantity of food to +support such team, if any, for six months; the word "team" being +construed to include not more than one yoke of oxen, or a span of horses +or mules, or two reindeer, or six dogs. Ten sheep with one year's fleece +or the yarn or cloth manufactured therefrom; two cows and five swine; +household goods, furniture and utensils to the value of three hundred +dollars; also food sufficient to support such animals, if any, for six +months, and provisions actually provided for family use and necessary +for the support of such person and family for six months. 6. The seat or +pew occupied by the head of a family or his family in a place of public +worship. + +Homestead. The homestead of any family, or the proceeds thereof, is +exempt. Such homestead must be the actual abode of, and owned by such +family or some member thereof, and not exceed two thousand five hundred +dollars in value, nor exceed one hundred and sixty acres in extent, if +not located in a town or city laid off into blocks or lots, or if +located in any such town or city, one fourth of an acre. + + +ARIZONA. + +Personal property to the amount of five hundred dollars to a family +only. One half of earnings of debtor for thirty days next previous to +levy necessary to family support are exempt. Prospector's mining tools +and camping outfit are exempt. + +Homestead. Twenty-five hundred dollars in one compact; not necessary to +live on the same, but family must reside in Territory. + + +ARKANSAS. + +The exemption law is contained in the present Constitution, and is as +follows: "Section 1. The personal property of any resident of this +State, who is not married or the head of a family, in specific articles +to be selected by such resident, not exceeding in value the sum of two +hundred dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, shall be +exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on execution or other process +from any court, issued for the collection of any debts by contract; +provided that no property shall be exempt from execution for debts +contracted for the purchase-money therefor, while in the hands of the +vendee. Sec. 2. The personal property of any resident of this State, who +is married or the head of a family, in specific articles to be selected +by such resident, not exceeding in value the sum of five hundred +dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, and that of his or +her family, shall be exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on +execution, or other process from any court, on debt by contract. Sec. 4. +The homestead outside any city, town or village, owned and occupied as a +residence, shall consist of not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres of +land, with the improvements thereon, to be selected by the owner; +provided the same shall not exceed in value the sum of twenty-five +hundred dollars, and in no event shall the homestead be reduced to less +than eighty acres, without regard to value. Sec. 5. The homestead in +any city, town or village, owned and occupied as a residence, shall +consist of not exceeding one acre of land, with the improvements +thereon, to be selected by the owner; provided the same shall not exceed +in value the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, and in no event +shall such homestead be reduced to less than one quarter of an acre of +land, without regard to value." + + +CALIFORNIA. + +The following property is exempt from execution for any debt, except it +be for the purchase price of such property, or a debt secured by +mortgage, lien or pledge thereon, to wit: 1st. Chairs, tables, desks and +books, to the value of two hundred dollars. 2d. Necessary household, +table and kitchen furniture of the debtor, including one sewing machine, +stoves, stove pipes and stove furniture, wearing apparel, beds, bedding, +bedsteads, hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings drawn or painted +by any member of the family, family portraits and their necessary +frames, provisions and fuel actually provided for individual or family +use sufficient for three months, and three cows and their sucking +calves, four hogs with their sucking pigs, and food for such cows and +hogs for one month; also one rifle, one shotgun, one piano. 3d. Farming +utensils, or implements of husbandry, not exceeding in value one +thousand dollars, of the judgment debtor, also two oxen, or two horses, +or two mules and their harness, one cart or buggy, and two wagons, and +food for such animals for one month, also seed grain or vegetables +reserved or on hand for planting within six months, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value; and seventy-five beehives, and one horse and +vehicle belonging to any person who is maimed or crippled, the same +being necessary to his business. 4th. Tools or implements of a mechanic +or artisan, notary's seal, office furniture and records; instruments and +library and necessary office furniture of a surgeon, physician, +surveyor or dentist, necessary to the exercise of their profession; +books, professional libraries and office furniture of attorneys, judges, +ministers of the gospel, editors, and school and music teachers, and all +the indexes, abstracts, books, papers, maps and office furniture of +searcher of records necessary to be used in his profession, and +instruments actually used by music teachers in giving instructions; also +typewriters used by owner in making his living, also one bicycle. 5th. A +miner's cabin, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, also his +sluices, pipes, tools, etc., necessary for his business, not exceeding +five hundred dollars in value, and two horses, mules, or oxen, and their +harness, and food for the same for one month, when necessary to be used +for any windlass, derrick, car, pump, or hoisting gear; and the miner's +claim worked by him, and not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. +6th. Two oxen, horses, or mules and their harness and food for one +month, and one cart, wagon, dray, truck, coupe, hack, or carriage for +one or two horses, by the use of which a cartman, drayman, truckman, +huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer habitually earns +his living, and one horse, vehicle, and harness used by physician, +surgeon, constable, or minister of the gospel in the legitimate practice +of his profession or business, with food for such animal for one month. +7th. One fishing boat and net not exceeding the value of five hundred +dollars, the property of any fisherman, by the lawful use of which he +earns a livelihood. 8th. Poultry worth not more than seventy-five +dollars. 9th. Seamen and seagoing fishermen's wages and earnings not +exceeding three hundred dollars. 10th. Earnings for personal service +rendered within thirty days of levy, if the defendant swears they are +necessary for the use of his family residing in the State, and supported +in whole or in part by his labor; but only one-half of such earnings are +exempt where the debt is for necessaries of life. 11th. Shares in +homestead associations, not exceeding in value one thousand dollars, if +the debtor has not a homestead selected. 12th. Nautical instruments and +wearing apparel of any master, officer, or seamen of any vessel. 13th. +All moneys, benefits, etc., accruing or growing out of any life +insurance, if the annual premiums paid do not exceed five hundred +dollars; if they exceed that sum, a like exemption exists, which shall +bear the same proportion to the money, immunities, etc., so accruing or +growing out of such insurance that five hundred dollars bears to the +whole annual premiums paid. 14th. All fire-engines, etc. 15th. All +firearms, etc., required by law to be kept by any person, and one gun +selected by the debtor. 17th. All material not exceeding one thousand +dollars purchased in good faith for use in or about to be applied in +good faith to the construction, alteration, or repair of any building, +mining claim, or other improvement entered upon a judgment recovered, +for its price or foreclosure of a mortgage thereon. 18th. All machinery, +etc., necessary for constructing surface or artesian wells to the value +of one thousand dollars. 19th. Shares of stock in any building and loan +association to one thousand dollars. 20th. Moneys derived from United +States pension. + + +COLORADO. + +Every householder, being the head of a family, is entitled to a +homestead of the value of two thousand dollars exempt from execution and +attachment while such homestead is occupied by the owner or his or her +family. Entry of homestead is made by writing the word "homestead" on +the margin of the recorded title thereof, attested by the recorder with +date of entry. There is also exempt from execution and attachment the +necessary wearing apparel of every person, and the following property of +a person being the head of a family: Family pictures, school-books, and +library, a seat or pew in any house of public worship, the sites of +burial for the dead, all wearing apparel of the debtor and his family, +all beds, bedsteads, and bedding, kept and used for the debtor and his +family, all stoves and appendages kept for the use of the debtor or his +family, all cooking utensils, and all the household furniture not above +enumerated not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, the provisions +for the debtor and his family necessary for six months, and fuel +necessary for six months. The tools and implements or stock in trade of +any mechanic, miner, or other person not exceeding two hundred dollars +in value, the library and implements of any professional man not +exceeding three hundred dollars in value, one bicycle, one +sewing-machine, working animals of any person to the value of two +hundred dollars, one cow and calf, ten sheep, and food for same for six +months, one farm wagon, cart or dray, one plow, one harrow, and other +farming implements, including harness and tackle for team not exceeding +fifty dollars in value. If the head of the family dies the family is +entitled to the exemption. There is also exemption from levy on +execution, attachment, or garnishment sixty per cent. of the amount, due +at the time of levy, of wages or earnings of the head of the family or +his wife when such family resides in the State and is dependent in whole +or in part, upon such earnings, and all wages are exempt when they do +not exceed five dollars per week. + +Pension money received from the United States is exempt from all legal +process, whether in the actual possession of the pensioner, deposited or +loaned, and whether the pensioner be the head of a family or not. This +exemption runs to the pensioner's wife and children, or either of them, +in case of his death or absconding. + + +CONNECTICUT. + +The following property shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by +warrant or execution, namely: of the property of any person, his +necessary apparel and bedding, and household furniture necessary for +supporting life, arms, militia equipments, uniforms, or musical +instruments owned by any member of the militia for military purposes, +any pension moneys received from the United States while in the hands of +the pensioner, implements of the debtor's trade, his library not +exceeding five hundred dollars in value, one cow not exceeding one +hundred and fifty dollars in value, any number of sheep not exceeding +ten nor exceeding in all one hundred and fifty dollars in value, two +swine and two hundred pounds of pork, and poultry not exceeding +twenty-five dollars in value; of the property of any one person having a +wife or family, twenty-five bushels of charcoal, two tons of other coal, +two hundred pounds of wheat flour, two cord of wood, two tons of hay, +two hundred pounds each of beef and fish, five bushels each of potatoes +and turnips, ten bushels each of Indian corn and rye, and the meal or +flour manufactured therefrom, twenty pounds each of wool and flax, or +the yarn or cloth made therefrom; the horse of any practicing physician +or surgeon of a value not exceeding two hundred dollars, and his saddle, +bridle, harness, buggy, and bicycle; one boat owned by one person and +used by him in the business of planting or taking oyster or clams, or +taking shad, together with the sails, tackle, rigging and implements +used in said business not exceeding in value two hundred dollars; one +sewing-machine, being the property of any one person using it or having +a family; one pew, being the property of any person having a family, who +ordinarily occupy it; and lots in any burying ground appropriated by its +proprietors for the burial of any person or family. So much of any debt +which has accrued by reason of the personal services of the debtor as +shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, including wages due for the +personal services of any minor child under the age of twenty-one years, +shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by foreign attachment or +execution. + +Any person owning and actually occupying any dwelling and real estate +can file for record, in same manner as a deed, a declaration that he +occupies and intends to occupy said dwelling and real estate as a +homestead, and from the filing such declaration said property, to the +value of one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from execution so long as +actually occupied by the owner as a dwelling, and only the excess in +value above one thousand dollars can be set off. (Gen. Stat. 1902 Sec. +4065, 4066.) + +Money due on insurance losses for exempt property, whether real or +personal, are also exempt. + + +DELAWARE. + +Family Bible, school-books, and family pictures, seat or pew in church, +lot in burial ground, all wearing apparel of debtor and family, and in +addition to above tools, implements, and fixtures necessary to carry on +a trade or business, not exceeding seventy-five dollars in New Castle +and Sussex Counties and fifty dollars in Kent County. There is exempted +to the Head of a family, in addition to above, other personal property +(goods and chattels of a merchantable character bought to be sold and +trafficked in by the debtor in the transaction of his or her business or +occupation, excepted) not exceeding two hundred dollars in New Castle +County, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars in Kent County, +and in the latter county consisting of household goods only; but there +is no such additional exemption in Sussex County, and there is no such +additional exemption when such exemption would prevent the collection of +a debt due or growing due for labor or services (other than professional +services) rendered by any clerk, mechanic, or other employee of the +debtor. Sewing-machines owned and used by seamstresses or private +families are exempt from execution on attachment process, and also from +distress for rent. In New Castle County ninety per cent. of all wages +are exempt from execution attachment, except for board, lodging, or +both, not exceeding fifty dollars. Widows in all cases shall have the +benefit of the same exemption out of the husband's goods that the +husband would have had if living. Funeral expenses, reasonable bills for +medicine and medical attendance, nursing, and necessaries of last +sickness, are paid out of personality of a deceased person before there +is any application to the execution. Above exemptions extended to +distress for rent. + + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. + +The following property is exempt from execution: Wearing apparel +belonging to all persons and to all heads of families being +householders; beds, bedding, household furniture, stoves, cooking +utensils, etc., not exceeding three hundred dollars in value; provisions +for three months' support, whether provided or growing; fuel for three +months; mechanics' tools and implements of professional man or artist to +value of three hundred dollars; one horse, one mule, or yoke of oxen; +one cart, one wagon or dray, and harness for such team; farming +utensils, with food for such team for three months, and if the debtor be +a farmer, any other farming tools of value of one hundred dollars; all +family pictures and all family library not exceeding in value four +hundred dollars; one cow, one swine, six sheep. (Sec. 1105, Code.) + +The earnings, not to exceed one hundred dollars each month, of all +actual residents of the District of Columbia, and who are married +persons or who have to provide for the support of a family in the +District, for two months next proceeding the issuing of any writ or +process from any court or justice of the peace, or other officer of and +in the District against them, shall be exempt from attachment, levy, +seizure, or sale upon such process; and the same shall not be seized, +levied on, or taken, reached or sold by attachment, execution, or in any +other process or proceedings of any court, judge, justice of the peace, +or other officer of and in the District. (Sec. 1107, Code.) + + +FLORIDA. + +Article X of the constitution of 1885 provides as follows: "Sec. 1. A +homestead to the extent of one hundred and sixty acres of land, or the +half of one acre within the limits of any incorporated city or town, +owned by the head of the family residing in this State, together with +one thousand dollars' worth of personal property, and the improvements +on the real estate, shall be exempt from forced sale under process of +any court, and the real estate shall not be alienable without the joint +consent of husband and wife, when that relation exists. But no property +shall be exempt from sale for taxes or assessments or for payment of +obligations contracted for the purchase of said property, or for the +erection or repair of improvements on the real estate exempted, or for +house, field or other labor performed on the same. The exemption herein +provided for in a city or town shall not extend to more improvements or +buildings than the residence and business house of the owner; and no +judgment or decree or execution shall be a lien upon exempted property +except as provided in this article. Sec. 2. The exemptions provided for +in section one shall insure to the widow and heirs of the party entitled +to such exemption, and shall apply to all debts, except as specified in +said section. Sec. 3. The exemptions provided for in the constitution of +this State adopted in 1868 shall apply as to all debts contracted and +judgments rendered since the adoption thereof and prior to the adoption +of this constitution. Sec. 4. Nothing in this article shall be construed +to prevent the holder of a homestead from alienating his or her +homestead so exempted by deed or mortgage duly executed by himself or +herself, and by husband and wife, if such relation exists, nor, if the +holder be without children, to prevent him or her from disposing of his +or her homestead by will, in a manner prescribed by law. Sec. 5. No +homestead provided for in Section 1 shall be reduced in area on account +of its being subsequently included within the limits of an incorporated +city or town, without the consent of the owner." + + +GEORGIA. + +The Constitution of 1877 provided: "There shall be exempt from levy and +sale, by virtue of any process whatever, under the laws of this State, +except as hereinafter excepted, of the property of every head of a +family, or guardian, or trustee of a family of minor children or every +aged or infirm person having the care and support of dependant female of +any age, who is not the head of a family, realty or personalty or both, +to the value in the aggregate of sixteen hundred dollars. No court or +ministerial officer in this State shall ever have jurisdiction or +authority to enforce any judgment, execution, or decree against the +property set apart for such purpose, including such improvements as may +be made thereon from time to time, except for taxes, for the +purchase-money of the same, for labor done thereon, for material +furnished therefor, or for the removal of incumbrances thereon. The +debtor shall have the power to waive or renounce in writing his right to +this benefit of exemption except as to wearing apparel and not exceeding +three hundred dollars' worth of household and kitchen furniture and +provision, to be selected by himself and his wife, if any, and he shall +not, after it is set apart, alienate or incumber the property so +exempted, but it may be sold by the debtor and his wife, if any, +jointly, with the sanction of the judge of the superior court of the +county where the debtor resides or the land is situated, the proceeds to +be reinvested upon the same uses." The act of 1878 carries out these +provisions. + + +HAWAII. + +The following property is exempt from execution, attachment, distress, +and forced sale: 1st. All necessary household, table, and kitchen +furniture, one sewing-machine, crockery, tin and plated ware, calabashes +and mats, family portraits and photographs and their necessary frames, +wearing apparel, bedding, household linen, and provision for household +use for three months. 2nd. Farming implements and utensils not exceeding +five hundred dollars in value; two horses or mules, and their harness +and their food for one month; one horse, one set of single harness, and +one vehicle of any person who is maimed or crippled. 3d. The tools or +implements of a mechanic or artisan necessary to carry on his trade; the +instruments and chest of a physician, dentist, or surveyor necessary to +the exercise of his profession, together with his necessary office +furniture and fixture; the necessary office furniture, fixtures, blanks, +stationery, and office equipment of attorneys and judges, ministers of +the gospel and rabbis; the typewriter, one desk, and six chairs of a +stenographer or typewriter; the musical instruments of every teacher of +music, used in giving instruction; one bicycle used in carrying on of +one's business or transporting him to and from his place of business; +the fishing nets, dips and seines, and the boats with their tackle and +equipment, of every fisherman. 4th. The horses or mules and their +harness, one cart, wagon, or stage, one dray or truck, one coupe, hack +or carriage for one or two horses, by use of which a cartman, drayman, +truckster, huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer earns +his living; and one horse and harness and one vehicle used by a +physician, surgeon, or minister of the gospel in the practice or +exercise of his profession. 5th. The nautical instruments and wearing +apparel of every master, officer, and seaman of any steamship or other +vessel. 6th. All books, papers, pamphlets, and manuscripts, together +with book-cases, shelvings, cabinets, and other devices for holding the +same except those kept for sale by any dealer therein. 7th. One-half of +the wages due every laborer or person working for wages. 8th. The +proceeds of insurance on, and the proceeds of sale of the property +aforesaid for the period of three months after such proceeds are +received. (Sec. 1831.) There is also exempt from execution the family +Bible, family pictures, school-books, two swine or six goats, and all +necessary fish, meat, flour, and vegetables, and one piece of land where +kalo or any other vegetable is growing, not to exceed one-half acre +actually cultivated for family use, also a house lot not to exceed +one-quarter acre, and the dwelling and other buildings thereon, provided +the value thereof shall not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars. But +this exemption does not apply as against mechanics and material-men +having liens for labor or material. (Sec. 1830.) + + +INDIANA. + +Every resident householder, or resident married woman, may claim as +exempt from execution against them respectively his or her property, +real or personal, to the amount of six hundred dollars, on any debt +founded on contract made since May 31, 1879. This right exists while in +transitu from one residence to another within the State, and may be +claimed by the wife for the husband in his absence. + +The property of a resident householder, exempt from sale on execution, +may be real or personal, or both. It must be properly appraised under +direction of the officer, after receiving from the debtor a sworn +schedule of all his property, credits, effects, etc. The statute makes +ample provisions for the sale of real property where it is alone, or in +part, claimed under the exemption law, in case its value exceeds six +hundred dollars. The exemption does not effect liens for labor, +purchase-money, or realty, or taxes in any event. + + +IOWA. + +To an unmarried person not the head of a family and to non-resident +there is exempt from execution their own ordinary wearing apparel and +trunks necessary to contain the same. If the debtor is a resident of +this State, and is the head of a family, he may hold exempt from +execution the following property: Wearing apparel of himself and family +kept for actual use and suitable for their condition, and the trunks to +contain the same; one musket, or rifle, and shot-gun; all private +libraries, family Bibles, portraits, pictures, musical instruments, and +paintings, not kept for sale; a pew in church; a lot in burying ground, +not to exceed one acre; two cows and two calves; fifty sheep and the +wool therefrom, and the materials manufactured from such wool; six +stands of bees, five hogs, and all pigs under six months; poultry to the +value of fifty dollars; the necessary food for all animals exempt from +execution for six months: one bedstead and the necessary bedding for +every two in the family; all cloth manufactured by the defendant not +exceeding one hundred yards; household and kitchen furniture not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value; all spinning-wheels and looms, +one sewing-machine, and other instruments of domestic labor kept for +actual use; the necessary provisions and fuel for the use of the family +for six months; the proper tools, instruments, or books of the debtor, +if a farmer, mechanic, surveyor, clergyman, lawyer, physician, teacher, +or professor; the horse, or team consisting of not more than two horses +or mules, or two yoke of cattle, and the wagon with the proper harness +tackle, by the use of which the debtor, if a physician, public officer, +farmer, teamster, or other laborer, habitually earns his living, +otherwise one horse; and to the debtor, if a printer, there is also +exempt a printing press and the type, furniture, and material necessary +for the use of such printing press and a newspaper office connected +therewith, not to exceed in value twelve hundred dollars. But if the +debtor being the head of family, has started to leave the State, he will +have exempt only the ordinary wearing apparel of himself and family, and +seventy-five dollars' worth of property in addition, to be selected by +himself. But no exemptions shall extend to property against an execution +issued for the purchase-money thereof. The earnings of a debtor, if a +resident, and head of a family, for his personal services at any time +within ninety days next preceding the levy, are also exempt. If a debtor +is a seamstress, one sewing-machine shall be exempt from execution and +attachment. + +The homestead of every head of a family is exempt from judicial sale. It +may be sold on execution for debts contracted prior to the purchase of +such homestead; or for those created by written contract, expressly +stipulating that it is liable therefor. If within a city or town plat +it must not exceed one-half acre in extent, and if without, it must not +embrace in the aggregate more than forty acres; and in each case +embraces all the buildings and improvements thereon without limitation +as to value. Upon the death of either husband or wife, the survivor may +continue to possess and occupy the whole homestead. If there is no +survivor and no will, the homestead descends to the issue of either +husband or wife, and is to be held exempt from any antecedent debts of +their parents or their own. Money received as a pension from the United +States is exempt, whether pensioner is a head of a family or not, and a +homestead purchased with such pension money is exempt from all debts +whether contracted prior or subsequent to such purchase. The avails of +all policies of insurance on the life of any individual payable to his +surviving widow shall be exempt from liabilities for all debts of such +beneficiary contracted prior to the death of the assured, the total +exemption for any one person not exceeding five thousand dollars. + + +KANSAS. + +The Constitution provided that a "homestead to the extent of one hundred +and sixty acres of farming land, or of one acre within the limits of an +incorporated town or city, occupied as a residence by the family of the +owner, together with all the improvements on the same, shall be exempted +from forced sale under any process of law, and shall not be alienated +without the joint consent of husband and wife, when that relation +existed. By statute, each resident, being the head of a family, is +entitled to have exempt from seizure and sale, upon any judicial +process, the family books and musical instruments, a seat or pew in +church and a lot in burial ground, all wearing apparel, bedding, +bedstead, stoves and cooking utensils used by the family, one +sewing-machine, all implements of industry, five hundred dollars' worth +of other household furniture, two cows, ten hogs, one yoke of oxen, and +one horse or mule (or, in lieu of one yoke of oxen and one horse or +mule, a span of horses or mules;) twenty sheep and the wool from same; +the necessary food for the stock above described for one year, either +provided or growing; one wagon, cart or dray; two plows, one drag, and +other farming utensils including harness and tackle for team, not +exceeding in value three hundred dollars; provisions and fuel for the +support and use of the family, for one year; the necessary tools and +implements of any mechanic, minor, or other person, used and kept for +the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, and in addition +thereto stock in trade not exceeding four hundred dollars in value, and +the library, implements, and office furniture of any professional man." + +A resident, not being the head of a family, has exempt his wearing +apparel, church pew, burial lot, necessary tools and implements used in +his trade or business, stock in trade not exceeding four hundred +dollars; and, if a professional man, his library, implements, and office +furniture. (Sec. 3650.) The earnings of a debtor resident of the State +for three months are exempt when it shall be made to appear that the +same are necessary for the maintenance of a family supported wholly or +partly by his labor. (Sec. 6127.) + +So, also, the money received by any debtor as pensioner of the United +States within three months preceeding the issuing of execution, +attachment, or garnishment process must be released when it is shown in +like manner that said money is necessary for the maintenance of a family +supported wholly or in part by such pension. (Sec. 3653.) + + +IDAHO. + +Execution issue on judgment at any time within five years. Homestead, +after the same has been declared and recorded is exempt. Where the +selection is made by the husband, or, in case of his failure, by the +wife or other head of the family, such homestead may be selected to the +value of five thousand dollars, and to the value of one thousand +dollars by any other person. The declaration, properly acknowledged and +recorded, is prior to all claims against the property which were not +existing liens at the time the declaration of homestead was recorded. In +addition thereto are the following exemptions from execution: 1st. +Chairs, tables, desks, and books to the value of two hundred dollars. +2d. Necessary household furniture to the value of three hundred dollars, +wearing apparel, paintings, drawings, pictures, etc., and provisions +provided for individual or family use, sufficient for six months, two +cows and two hogs with their increase. 3d. Farmer's utensils to the +value of three hundred dollars, four horses, four oxen or four mules, +with harnesses, cart or wagon, and food for the same for six months; +waterright, not exceeding one hundred and sixty inches of water, for the +irrigation of lands annually cultivated, and crop or crops growing or +grown on fifty acres of land leased, owned, or possessed by claimant. +4th. Necessary tools or implements of a mechanic or artisan of the value +of five hundred dollars; notary's seal and records; necessary instrument +for use of surgeon, physician, surveyor, and dentist, with their +libraries; professional libraries and office furniture of attorneys, +counsellors, and judges; and the libraries of clergymen. 5th. Cabin or +dwelling of a miner, of the value of five hundred dollars, also his +sluices, pipes, hose, and other necessary tools and machinery of the +value of two hundred dollars: one saddle horse, and one pack horse, +together with their saddles and equipments, belonging to a miner +actually engaged in prospecting, of the value of two hundred and fifty +dollars. 6th. The team, wagon, or cart and harnesses of teamster or +other laborer; a horse, harness and vehicle used by physician, surgeon, +or clergyman, with food for all such animals for six months. 7th. +Earnings of judgment debtor, if necessary for his family, for services +rendered within the thirty days next proceeding levy of execution where +his family is residing in the State. 8th. Shares held by a member of a +homestead association, or building or loan association, duly +incorporated under the laws of the State, where the person holding the +shares is not the owner of the homestead, under the laws of the State. +9th. Life insurance in an amount represented by an annual premium not +exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars. 10th. Engines, apparatus, and +uniforms of a fire company or department organized under any law of the +State, 11th. Arms, uniforms, and accoutrements required by law to be +kept. + + +ILLINOIS. + +HOMESTEAD. (=Hurd, 1067.=) The farm or lot of land and buildings thereon +of every householder having a family, occupied as a residence, to the +extent in value of one thousand dollars is exempt. The exemption +continues after the death of the householder to the surviving husband or +wife so long as he or she occupies the homestead, and to the children +until the youngest becomes twenty-one years of age. But such property is +subject to taxes and debts incurred for its purchase or improvement. In +case the premises are worth more than one thousand dollars, and can be +divided without injury, a portion thereof, including the dwelling house, +of the value of one thousand dollars, is set off, and the remainder is +subject to execution and sale. If the premises cannot be divided the +property is valued by appraisers, and the debtor may pay the surplus +over one thousand dollars; otherwise the property may be sold, and the +officer having the execution pays one thousand dollars to the debtor and +the remainder is applied in satisfaction of the creditor's claim. +Substantially the same thing can be done by a court of chancery in a +proceeding to foreclose a lien. Insurance money in case of fire, is +exempt to the same extent as the property insured. Upon a conveyance of +the homestead the exemption continues to the grantee to the same extent. +The proceeds from such sale, not over one thousand dollars, are exempt +for one year, and may be invested in another homestead. The homestead +right of exemption by abandonment, may be extinguished by a conveyance +by both husband and wife, properly acknowledged by abandonment, or, in +case of right in children, by order of court of competent jurisdiction. + +PERSONAL PROPERTY.--The following personal property is exempt: 1st. The +necessary wearing apparel, Bibles, school-books, and family pictures. +2d. One hundred dollars' worth of other property to be selected by the +debtor, and in addition, when the debtor is the head of a family and +resides with the same, three hundred dollars' worth of other property to +be selected by the debtor, provided the exemption shall not be allowed +from any money, salary, or wages due the debtor. When the head of a +family dies, deserts, or does not live with the same, the exemption +continues to the family. No personal property is exempt from process +under a judgment for a debt for the wages of a laborer or servant. +Exemptions cannot be claimed out of partnership property. (=37 Ill. App. +489; 38 Ill. App. 269.=) When a debtor desires to claim exemptions he +must, within ten days after service of process and notice, schedule +under oath all his personal property of every kind, including money in +hand and debts due or owing him. Property not so scheduled is subject to +process. Appraisers are then appointed by the officer having the writ, +who place a fair value on each article. The debtor may select articles +so appraised of a total value not exceeding the amount of the exemption +allowed, the remainder being sold by the officer in satisfaction of the +debt. Money or benefits received from life or accident insurance +companies, organized under the Act of July 1, 1893, are exempt. (=Hurd, +1262.=) The wages of a wage earner, being the head of a family, and +residing with the same, are exempt from garnishment to the amount of +fifteen dollars per week. (=Hurd, 1152.=) It is made a misdemeanor to send +a claim to another State for collection out of the earnings of the +debtor by garnishment or other proceedings when the debtor is a resident +and the creditor, debtor, and garnishee are all within the jurisdiction +of the courts of Illinois, with intent to deprive the debtor of his +rights under the exemption laws of this State; or to transfer for such +purpose a claim against a citizen of Illinois. The penalty is not less +than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars. A non-resident, as to +wages earned and payable outside of this State, is allowed here the same +exemption he would be entitled to in the State of his residence. (=Hurd, +1155.=) Wages earned and payable outside of this State are exempt from +attachment or garnishment, where the cause of action arose out of the +State, unless the defendant in the attachment or garnishment suit is +personally served with process. If the defendant be not served +personally, the court or justice of the peace issuing the writ must +dismiss the suit at the cost of the plaintiff. (=Hurd, 1155.=) The law of +exemptions applies to cases of distress for rent, except as to crops +growing on the premises. (=Hurd, 1343.=) + + +KENTUCKY. + +The following personal property shall be exempt from execution, +attachment, distress, or fee bill against a person with a family +residence in this State: two work beasts, or one work beast and one yoke +of oxen, two plows and gear, one wagon and one set of gear, or cart or +dray, three hoes, one spade, one shovel, two cows and calves; beds, +bedding, and furniture sufficient for family use; one loom and +spinning-wheel and pair of cards; all the spun yarn and manufactured +cloth manufactured by the family, necessary for family use; carpeting +for all family rooms in use; one cooking-stove and all cooking utensils, +not to exceed twenty-five dollars in value; one table, all books, not to +exceed fifty dollars in value, two saddles and their appendages; two +bridles, six chairs, or so many as shall not exceed ten dollars in +value, one cradle; all the poultry on hand; ten head of sheep, not to +exceed two dollars and fifty cents in value for each sheep; all wearing +apparel; sufficient provisions including bread-stuffs and animal food to +sustain the family one year; provender suitable for live stock, if +there is any live stock, not to exceed seventy dollars in value; if +none, then other property not to exceed seventy dollars in value in lieu +thereof; all washing apparatus not to exceed fifty dollars in value; one +sewing-machine and all family portraits and pictures. And also on all +debts and liabilities created after the first day of June, 1866, so much +land, including the dwelling-house and appurtenances owned by a debtor +who is =a bona fide= housekeeper with a family resident in Kentucky, and +living on or claiming the land as a homestead, as shall not exceed in +value one thousand dollars; and on all liabilities, the libraries of +preachers, the professional libraries of lawyers, physicians, and +surgeons, and their instruments, to the amount of five hundred dollars, +and tools, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, of a mechanic. +Ninety per cent. of wages or salaries of persons earning seventy-five +dollars per month or less is exempt, the remaining ten per cent, being +subject to debts. As to persons earning more than seventy-five dollars +per month the law exempts sixty-seven dollars and fifty cents per month +and holds the balance subject to debts. + + +LOUISIANA. + +Homesteads are exempt from seizure. They consist of not exceeding one +hundred and sixty acres of land, buildings, and appurtenances, whether +rural or urban, bona fidely occupied by the head of a family, or persons +dependent upon him or her for support, and exist without registration. +The homestead also includes certain farm implements and animals, +together with a certain quantity of fodder, corn, etc. Homestead cannot +exceed two thousand dollars in value. If so, the beneficiary shall be +entitled to that amount only in case of a sale of the homestead under +legal process. No husband shall have the benefit of a homestead whose +wife owns or is in actual possession of property to the amount of two +thousand dollars. The benefit of this exemption may be claimed by the +surviving spouse or minor children of a deceased beneficiary. Laborer's +wages, the clothes belonging to the debtor or his wife, his bed, the +beds of his family, his arms and military accoutrements, the tools and +instruments necessary for the exercise of the trade or profession by +which he gains a living, the rights of personal servitude, use, and +habitation, the usufruct to the estate of a minor child, the income of +dotal property, the books and sewing-machine necessary for the exercise +of one's calling, trade, or profession by which the owner makes a +living, the salary of an officer, cooking-stove and utensils, plates, +forks, etc., dining-table, chairs, wash-tubs, smoothing-irons and +ironing furnaces, family portraits and musical instruments played on by +any member of the family, are exempt from seizure. Whenever the widow or +minor children of a deceased person are left in necessitous +circumstances, they shall be entitled to demand and receive from the +succession of their deceased husband or father a sum, which, added to +the amount of property owned by them or either of them in their own +right, will make up the sum of one thousand dollars, which shall be paid +in preference to all other debts, except vendor's privilege and expenses +incurred in selling the property. + + +MAINE. + +The following =personal property= is exempt from attachment and levy: +Wearing apparel, household furniture necessary for himself, wife, and +children not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, and one bedstead, +bed and bedding for each two members, family portraits, Bibles, +school-books in actual use; copy of State statutes, library worth one +hundred and fifty dollars, pew in use, one cooking and all iron-warming +stoves, charcoal, twelve cords of wood at home for use; five tons of +anthracite and fifty bushels of bituminous coal, ten dollars' worth of +lumber, wood or bark, all produce till harvested, one barrel flour, +thirty bushels of corn, grain, all potatoes raised or bought and +necessary for debtor or his family, half an acre of flax and +manufactures therefrom for use of himself or family, tools of trade, +fifty dollars' worth of materials and stock procured and necessary for +trade or business and intended to be used in same, sewing-machine worth +one hundred dollars, one pair of working cattle, or one pair of horses +or mules worth three hundred dollars, and hay to keep them through the +winter, one harness worth twenty dollars for each horse or mule; a horse +sled or ox sled, two swine, one cow, and a heifer under three years, or +two cows if no oxen, horse, or mule, ten sheep with their wool and lambs +until one year old, hay sufficient to keep them through the winter, +fifty dollars' worth of domestic fowl, one plow, one cart or truck wagon +or one express wagon, one harrow, one yoke with bows, ring, and staple, +two chains, one ox sled, one mowing machine, one boat of two tons +employed in fishing and owned exclusively by an inhabitant of the State, +life and accident policies except excess of annual cash premiums for two +years above one hundred and fifty dollars. Also two shares in loan and +building associations, also the receipts of certain agricultural +societies until their expenses, purses, and premiums are paid, provided +the same are paid within three months from close of fair. + +REAL ESTATE.--Lot of land and buildings worth five hundred dollars, if +owner files required certificate in registry of deeds, is exempt as a +homestead from all attachments except for liens of mechanics and +material men; also one cemetery lot. + + +MARYLAND. + +In Maryland the sheriff cannot take in execution wearing apparel, +mechanical text-books, or books of professional men, or mechanical or +professional men's tools (except books and tools kept for sale). And, +except under executions issued upon judgments for seduction or breach of +promise of marriage, he must also leave one hundred dollars' worth of +other property, to be selected by the defendant, or, if one hundred +dollars' worth cannot be conveniently set aside, pay him one hundred +dollars out of the proceeds of sale. Also money payable in the nature of +insurance for accident, death, etc. + + +MASSACHUSETTS. + +The following exemptions of personal property are allowed: 1st. The +necessary wearing apparel of the debtor and his wife and children, and +household necessaries to a limited amount. 2d. Other household furniture +necessary for him and his family, not exceeding three hundred dollars in +value. 3d. The Bibles, school-books, and library used by him or his +family, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 4th. One cow, six sheep, +one swine, and two tons of hay. 5th. The tools, implements, and fixtures +necessary for carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding one +hundred dollars in value. 6th. Materials and stock for carrying on his +trade or business, and intended to be used or wrought therein, not +exceeding one hundred dollars in value. 7th. The provisions necessary +for the use of the family, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 8th. +One pew occupied by him or his family in a house of public worship; but +this does not prevent the sale of a pew for the non-payment of a tax +legally laid thereon. 9th. The boat, fishing tackle, and nets of +fishermen, actually used by them in the prosecution of their business, +to the value of one hundred dollars. 10th. The uniform of an officer or +soldier in the militia, and the arms and accoutrements required by law +to be kept by him. 11th. Rights of burial and tombs while in use as +repositories for the dead. 12th. One sewing-machine, not exceeding one +hundred dollars in value in actual use by the debtor or by his family. +13th. Shares in co-operative associations formed under the Revised Laws, +ch. 110, not exceeding in value twenty dollars in the aggregate. + +Every householder having a family is entitled to an estate or homestead +to the value of eight hundred dollars exempt from levy on execution, if +proper steps have been taken, by deed recorded in the registry of deed +of the county where it is situated, to declare it a homestead. + + +MICHIGAN. + +The laws of this State exempt from sale on execution to every +householder a homestead not exceeding forty acres of land and the house +thereon, if in the country, or a house and lot in any city or village +not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars. A married householder +cannot sell or encumber such homestead without the consent of his wife. + +Of personal property, the laws exempt from sale on execution various +articles, such as seats in churches, cemeteries, tombs, and right of +burial, all arms and accoutrements, and all wearing apparel of every +person and his family, the library and school-books of every individual +and family, not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, and all family +pictures. To each householder, ten sheep and their fleeces, two cows, +five swine, and provisions and fuel sufficient to keep such householder +and family six months. To each householder all household goods, +furniture, and utensils, not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars in +value. The tools, implements, material stock, apparatus, team (either +one yoke of oxen, a horse or pair of horses, as the case may be), +vehicle, horses harness, or other things to enable any person to carry +on the profession, trade, occupation, or business in which he is wholly +or principally engaged, not exceeding in value two hundred and fifty +dollars, and also one sewing-machine; and a sufficient quantity of hay, +grain, feed, etc., to keep the animals enumerated for six months. Only +household goods, library, pictures, rights in cemeteries, and one cow +and provisions, and fuel for one month, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value, are exempt from execution issued on judgment for +labor. No lien can be created by mortgage or otherwise on any of the +above property, except on profession, etc., without the consent of the +wife, if he have one, by signing such mortgage or lien. + +If a person entitled to the benefit of a homestead shall die, his widow +or minor children shall have the same benefit during the time they +continue to occupy the same. + + +MINNESOTA. + +Family Bible, family pictures, school-books or library, and musical +instruments for use of family; seat or pew in any house or place of +public worship; a lot in a burial ground; all wearing apparel of debtor +and family, all beds, bedding, and bedsteads kept and used by debtor and +used by debtor and his family; all stoves and appendages put up or kept +for use of debtor and family; all cooking utensils, and all other +household furniture not herein enumerated, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value. + +As to debtors residing in this State only: Three cows; ten swine; one +yoke of oxen and a horse, or in lieu thereof a span of horses or mules; +twenty sheep and the wool from same; necessary food for such stock for +one year, provided or growing, or both; one wagon, cart, or dray, one +sleigh, two plows, one drag, and other farming utensils, including +tackle for teams, not exceeding three hundred dollars in value; +provisions for debtor and family for one year's support, provided or +growing, or both, and one year's fuel; the tools and instruments of a +mechanic, miner, or other person, used and kept for the purpose of +carrying on his trade, and stock in trade not exceeding four hundred +dollars; library and implements of a professional man; the presses, +stones, type, cases, and other tools and implements used by any person +or co-partnership, in printing or publishing a newspaper, not to exceed +two thousand dollars in value, together with stock in trade not +exceeding four hundred dollars in value; one watch, one sewing-machine, +one bicycle, one typewriter; necessary seed for personal use of debtor +for one season not exceeding one hundred bushels of wheat, one hundred +bushels barley, one hundred bushels potatoes, one hundred bushels oats, +one hundred bushels flax, and ten bushels corn, and binding material for +use in harvesting crop raised from such seed; the library and apparatus +of and used by any public college or school; moneys from insurance on +exempt property; life insurance not exceeding ten thousand dollars +payable to wife or child on life of deceased husband or father; moneys +or benefits payable by a police or fire department, beneficiary, or +fraternal benefit association, to any person entitled to assistance +therefrom, or beneficiary under certificate thereof; wages not exceeding +twenty-five dollars due from services rendered during thirty days +preceding attachment, garnishment, or levy of execution; earnings of a +minor child of debtor, by reason of liability of debtor not contracted +for the special benefit of such minor; claim for damages, and judgment +thereon by reason of levy on or sale under execution of exempt personal +property or the wrongful taking or detention of such property. If within +an incorporated place of less than five thousand inhabitants, one-half +acre, of more than five thousand inhabitants, one-third acre. Surviving +or deserted spouse and minor children are entitled to the exemption. As +to debts created prior to March 1, 1906, exemption continues. + + +MISSISSIPPI. + +A homestead to every citizen of the State, male or female, being a +householder and having a family, not to exceed two thousand dollars in +value in country, or three thousand in town, nor one hundred and sixty +acres in extent; this exemption is forfeitable, if the debtor cease to +reside on the place, unless his removal be temporary. + +The following property of each head of a family is also exempt: 1st. Two +work-horses, or mules, and one yoke of oxen. 2d. Two heads of cows and +calves. 3d. Ten hogs. 4th. Twenty sheep and goats each. 5th. All +poultry. 6th. All colts under three years, raised in this State by +debtors. 7th. Two hundred and fifty bushels of corn. 8th. Ten bushels of +wheat or rice. 9th. Five hundred pounds of pork, bacon, or other meat. +10th. One hundred bushels of cottonseed. 11th. One wagon, and one buggy +or cart, and one set of harness for each. 12th. Five hundred bundles of +fodder and one thousand pounds of hay. 13th. Forty gallons of sorghum or +molasses or cane syrup. 14th. one thousand stalks of sugar-cane. 15th. +One molasses-mills and equipments, not exceeding one hundred and fifty +dollars in value. 16th. Two bridles and one saddle, and one side-saddle. +17th. One sewing-machine. 18th. Household and kitchen furniture not +exceeding in value two hundred dollars. 19th. All family portraits. +20th. One mower and rake. 21st. Wages to amount of fifty dollars per +month. + +The following property is also exempt to any person: 1st. The tools of a +mechanic necessary for carrying on his trade. 2nd. Agricultural +implements of a farmer necessary for two male laborers. 3d. The +implements of a laborer necessary in his usual employment. 4th. The +books of a student necessary for the completion of his education. 5th. +Wearing apparel. 6th. Libraries and pictures of all persons not +exceeding five hundred dollars in value. 7th. Instruments of surgeons +and dentists, used in their professions, not exceeding two hundred and +fifty dollars in value. 8th. The arms and accoutrements of each +militiaman. 9th. All globes and maps used by teachers of schools, +academies and colleges. 10th. The proceeds of insurance on, or the sale +of, exempt property. + + +MISSOURI. + +Certain animals, implements, and domestic furniture and wearing apparel, +as specified by the statute, is exempt from execution and attachment +when owned by the head of a family. Wearing apparel and the necessary +tools and implements of trade of any mechanic, while carrying on his +trade, are exempt from execution when owned by a person not the head of +a family. Every householder or head of a family is entitled to have +exempt from execution and attachment the homestead occupied by him, not +exceeding in value three thousand dollars in cities of over forty +thousand inhabitants, and not exceeding in quantity eighteen square rods +of ground. In cities having less than forty thousand and not less than +ten thousand inhabitants the homestead cannot exceed in value fifteen +hundred dollars nor thirty square rods of ground; in cities having less +than ten thousand inhabitants, five acres and not exceeding in value +fifteen hundred dollars; and one hundred and sixty acres of land in the +country, not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars. + + +MONTANA. + +Exemptions are as follows: All clothing of the debtor and family, and +chairs, tables, desks, and books to the value of two hundred dollars; +also all necessary household, table and kitchen furniture, of the +judgment debtor, including one sewing-machine, stove, stove-pipe, and +stove furniture heating apparatus, beds, bedding and bedsteads and +provisions and fuel for individual or family use, sufficient for three +months; one horse, saddle and bridle, two cows with their calves, four +hogs, and fifty domestic fowl, and feed for such animals for three +months; one clock, and all family pictures. In addition to the above, +there is exempt to a farmer his farming utensils not exceeding six +hundred dollars in value, two oxen, or two horses or mules and their +harness, one cart or wagon, and food for such stock for three months; +two hundred dollars' worth of seed, grain, or vegetables actually +provided for the purpose of sowing or planting. The proper tools, +instruments, or books of any mechanic, physician, dentist, lawyer, or +clergyman, and office furniture. To a miner his dwelling and all his +tools and machinery necessary for carrying on his avocation, not to +exceed in value the aggregate sum of one thousand dollars, and also one +horse or mule, and its harness, with its food for three months, in case +such stock is used in working his mining claim. One horse, mule, or two +oxen, vehicle and harness, by which the debtor habitually earns his +living, and one horse with vehicle and harness, of physician or +clergyman, used in making professional visits, with food for such stock +for three months. All arms, uniforms, etc., required by law to be kept +by any person. The wages of the debtor earned at any time within thirty +days next preceding the levy, provided they are necessary for the use of +his family, residing in the State, supported wholly or in part by his +labor. All moneys growing out of life insurance. These exemptions are +restricted to married persons or to persons who are the heads of +families, and only the wearing apparel of an unmarried person is exempt +to him. None but =bona fide residents= can claim the benefit of this law. +A homestead not to exceed in value the sum of twenty-five hundred +dollars, if agriculture land it is not to exceed one hundred and sixty +acres. If within the limits of a town, plat, city, or village, not to +exceed one-fourth of an acre. The debtor has his option of the two and +may select either, with all improvements thereon, which are included in +the valuation. + + +NEBRASKA. + +There is exempt from judicial sale to every family, whether owned by the +husband or wife, a homestead, not exceeding in value two thousand +dollars, consisting of dwelling-house in which claimant resides, and its +appurtenances, and land on which same is situated not exceeding one +hundred and sixty acres, or if within an incorporated city or village a +quantity of contiguous land not exceeding two lots. Or in case debtor +has no lands, there is exempt from execution five hundred dollars in +personal property. If title to homestead is in wife it is exempt, and in +such cases the head of the family is not entitled to exemption of five +hundred dollars in personality. Nor is he if his title is simply a +contract for sale. The clothing of the family, family supplies for six +months, supplies for domestic animals for three months, furniture, +family Bible and picture books, cooking utensils, certain domestic +animals, tools, implements of trade, etc., are exempt; also sixty days +wages to any laboring man, clerk, etc., who is the head of a family; +provided that there is no exemption from attachment or execution for +wages due to any clerk, laborer or mechanic. All pension money of United +States soldiers and sailors, and property purchased and improved +thereby, is exempt. The phrase "head of a family," as used in this +chapter includes within its meaning: 1. The husband, when the claimant +is a married person. 2d. Every person who has resided on the premises +with him or her, and under his care and maintenance, either: 1st. His or +her minor child, or the minor child of his or her deceased wife or +husband. 2d. A minor brother or sister, or the minor child of a deceased +brother or sister. 3d. A father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother. +4th. The father or mother, grandfather or grandmother of a deceased +husband or wife. 5th. An unmarried sister, or any other of the relatives +mentioned in this section who have attained the age of majority and are +unable to take care of or support themselves. + + +NEVADA. + +The following property is exempt from execution except upon a judgment +for the purchase-money or upon a mortgage thereon: Chairs, tables, +desks, and books to the value of one hundred dollars; necessary +household and kitchen furniture, wearing apparel, etc., and provisions +and fire-wood actually provided sufficient for one month, farming +utensils, or implements of husbandry, and seed provided for planting +within the ensuing six months, not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars; two horses, two oxen, or two mules, and two cows and food for +one month for such animals, and one cart or wagon; the tools of a +mechanic necessary to his trade; the instruments and libraries of a +surgeon, physician, surveyor, or dentist; the professional library of an +attorney and counsellor, or minister of the gospel; the dwelling of a +miner not exceeding in value five hundred dollars, also his tools and +appliances necessary to carry on his mining operations, not exceeding in +value five hundred dollars; and two horses, two oxen, or two mules, and +their harness and one cart or wagon, by the use of which a teamster or +laborer habitually earns his living; one horse harness, and vehicle, of +a physician or surgeon, or minister of the gospel, and food for such +animal for one month. For every livery stable keeper, two horses or +mules, with vehicle and harness, provided the whole shall not exceed in +value five hundred dollars; one sewing-machine in actual use in the +debtor's family, not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; +all fire engines and property of fire companies; all arms, etc., +required by law to be kept by any person; a homestead to be selected by +the husband or wife, or other head of a family, not exceeding in value +five thousand dollars; the earnings of the debtor not exceeding fifty +dollars for his personal services for the calendar month during, or +immediately preceding, that in which process has been issued, where such +earnings are necessary for the use of a family supported wholly or +partly by the labor of the debtor. + + +NEW HAMPSHIRE. + +The following goods and property are exempt from attachment, and from +liability to be taken upon execution: Necessary wearing apparel of the +debtor and his family; household furniture to the value of one hundred +dollars; one cooking-stove and its furniture; one sewing-machine; Bibles +and school books in actual use; library to the value of two hundred +dollars; one cow, six sheep and their fleeces, one hog, one pig, and the +pork of same when slaughtered; domestic fowls, not exceeding in value +fifty dollars; four tons of hay; provisions and fuel to the value of +fifty dollars; tools of his occupation to the value of one hundred +dollars; beasts of the plow, not exceeding a yoke of oxen or a horse; +the uniform, arms, and equipments of every officer or private in the +militia; the debtor's interest in one pew in any meeting house, and in +one lot in any cemetery. Damages recovered for conversion of property +exempt are also exempt. The wife, widow, and children of any person who +is the owner of a homestead, or any interest therein, are entitled to so +much thereof as does not exceed in value five hundred dollars as against +creditors, grantees, or heirs of such person during the life of the wife +or widow and minority of the children. A homestead of the value of five +hundred dollars is also exempt to an unmarried person owning the same. +(P. S. ch. 138.) + + +NEW JERSEY. + +All goods and chattels, not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred +dollars exclusive of wearing apparel, and all wearing apparel the +property of any debtor having a family residing in this State, are +exempt from seizure by virtue of execution or other civil process except +for the purchase money. (Gen. Statutes, p. 1421.) In addition thereto, +by conforming to the provisions of the homestead exemption act, the lot +and buildings thereon occupied as a residence and owned by the debtor, +being a householder and having a family, to the value of one thousand +dollars, may be exempted from sale or execution for debt. (Gen. +Statutes, pp. 2297-2298.) + + +NEW MEXICO. + +Every person who has a family may hold the following property exempt +from execution, attachment, or sale: The wearing apparel of such person +or family; the beds, bedsteads, and bedding necessary for the use of the +same; one cooking-stove and pipe; one stove and pipe used for warming +the dwelling; fuel sufficient for sixty days; one cow, or if the debtor +owns no cow, household furniture not exceeding forty dollars in value; +two swine or the pork therefrom, or, if the debtor owns no swine, +household furniture not exceeding fifteen dollars in value; six sheep, +the wool shorn from them and the cloth or other articles manufactured +therefrom, or, in lieu thereof, household furniture not exceeding twenty +dollars in value; sufficient food for such animals for sixty days; +Bibles, hymn-books, psalm-books, testaments, school and miscellaneous +books used in the family, and all family pictures; provisions provided +and designed for the use of such person or family; not exceeding fifty +dollars in value; and such other articles of household and kitchen +furniture, or either, necessary for such person or family, not exceeding +two hundred dollars in value; one sewing-machine, one knitting-machine, +one gun or pistol, and the tools or implements of debtor necessary for +carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding one hundred and fifty +dollars in value; the personal earnings of debtor for sixty days next +preceding his application for such exemption, when necessary for the +support of such debtor or his family; all articles, specimens in +cabinets of natural history or science, except such as may be intended +for exhibition for pecuniary gain; if engaged in agriculture; two horses +or one yoke of cattle, with the necessary gearing for the same, and one +wagon; if a doctor, one horse, one saddle and bridle, professional +books, medicines and instruments not exceeding one hundred dollars in +value; if a lawyer professional books not exceeding five hundred dollars +in value; every person engaged in the business of draying, or carrying +property from place to place with one horse and wagon, shall hold one +horse, harness, dray, or wagon also exempt from execution. Every +unmarried woman may hold exempt from execution, etc., wearing apparel +not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; one +sewing-machine, one knitting-machine; if engaged in teaching music, one +piano or organ; a Bible, hymn-book, psalm-book, album, and any other +books not exceeding in value fifty dollar; any beneficiary fund, not +exceeding five thousand dollars, set apart or paid by any benevolent +association to a family of a deceased member, or to any member of such +family, shall not be liable for the debts of such deceased member. +Husband and wife, widow or widower, living with an unmarried daughter, +or unmarried minor son, may hold exempt from sale or judgment of a +family homestead not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. Any head +of a family not the owner of a homestead may hold exempt from levy and +sale real or personal property not exceeding five hundred dollars in +value in addition to the chattel property otherwise by law exempted. + + +NEW YORK. + +Necessary household furniture, working tools and team, professional +instruments, furniture and library (not exceeding in value two hundred +and fifty dollars); groceries actually provided for family use, and +ninety days necessary food for team, in addition to certain other +specified articles, when owned by householder, are exempt from levy and +sale under execution. A private burying-ground not exceeding one-quarter +of an acre, is also exempt. Insurance money, etc., paid or to be paid to +a member, or the widow of a member of a life or casualty corporation +doing business upon the co-operative or assessment plan, cannot be +reached for any debt or liability incurred before such money, etc., was +paid. The lot and buildings, not exceeding one thousand dollars in +value, owned and occupied by a householder having a family are exempted, +if designated and recorded as homestead property in the office of the +clerk of the county where it is situated. Such exemption continues after +the owner's death for the benefit of the widow and family, so long as +any of them continue to occupy such homestead, until the death of the +widow and the majority of the youngest child. A married woman is +entitled to the same homestead as a householder having a family. + + +NORTH CAROLINA. + +Personal property to the value of five hundred dollars, to be selected +by any resident of the State, is exempt from execution; and also a +homestead, and the dwelling and building, not exceeding one thousand +dollars, to be selected by the owner thereof; or, in lieu thereof, any +lot in a city, town, or village, with the dwelling and buildings used +thereon, owned and occupied by any resident of the State, not exceeding +the value of one thousand dollars. + + +NORTH DAKOTA. + +The following property is absolutely exempt to the head of a family from +attachment or mesne process, and from levy and sale on execution, and +from any other final process issued from any court: All family pictures; +a pew or other sitting in any house of worship; a lot or lots in any +burial-ground; the family Bible, and all school books used by the +family, and other books used as a part of the family library, not +exceeding in value one hundred dollars; all wearing apparel of the +debtor and his family; the provisions for the debtor and his family +necessary for one year's supply either provided or growing, or both, and +fuel necessary for one year; the homestead, as defined, created, and +limited by law. In addition to the above mentioned property, the head of +a family may, by himself or his agent, select from all other of his +personal property, not absolutely exempt, goods, chattels, merchandise, +money, or other personal property, not to exceed in the aggregate one +thousand dollars in value, which is also exempt. The library and +instruments of any professional person, not exceeding six hundred +dollars in value. + + +OHIO. + +Every unmarried woman may hold the following property exempt from +execution, attachment, or sale, to satisfy any judgment, decree, or +debt, to wit: 1st. Wearing apparel, not exceeding one hundred dollars in +value. 2d. One sewing-machine. 3d. One knitting-machine. 4th. Bible, +etc., and other books not exceeding in value twenty-five dollars. Every +person who has a family, and every widow, can hold exempt from +execution, attachment, or sale from any debt, damage, fine, or +amercment: 1st. Wearing apparel of such person or family necessary beds, +etc., two stoves, and fuel for sixty days. 2d. Certain domestic animals, +and their feed for sixty days, or, in lieu of such as the debtor has +not, household furniture of equal value, amounting, in the aggregate to +sixty-five dollars. 3d. Family books and pictures. 4th. Provisions to +the amount of fifty dollars, and other necessary household furniture to +the amount of fifty dollars. 5th. One sewing-machine, one +knitting-machine, the tools and implements of debtor necessary for +carrying on his or her trade or business, whether mechanical or +agricultural, to the amount of one hundred dollars 6th. The personal +earnings of debtor or minor child for three months previous to the +issuing of the attachment or rendition of judgment, when necessary for +support of debtor or his or her family. 7th. All animal, vegetable, or +mineral specimens of natural history or science not kept for pecuniary +gain. In addition to the above, the debtor, if a drayman, can hold one +horse, harness, and dray; if a farmer one horse or one yoke of cattle, +with necessary gearing for same, and one wagon; if a physician, one +horse, one saddle and bridle, and professional books, medicine and +instruments, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value. Husband and +wife living together, a widower living with an unmarried daughter or +minor son, every widow, and every unmarried female having in good faith +the care, maintenance and custody, of any minor child or children of a +deceased relation, residents of Ohio, and not the owner of a homestead, +may hold other real or personal property, to be selected by such person, +his agent or attorney, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, in +addition to the amount of chattel property otherwise by law exempted, +provided that such selection shall not be made as to wages due to the +extent of more than ninety per cent, of such wages as against claims for +necessaries. + +A homestead, not exceeding one thousand dollars in value, which shall +remain exempt from sale on execution and exempt from sale under any +order of the court so long as the widow, if she remain unmarried, or any +unmarried minor child, resides thereon. Husband and wife living +together, a widow or widower living with an unmarried daughter or +unmarried minor son, may hold exempt a family homestead not exceeding +one thousand dollars in value. + + +OKLAHOMA. + +The exemptions of the head of a family residing in the State are: 1st. +The homestead of the family. 2d. All household and kitchen furniture. +3d. Any lot or lots in a cemetery held for the purpose of sepulture. +4th. All implements of husbandry used upon the farm. 5th. All tools, +apparatus and books belonging to and used in any trade or profession. +6th. The family library and all family portraits and pictures and +wearing apparel. 7th. Five milk cows and their calves under six months +old. 8th. One yoke of work oxen, with necessary yokes and chains. 9th. +Two horses or two mules, and one wagon, cart, or dray. 10th. One +carriage or buggy, 11th. One gun. 12th. Ten hogs. 13th. Twenty head of +sheep. 14th. All saddles, bridles, and harness necessary for the use of +the family. 15th. All provisions and forage on hand and growing for home +consumption, and for use of exempt stock for one year. 16th. All current +wages and earnings for personal or professional services earned within +the last ninety days. + +The homestead of any family in the State within any city, town, or +village consists of not exceeding an acre of land to be selected by +owner, owned and occupied as a residence only, but not exceeding in +value five thousand dollars, but in no event shall the homestead be +reduced to less than a quarter of an acre regardless of value. If the +homestead is used for both residence and business purposes, the +homestead interest shall not exceed in value five thousand dollars, and +nothing in the laws of the United States or treaties with Indian tribes +deprives an Indian or other allottee of the benefit of the homestead and +exemption laws of the State. + +The exemptions reserved to a person not the head of a family are as +follows: 1st. A lot or lots in a cemetery held for the purpose of +sepulture. 2d. All wearing apparel. 3d. All tools, apparatus and books +belonging to any trade or profession. 4th. One horse, bridle, and +saddle, or one yoke of oxen. 5th. Current wages for personal services. + + +OREGON. + +The following property shall be exempt from execution, if selected and +reserved by the judgment debtor or his agent at the time of levy, or as +soon thereafter before sale as the same shall be known to him, and not +otherwise. Books, pictures and musical instruments owned by any person, +to the value of seventy-five dollars; necessary wearing apparel owned by +any person, to the value of one hundred dollars, and, if such person be +a householder, to each member of his family to the value of fifty +dollars; the tools, implements, apparatus, team, vehicle, harness, or +library necessary to enable any person to carry on the trade, +occupation, or profession by which such person habitually earns his +living, to the value of four hundred dollars; also sufficient quantity +of food to support such team, if any, for sixty days. The word "team," +in this subdivision, shall not be construed to mean more than one yoke +of oxen, or pair of horses or mules, as the case may be. Homesteads the +actual abode of, and owned by, a family or some member thereof are +exempt from execution. + +The following property (is exempt), if owned by a householder and in +actual use, by and for his family, or when being removed from one +habitation to another on a change of residence: Ten sheep, with one +year's fleece, or the yarn or cloth manufactured there from, two cows, +and five swine, household goods, furniture, and utensils, to the value +of three hundred dollars; also, food sufficient to support such animals +if any, for three months, and provisions actually provided for family +use, and necessary for the support of such householder and family for +six months; the seat or pew occupied by a householder, or his family, in +a place of public worship; burial lots. Earnings or wages to the extent +of seventy-five dollars in thirty days, are exempt if necessary to +support family. One gun and one revolver exempt to every white male +citizen over sixteen years of age. + + +PENNSYLVANIA. + +The law exempts from execution property, either real or personal, to the +amount of three hundred dollars, in addition to wearing apparel, Bibles, +and school books, if claimed by the debtor; the privilege is personal +and may be waived at any time. The widow or children of any decedent are +entitled to the same amount from his estate for her or their use. All +sewing-machines belonging to private families are exempt. Non-residents +of the State are not entitled to the exemption laws. + + +RHODE ISLAND. + +The following are exempt from attachment and execution: The necessary +wearing apparel of a debtor and his family, his necessary working tools, +not exceeding two hundred dollars in value; and the professional library +of any professional man in actual practice; his household furniture and +family stores, if a housekeeper, not exceeding three hundred dollars in +value; one cow and one and one-half tons of hay, of a housekeeper; one +hog and one pig, and the pork of the same, of a housekeeper; arms, +equipments, etc., of a militiaman, and of any person which are kept for +use and not for sale; one pew in church; a burial lot; wages due or +accruing to any seaman; debts secured by bills of exchange or negotiable +promissory notes: and ten dollars due as the wages of labor except when +action is for necessaries furnished to defendant; the salary and wages +of the wife and minor children of any debtor; and such other property, +real or personal, as is or shall be exempt from attachment and +execution, either permanently or temporarily, by general or special +acts, charters of incorporation, or by the policy of the law. + + +SOUTH CAROLINA. + +Homesteads in lands, whether held in fee or any lesser estate, to the +value of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as the property is +worth if its value is less than one thousand dollars, with the yearly +products thereof, and to every head of a family residing in this State, +whether entitled to a homestead exemption in lands or not, personal +property to the value of five hundred dollars, or so much thereof as the +property is worth if its value is less than five hundred dollars. + + +SOUTH DAKOTA. + +The following property is absolutely exempt from attachment or mesne +process, and from levy and sale on execution, and from any other final +process issued by any court: All family pictures; a pew or other sitting +in any house of worship; a lot or lots in any burial ground; the family +Bible, and all school books used by the family, and all other books used +as a part of the family library not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars; all wearing apparel of the debtor and his family; the +provisions for the debtor and his family necessary for one year's +supply, either provided or growing, or both, and fuel necessary for one +year; the homestead as defined, created, and limited by law. In +addition to the above-mentioned property, the debtor, if the head of a +family, may, by himself or his agent, select from all other of his +personal property, not to exceed in the aggregate seven hundred and +fifty dollars in value, and if a single person, not the head of a +family, three hundred dollars in value, which is also exempt. + +Instead of the seven hundred and fifty dollars exemption, the debtor, if +the head of a family, may select and choose the following property, +which shall be exempt, namely: All miscellaneous books and musical +instruments for the use of the family, not exceeding two hundred dollars +in value; all household and kitchen furniture, including beds, bedsteads +and bedding, used by the debtor and his family, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value; and in case the debtor shall own more than two +hundred dollars' worth of such property, he must select therefrom such +articles to the value of two hundred dollars, leaving the remainder +subject to legal process; two cows, five swine, two yokes of oxen or one +span of horses or mules, twenty-five sheep and their lambs under six +months old, and all wool of the same, and all cloth or yarn manufactured +therefrom, the necessary food for the animals hereinbefore mentioned for +one year, either provided or growing or both, as the debtor may choose; +also one wagon, one sleigh, two plows, one harrow, and farming machinery +and utensils, including tackle for team, not exceeding twelve hundred +and fifty dollars in value; the tools and implements of any mechanic, +whether a minor or of age, used and kept for the purpose of carrying on +his trade or business, and, in addition thereto, stock in trade not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value; the avails of life insurance +policies issued payable to the order, assignees, or estate of the +insured, and not assigned, are to the extent of five thousand dollars, +absolutely exempt to the surviving husband, or wife or minor children of +the insured, free from all claim of creditors of the insured. + +The homestead of the head of every family resident in this State, +whether owned by the husband or wife, so long as it remains a +homestead, is absolutely exempt, except for taxes and debts contracted +for the purchase thereof. If within a town plat it must not exceed one +acre in extent, and if not within a town plat it must not embrace in the +aggregate more than one hundred and sixty acres, with the house and +buildings appurtenant thereon; and is limited to five thousand dollars +in value. (C. C. P. Sec. 345.) If the homestead is claimed upon land, +the title or right of possession to which was acquired or is claimed +under the laws of the United States relating to mineral lands, the area +of the homestead, if within a town plat, must not exceed one acre, and +if without a town plat, must not exceed forty acres. If the title to the +homestead has been acquired as a placer claim but has been acquired +under the laws of Congress as a lode mining claim, the area of the +homestead must not exceed forty acres. (L. 1909, ch. 136.) Such +exemption continues after the debtor's death, for the benefit of the +surviving husband or wife and children; and if both husband and wife be +dead, until the youngest child becomes of age. (Prob. C. Sec. 153.) It +is very doubtful, however, in view of the provisions of the State +Constitution, if the title of the homestead can be in the wife, unless +the husband is for some reason incapacitated. + + +TENNESSEE. + +Thirty-six dollars of the wages, salary, or income of any person drawing +forty dollars or less per month shall be exempt from legal process at +date of service of process. + +Household goods and provisions are exempt. The list includes practically +every article to be found in the average home. The liberality of the law +may be judged from the fact that one hundred gallons of sorghum molasses +and twenty pounds of coffee are listed. The list ends with: twenty +bushels of peanuts, three strings of red peppers, two gourds, two punger +gourds, a carpet in actual use by the family, not exceeding in value +twenty-five dollars, and two hundred bushels of cotton seed. + +If the head of the family is engaged in agriculture there is further +exempt in his hands the following property: Two plows, two hoes, one +grubbing hoe, one cutting knife, one harvest cradle, one set of plow +gears, one pitch-fork, one rake, three iron wedges, five head of sheep, +and ten head of stock hogs. There is exempt in the hands of each +mechanic in the State who is engaged in the pursuit of his trade or +occupation one set of mechanic's tools, such as are usual and necessary +to the pursuit of his trade; and, if he is the head of a family, two +hundred dollars' worth of lumber or material, or products of his labor; +also one gun in the hands of every male citizen of the age of eighteen +years and upward, and every female who is the head of a family; to the +heads of families fifty pounds of picked cotton and twenty-five pounds +of wool, and a sufficient quantity of upper and sole leather to provide +winter shoes for the family; also, three hundred pounds of tobacco in +the hands of the actual producer; also thirty-five dollars' worth of +roughness, to consist of oats, fodder, and hay, or either of them. + +A homestead or real estate in the possession of or belonging to each +head of a family, and the improvements thereon, to the value in all of +one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from sale under legal process +during the life of such head of a family, and shall inure to the benefit +of his widow and be exempt from sale in any way at the instance of any +creditor or creditors during the minority of the children occupying the +same and until the youngest child reaches the age of twenty-one years. + + +TEXAS. + +The Constitution of 1875 provides that a homestead of a family not in a +town or city consisting of not more than two hundred acres of land, +which may be in one or more parcels, with the improvements thereon, or, +if in a town or city, lot or lots, not exceeding in value five thousand +dollars at the time of designation, without reference to the value of +the improvements thereon is exempt, provided the same shall be used for +the purpose of a home, or as place to exercise the calling or business +of the head of the family. + +There is also exempted to every family, free from forced sale for debts; +all household and kitchen furniture; any lot or lots for sepulture in a +cemetery; all instruments of husbandry; all tools and apparatus +belonging to any trade or profession, and all books belonging to private +or public libraries, and family portraits and pictures, five milk cows +and calves, two yoke of work oxen, two horses and one wagon, one +carriage or buggy, one gun, twenty hogs, twenty head of sheep, all +provisions and forage on hand for home consumption, all bridles, +saddles, and harness necessary for the use of the family; and to every +citizen not a head of a family, one horse, bridle, and saddle; all +wearing apparel, any lot or lots for sepulture in a cemetery; all tools, +apparatus, and books belonging to his trade, profession, or private +library. Current wages for personal services are not subject to +garnishment. + + +UTAH. + +The following property is exempt from execution, except on a judgment +for the purchase price, or on a judgment of a foreclosure of a mortgage, +or a mechanic's or laborer's lien thereon, or from sale for taxes, to +wit: 1st. Chairs, tables, and desks of the value of two hundred dollars, +and the library belonging to the judgment debtor, also musical +instruments in actual use in the family. 2d. Necessary household, table, +and kitchen furniture of the value of three hundred dollars, one +sewing-machine, family hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings, +portraits and their necessary frames, provisions on hand for three +months, two cows and their sucking calves, and two hogs and all sucking +pigs, all wearing apparel, and beds and bedding, and all carpets in +use. 3d. A farmer may hold farming implements to the value of three +hundred dollars, two oxen, horses or mules, and their harness; a cart or +wagon; seed, grain or vegetable, for planting or sowing within six +months, not exceeding in value two hundred dollars and crops and the +proceeds thereof not exceeding two hundred dollars. 4th. Necessary +tools, tool chest, and implements of a mechanic or artisan, not +exceeding in value five hundred dollars; the seal and records of a +notary public; the instruments and chests of a surgeon, physician, +surveyor, and dentist, with their libraries, and the law libraries and +office furniture of attorneys and judges, and libraries of ministers, +and typewriters of reporters and copyist, the type, presses, and +material of a printer or publisher, not exceeding five hundred dollars. +5th. The cabin of a miner not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, +also his tools and appliances, not exceeding in value five hundred +dollars. 6th. Two oxen, or horses or mules and harness, and cart or +wagon, or dray or truck, by which a cartman, drayman, huckster, +teamster, or other laborer habitually earns his living; and one horse, +harness, and vehicle of a physician, surgeon, or minister. 7th. One-half +of the earnings of the judgment debtor for personal services rendered +within thirty days preceding the levy if debtor is married or is head of +a family residing in Utah and dependent upon such earnings for support. +If his earnings are two dollars per day or less, a married man or head +of a family is entitled to an absolute exemption of thirty dollars per +month. Costs cannot be taxed in any proceeding to obtain levy upon +moneys of judgments debtor earned within thirty days next preceding +levy. 8th. All moneys, benefits, privileges, or immunities accruing in +any manner from a life insurance on a debtor's life, when the annual +premiums do not exceed five hundred dollars. 9th. All arms, ammunition, +uniforms, and accoutrements required by law to be kept. 10th. To a head +of a family homestead, to be selected by the debtor. A homestead +consisting of lands and appurtenances (which lands may be in one or more +localities), not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars in value for the head +of the family and five hundred dollars additional for his wife, and two +hundred and fifty dollars for each other member of his family, shall be +exempt from judgment lien and from execution or forced sale, for +mechanics' or laborers' lien thereon, lawful mortgage thereon, or lien +for purchase. The statute provides that the homestead exemption may be +claimed by either the husband or the wife, and defines the terms "head +of the family" and "members of the family." In case of sale the money +received by the judgment debtor for value of his exemption is also +exempt, and so, too, is insurance money when fire occurs (to the extent +of the exemption). + + +VERMONT. + +The law exempts a homestead from attachment or levy of execution to the +amount of five hundred dollars; also (unless turned out to the officer +by the debtor, to be taken on the attachment in execution) such suitable +apparel, bedding, tools, arms, and articles of household furniture as +may be necessary for upholding life, one sewing-machine kept for use, +one cow, the best swine, or the meat of one swine, sheep not exceeding +in number ten, and one year's product of said sheep in wool yarn, or +cloth, forage sufficient for keeping not exceeding ten sheep and one cow +through one winter, ten cords of firewood or five tons of coal, twenty +bushels of potatoes, all growing crops, ten bushels of grain, one barrel +of flour, three swarms of bees and hives, together with their produce in +honey, two hundred pounds of sugar, and all lettered gravestones, the +Bibles and other books used in a family, one pew or slip in a +meeting-house or place of religious worship, live poultry not exceeding +in value the sum of ten dollars, the professional books and instruments +of physicians, and the professional books of clergymen and attorneys at +law, to the value of two hundred dollars; and also one yoke of oxen or +steers, as the debtor may select, two horses kept and used for +team-work, and such as the debtor may select in lieu of oxen or steers, +but not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred dollars, with +sufficient forages for keeping the same through the winter; also the +pistols, side arms, and equipments personally used by any soldier in the +service of the United States and kept by him or his heirs as mementoes +of his service, also one two-horse wagon with whiffle-trees and +neck-yoke; or one ox-cart, as the debtor may choose; one sled or one set +of traverse sleds, either for horses or oxen, as the debtor may select; +two harnesses, two halters, two chains, one plow, and one ox-yoke, which +with the oxen or steers or horses which the debtor may select for team +work, shall not exceed in value two hundred and fifty dollars; also one +tool chest kept for use by a mechanic. + +A housekeeper or head of a family has a homestead exemption from +attachment or execution in a dwelling-house and lands appurtenant, used +or kept as a homestead, to the value of five hundred dollars. + + +VIRGINIA. + +The exemption laws are very liberal. A householder residing in this +State may hold exempt from levy or distress the family Bible, family +pictures, school-books, and library for the use of the family, not +exceeding in all one hundred dollars in value; a seat or pew in any +house or place of public worship; a lot in a burial ground; all +necessary wearing apparel of the debtor and his family; all beds, +bedsteads and bedding necessary for the use of such family, and all +stoves and appendages put up for the necessary use of the family, not +exceeding three; one cow and her calf till one year old, one horse, six +chairs, one table, six knives, six forks, six plates, one dozen spoons, +two dishes, two basins, one pot, one oven, six pieces of wooden or +earthen ware, one loom and its appurtenances, one safe or press, one +spinning-wheel, one pair of cards, one axe, two hoes, ten barrels of +corn, or in lieu thereof twenty-five bushels of rye or buckwheat, five +bushels of wheat or one barrel of flour, two hundred pounds of bacon or +pork, three hogs, ten dollars in value of forage or hay, one +cooking-stove and utensils for cooking therewith, and one +sewing-machine; and, in the case of a mechanic, the tools and utensils +of his trade, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value; and in case of +an oysterman or fisherman, his boat and tackle, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value, the same shall be sold, and out of the +proceeds the oysterman or fisherman shall first receive two hundred +dollars in lieu of such boat and tackle; and if the householder is at +the time actually engaged in the business of agriculture, there shall +also be exempt from such levy or distress, while he is so engaged, to be +selected by him or his agent, the following articles, or so many there +he may have, to wit: one yoke of oxen, or a pair of horses or mules in +lieu thereof (unless he selects or has selected a horse or mule under +the preceding section, in which case he shall be entitled to select +under this section only one), with the necessary gearings, one wagon or +cart, two plows, one drag, one harvest cradle, one pitchfork, one rake, +and two iron wedges; wages, owing to a laboring man being a householder, +not exceeding fifty dollars per month, shall also be exempt from +distress, levy, or garnishment. These embrace what is known as the Poor +Debtor's Exemption. (=Code, ch. 178.=) + +The Homestead Exemption is as follows: Every householder residing in +this State shall, in addition to the property or estate to hold exempt +from levy, distress, or garnishment, under ch. 178, be entitled to +exempt from levy, seizure, garnishment, or sale under any execution, +order, or process issued on any demand for any debt or liability on +contract, his real and personal estate, or either, to be selected by +him, including money and debts due him, to the value of not exceeding +two thousand dollars. + + +WEST VIRGINIA. + +Any husband or parent residing in this State, or the widow or infant +children of deceased parents, may set apart his personal estate, not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value, to be exempt from execution or +other process. He or they may also hold a homestead of the value of one +thousand dollars (provided the homestead is recorded among the public +land records of the county wherein it is situate, before the debt +against which it is claimed is contracted), as against debts created +since. Any resident mechanic, artisan, or laborer, whether a husband or +parent or not, may hold the working tools of his trade or occupation to +the value of fifty dollars exempt, provided that in no case shall the +exemption allowed any one person exceed two hundred dollars. + + +WASHINGTON. + +All real and personal estate belonging to a married woman at the time of +her marriage, and all she subsequently acquires or becomes entitled to +in her own right, and all her personal earnings, and rents and profits +of such real estate, shall not be liable for her husband's debts so long +as she or any minor heir of her body is living, but her separate +property is liable for debts owing by her at the time of her marriage. + +To a householder, being the head of a family, a homestead of the value +of two thousand dollars while occupied by such family, wearing apparel, +private libraries (not to exceed five hundred dollars in value), family +pictures, and keepsakes. To each householder one bed and bedding and one +additional bed and bedding for each additional member of the family, and +other household goods of the coin value of five hundred dollars. +Provisions and fuel for family for six months. Two cows with their +calves, five swine, two stands of bees, thirty-six domestic fowls and +feed for six months. To a farmer one span of horses and harness, or two +yokes of oxen, and one wagon, with farming utensils not exceeding five +hundred dollars in coin value, one hundred and fifty bushels of wheat, +one hundred and fifty bushels of oats or barley, fifty bushels of +potatoes, ten bushels of corn, and ten bushels of peas, and ten bushels +of corn, ten bushels of peas and ten bushels of onions for seeding +purposes. To a mechanic, the tools used to carry on his trade for the +support of himself and family, also material of the value of five +hundred dollars. To a physician, his library, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value, horse and carriage, instruments and medicines not +exceeding two hundred dollars in coin. To attorneys and clergymen, their +libraries, not exceeding in value of one thousand dollars, also office +furniture, stationery and fuel not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars. All firearms kept for use and a canoe, skiff, or small boat, +not exceeding in value two hundred and fifty dollars. To a person +engaged in lightering, one or more lighters or scows and a small boat, +not exceeding the aggregate value of two hundred and fifty dollars. To a +drayman, his team. To a person engaged in logging, three yokes of work +oxen, and implements of the value of three hundred dollars. Proceeds or +avails of all life and accident insurance shall be exempt from all +liability for any debt. To any person whose exempt property is insured, +and destroyed by fire, the insurance money coming to or belonging to the +person thus insured to an amount equal to the exempt property thus +destroyed. Burial lot exempt. Pension money exempt, but exemption may be +waived. + + +WISCONSIN. + +The following personal property is exempt from seizure or sale on any +execution and from attachment or garnishment: 1st. The family Bible. 2d. +Family pictures and school-books. 3d. The library of the debtor. 4th. +The seat or pew in any place of public worship. 5th. All wearing apparel +of the debtor and his family; all stoves and appendages kept for the +use of the debtor and his family; all cooking utensils and all other +household furniture not exceeding two hundred dollars in value, and one +gun, rifle, or other firearm not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 6th. +Two cows, ten swine, one yoke of oxen, and one horse or mule, or, in +lieu of one yoke of oxen and horse or mule, two horses or two mules, ten +sheep and the wool from the same, either in the raw material or +manufactured into yarn or cloth; the necessary food for one year's +support for all such stock, also one wagon, cart, or dray, one sleigh, +one plow, one drag, and other farming utensils, including a tackle for +teams, not exceeding two hundred dollars in value. 7th. The provisions +for the debtor and his family necessary for one year's support, and fuel +necessary for one year. 8th. The tools, implements, and stock in trade +of any mechanic, miner, merchant, trader, or other person, used or kept +for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value. 9th. All sewing-machines owned by individuals +and kept for the use of themselves or family. 10th. Any sword, plate, +books, or other article presented or given to any person by congress, +legislature of any of the United States, or by either body of congress +or of such legislature, whether presented by vote or raised by +subscription of the members of either of the aforesaid bodies, 11th. +Printing material and press or presses used in the business of any +printer or publisher, to an amount not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars +in value, provided no sum exceeding four hundred dollars shall be exempt +from payment of employees. 12th. Horses, arms, equipment, and uniforms +of all officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates used for +military purposes in the organized militia of the State. 13th. All +books, maps, plates, and other papers kept or used by any person for the +purpose of making abstracts of title to land. 14th. The interests owned +by any inventor in any invention secured to him by letters patent of the +United States. 15th. The earnings of all married persons and other +persons having a family dependant upon them for support, for three +months next preceding the issue of an attachment, execution, or +garnishment, to the amount of sixty dollars only for each month. Such +exemption shall not exceed one hundred and eighty dollars in all for the +three months. 16th. All fire-engines, apparatus, and equipments, used or +to be used for the protection of property from fire. 17th. All moneys +arising from insurance of any exempt property when such property has +been destroyed by fire. 19th. All money arising on any policy of +insurance on the life of a minor, payable to his father or mother, or +both, shall be exempt against the creditors of such father or mother, +but not against the creditors of such minor. Certain other life +insurance moneys are also exempt. 20th. All cemetery lots owned by +individuals and all monuments therein, the coffins and other articles +for the burial of any dead person, and the tombstone or monuments for +his grave, by whomsoever purchased. 21st. Pensions paid policemen, +firemen, their widows or minor children. 22d. Shares of the value of one +thousand dollars at time of withdrawal in a local building and loan +association held by one not owning a homestead which is exempt. A +homestead to be selected by the owner, consisting, when not included in +any city or village, of any quantity of land not exceeding forty acres, +used for agricultural purposes, and when included in any city or +village, of any quantity of land not exceeding one-fourth of an acre and +the dwelling-house thereon and its appurtenances owned and occupied by +any resident of the State, not exceeding five thousand dollars in value, +is exempt. Proceeds of homestead not exceeding five thousand dollars are +exempt for two years. Husband cannot assign exempt wages except by a +written instrument signed by wife with two witnesses, nor for a longer +period than two months in advance. + + +WYOMING. + +Every householder being the head of a family, and every resident who has +attained the age of sixty years, is entitled to a homestead not +exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars, exempt from execution or +attachment for any debt, contract, or civil obligation, while such +homestead is actually occupied as such by the owner thereof, or his or +her family. The homestead may consist of a house and lot or lots in any +town or city, or a farm of not more than one hundred and sixty acres. + +Besides the homestead above mentioned, the wearing apparel of every +person is exempt from judicial or ministerial process; also the +following property when owned by any person being the head of a family +and residing with the same, to wit: the family Bible, pictures, and +school-books; a lot in any cemetery or burial ground; furniture, +bedding, provisions, and such other articles as the debtor may select, +not to exceed in all the value of five hundred dollars, to be +ascertained by the appraisment of three disinterested householders; +provided that no personal property of any person about to remove or +abscond from the State shall be exempt. The tools, teams, and +implements, or stock in trade of a mechanic, miner, or other person, and +used and kept for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, is +exempt to a value not exceeding three hundred dollars; also the library, +instruments or implements of any professional man, not to exceed in +value three hundred dollars. + + +BRITISH COLUMBIA. + +Personal property to be selected by the debtor to the value of five +hundred dollars is exempt from execution. Under the Homestead Act lands +to the value of twenty-five hundred dollars may be registered as a +homestead, and are then exempt from seizure or sale. + + +MANITOBA. + +1st. Bedding and furniture not exceeding five hundred dollars. (This +exemption does not apply, where claim, for which distress warrant has +issued, is for wages.) 2d. Necessary clothing for judgment debtor and +his family. 3d. Twelve volumes of books and the books of a professional +man, one axe, one saw, one gun, six traps. 4th. Food for judgment debtor +and family for eleven months if in possession. 5th. Three horses, mules, +or oxen, six cows, ten sheep, ten pigs, fifty fowl, and food for the +same during eleven months, provided that the exemption as to horses over +four years of age shall apply only in case they are used by the judgment +debtor in earning his living. 6th. Tools and implements up to five +hundred dollars. 7th. Farm lands up to one hundred and sixty acres +actually resided upon, cultivated by the judgment debtor, or used for +grazing or other purposes, and the houses, stables, barns on the farm +lands resided upon by judgment debtor. 8th. The actual residence or +house of any person other than a farmer, provided the same does not +exceed in value fifteen hundred dollars. 9th. All the necessary seeds of +various varieties or roots for proper seeding and cultivation of eighty +acres. 10th. Insurance on exemptions also exempt. There are no +exemptions in cases of judgments for board and lodgings. No article is +exempt when judgment was for purchase price of article seized. + + +NOVA SCOTIA. + +The necessary wearing apparel and bedding and bedsteads of the debtor +and his family, and the tools and instruments of his trade or calling to +the value of thirty dollars, one stove, and his last cow, cooking +utensils, six each of knives, forks, plates, cups, saucers, spoons, +chairs, one shovel, one table, teapot, jug, spinning-wheel, weaving +loom, ten religious volumes, food and fuel for thirty days, two sheep, +one hog, and food for same and cow for thirty days shall be exempt from +execution. + + +NEW BRUNSWICK. + +Wearing apparel, bedding, kitchen utensils, and tools of trade or +calling to the value of one hundred dollars. + + +ONTARIO. + +The following chattels are exempt from seizure under any writ of +execution whatever, and after the death of the debtor are exempt from +the claims of his creditors: Furniture, bedding, and wearing apparel not +exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; fuel and provisions +not exceeding in value forty dollars; animals not exceeding in value +seventy-five dollars, and food therefor for thirty days; tools to the +value of one hundred dollars; one dog and fifteen hives of bees. Free +grants and homesteads to actual settlers in the districts of Algoma and +Nipissing, and of certain lands between the River Ottawa and the +Georgian Bay, are also free from creditor's claims. + + +QUEBEC. + +The debtor may select and withdraw from seizure: 1st. The bed, bedding +and bedsteads in use by him and his family. 2d. The ordinary and +necessary wearing apparel of himself and his family. 3d. Two stoves and +their pipes, one pot-hook and its accessories, one pair of andirons, one +pair of tongs, and one shovel 4th. All the cooking utensils, knives, +forks, spoons, and crockery in use by the family, two tables, two +cupboards or dressers, one lamp one mirror, one washing stand with its +toilet accessories, two trunks or valises, the carpets or matting +covering the floors, one clock, one sofa, and twelve chairs, provided +that the total value of such effects does not exceed the sum of fifty +dollars. 5th. All spinning-wheels and weaving looms intended for +domestic use, one axe, one saw, one gun, six traps, such fishing-nets, +lines, and seines as are in common use, one tub, one washing machine +one wringer, one sewing-machine, two pails, three flat-irons, one +blacking-brush, one scrubbing-brush, one broom. 6th. Fifty volumes of +books, and all drawings and paintings executed by the debtor or the +members of his family, for their use. 7th. Fuel and food sufficient for +the debtor and his family for three months. 8th. One span of plow-horses +or a yoke of oxen; one horse, one summer vehicle and one winter vehicle, +and harness used by a carter or driver for earning his livelihood; one +cow, two pigs, four sheep, the wool from such sheep, the cloth +manufactured from such wool, and the hay and other fodder intended for +the feeding of said animals; and, moreover, the following agricultural +tools and implements; one plow, one harrow, one working sleigh, one +tumbril, one hay-cart with its wheels, and all harness necessary and +intended for farming purposes. 9th. Books relating to the profession, +art, or trade of the debtor, to the value of two hundred dollars. 10th. +Tools and implements or other chattles ordinarily used in his +profession, art, or trade to the value of two hundred dollars, 11th. +Bees to the extent of fifteen hives. + +The following are exempt from seizure: Consecrated vessels and things +used for religious worship; family portraits; immovables by a donor or +testator, or by law, to be exempt from seizure, and sums of money or +objects given or bequeathed upon the condition of their being exempt +from seizure; old age annuities created by the act of Parliament of +Canada, alimentary allowances granted by a court, and sums of money or +pensions given as alimony, even though the donor or testator has not +expressly declared them to be exempt from seizure (they may, however, be +seized for alimentary debts); pensions granted by financial and other +institutions to their employees; pay and pensions of persons belonging +to the army or to the navy; the salaries of some public officers and +professors, tutors, school teachers, and public officers; salaries of +some public officers and employees of the Province, and salaries of +city and town clerks, and of other municipal officers and employees and +of city and town assessors in incorporated cities or towns, are seizable +for one-fifth of every monthly salary not exceeding one thousand dollars +per annum; one-fourth of every monthly salary exceeding one thousand +dollars, but not exceeding two thousand dollars per annum, and one-third +of every monthly salary exceeding two thousand dollars per annum. +Four-fifths of the salary, remuneration, or earnings of members of the +Corporation of Pilots for and below the harbor of Quebec for the +pilotage of vessels are exempt from seizure. All other salaries and +wages are exempt from seizure for four-fifths when they do not exceed +three dollars per day; three-quarters when they exceed three dollars but +do not exceed six dollars per day; and two-thirds when they exceed six +dollars per day. There are also special exemptions in favor of settlers +and fishermen. + + + + +_INDEX._ + + + Accounts + Close collection, 17 + Items over year apart, 33 + Payment on, revives, 33 + + Attitude + Toward Debtors, 11 + " the poor, 14 + " off-color women, 15 + " children, 15 + + Bookkeeping + Systems, 19 + Original entry, 19 + Marks and Ciphers, 19 + Charity practice, 20 + + Checks + Post-dated, 23 + Due on Sunday or holiday, 23 + Changing date makes void, 23 + Not dated, never payable, 23 + Are orders, 23 + Do not hold, 23 + If not paid, 23 + Certified, 24 + Erase endorsement, 24 + + Collectors + On commission, 7 + Office girl best, 17 + + Corporation orders, 30 + + Discounting bills, 9 + + Forms + Letter when debtor fails to keep appointment, 18 + Collecting letters, bluff, 24 + Sentiment, 25 + Class, 25 + Pen written, 25 + Class 1, 26 + Class 2, 27 + Class 3, 28 + Personal, 28 + Items for, 29 + Order-note, 22 + Statement, 21 + + Exemptions, 33 + Provisions for physicians, 34 + Runs to widows and minors, 34 + Not certain claims, 34 + Not for fines, Tennessee, 34 + Wages of seamen, Rhode Island, 34 + Homestead not, Pennsylvania, 34 + Gun and revolver, Oregon, 34 + Public buildings, 35 + Property, selection, 35 + Until youngest child of age, 35 + Laws, liberal, 14-34 + " North Dakota, liberal, 34 + " Alabama, 35 + " Alaska, 36 + " Arizona, 37 + " Arkansas, 37 + " California, 38 + " Colorado, 40 + " Connecticut, 41 + " Delaware, 43 + " Dist. of Columbia, 44 + " Florida, 44 + " Georgia, 45 + " Hawaii, 46 + " Indiana, 48 + " Iowa, 48 + " Illinois, 53 + " Idaho, 51 + " Kansas, 50 + " Kentucky, 55 + " Louisiana, 56 + " Maine, 57 + " Maryland, 58 + " Massachusetts, 59 + " Michigan, 60 + " Minnesota, 61 + " Mississippi, 62 + " Missouri, 63 + " Montana, 64 + " Nebraska, 65 + " Nevada, 66 + " New Hampshire, 67 + " New Jersey, 68 + " New Mexico, 68 + " New York, 70 + " North Carolina, 71 + " North Dakota, 71 + " Ohio, 71 + " Oklahoma, 73 + " Oregon, 74 + " Pennsylvania, 75 + " Rhode Island, 75 + " South Carolina, 76 + " South Dakota, 76 + " Tennessee, 78 + " Texas, 79 + " Utah, 80 + " Vermont, 82 + " Virginia, 83 + " West Virginia, 85 + " Washington, 85 + " Wisconsin, 86 + " Wyoming, 88 + " British Columbia, 89 + " Manitoba, 89 + " Nova Scotia, 90 + " New Brunswick, 91 + " Quebec, 91 + " Ontario, 91 + + Judgments, foreign, Oklahoma, 33 + West Virginia, 33 + + Limitations, All States, 33 + + Padding accounts, 15 + + Proper time to collect, 16 + + Notes, 18 + + Sight Draft, 29 + + Successful Physician, the, 7 + + Loans, 12 + + + + + _The Physician's + Improved Account System_ + + The card ledger is the up-to-date book-keeping system and is being used + for all kinds of accounts. + + It is the simplest and best method a doctor can use. With it there are + no dead accounts to handle (when an account is paid the card is + transferred to the closed accounts); no indexing to do, the cards being + filed in alphabetical order; there is a great economy of time, the + statement of an account is always ready when a client asks for it; + because of this, collections are made prompter and easier. + + [Illustration] + + =The Physician's Account System= consists of a handsome quarter-sawed, + dust-proof oak box (like the illustration shown) 5×6×9 inches, with a + hinged lid, 500 buff cards, 3×5 inches, ruled on both sides, and two + sets (A to Z) of alphabet guide cards, one set for the open accounts, + the other for the closed accounts, and a movable metal partition to + separate the open from the closed accounts. + + Additional cards for this outfit may be secured at low cost, and as dead + accounts may after a time be filed away, it constitutes a perpetual and + very inexpensive ledger or account system. + + Hundreds of physicians are using this system, and have nothing but + praise for it; not one has raised an objection to it. + + =Don't= spend a lot of money for an elaborate accounting system. No matter + what you pay you cannot find as simple, convenient and satisfactory + system as this. + + =Price, Complete In Oak Cabinet, with Pocket Call Book $5.00= + + _Physicians Drug News, Newark, N. J._ + + + + _In connection with our account system we supply a + Physicians Practical Call Book + for recording daily calls_ + + "The object of this book is to furnish physicians with a simple and + convenient method of recording calls, in as small compass as + possible." + + It is perpetual; may be begun at any time. It is elastic; if one + double page is not sufficient, two may be employed. + + [Illustration] + + It is free from the mass of printed matter which cumbers up the + average call book and nearly all of which is unnecessary. + + Size 7×4 inches. Handsomely bound, gilt edges, with flap. + + _Price $1.00_ + + With name on, stamped in gold $1.25 + + _Physicians Drug News, Newark, N. J._ + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + + + Text in italics is surrounded with underscores: _italics_. + + Text in bold is surrounded with equals signs: =bold=. + + Punctuation has been corrected without note. + + Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from + the original. + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows: + Page 16: I changed to 1 + Page 21: acounts changed to accounts + Page 50: individal changed to individual + Page 51: libary changed to library + Page 55: Ilinois changed to Illinois + Page 57: usefruct changed to usufruct + Page 67: minor changed to miner + debtors changed to debtor's + calender changed to calendar + Page 68: virture changed to virtue + Page 70: owners changed to owner's + Page 79: pusuit changed to pursuit + Page 95: Dicounting changed to Discounting + Page 99: Newark, N. changed to Newark, N. J. + + On page 40, note that 16th is missing in the original text. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's How to Collect a Doctor Bill, by Frank P. Davis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO COLLECT A DOCTOR BILL *** + +***** This file should be named 37748-8.txt or 37748-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/4/37748/ + +Produced by David Garcia, David E. Brown, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned +images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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D. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + +p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + +hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +table.line {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right: 1px solid; padding: 5px;} + +a {text-decoration: none;} + +.pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} + +.blockquotindent {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-indent: -2em;} +.blockquot {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} +.bqright {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: right;} + +.center {text-align: center;} +.right {text-align: right;} + +.big {font-size: 125%;} +.huge {font-size: 150%;} +.giant {font-size: 200%;} + +.figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + +.figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's How to Collect a Doctor Bill, by Frank P. Davis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: How to Collect a Doctor Bill + +Author: Frank P. Davis + +Release Date: October 13, 2011 [EBook #37748] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO COLLECT A DOCTOR BILL *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, David E. Brown, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned +images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + + +<p class="center"><span class="giant"><i>HOW TO COLLECT<br/> +A DOCTOR BILL</i></span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center"><span class="big">BY</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D.</span></p> + +<p class="blockquotindent">Secretary Oklahoma State Board of Medical Examiners, 1908-11. +Superintendent Oklahoma State Institution for Feeble Minded, +1910-11. Member County, State and American Medical Association. +Member American School Hygiene Association. Member State and +National Eclectic Associations. Member Oklahoma Association of +Charities and Corrections. Member Oklahoma Press Association. Member +Southwestern Medical Association. Late Editor Davis' Magazine of +Medicine, Etc.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">Publishers<br /> +PHYSICIANS DRUG NEWS CO.<br /> +NEWARK, N. J., U. S. A.<br /> +1913</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT 1913 BY<br/> +FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D.</p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge"><i>Contents</i></span></p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" summary="table"> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">Page</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER I</td></tr> +<tr><td>The Successful Physician</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td>Attitude Toward Debtors</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td>Proper Time to Collect</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td>Books and Bookkeeping</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td>Letters and Forms</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_24"> 24</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td>Statutes of Limitations</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VII</td></tr> +<tr><td>Exemption Laws and Their Application</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> +<tr><td>Extracts from Exemption Laws of All States </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr></table> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">PREFACE</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>My excuse for presenting this little book to the profession is that I +have often felt the want of just such information as is herein +contained. In fourteen years of practice I have made it a point to study +my patients and the business problems that confront the man in our +profession. Some of the things that I have learned are embodied in this +book. Taking my professional experience as a whole I have collected over +<b>ninety per cent</b> of my accounts.</p> + +<p>If this book shall be the means of causing any physician to study the +business side of professional life, and get what is due him, I will feel +that I have not worked in vain.</p> + +<p>Enid, Okla., June 6, 1912.</p> + +<p class="right">FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER I</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">THE SUCCESSFUL PHYSICIAN.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>A man with a bulging forehead once said that "Life is what you make it." +This is very true in the profession of medicine. The successful +physician must live in the manner of successful men. To do this, most +men must live upon the income from their practice. If the physician +properly cares for his wife and children, he must realize on his +investment—his medical education. A man's first duty is to his own, and +it is written that the man who fails to collect that which is due him, +and "provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own +house, is worse than an infidel."</p> + +<p>To successfully conduct any enterprise it is necessary to adopt business +methods. System is the key-note of modern business, and the simplest +system is the best. A cash system is by far the simplest.</p> + +<p>No man can succeed in practice, nor can he be considered a safe medical +adviser so long as he is handicapped by poverty, a worried mind or poor +health; or if he is compelled to dodge around corners to escape his +creditors.</p> + +<p>There are men who tell us that they are not in practice so much for +money as for the glory and honor of the profession. If these men are +sincere, I pity them from the bottom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> of my heart, and feel sorry for +their wives and children. Nor can I understand where the profession can +gain much honor from men who are financial failures. Not that money is +the only thing for which we should strive, but that the man who provides +not for his own, cannot be representative of the noble profession of +medicine. Also, I have observed that the path of glory leads in the +direction of the cemetery, and checks on the National Bank of Fame are +generally protested when the rent comes around.</p> + +<p>The applause and compliments of the multitude are no doubt sweet, but it +only lulls to rest the voice of duty, and fails to provide sustenance +for those dependent upon us. Man cannot live on air alone—even though +it be flavored by the ambrosia of sweet compliments and the hypnosis of +applause. Again, I have observed that a larger crowd will turn out any +time to see a man hung than to compliment him on a duty well performed.</p> + +<p>The man who answers calls at all hours of the day and night, for any and +every one who may request his services; with no assurance of ever +receiving pay; and who is afraid to demand settlement for fear of losing +practice, is not competent to conduct his own affairs, much less to +practice medicine. It is this class of men who make dead-beats of our +patrons, and thus reduce the income of physicians to a point where a +bare existence is all we can hope for.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>To be a safe medical advisor requires that the mind be free from the +petty cares of life. He should live in a manner in keeping with the +dignity of the profession to which he has given his life. He must have a +neat office, wear good clothes, have a happy home and a contented mind.</p> + +<p>It is well to achieve the reputation of being an indefatigable and +shrewd collector. It pays. It will influence your regular patrons to pay +more promptly. It will also help to keep away those who trespass upon +your time and never pay you. The only sure way to hold practice is to +require your patrons to pay their bills promptly. If they do not owe you +they are not so liable to avoid you and cease to employ you. Let a +family once get greatly in arrears, then it will happen that—not having +the cheek to face you—they will call another physician, and give every +reason but the true one for deserting you. Thus, through your own +neglect you lose patronage, friends and your good name and reputation. +The public will never place any higher value on your services than you +do yourself. The death-knell of any physician's success is tolled when +he becomes known as a "cheap doctor."</p> + +<p>Not only must you require others to pay you, but you must also pay your +own bills. Physicians, as a rule, are considered poor pay by business +men. It is a very good rule in life to discount all bills that you owe, +and never to discount a bill due you. Make it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> a rule to never owe any +man anything, and to have as few owe you as possible.</p> + +<p>Many physicians will cut their bills to whatever the debtor cares to +pay. In this way they lose a large part of their fees, and achieve the +reputation of being poor business men.</p> + +<p>I heard an old Arkansas doctor relate his experience in discounting a +bill that well illustrates the weakness of many physicians. A client +owed him $60, and after the account had run about six months, the man +came in and said, "Doc, I hain't got the money, but if you will cut that +bill in two I'll borrow it from my father-in-law." The doctor thought +$30 would be better than waiting, so agreed. Three months later the man +returned and said, "Doc, I couldn't get the money from my father-in-law, +but I have a fat hog I can sell and get some money if you will cut that +bill in two." The account was growing old and the doctor thought he had +better take the $15, so he said all right. Six months from that time the +fellow hove in view again. This time he said, "Doc, my wife thought we +needed that hog for meat and I couldn't get her consent to sell it, but +I have a job now, and if you will cut that bill in two, I'll pay you." +This time the doctor thought he saw $7.50 in sight, so again he agreed. +"All right, Doc," said the debtor, "as soon as I get in a few weeks +work, I'll be in and pay you." The doctor said the fellow did come +around a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> months later and began a similar story, but he told him to +go to a country where rotary snow plows are not much in demand.</p> + +<p>One of the greatest mistakes is in allowing accounts for different cases +to accumulate until the amount becomes so large that it is difficult to +pay. It is always best to require settlement as soon after each case is +dismissed as possible. In sending statements, be careful to itemize by +cases only, as "John, fever, $15," "Wife, confinement, $25," etc. I +seldom give the disease unless it is some special case that required +much attention. In some cases it refreshes their memory when reference +is made to the disease.</p> + +<p>You must know your business. Give every man a square deal, and require +others to do the same by you. When you have completed your work, +remember the advice of old Prof. Joslyn, "Get money, still get money, +boy, no matter by what means" so long as it is justly due you for +services rendered. If you fail to require your patrons to pay you for +your services, you have not done your full duty.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER II</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">ATTITUDE TOWARD DEBTORS.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>A fundamental principle in being a good collector is to never lose the +good will of your patrons. So long as you are on friendly terms with a +man you can approach him and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> talk over the matter. It will be easy to +keep advised as to what he is doing, and when he is expecting to receive +money. The time will come sometime when he can pay at least a part or +secure your claim. We must not lose sight of the fact that in this +country poor men sometimes become rich, and rich men sometimes become +poor, and we should deal with them accordingly. It is poor business +policy to permit well-to-do clients to run up big bills, and at the same +time hound your poor patrons.</p> + +<p>One of the easiest ways to collect a bill, when they have persistently +failed to pay, is to loan them some money. This plan is fully covered in +the following editorial from <b>Davis' Magazine of Medicine</b>.</p> + +<p>"Let us now consider the investment of the doctor's savings. His fees +are received in small sums, generally ranging from a few dollars to a +hundred dollars at a time. He seldom has over a few hundred dollars on +hand at any one time. And failing to find a good place to invest such +sums as he has, he becomes a prey for the stock companies and the land +sharks, where he can make his investment on the installment plan. Most +physicians are earnestly seeking a safe investment for these small sums +of money, but very few have found a plan that appeals to them. Most of +the advice one gets from the journals is 'Don't' or to invest in farm +mortgages. When he looks around for a farm mortgage he finds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> that the +small amount of money he has to loan will not meet the requirements of +the man who desires the loan. Even should he find a small loan that he +could handle, the interest would be so low, that it would produce a very +small income after paying taxes. I believe the doctor's earnings should +net him ten per cent, and be in such form that he can realize on them in +case of emergency. To take chances on getting a greater rate of interest +would be to accept too great risk, and a less rate would be poor +business policy.</p> + +<p>"The problem simmers down to about this: How can we invest small sums, +from twenty-five to one hundred dollars, so they will be safe, and earn +at least ten per cent interest?"</p> + +<p>I solved this problem several years ago while engaged in general country +practice. In fact, it can be applied better in the country than in the +city. The plan is this, loan your money to your slow pay patrons. Sounds +risky, don't it? I have found it to prove a success. I learned that most +of my poor pay or slow pay patrons were always ready to borrow money, +and that they could generally secure me with chattel mortgages, or get +good men to sign their notes. The note and mortgage always covered the +amount loaned and the amount of my bill. There are few who cannot give +you suitable security, and these few should be turned over to the other +doctor who is practicing for the love and honor of the profession.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>"When it is known that you have a little money loaned out, and that you +will only loan to those who have you for their physician, your practice +will steadily grow."</p> + +<p>Be on your guard and do not permit your old accounts to become +"outlawed" by the statutes of limitations of your State. This may be +prevented in a measure by getting a small payment from time to time on +account, as the law of limitations does not apply until the lapse of the +period of time named in the law, after the last payment on the account +or note.</p> + +<p>The exemption laws of most states are so liberal that a very small per +cent. of physician's bills could be collected by law, should the debtor +elect to take advantage of the exemption law. The only safe method is to +put it up to your client as a debt of honor, and depend upon their +inherent honesty and pride. It does no good to sue a man for a doctor +bill except in extreme cases. You will lose more than you will gain. Not +only will you in all probability lose the account and expenses, but you +will make a lot of enemies, who will injure your practice more than the +amount of the bill.</p> + +<p>Treat your poor patrons with the same respect and courtesy that you do +rich ones. Mr. Smith will do his best to pay you, while Old Bill Smith +will not exert himself very much to balance your ledger. Then above all +treat the woman in the flowered Mother-Hubbard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> as if she were the Queen +of Sheba, and the off-color lady from the red-light district as you +would the President of the Purity Society. The child that is ragged and +dirty should receive the same cordial attention as the one in silks. +When the time comes that you cannot treat all your patrons as you would +like for them to treat you if your positions were reversed, it is time +for you to "Fold up your tent like the Arab and silently steal away," +your usefulness is at an end. The day when you can make money in that +location has passed.</p> + +<p>Be kind to little children. Women and children furnish the greater part +of our patrons. Men do not count for much in the practice of +medicine,—unless you are a G-U specialist. I have always found that +where grandma and the children liked me, that I had no trouble in +getting practice or in collecting my money.</p> + +<p>Do not pad your accounts. Charge what you consider your services worth, +and then stick to it. Deal a square hand to all. The golden rule is just +as bright and as true today as it was thousands of years ago, and it is +not recorded that any man was ever hung that lived up to it. After you +have done your full duty <b>demand</b> that your patrons do their duty by you. +Keep after the money that is justly due you. Get money; but get it +honestly. You will be criticised by some, and cussed by others, but in +the words of Carrie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> Nation, "Why care for the criticism of men who +change and die?"</p> + +<p>And finally remember, that in this world there is nothing that will pay +dividends equal to smiles—unless it is gall, and do not forget the +injunction of the prophet, "Physician, 'heel' thyself," lest in old age +the world will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter +thou—into the poor house."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER III</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">PROPER TIME TO COLLECT.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the +sun."—Eccle. 3: 1.</p> + +<p>The time to collect depends to a considerable extent upon the location +and the class of patronage. In cities, as a rule, collections should be +made weekly, as many patrons move frequently, and you lose track of +them. It is proper and wise to present your bill as early after the +service is rendered as possible. Bills should be presented to working +men at the time of their regular payday. In country practice I have +found it best to send statements monthly and to require settlement +quarterly by cash or note. I have adopted this rule in a cotton country +where it was the rule to only pay the doctor once a year, if at all. +Farmers and planters can borrow money to pay the doctor as well as they +can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> to pay farm hands and cotton-choppers, or at least can give notes +bearing interest.</p> + +<p>When a man consults you and commences to run down some other doctor, +require him to pay cash. He's in bad with the other fellow. Dead-beats +should never be temporized with. Don't do a man's practice in the hope +that he will pay you, when you know that he has beat the other fellow.</p> + +<p>While every case is to a certain extent a rule unto itself, yet, there +are a few essentials that are necessary to make a success in collecting. +The two principle rules are, to keep everlastingly after them, and never +to lose their friendship. So long as you are on good terms there is +hope.</p> + +<p>Keep your accounts collected closely. The man who carries more than +one-third of his business on his books is a business failure. Old +accounts breed knockers. Go thou to the lawyer and consider his +ways—then cinch the money.</p> + +<p>Never employ a collector on commission. Your office girl will prove the +best collector if you have not time to attend to it yourself. In fact, +for general collecting, she will prove the best collector you can get. +Give her an honorium in addition to her salary if she makes good. At +many places the collector will be informed that the party she is seeking +is not at home, or is not in the office. Instruct her to stay until they +return, even if she finds it necessary to take her sewing along, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +spend the day. Frequently the party desired is just hiding in another +room, waiting until the collector leaves. Rather than stand the siege of +a determined collector they will sometimes pay the bill. The collector +should carry a note-book and jot down just what the debtor has to say. +This should be done in the presence of the debtor. Collectors should +always try to get something on account, even if only 25 or 50 cents. It +keeps the account alive, and helps defray expenses.</p> + +<p>Take notes if you find it impossible to get the cash. Have them well +secured if possible. Where you cannot get security get at least two +names on the note. Two dead-beats are better on a note than one on the +books, but, better still, get the "order note" shown on another page of +this book. If you take unsecured notes have them to mature in not to +exceed thirty days. Don't overlook the fact that a married woman's note +is valueless in many states.</p> + +<p>Frequently a debtor will promise to pay at a certain day, and then +usually fails to show up. When he makes the promise, make a note of the +time in your note-book. If he fails to keep the appointment, write him a +nice letter, something along this line:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">Dear Sir:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">I am sorry that I was not in the office on the 15th. when you called to +settle your account. When we were talking about the matter the other day +I neglected to tell you that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> if I was not in the office when you called +you could pay the office girl, and that she would give you a receipt for +the amount.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">I hope that you are well and prosperous, and that little <b>Mary</b> has fully +regained her strength.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">If I am not in when you come up again, just pay the amount to the girl +and it will be all right.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">Thanking you for your attention to this matter, and wishing you success, +I remain,</p> + +<p class="center">Yours very truly,</p> + +<p>This will generally bring him in with many excuses and some money.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER IV</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">BOOKKEEPING AND STATEMENTS.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>A simple system of keeping accounts is necessary. There are many systems +on the market, ranging all the way from the simple blank ledger to the +elaborate desk systems. I prefer the card system or the single book. As +only records of original entry are accepted in courts as evidence of +account, a complicated system would hardly be suited to the average +physician. The entry must be so clear and simple that any ordinary +person can readily understand the account, hence, any system that +depends upon ciphers or marks is valueless. A physician that is a good +bookkeeper can no doubt handle the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> complicated systems successfully, +but as I was not trained as a bookkeeper, the simplest, clear, legal +system meets my needs.</p> + +<p>Always enter each day's work on the day it is done. Don't wait until +tomorrow, or next Sunday to make up your books. By cultivating the habit +you can get as much pleasure out of entering charges in your books as +you could from some calls. I have seen the time when I got more real joy +out of receipting one bill than I would in going seven miles in the +country on a stormy night to see a dead-beat. Life is but a joke, but it +isn't wise to let the dead-beat have the joke on you all the time.</p> + +<p>Don't scatter your accounts on the book. Keep them close together and +they will be seen more frequently. It is better to run over the pages +when entering charges than to refer to the index, as you will be +reminded of other entries that should be made, and accounts that need +looking after.</p> + +<p>Once an account goes on your books, never lose sight of it or give up +until it is settled, or otherwise disposed of. It is a bad habit to skip +an account when making out statements. Treat them all alike. It may be +advisable to classify your accounts, but you should never fail to push +the collection of every account on your books.</p> + +<p>In charity practice, enter on your book at the regular rate, and credit +to charity to balance. In this way you keep an account of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> the extent of +your contributions to charities.</p> + +<p>Keep a stub of each statement you send out so that your client can not +bring in an old one and dispute your account. The following form will +meet every requirement for a statement. By retaining the stub you have a +complete record of your statements.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> + +<tr><td>No........................</td><td>|</td><td align="center">STATEMENT</td></tr> +<tr><td>Name....................</td><td>|</td><td align="right">.......................19..</td></tr> +<tr><td>Address................</td><td>|</td><td> Mr...................................................</td></tr> +<tr><td>Date sent..............</td><td>|</td><td align="center"> To J. M. SMITH, M.D. Dr.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Previous bill sent </td><td>|</td><td> To Professional services</td></tr> +<tr><td>.............................</td><td>|</td><td align="right">to date - - - $................</td></tr> +<tr><td>Am't paid..............</td><td>|</td><td align="right"> All accounts are due and payable</td></tr> +<tr><td>Collector...............</td><td>|</td><td> when services are rendered.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The best way to hold practice is to collect your accounts. More people +change doctors because they owe big bills than for any other reason.</p> + +<p>Never tell a debtor that you are hard up and need the money. He won't +believe you, and will not only neglect to pay you, but will change to +some other doctor. Tell them that you must have the money because it is +yours and that you want the profit that may be made with it. Put it up +to them as a plain business proposition and loan them the amount if they +pay you interest and give good security. They will respect you when you +make them pay. A man is judged in this country by his business success. +Most men would rather pay a lawyer a thousand dollars to keep them out +of the penitentiary for a year, than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> to pay a doctor fifty dollars to +keep them out of hell for a life time.</p> + +<p>Office and transient practice should be cash or an order note. The +following form will prove valuable:</p> + +<p class="bqright">.........................................191..</p> + +<p class="blockquot">After date, for value received, I promise to pay +............................or order....................Dollars, +the same to be paid in..............................payments of +$....................each, until the sum of $.................. +has been paid.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">For Value Received, I, the undersigned, hereby +sell, assign, transfer and set over unto.........................all +my right, title and interest in and to all of my +salary, wages or any moneys due, or to become due, +to the amount of.................................Dollars, from any +person, firm or corporation, and order the said amount +to be paid to the bearer out of the first moneys due +me after the presentation of a copy of this instrument. +I hereby irrevocably waive all exemptions or +other rights I may have by means of any law of +any state in which I now, or may hereafter be employed +or reside. I agree to pay all costs and attorney's +fees that may be incurred in collecting the +above amount.</p> + +<p class="bqright">Name..................................................................</p> + +<p class="blockquot">Occupation................................. Address..............................</p> +<p class="blockquot">Employed by.............................. Address..............................</p> + +<p>I have this form printed on cards and file them in a card file. This +contract note not only helps to get the money, but it solves the problem +of holding chronics and venerals. It is seldom necessary to present the +order for payment. When you write a letter advising your client that you +will be compelled to present the order to his employer if he doesn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +come in and see you, he will show up in a very short time.</p> + +<p>Subscribe to the Merchant's Exchange. If a man will not pay his store +bills you cannot expect him to pay his doctor. Get the cash when you +find his name on the list, or let the other doctor have the case.</p> + +<p>After entering an account on your books, make no rebates or discounts. +Buy a hog for four times its value, if necessary, but don't discount +your bill.</p> + +<p>If account is paid by check, remember the following points:</p> + +<p>When a check is post-dated (dated ahead), if payed before the date +mentioned, the money can be recovered.</p> + +<p>When post-dated checks fall due on Sunday or a legal holiday they should +be presented on the day following.</p> + +<p>Changing the dates of checks without the consent of the drawers will +make the checks void.</p> + +<p>Checks that are not dated, or that do not contain any statement when +they are to be paid, are never payable.</p> + +<p>Bank checks are but orders on the bank for the payment of money, and are +payable in the order in which they are presented at the bank.</p> + +<p>Do not hold checks, but present them for payment as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>If a check is not paid on proper presentation, resort may be made to the +original claim. Have the banker endorse the reason<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> for non-payment on +the check.</p> + +<p>Certified checks are checks that have been endorsed by the bank, and +constitute payment as to the persons drawing them.</p> + +<p>If a check is turned down at the bank notify the drawer at once.</p> + +<p>If you receive a check and endorse it and place in your bank for +collection, and it is turned down, do not return it to the drawer until +you get a remittance to cover, without first erasing your endorsement.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER V</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">FORMS AND COLLECTING LETTERS.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Nearly every form of letter that has been devised for collecting +physicians accounts has been based upon those used by installment houses +and those in general use by wholesale merchants who deal with retail +dealers. They all carry the bluff idea. This is all right in dealing +with installment customers with whom you have a contract that will take +away the goods purchased, or with retail merchants who know they must +meet their obligations if they continue in business. The credit men of +mercantile institutions keep tab on their customers through the local +merchants exchange and the commercial agencies, and are in a position to +know to what extent it is safe to extend credit. The merchant cannot +refuse to pay his bills and go to another wholesale house and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> buy +goods, hence if he is a little tardy in meeting his obligations the +bluff letter will awaken him to the necessity of paying the bill.</p> + +<p>With the doctor's customers it is altogether different. He knows that he +cannot be compelled to pay the bill, and that some other physician will +be only too ready to come at his call.</p> + +<p>It is then evident that the bluff idea will not work with the man who +knows that he can get another doctor whenever he wants one, and that he +is so protected by the exemption laws that the bill cannot be collected +by resorting to law. So in reaching this class we must devise other +plans if we hope to accomplish anything. Here, my experience has shown +that sentiment is the key note in an effective collecting letter for +physicians. I have found that the more human interest, sentiment and +friendly feeling that can be woven into the letter the better it is. +Every time that I write a letter to a client I try and refer in some +manner to the patient or to some member of the family, and try to +impress them with the fact that I have a personal interest in them. The +following forms are suggestive of the idea, and have proven very +successful in my practice. The classification is, of course used with +every account—they are all No. 1 until they fail to pay. The word +"Class" and the number are stamped with a rubber stamp. Letters of this +kind should be pen written—typewriter and form<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> letters will not +answer, they lose the personal sentiment.</p> + +<p>A duplicator that will easily reproduce 100 copies of a pen written +letter may be had for about $5, and the letters may be "formed" on this, +leaving space in which the personal matter may be written. If properly +done they will have the appearance of a hand written letter. Don't have +your letters too polished. Remember you are a very busy man—just +writing a note to a friend. Omit the rhetorical embellishments from this +class of correspondence in all cases.</p> + +<p>The first of my series of letters is along the following line.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">CLASS 1.</span></p> + +<p class="blockquot">Dear Sir:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">In looking over my books with a view of raising a small amount of money, +I note there is a balance due on your account of <b>$10.00</b>, and as you have +always been one of my best paying patrons, I have let this run, knowing +I could get it whenever I called on you. I always divide my accounts +into three classes: 1. Those who I can depend upon to pay when I call on +them. 2. Those who are slow to pay, and that I must keep after. 3. Very +poor pay and unsatisfactory clients. Whenever one of my patrons fails to +respond to my statements it reduces him to the next lower class.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">As you are one of my First Class patrons, I know you will be only too +glad to assist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> me at this time. I saw little Mary on the street the +other day, and she is looking well and hearty. I am glad she is so well, +as we had a hard fight to save her last spring.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">Wishing you health, happiness and success, I am,</p> + +<p class="center">Yours very truly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<p>Now if this fails to bring the money, we will try Class No. 2.</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="big">CLASS 2.</span></p> + +<p class="blockquot">Dear Sir:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">I was very much disappointed in not receiving the small amount of your +account, <b>$10.00</b>, as you were one of my Class 1 customers, and I felt +sure you would not fail me when I called on you. I hope you will attend +to this at once, as I would like to place you back on my Class 1 list.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">A good credit is the greatest asset that any man can have, and I find I +can only maintain my credit by making prompt payment of my bills. To do +this I must have a prompt settlement of the bills due me. I know that +you value a good credit, and feel sure that you will not again +disappoint me.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">How is baby getting along? I guess he can almost stand by this time. +Come in and see me any way, and we can no doubt make arrangements that +will help us both out, and continue the best of friends.</p> + +<p class="center">Yours very truly.</p> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>In case he is not interested in your friendship, and does not show up +with the money, we will try our third and last shot.</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="big">CLASS 3.</span></p> + +<p class="blockquot">Dear Sir:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">I am very sorry that you did not see fit to reply to my letters of <b>July +15</b> and <b>August 15</b>. Not so much on account of your failure to pay me the +<b>$10.00</b> which you owe, but because I dislike to lose faith in my fellow +man, and you know it hurts a fellow when he finds his judgment was +wrong. I have often wondered how I would feel if I knew my little child +was up in heaven, looking down at me with her angelic eyes, wondering +why I did not pay the doctor who worked so hard all night to give her +ease and to keep her with me. I don't believe that I could be happy.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">Still <b>John</b>, I believe in you, and feel sure you will come in and see me +about this little matter. I just can't believe I was mistaken in you.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">Wishing you success, I am,</p> + +<p class="center">Very truly yours.</p> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<p>The personal matter must be fitting to the case. If your patients do not +die, you might speak of the "innocent little babe who will grow up to +womanhood unpaid for." Lawyers in Oklahoma hold a lien on the cause of +action until their fees are paid. Wonder how that would work with the +medical profession?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>The point that I want to press home to you is that if you cannot get a +settlement with sentiment, you cannot get it any other way. You cannot +bluff them for they know they are execution proof. Read the exemption +laws of your state and you will find that there is not a third of your +patrons but could beat you if you tried to enforce payment by law.</p> + +<p>Here are some thoughts that have been worked into form letters that may +give you an idea that you can use in some special cases:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Your continued silence after receiving our previous letters, compels us +to infer that you neither propose nor intend to remit us the small +balance on your account."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"The amount is justly due, and we now state positively that on account +of our having been patient, lenient and courteous with you in the past +we cannot let the matter drop at this time by merely writing you."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"From information we have received from different sources we appreciate +the fact that you are amply able to pay the amount due."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"We are placing the utmost reliance upon receiving a remittance from you +in the next few days."</p> + +<p>Sometimes you can get settlement by means of a sight draft. Some people +seem to fear a bank and will pay an account when held by a bank when +they would pay no attention to anyone else.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>Always get an order from a corporation before rendering service. If they +call you to attend any of their employees, have them sign an order +before giving the case any attention, otherwise you may not be paid for +your services. They will refuse to pay, and the patient will claim he +did not call you. Have some order cards with you all the time for the +signature of corporations or others who will call you to attend a +patient who is not related to them. The following form will answer:</p> + + +<p class="bqright">......................1912</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><b>Dr. John Smith:</b></p> + +<p class="blockquot">You will please attend</p> + +<p class="blockquot">................................................................................................</p> + +<p class="blockquot">during his present illness.</p> + +<p class="bqright">...........................................................</p> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<p>When some corporation or other responsible party calls you up and wants +you to attend some one, have them sign the card, then they will be bound +to pay if the patient fails to do so. The person representing a +corporation should sign, as in many cases they have no authority to bind +the company.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER VI</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">LIMITATIONS.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The following table gives the time an account or instrument of writing, +(note, judgment, etc.) will survive before becoming "out-lawed" by the +statutes of limitations in the several states.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> + +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">Open account</td><td> </td><td align="right"> Note </td><td> </td><td align="right"> Judgment</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right">years</td><td> </td><td align="right"> years </td><td> </td><td align="right"> years</td></tr> + +<tr><td>Alabama</td><td align="right"> 3 </td><td> </td><td align="right">6 </td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Alaska</td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Arizona </td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Arkansas</td><td align="right"> 3</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>California </td><td align="right">4</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 4</td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td></tr> +<tr><td>Colorado</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td>Connecticut</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">17</td><td><a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Delaware </td><td align="right"> 3</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Florida</td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 5</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Georgia</td><td align="right"> 10</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">7</td></tr> +<tr><td>Hawaii</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Idaho </td><td align="right">4</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 5 </td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td>Illinois</td><td align="right"> 5</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td><td><a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Indiana</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 10</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Iowa</td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Kansas</td><td align="right"> 3</td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td><td><a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Kentucky</td><td align="right">5 </td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td align="right">15</td></tr> +<tr><td>Louisiana</td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Massachusetts</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 20</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Michigan</td><td align="right">6 </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Minnesota </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Mississippi</td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">7</td></tr> +<tr><td>Missouri</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Montana</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td>Nebraska</td><td align="right"> 4</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 5</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Nevada</td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td align="right">4</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 6</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Hampshire</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right"> 20</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Jersey</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Mexico</td><td align="right">4</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">7</td></tr> +<tr><td>New York</td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right"> 10</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>North Carolina</td><td align="right"> 3</td><td> </td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>North Dakota</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ohio</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">15</td></tr> +<tr><td>Oklahoma</td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Oregon</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pennsylvania </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td><td><a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Rhode Island</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>South Carolina</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 20</td></tr> +<tr><td>South Dakota</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td><td><a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Tennessee</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td><td><a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Texas</td><td align="right"> 2</td><td> </td><td align="right">4</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Utah</td><td align="right"> 4</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">8</td></tr> +<tr><td>Vermont</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Virginia</td><td align="right"> 2</td><td> </td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Washington</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td>West Virginia </td><td align="right"> 5</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 5</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Wisconsin</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>British Columbia<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Manitoba</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Wyoming</td><td align="right">8</td><td> </td><td align="right"> 5</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Brunswick</td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Nova Scotia</td><td align="right"> 6</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Ontario </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">6</td><td> </td><td align="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Quebec</td><td align="right">5</td><td><a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></td><td align="right">5</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Mexico</td><td align="right">1</td><td> </td><td align="right">3</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></table> +<p> </p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Promissory note not negotiable.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Justice Court. Court of Record, 20 years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Judgment may be kept alive by issuing execution every five +years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> May be revived by proof of non-payment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> If judgment is from any other state, 10 years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> "Where the statute of limitations of another State or +government has created a bar to an action upon a cause accruing therein, +while the party to be charged was a resident in such State or under such +government, the bar is equally effectual in this State." (Code (M. & V.) +Sec. 3481.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> "All actions for debt upon any recognizance, shall be +commenced within twenty years after the cause of action arose."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>"Surgeon's, physician's and dentist's accounts dating from +the time the services or medicine is supplied."</p></div> +<p> </p> +<p>This table is as near complete as we are able to make it at this time. +The laws are changed frequently. This is accurate enough to enable any +physician to look over his books and find what per cent. of his accounts +have outlawed by his failure to enforce payment.</p> + +<p>Remember that a payment, however small it may be, will revive an +account, even after it has become outlawed. Hence the advisability of +getting small payments at every opportunity. These payments should be +less than one year apart, as some States do not consider payments made +over one year apart.</p> + +<p>Under the Oklahoma law a foreign judgment is limited to one year. In +West Virginia a foreign judgment against a person who has been a +resident of the State for ten years is barred.</p> + +<p>A similar clause to the following, taken from the laws of the State of +Washington, is incorporated in the acts of nearly all States, and may be +considered as a general rule:</p> + +<p>"In an action brought to recover a balance due upon a mutual, open and +current account, where there have been reciprocal demands, the cause of +action shall be deemed to have accrued from the time of the last item of +the account proved on either side, but when more than one year shall +have intervened between any of a series of items, they are not to be +deemed such an account."</p> + +<p>Thus, if you do practice for a person, and a year elapses and you again +attend him, you cannot combine the two as one account, and enforce +collection by law.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER VII</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">EXEMPTION LAWS.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Before starting a suit to collect money due you, carefully read up on +the exemption laws of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> State. After carefully considering the +matter you will find that a judgment, if obtained, will avail you +nothing, should the debtor elect to take advantage of the exemption +allowed him by law.</p> + +<p>Some States are very liberal in the amount of property a man may hold +which is exempt from execution on a judgment for indebtedness. Take for +instance, the State of North Dakota, where the head of a family may hold +a homestead and personal property to the value of $6,450, and in case +the head of the family should die, and was insured, the widow and +children could hold an additional $5,000 of life insurance money, making +a total exemption of $11,450.</p> + +<p>Delaware is the only State that has made a special provision for +physicians in any manner. Here the statutes provide that a physician's +bill shall be a preferred claim for services in the last illness of the +patient.</p> + +<p>In nearly all States the exemption runs to the widow and minor children. +This is so general a rule that I have not included that part of the +statutes covering this phase of the law. There is no exemption against +money due on mortgages, for the purchase price of property, for manual +labor or taxes. Tennessee also provides that there shall be no exemption +on fines for failure to work the roads, for voting out of the district +the voter lives in, for carrying concealed weapons, or for giving away +or selling intoxicating liquors on election day.</p> + +<p>Rhode Island exempts wages due or accruing to seamen.</p> + +<p>Pennsylvania does not exempt the homestead, and personal property to the +value of three hundred dollars only is exempt. The chances to collect a +bill in Pennsylvania are better than in any other State, so far as the +exemption laws are concerned.</p> + +<p>Oregon exempts one gun or revolver to each white citizen over sixteen +years of age, in addition to the other exemptions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>Public buildings owned by the State or municipality are always exempt. +Other buildings are not exempt against liens for material or labor used +in their construction.</p> + +<p>The exempt property may be selected by the debtor, or on his failure to +make such selection, some States permit the wife to make the selection, +but in case no selection is made, the proper officer will make the +selection for them.</p> + +<p>The exemption of estates generally runs until the youngest child is of +age. Judgments usually expire in twenty years or less if not renewed. +Hence you will see that the attorney's fees that you will have to pay to +secure judgment will generally be worth more to you than the judgment, +if you have to wait so many years to satisfy it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">CHAPTER VIII</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">EXEMPTION LAWS.</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The following extracts from the statutes of the various States gives the +exemption laws in so far as they apply to the collection of accounts.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">ALABAMA.</span></p> + +<p>The personal property of any resident of the State, to the amount of one +thousand dollars, to be selected by such resident, is exempt for any +debt contracted since the 13th of July, 1868. Every homestead, not over +eighty acres of land, if in the country, or any lot in a city, town or +village, to be selected by the owner, together with the improvements +thereon, not exceeding two thousand dollars in value, is exempt from +execution for any debt contracted since July 13th, 1868. The Statutes +provide that the homestead may consist of as much as one hundred and +sixty acres not exceeding in value two thousand dollars. (Code of Ala. +Sec. 4164 et seq.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">ALASKA.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>1. Earnings of judgment debtor, for personal services rendered within +sixty days next preceding the levy of execution or attachment, when +necessary for the use of his family, supported in whole or in part by +his labor. 2. Books, pictures and musical instruments owned by any +person, to the value of seventy-five dollars. 3. Necessary wearing +apparel owned by any person for the use of himself or family, but +watches or jewelry exceeding one hundred dollars in value are not +exempt. 4. The tools, implements, apparatus, team, vehicle, harness, or +library necessary to enable any person to carry on the trade, occupation +or profession by which such person habitually earns his living, to the +value of five hundred dollars; also sufficient quantity of food to +support such team, if any, for six months; the word "team" being +construed to include not more than one yoke of oxen, or a span of horses +or mules, or two reindeer, or six dogs. Ten sheep with one year's fleece +or the yarn or cloth manufactured therefrom; two cows and five swine; +household goods, furniture and utensils to the value of three hundred +dollars; also food sufficient to support such animals, if any, for six +months, and provisions actually provided for family use and necessary +for the support of such person and family for six months. 6. The seat or +pew occupied by the head of a family or his family in a place of public +worship.</p> + +<p>Homestead. The homestead of any family, or the proceeds thereof, is +exempt. Such homestead must be the actual abode of, and owned by such +family or some member thereof, and not exceed two thousand five hundred +dollars in value, nor exceed one hundred and sixty acres in extent, if +not located in a town or city laid off into blocks or lots, or if +located in any such town or city, one fourth of an acre.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">ARIZONA.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Personal property to the amount of five hundred dollars to a family +only. One half of earnings of debtor for thirty days next previous to +levy necessary to family support are exempt. Prospector's mining tools +and camping outfit are exempt.</p> + +<p>Homestead. Twenty-five hundred dollars in one compact; not necessary to +live on the same, but family must reside in Territory.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">ARKANSAS.</span></p> + +<p>The exemption law is contained in the present Constitution, and is as +follows: "Section 1. The personal property of any resident of this +State, who is not married or the head of a family, in specific articles +to be selected by such resident, not exceeding in value the sum of two +hundred dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, shall be +exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on execution or other process +from any court, issued for the collection of any debts by contract; +provided that no property shall be exempt from execution for debts +contracted for the purchase-money therefor, while in the hands of the +vendee. Sec. 2. The personal property of any resident of this State, who +is married or the head of a family, in specific articles to be selected +by such resident, not exceeding in value the sum of five hundred +dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, and that of his or +her family, shall be exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on +execution, or other process from any court, on debt by contract. Sec. 4. +The homestead outside any city, town or village, owned and occupied as a +residence, shall consist of not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres of +land, with the improvements thereon, to be selected by the owner; +provided the same shall not exceed in value the sum of twenty-five +hundred dollars, and in no event shall the homestead be reduced to less +than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> eighty acres, without regard to value. Sec. 5. The homestead in +any city, town or village, owned and occupied as a residence, shall +consist of not exceeding one acre of land, with the improvements +thereon, to be selected by the owner; provided the same shall not exceed +in value the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, and in no event +shall such homestead be reduced to less than one quarter of an acre of +land, without regard to value."</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">CALIFORNIA.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is exempt from execution for any debt, except it +be for the purchase price of such property, or a debt secured by +mortgage, lien or pledge thereon, to wit: 1st. Chairs, tables, desks and +books, to the value of two hundred dollars. 2d. Necessary household, +table and kitchen furniture of the debtor, including one sewing machine, +stoves, stove pipes and stove furniture, wearing apparel, beds, bedding, +bedsteads, hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings drawn or painted +by any member of the family, family portraits and their necessary +frames, provisions and fuel actually provided for individual or family +use sufficient for three months, and three cows and their sucking +calves, four hogs with their sucking pigs, and food for such cows and +hogs for one month; also one rifle, one shotgun, one piano. 3d. Farming +utensils, or implements of husbandry, not exceeding in value one +thousand dollars, of the judgment debtor, also two oxen, or two horses, +or two mules and their harness, one cart or buggy, and two wagons, and +food for such animals for one month, also seed grain or vegetables +reserved or on hand for planting within six months, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value; and seventy-five beehives, and one horse and +vehicle belonging to any person who is maimed or crippled, the same +being necessary to his business. 4th. Tools or implements of a mechanic +or artisan, notary's seal, office furniture and records; instruments and +library<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> and necessary office furniture of a surgeon, physician, +surveyor or dentist, necessary to the exercise of their profession; +books, professional libraries and office furniture of attorneys, judges, +ministers of the gospel, editors, and school and music teachers, and all +the indexes, abstracts, books, papers, maps and office furniture of +searcher of records necessary to be used in his profession, and +instruments actually used by music teachers in giving instructions; also +typewriters used by owner in making his living, also one bicycle. 5th. A +miner's cabin, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, also his +sluices, pipes, tools, etc., necessary for his business, not exceeding +five hundred dollars in value, and two horses, mules, or oxen, and their +harness, and food for the same for one month, when necessary to be used +for any windlass, derrick, car, pump, or hoisting gear; and the miner's +claim worked by him, and not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. +6th. Two oxen, horses, or mules and their harness and food for one +month, and one cart, wagon, dray, truck, coupe, hack, or carriage for +one or two horses, by the use of which a cartman, drayman, truckman, +huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer habitually earns +his living, and one horse, vehicle, and harness used by physician, +surgeon, constable, or minister of the gospel in the legitimate practice +of his profession or business, with food for such animal for one month. +7th. One fishing boat and net not exceeding the value of five hundred +dollars, the property of any fisherman, by the lawful use of which he +earns a livelihood. 8th. Poultry worth not more than seventy-five +dollars. 9th. Seamen and seagoing fishermen's wages and earnings not +exceeding three hundred dollars. 10th. Earnings for personal service +rendered within thirty days of levy, if the defendant swears they are +necessary for the use of his family residing in the State, and supported +in whole or in part by his labor; but only one-half of such earnings are +exempt where the debt is for necessaries of life. 11th. Shares in +homestead associations, not exceeding in value one thousand dollars, if +the debtor has not a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> homestead selected. 12th. Nautical instruments and +wearing apparel of any master, officer, or seamen of any vessel. 13th. +All moneys, benefits, etc., accruing or growing out of any life +insurance, if the annual premiums paid do not exceed five hundred +dollars; if they exceed that sum, a like exemption exists, which shall +bear the same proportion to the money, immunities, etc., so accruing or +growing out of such insurance that five hundred dollars bears to the +whole annual premiums paid. 14th. All fire-engines, etc. 15th. All +firearms, etc., required by law to be kept by any person, and one gun +selected by the debtor. 17th. All material not exceeding one thousand +dollars purchased in good faith for use in or about to be applied in +good faith to the construction, alteration, or repair of any building, +mining claim, or other improvement entered upon a judgment recovered, +for its price or foreclosure of a mortgage thereon. 18th. All machinery, +etc., necessary for constructing surface or artesian wells to the value +of one thousand dollars. 19th. Shares of stock in any building and loan +association to one thousand dollars. 20th. Moneys derived from United +States pension.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">COLORADO.</span></p> + +<p>Every householder, being the head of a family, is entitled to a +homestead of the value of two thousand dollars exempt from execution and +attachment while such homestead is occupied by the owner or his or her +family. Entry of homestead is made by writing the word "homestead" on +the margin of the recorded title thereof, attested by the recorder with +date of entry. There is also exempt from execution and attachment the +necessary wearing apparel of every person, and the following property of +a person being the head of a family: Family pictures, school-books, and +library, a seat or pew in any house of public worship, the sites of +burial for the dead, all wearing apparel of the debtor and his family, +all beds, bedsteads, and bedding, kept and used for the debtor and his +family,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> all stoves and appendages kept for the use of the debtor or his +family, all cooking utensils, and all the household furniture not above +enumerated not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, the provisions +for the debtor and his family necessary for six months, and fuel +necessary for six months. The tools and implements or stock in trade of +any mechanic, miner, or other person not exceeding two hundred dollars +in value, the library and implements of any professional man not +exceeding three hundred dollars in value, one bicycle, one +sewing-machine, working animals of any person to the value of two +hundred dollars, one cow and calf, ten sheep, and food for same for six +months, one farm wagon, cart or dray, one plow, one harrow, and other +farming implements, including harness and tackle for team not exceeding +fifty dollars in value. If the head of the family dies the family is +entitled to the exemption. There is also exemption from levy on +execution, attachment, or garnishment sixty per cent. of the amount, due +at the time of levy, of wages or earnings of the head of the family or +his wife when such family resides in the State and is dependent in whole +or in part, upon such earnings, and all wages are exempt when they do +not exceed five dollars per week.</p> + +<p>Pension money received from the United States is exempt from all legal +process, whether in the actual possession of the pensioner, deposited or +loaned, and whether the pensioner be the head of a family or not. This +exemption runs to the pensioner's wife and children, or either of them, +in case of his death or absconding.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">CONNECTICUT.</span></p> + +<p>The following property shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by +warrant or execution, namely: of the property of any person, his +necessary apparel and bedding, and household furniture necessary for +supporting life, arms, militia equipments, uniforms, or musical +instruments owned by any member of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> militia for military purposes, +any pension moneys received from the United States while in the hands of +the pensioner, implements of the debtor's trade, his library not +exceeding five hundred dollars in value, one cow not exceeding one +hundred and fifty dollars in value, any number of sheep not exceeding +ten nor exceeding in all one hundred and fifty dollars in value, two +swine and two hundred pounds of pork, and poultry not exceeding +twenty-five dollars in value; of the property of any one person having a +wife or family, twenty-five bushels of charcoal, two tons of other coal, +two hundred pounds of wheat flour, two cord of wood, two tons of hay, +two hundred pounds each of beef and fish, five bushels each of potatoes +and turnips, ten bushels each of Indian corn and rye, and the meal or +flour manufactured therefrom, twenty pounds each of wool and flax, or +the yarn or cloth made therefrom; the horse of any practicing physician +or surgeon of a value not exceeding two hundred dollars, and his saddle, +bridle, harness, buggy, and bicycle; one boat owned by one person and +used by him in the business of planting or taking oyster or clams, or +taking shad, together with the sails, tackle, rigging and implements +used in said business not exceeding in value two hundred dollars; one +sewing-machine, being the property of any one person using it or having +a family; one pew, being the property of any person having a family, who +ordinarily occupy it; and lots in any burying ground appropriated by its +proprietors for the burial of any person or family. So much of any debt +which has accrued by reason of the personal services of the debtor as +shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, including wages due for the +personal services of any minor child under the age of twenty-one years, +shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by foreign attachment or +execution.</p> + +<p>Any person owning and actually occupying any dwelling and real estate +can file for record, in same manner as a deed, a declaration that he +occupies and intends to occupy said dwelling and real estate as a +homestead, and from the filing such declaration said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> property, to the +value of one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from execution so long as +actually occupied by the owner as a dwelling, and only the excess in +value above one thousand dollars can be set off. (Gen. Stat. 1902 Sec. +4065, 4066.)</p> + +<p>Money due on insurance losses for exempt property, whether real or +personal, are also exempt.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">DELAWARE.</span></p> + +<p>Family Bible, school-books, and family pictures, seat or pew in church, +lot in burial ground, all wearing apparel of debtor and family, and in +addition to above tools, implements, and fixtures necessary to carry on +a trade or business, not exceeding seventy-five dollars in New Castle +and Sussex Counties and fifty dollars in Kent County. There is exempted +to the Head of a family, in addition to above, other personal property +(goods and chattels of a merchantable character bought to be sold and +trafficked in by the debtor in the transaction of his or her business or +occupation, excepted) not exceeding two hundred dollars in New Castle +County, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars in Kent County, +and in the latter county consisting of household goods only; but there +is no such additional exemption in Sussex County, and there is no such +additional exemption when such exemption would prevent the collection of +a debt due or growing due for labor or services (other than professional +services) rendered by any clerk, mechanic, or other employee of the +debtor. Sewing-machines owned and used by seamstresses or private +families are exempt from execution on attachment process, and also from +distress for rent. In New Castle County ninety per cent. of all wages +are exempt from execution attachment, except for board, lodging, or +both, not exceeding fifty dollars. Widows in all cases shall have the +benefit of the same exemption out of the husband's goods that the +husband would have had if living. Funeral expenses, reasonable bills for +medicine and medical attendance, nursing, and necessaries of last +sickness, are paid out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> of personality of a deceased person before there +is any application to the execution. Above exemptions extended to +distress for rent.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is exempt from execution: Wearing apparel +belonging to all persons and to all heads of families being +householders; beds, bedding, household furniture, stoves, cooking +utensils, etc., not exceeding three hundred dollars in value; provisions +for three months' support, whether provided or growing; fuel for three +months; mechanics' tools and implements of professional man or artist to +value of three hundred dollars; one horse, one mule, or yoke of oxen; +one cart, one wagon or dray, and harness for such team; farming +utensils, with food for such team for three months, and if the debtor be +a farmer, any other farming tools of value of one hundred dollars; all +family pictures and all family library not exceeding in value four +hundred dollars; one cow, one swine, six sheep. (Sec. 1105, Code.)</p> + +<p>The earnings, not to exceed one hundred dollars each month, of all +actual residents of the District of Columbia, and who are married +persons or who have to provide for the support of a family in the +District, for two months next proceeding the issuing of any writ or +process from any court or justice of the peace, or other officer of and +in the District against them, shall be exempt from attachment, levy, +seizure, or sale upon such process; and the same shall not be seized, +levied on, or taken, reached or sold by attachment, execution, or in any +other process or proceedings of any court, judge, justice of the peace, +or other officer of and in the District. (Sec. 1107, Code.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">FLORIDA.</span></p> + +<p>Article X of the constitution of 1885 provides as follows: "Sec. 1. A +homestead to the extent of one hundred and sixty acres of land, or the +half of one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> acre within the limits of any incorporated city or town, +owned by the head of the family residing in this State, together with +one thousand dollars' worth of personal property, and the improvements +on the real estate, shall be exempt from forced sale under process of +any court, and the real estate shall not be alienable without the joint +consent of husband and wife, when that relation exists. But no property +shall be exempt from sale for taxes or assessments or for payment of +obligations contracted for the purchase of said property, or for the +erection or repair of improvements on the real estate exempted, or for +house, field or other labor performed on the same. The exemption herein +provided for in a city or town shall not extend to more improvements or +buildings than the residence and business house of the owner; and no +judgment or decree or execution shall be a lien upon exempted property +except as provided in this article. Sec. 2. The exemptions provided for +in section one shall insure to the widow and heirs of the party entitled +to such exemption, and shall apply to all debts, except as specified in +said section. Sec. 3. The exemptions provided for in the constitution of +this State adopted in 1868 shall apply as to all debts contracted and +judgments rendered since the adoption thereof and prior to the adoption +of this constitution. Sec. 4. Nothing in this article shall be construed +to prevent the holder of a homestead from alienating his or her +homestead so exempted by deed or mortgage duly executed by himself or +herself, and by husband and wife, if such relation exists, nor, if the +holder be without children, to prevent him or her from disposing of his +or her homestead by will, in a manner prescribed by law. Sec. 5. No +homestead provided for in Section 1 shall be reduced in area on account +of its being subsequently included within the limits of an incorporated +city or town, without the consent of the owner."</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">GEORGIA.</span></p> + +<p>The Constitution of 1877 provided: "There shall be exempt from levy and +sale, by virtue of any process<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> whatever, under the laws of this State, +except as hereinafter excepted, of the property of every head of a +family, or guardian, or trustee of a family of minor children or every +aged or infirm person having the care and support of dependant female of +any age, who is not the head of a family, realty or personalty or both, +to the value in the aggregate of sixteen hundred dollars. No court or +ministerial officer in this State shall ever have jurisdiction or +authority to enforce any judgment, execution, or decree against the +property set apart for such purpose, including such improvements as may +be made thereon from time to time, except for taxes, for the +purchase-money of the same, for labor done thereon, for material +furnished therefor, or for the removal of incumbrances thereon. The +debtor shall have the power to waive or renounce in writing his right to +this benefit of exemption except as to wearing apparel and not exceeding +three hundred dollars' worth of household and kitchen furniture and +provision, to be selected by himself and his wife, if any, and he shall +not, after it is set apart, alienate or incumber the property so +exempted, but it may be sold by the debtor and his wife, if any, +jointly, with the sanction of the judge of the superior court of the +county where the debtor resides or the land is situated, the proceeds to +be reinvested upon the same uses." The act of 1878 carries out these +provisions.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">HAWAII.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is exempt from execution, attachment, distress, +and forced sale: 1st. All necessary household, table, and kitchen +furniture, one sewing-machine, crockery, tin and plated ware, calabashes +and mats, family portraits and photographs and their necessary frames, +wearing apparel, bedding, household linen, and provision for household +use for three months. 2nd. Farming implements and utensils not exceeding +five hundred dollars in value; two horses or mules, and their harness +and their food for one month; one horse, one set of single harness, and +one vehicle of any person<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> who is maimed or crippled. 3d. The tools or +implements of a mechanic or artisan necessary to carry on his trade; the +instruments and chest of a physician, dentist, or surveyor necessary to +the exercise of his profession, together with his necessary office +furniture and fixture; the necessary office furniture, fixtures, blanks, +stationery, and office equipment of attorneys and judges, ministers of +the gospel and rabbis; the typewriter, one desk, and six chairs of a +stenographer or typewriter; the musical instruments of every teacher of +music, used in giving instruction; one bicycle used in carrying on of +one's business or transporting him to and from his place of business; +the fishing nets, dips and seines, and the boats with their tackle and +equipment, of every fisherman. 4th. The horses or mules and their +harness, one cart, wagon, or stage, one dray or truck, one coupe, hack +or carriage for one or two horses, by use of which a cartman, drayman, +truckster, huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer earns +his living; and one horse and harness and one vehicle used by a +physician, surgeon, or minister of the gospel in the practice or +exercise of his profession. 5th. The nautical instruments and wearing +apparel of every master, officer, and seaman of any steamship or other +vessel. 6th. All books, papers, pamphlets, and manuscripts, together +with book-cases, shelvings, cabinets, and other devices for holding the +same except those kept for sale by any dealer therein. 7th. One-half of +the wages due every laborer or person working for wages. 8th. The +proceeds of insurance on, and the proceeds of sale of the property +aforesaid for the period of three months after such proceeds are +received. (Sec. 1831.) There is also exempt from execution the family +Bible, family pictures, school-books, two swine or six goats, and all +necessary fish, meat, flour, and vegetables, and one piece of land where +kalo or any other vegetable is growing, not to exceed one-half acre +actually cultivated for family use, also a house lot not to exceed +one-quarter acre, and the dwelling and other buildings thereon, provided +the value thereof shall not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> But +this exemption does not apply as against mechanics and material-men +having liens for labor or material. (Sec. 1830.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">INDIANA.</span></p> + +<p>Every resident householder, or resident married woman, may claim as +exempt from execution against them respectively his or her property, +real or personal, to the amount of six hundred dollars, on any debt +founded on contract made since May 31, 1879. This right exists while in +transitu from one residence to another within the State, and may be +claimed by the wife for the husband in his absence.</p> + +<p>The property of a resident householder, exempt from sale on execution, +may be real or personal, or both. It must be properly appraised under +direction of the officer, after receiving from the debtor a sworn +schedule of all his property, credits, effects, etc. The statute makes +ample provisions for the sale of real property where it is alone, or in +part, claimed under the exemption law, in case its value exceeds six +hundred dollars. The exemption does not effect liens for labor, +purchase-money, or realty, or taxes in any event.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">IOWA.</span></p> + +<p>To an unmarried person not the head of a family and to non-resident +there is exempt from execution their own ordinary wearing apparel and +trunks necessary to contain the same. If the debtor is a resident of +this State, and is the head of a family, he may hold exempt from +execution the following property: Wearing apparel of himself and family +kept for actual use and suitable for their condition, and the trunks to +contain the same; one musket, or rifle, and shot-gun; all private +libraries, family Bibles, portraits, pictures, musical instruments, and +paintings, not kept for sale; a pew in church; a lot in burying ground, +not to exceed one acre; two cows and two calves; fifty sheep and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> the +wool therefrom, and the materials manufactured from such wool; six +stands of bees, five hogs, and all pigs under six months; poultry to the +value of fifty dollars; the necessary food for all animals exempt from +execution for six months: one bedstead and the necessary bedding for +every two in the family; all cloth manufactured by the defendant not +exceeding one hundred yards; household and kitchen furniture not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value; all spinning-wheels and looms, +one sewing-machine, and other instruments of domestic labor kept for +actual use; the necessary provisions and fuel for the use of the family +for six months; the proper tools, instruments, or books of the debtor, +if a farmer, mechanic, surveyor, clergyman, lawyer, physician, teacher, +or professor; the horse, or team consisting of not more than two horses +or mules, or two yoke of cattle, and the wagon with the proper harness +tackle, by the use of which the debtor, if a physician, public officer, +farmer, teamster, or other laborer, habitually earns his living, +otherwise one horse; and to the debtor, if a printer, there is also +exempt a printing press and the type, furniture, and material necessary +for the use of such printing press and a newspaper office connected +therewith, not to exceed in value twelve hundred dollars. But if the +debtor being the head of family, has started to leave the State, he will +have exempt only the ordinary wearing apparel of himself and family, and +seventy-five dollars' worth of property in addition, to be selected by +himself. But no exemptions shall extend to property against an execution +issued for the purchase-money thereof. The earnings of a debtor, if a +resident, and head of a family, for his personal services at any time +within ninety days next preceding the levy, are also exempt. If a debtor +is a seamstress, one sewing-machine shall be exempt from execution and +attachment.</p> + +<p>The homestead of every head of a family is exempt from judicial sale. It +may be sold on execution for debts contracted prior to the purchase of +such homestead; or for those created by written contract, expressly +stipulating that it is liable therefor. If within<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> a city or town plat +it must not exceed one-half acre in extent, and if without, it must not +embrace in the aggregate more than forty acres; and in each case +embraces all the buildings and improvements thereon without limitation +as to value. Upon the death of either husband or wife, the survivor may +continue to possess and occupy the whole homestead. If there is no +survivor and no will, the homestead descends to the issue of either +husband or wife, and is to be held exempt from any antecedent debts of +their parents or their own. Money received as a pension from the United +States is exempt, whether pensioner is a head of a family or not, and a +homestead purchased with such pension money is exempt from all debts +whether contracted prior or subsequent to such purchase. The avails of +all policies of insurance on the life of any individual payable to his +surviving widow shall be exempt from liabilities for all debts of such +beneficiary contracted prior to the death of the assured, the total +exemption for any one person not exceeding five thousand dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">KANSAS.</span></p> + +<p>The Constitution provided that a "homestead to the extent of one hundred +and sixty acres of farming land, or of one acre within the limits of an +incorporated town or city, occupied as a residence by the family of the +owner, together with all the improvements on the same, shall be exempted +from forced sale under any process of law, and shall not be alienated +without the joint consent of husband and wife, when that relation +existed. By statute, each resident, being the head of a family, is +entitled to have exempt from seizure and sale, upon any judicial +process, the family books and musical instruments, a seat or pew in +church and a lot in burial ground, all wearing apparel, bedding, +bedstead, stoves and cooking utensils used by the family, one +sewing-machine, all implements of industry, five hundred dollars' worth +of other household furniture, two cows, ten hogs, one yoke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> oxen, and +one horse or mule (or, in lieu of one yoke of oxen and one horse or +mule, a span of horses or mules;) twenty sheep and the wool from same; +the necessary food for the stock above described for one year, either +provided or growing; one wagon, cart or dray; two plows, one drag, and +other farming utensils including harness and tackle for team, not +exceeding in value three hundred dollars; provisions and fuel for the +support and use of the family, for one year; the necessary tools and +implements of any mechanic, minor, or other person, used and kept for +the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, and in addition +thereto stock in trade not exceeding four hundred dollars in value, and +the library, implements, and office furniture of any professional man."</p> + +<p>A resident, not being the head of a family, has exempt his wearing +apparel, church pew, burial lot, necessary tools and implements used in +his trade or business, stock in trade not exceeding four hundred +dollars; and, if a professional man, his library, implements, and office +furniture. (Sec. 3650.) The earnings of a debtor resident of the State +for three months are exempt when it shall be made to appear that the +same are necessary for the maintenance of a family supported wholly or +partly by his labor. (Sec. 6127.)</p> + +<p>So, also, the money received by any debtor as pensioner of the United +States within three months preceeding the issuing of execution, +attachment, or garnishment process must be released when it is shown in +like manner that said money is necessary for the maintenance of a family +supported wholly or in part by such pension. (Sec. 3653.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">IDAHO.</span></p> + +<p>Execution issue on judgment at any time within five years. Homestead, +after the same has been declared and recorded is exempt. Where the +selection is made by the husband, or, in case of his failure, by the +wife or other head of the family, such homestead may be selected to the +value of five thousand dollars,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> and to the value of one thousand +dollars by any other person. The declaration, properly acknowledged and +recorded, is prior to all claims against the property which were not +existing liens at the time the declaration of homestead was recorded. In +addition thereto are the following exemptions from execution: 1st. +Chairs, tables, desks, and books to the value of two hundred dollars. +2d. Necessary household furniture to the value of three hundred dollars, +wearing apparel, paintings, drawings, pictures, etc., and provisions +provided for individual or family use, sufficient for six months, two +cows and two hogs with their increase. 3d. Farmer's utensils to the +value of three hundred dollars, four horses, four oxen or four mules, +with harnesses, cart or wagon, and food for the same for six months; +waterright, not exceeding one hundred and sixty inches of water, for the +irrigation of lands annually cultivated, and crop or crops growing or +grown on fifty acres of land leased, owned, or possessed by claimant. +4th. Necessary tools or implements of a mechanic or artisan of the value +of five hundred dollars; notary's seal and records; necessary instrument +for use of surgeon, physician, surveyor, and dentist, with their +libraries; professional libraries and office furniture of attorneys, +counsellors, and judges; and the libraries of clergymen. 5th. Cabin or +dwelling of a miner, of the value of five hundred dollars, also his +sluices, pipes, hose, and other necessary tools and machinery of the +value of two hundred dollars: one saddle horse, and one pack horse, +together with their saddles and equipments, belonging to a miner +actually engaged in prospecting, of the value of two hundred and fifty +dollars. 6th. The team, wagon, or cart and harnesses of teamster or +other laborer; a horse, harness and vehicle used by physician, surgeon, +or clergyman, with food for all such animals for six months. 7th. +Earnings of judgment debtor, if necessary for his family, for services +rendered within the thirty days next proceeding levy of execution where +his family is residing in the State. 8th. Shares held by a member of a +homestead association, or building or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> loan association, duly +incorporated under the laws of the State, where the person holding the +shares is not the owner of the homestead, under the laws of the State. +9th. Life insurance in an amount represented by an annual premium not +exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars. 10th. Engines, apparatus, and +uniforms of a fire company or department organized under any law of the +State, 11th. Arms, uniforms, and accoutrements required by law to be +kept.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">ILLINOIS.</span></p> + +<p>HOMESTEAD. (<b>Hurd, 1067.</b>) The farm or lot of land and buildings thereon +of every householder having a family, occupied as a residence, to the +extent in value of one thousand dollars is exempt. The exemption +continues after the death of the householder to the surviving husband or +wife so long as he or she occupies the homestead, and to the children +until the youngest becomes twenty-one years of age. But such property is +subject to taxes and debts incurred for its purchase or improvement. In +case the premises are worth more than one thousand dollars, and can be +divided without injury, a portion thereof, including the dwelling house, +of the value of one thousand dollars, is set off, and the remainder is +subject to execution and sale. If the premises cannot be divided the +property is valued by appraisers, and the debtor may pay the surplus +over one thousand dollars; otherwise the property may be sold, and the +officer having the execution pays one thousand dollars to the debtor and +the remainder is applied in satisfaction of the creditor's claim. +Substantially the same thing can be done by a court of chancery in a +proceeding to foreclose a lien. Insurance money in case of fire, is +exempt to the same extent as the property insured. Upon a conveyance of +the homestead the exemption continues to the grantee to the same extent. +The proceeds from such sale, not over one thousand dollars, are exempt +for one year, and may be invested in another homestead. The homestead +right of exemption by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> abandonment, may be extinguished by a conveyance +by both husband and wife, properly acknowledged by abandonment, or, in +case of right in children, by order of court of competent jurisdiction.</p> + +<p>PERSONAL PROPERTY.—The following personal property is exempt: 1st. The +necessary wearing apparel, Bibles, school-books, and family pictures. +2d. One hundred dollars' worth of other property to be selected by the +debtor, and in addition, when the debtor is the head of a family and +resides with the same, three hundred dollars' worth of other property to +be selected by the debtor, provided the exemption shall not be allowed +from any money, salary, or wages due the debtor. When the head of a +family dies, deserts, or does not live with the same, the exemption +continues to the family. No personal property is exempt from process +under a judgment for a debt for the wages of a laborer or servant. +Exemptions cannot be claimed out of partnership property. (<b>37 Ill. App. +489; 38 Ill. App. 269.</b>) When a debtor desires to claim exemptions he +must, within ten days after service of process and notice, schedule +under oath all his personal property of every kind, including money in +hand and debts due or owing him. Property not so scheduled is subject to +process. Appraisers are then appointed by the officer having the writ, +who place a fair value on each article. The debtor may select articles +so appraised of a total value not exceeding the amount of the exemption +allowed, the remainder being sold by the officer in satisfaction of the +debt. Money or benefits received from life or accident insurance +companies, organized under the Act of July 1, 1893, are exempt. (<b>Hurd, +1262.</b>) The wages of a wage earner, being the head of a family, and +residing with the same, are exempt from garnishment to the amount of +fifteen dollars per week. (<b>Hurd, 1152.</b>) It is made a misdemeanor to send +a claim to another State for collection out of the earnings of the +debtor by garnishment or other proceedings when the debtor is a resident +and the creditor, debtor, and garnishee are all within the jurisdiction +of the courts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> of Illinois, with intent to deprive the debtor of his +rights under the exemption laws of this State; or to transfer for such +purpose a claim against a citizen of Illinois. The penalty is not less +than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars. A non-resident, as to +wages earned and payable outside of this State, is allowed here the same +exemption he would be entitled to in the State of his residence. (<b>Hurd, +1155.</b>) Wages earned and payable outside of this State are exempt from +attachment or garnishment, where the cause of action arose out of the +State, unless the defendant in the attachment or garnishment suit is +personally served with process. If the defendant be not served +personally, the court or justice of the peace issuing the writ must +dismiss the suit at the cost of the plaintiff. (<b>Hurd, 1155.</b>) The law of +exemptions applies to cases of distress for rent, except as to crops +growing on the premises. (<b>Hurd, 1343.</b>)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">KENTUCKY.</span></p> + +<p>The following personal property shall be exempt from execution, +attachment, distress, or fee bill against a person with a family +residence in this State: two work beasts, or one work beast and one yoke +of oxen, two plows and gear, one wagon and one set of gear, or cart or +dray, three hoes, one spade, one shovel, two cows and calves; beds, +bedding, and furniture sufficient for family use; one loom and +spinning-wheel and pair of cards; all the spun yarn and manufactured +cloth manufactured by the family, necessary for family use; carpeting +for all family rooms in use; one cooking-stove and all cooking utensils, +not to exceed twenty-five dollars in value; one table, all books, not to +exceed fifty dollars in value, two saddles and their appendages; two +bridles, six chairs, or so many as shall not exceed ten dollars in +value, one cradle; all the poultry on hand; ten head of sheep, not to +exceed two dollars and fifty cents in value for each sheep; all wearing +apparel; sufficient provisions including bread-stuffs and animal food to +sustain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> the family one year; provender suitable for live stock, if +there is any live stock, not to exceed seventy dollars in value; if +none, then other property not to exceed seventy dollars in value in lieu +thereof; all washing apparatus not to exceed fifty dollars in value; one +sewing-machine and all family portraits and pictures. And also on all +debts and liabilities created after the first day of June, 1866, so much +land, including the dwelling-house and appurtenances owned by a debtor +who is <b>a bona fide</b> housekeeper with a family resident in Kentucky, and +living on or claiming the land as a homestead, as shall not exceed in +value one thousand dollars; and on all liabilities, the libraries of +preachers, the professional libraries of lawyers, physicians, and +surgeons, and their instruments, to the amount of five hundred dollars, +and tools, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, of a mechanic. +Ninety per cent. of wages or salaries of persons earning seventy-five +dollars per month or less is exempt, the remaining ten per cent, being +subject to debts. As to persons earning more than seventy-five dollars +per month the law exempts sixty-seven dollars and fifty cents per month +and holds the balance subject to debts.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">LOUISIANA.</span></p> + +<p>Homesteads are exempt from seizure. They consist of not exceeding one +hundred and sixty acres of land, buildings, and appurtenances, whether +rural or urban, bona fidely occupied by the head of a family, or persons +dependent upon him or her for support, and exist without registration. +The homestead also includes certain farm implements and animals, +together with a certain quantity of fodder, corn, etc. Homestead cannot +exceed two thousand dollars in value. If so, the beneficiary shall be +entitled to that amount only in case of a sale of the homestead under +legal process. No husband shall have the benefit of a homestead whose +wife owns or is in actual possession of property to the amount of two +thousand dollars.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> The benefit of this exemption may be claimed by the +surviving spouse or minor children of a deceased beneficiary. Laborer's +wages, the clothes belonging to the debtor or his wife, his bed, the +beds of his family, his arms and military accoutrements, the tools and +instruments necessary for the exercise of the trade or profession by +which he gains a living, the rights of personal servitude, use, and +habitation, the usufruct to the estate of a minor child, the income of +dotal property, the books and sewing-machine necessary for the exercise +of one's calling, trade, or profession by which the owner makes a +living, the salary of an officer, cooking-stove and utensils, plates, +forks, etc., dining-table, chairs, wash-tubs, smoothing-irons and +ironing furnaces, family portraits and musical instruments played on by +any member of the family, are exempt from seizure. Whenever the widow or +minor children of a deceased person are left in necessitous +circumstances, they shall be entitled to demand and receive from the +succession of their deceased husband or father a sum, which, added to +the amount of property owned by them or either of them in their own +right, will make up the sum of one thousand dollars, which shall be paid +in preference to all other debts, except vendor's privilege and expenses +incurred in selling the property.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MAINE.</span></p> + +<p>The following <b>personal property</b> is exempt from attachment and levy: +Wearing apparel, household furniture necessary for himself, wife, and +children not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, and one bedstead, +bed and bedding for each two members, family portraits, Bibles, +school-books in actual use; copy of State statutes, library worth one +hundred and fifty dollars, pew in use, one cooking and all iron-warming +stoves, charcoal, twelve cords of wood at home for use; five tons of +anthracite and fifty bushels of bituminous coal, ten dollars' worth of +lumber, wood or bark, all produce till harvested, one barrel flour, +thirty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> bushels of corn, grain, all potatoes raised or bought and +necessary for debtor or his family, half an acre of flax and +manufactures therefrom for use of himself or family, tools of trade, +fifty dollars' worth of materials and stock procured and necessary for +trade or business and intended to be used in same, sewing-machine worth +one hundred dollars, one pair of working cattle, or one pair of horses +or mules worth three hundred dollars, and hay to keep them through the +winter, one harness worth twenty dollars for each horse or mule; a horse +sled or ox sled, two swine, one cow, and a heifer under three years, or +two cows if no oxen, horse, or mule, ten sheep with their wool and lambs +until one year old, hay sufficient to keep them through the winter, +fifty dollars' worth of domestic fowl, one plow, one cart or truck wagon +or one express wagon, one harrow, one yoke with bows, ring, and staple, +two chains, one ox sled, one mowing machine, one boat of two tons +employed in fishing and owned exclusively by an inhabitant of the State, +life and accident policies except excess of annual cash premiums for two +years above one hundred and fifty dollars. Also two shares in loan and +building associations, also the receipts of certain agricultural +societies until their expenses, purses, and premiums are paid, provided +the same are paid within three months from close of fair.</p> + +<p>REAL ESTATE.—Lot of land and buildings worth five hundred dollars, if +owner files required certificate in registry of deeds, is exempt as a +homestead from all attachments except for liens of mechanics and +material men; also one cemetery lot.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MARYLAND.</span></p> + +<p>In Maryland the sheriff cannot take in execution wearing apparel, +mechanical text-books, or books of professional men, or mechanical or +professional men's tools (except books and tools kept for sale). And, +except under executions issued upon judgments for seduction or breach of +promise of marriage, he must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> also leave one hundred dollars' worth of +other property, to be selected by the defendant, or, if one hundred +dollars' worth cannot be conveniently set aside, pay him one hundred +dollars out of the proceeds of sale. Also money payable in the nature of +insurance for accident, death, etc.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MASSACHUSETTS.</span></p> + +<p>The following exemptions of personal property are allowed: 1st. The +necessary wearing apparel of the debtor and his wife and children, and +household necessaries to a limited amount. 2d. Other household furniture +necessary for him and his family, not exceeding three hundred dollars in +value. 3d. The Bibles, school-books, and library used by him or his +family, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 4th. One cow, six sheep, +one swine, and two tons of hay. 5th. The tools, implements, and fixtures +necessary for carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding one +hundred dollars in value. 6th. Materials and stock for carrying on his +trade or business, and intended to be used or wrought therein, not +exceeding one hundred dollars in value. 7th. The provisions necessary +for the use of the family, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 8th. +One pew occupied by him or his family in a house of public worship; but +this does not prevent the sale of a pew for the non-payment of a tax +legally laid thereon. 9th. The boat, fishing tackle, and nets of +fishermen, actually used by them in the prosecution of their business, +to the value of one hundred dollars. 10th. The uniform of an officer or +soldier in the militia, and the arms and accoutrements required by law +to be kept by him. 11th. Rights of burial and tombs while in use as +repositories for the dead. 12th. One sewing-machine, not exceeding one +hundred dollars in value in actual use by the debtor or by his family. +13th. Shares in co-operative associations formed under the Revised Laws, +ch. 110, not exceeding in value twenty dollars in the aggregate.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>Every householder having a family is entitled to an estate or homestead +to the value of eight hundred dollars exempt from levy on execution, if +proper steps have been taken, by deed recorded in the registry of deed +of the county where it is situated, to declare it a homestead.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MICHIGAN.</span></p> + +<p>The laws of this State exempt from sale on execution to every +householder a homestead not exceeding forty acres of land and the house +thereon, if in the country, or a house and lot in any city or village +not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars. A married householder +cannot sell or encumber such homestead without the consent of his wife.</p> + +<p>Of personal property, the laws exempt from sale on execution various +articles, such as seats in churches, cemeteries, tombs, and right of +burial, all arms and accoutrements, and all wearing apparel of every +person and his family, the library and school-books of every individual +and family, not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, and all family +pictures. To each householder, ten sheep and their fleeces, two cows, +five swine, and provisions and fuel sufficient to keep such householder +and family six months. To each householder all household goods, +furniture, and utensils, not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars in +value. The tools, implements, material stock, apparatus, team (either +one yoke of oxen, a horse or pair of horses, as the case may be), +vehicle, horses harness, or other things to enable any person to carry +on the profession, trade, occupation, or business in which he is wholly +or principally engaged, not exceeding in value two hundred and fifty +dollars, and also one sewing-machine; and a sufficient quantity of hay, +grain, feed, etc., to keep the animals enumerated for six months. Only +household goods, library, pictures, rights in cemeteries, and one cow +and provisions, and fuel for one month, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value, are exempt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> from execution issued on judgment for +labor. No lien can be created by mortgage or otherwise on any of the +above property, except on profession, etc., without the consent of the +wife, if he have one, by signing such mortgage or lien.</p> + +<p>If a person entitled to the benefit of a homestead shall die, his widow +or minor children shall have the same benefit during the time they +continue to occupy the same.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MINNESOTA.</span></p> + +<p>Family Bible, family pictures, school-books or library, and musical +instruments for use of family; seat or pew in any house or place of +public worship; a lot in a burial ground; all wearing apparel of debtor +and family, all beds, bedding, and bedsteads kept and used by debtor and +used by debtor and his family; all stoves and appendages put up or kept +for use of debtor and family; all cooking utensils, and all other +household furniture not herein enumerated, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value.</p> + +<p>As to debtors residing in this State only: Three cows; ten swine; one +yoke of oxen and a horse, or in lieu thereof a span of horses or mules; +twenty sheep and the wool from same; necessary food for such stock for +one year, provided or growing, or both; one wagon, cart, or dray, one +sleigh, two plows, one drag, and other farming utensils, including +tackle for teams, not exceeding three hundred dollars in value; +provisions for debtor and family for one year's support, provided or +growing, or both, and one year's fuel; the tools and instruments of a +mechanic, miner, or other person, used and kept for the purpose of +carrying on his trade, and stock in trade not exceeding four hundred +dollars; library and implements of a professional man; the presses, +stones, type, cases, and other tools and implements used by any person +or co-partnership, in printing or publishing a newspaper, not to exceed +two thousand dollars in value, together with stock in trade not +exceeding four hundred dollars<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> in value; one watch, one sewing-machine, +one bicycle, one typewriter; necessary seed for personal use of debtor +for one season not exceeding one hundred bushels of wheat, one hundred +bushels barley, one hundred bushels potatoes, one hundred bushels oats, +one hundred bushels flax, and ten bushels corn, and binding material for +use in harvesting crop raised from such seed; the library and apparatus +of and used by any public college or school; moneys from insurance on +exempt property; life insurance not exceeding ten thousand dollars +payable to wife or child on life of deceased husband or father; moneys +or benefits payable by a police or fire department, beneficiary, or +fraternal benefit association, to any person entitled to assistance +therefrom, or beneficiary under certificate thereof; wages not exceeding +twenty-five dollars due from services rendered during thirty days +preceding attachment, garnishment, or levy of execution; earnings of a +minor child of debtor, by reason of liability of debtor not contracted +for the special benefit of such minor; claim for damages, and judgment +thereon by reason of levy on or sale under execution of exempt personal +property or the wrongful taking or detention of such property. If within +an incorporated place of less than five thousand inhabitants, one-half +acre, of more than five thousand inhabitants, one-third acre. Surviving +or deserted spouse and minor children are entitled to the exemption. As +to debts created prior to March 1, 1906, exemption continues.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MISSISSIPPI.</span></p> + +<p>A homestead to every citizen of the State, male or female, being a +householder and having a family, not to exceed two thousand dollars in +value in country, or three thousand in town, nor one hundred and sixty +acres in extent; this exemption is forfeitable, if the debtor cease to +reside on the place, unless his removal be temporary.</p> + +<p>The following property of each head of a family is also exempt: 1st. Two +work-horses, or mules, and one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> yoke of oxen. 2d. Two heads of cows and +calves. 3d. Ten hogs. 4th. Twenty sheep and goats each. 5th. All +poultry. 6th. All colts under three years, raised in this State by +debtors. 7th. Two hundred and fifty bushels of corn. 8th. Ten bushels of +wheat or rice. 9th. Five hundred pounds of pork, bacon, or other meat. +10th. One hundred bushels of cottonseed. 11th. One wagon, and one buggy +or cart, and one set of harness for each. 12th. Five hundred bundles of +fodder and one thousand pounds of hay. 13th. Forty gallons of sorghum or +molasses or cane syrup. 14th. one thousand stalks of sugar-cane. 15th. +One molasses-mills and equipments, not exceeding one hundred and fifty +dollars in value. 16th. Two bridles and one saddle, and one side-saddle. +17th. One sewing-machine. 18th. Household and kitchen furniture not +exceeding in value two hundred dollars. 19th. All family portraits. +20th. One mower and rake. 21st. Wages to amount of fifty dollars per +month.</p> + +<p>The following property is also exempt to any person: 1st. The tools of a +mechanic necessary for carrying on his trade. 2nd. Agricultural +implements of a farmer necessary for two male laborers. 3d. The +implements of a laborer necessary in his usual employment. 4th. The +books of a student necessary for the completion of his education. 5th. +Wearing apparel. 6th. Libraries and pictures of all persons not +exceeding five hundred dollars in value. 7th. Instruments of surgeons +and dentists, used in their professions, not exceeding two hundred and +fifty dollars in value. 8th. The arms and accoutrements of each +militiaman. 9th. All globes and maps used by teachers of schools, +academies and colleges. 10th. The proceeds of insurance on, or the sale +of, exempt property.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MISSOURI.</span></p> + +<p>Certain animals, implements, and domestic furniture and wearing apparel, +as specified by the statute, is exempt from execution and attachment +when owned by the head of a family. Wearing apparel and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> necessary +tools and implements of trade of any mechanic, while carrying on his +trade, are exempt from execution when owned by a person not the head of +a family. Every householder or head of a family is entitled to have +exempt from execution and attachment the homestead occupied by him, not +exceeding in value three thousand dollars in cities of over forty +thousand inhabitants, and not exceeding in quantity eighteen square rods +of ground. In cities having less than forty thousand and not less than +ten thousand inhabitants the homestead cannot exceed in value fifteen +hundred dollars nor thirty square rods of ground; in cities having less +than ten thousand inhabitants, five acres and not exceeding in value +fifteen hundred dollars; and one hundred and sixty acres of land in the +country, not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MONTANA.</span></p> + +<p>Exemptions are as follows: All clothing of the debtor and family, and +chairs, tables, desks, and books to the value of two hundred dollars; +also all necessary household, table and kitchen furniture, of the +judgment debtor, including one sewing-machine, stove, stove-pipe, and +stove furniture heating apparatus, beds, bedding and bedsteads and +provisions and fuel for individual or family use, sufficient for three +months; one horse, saddle and bridle, two cows with their calves, four +hogs, and fifty domestic fowl, and feed for such animals for three +months; one clock, and all family pictures. In addition to the above, +there is exempt to a farmer his farming utensils not exceeding six +hundred dollars in value, two oxen, or two horses or mules and their +harness, one cart or wagon, and food for such stock for three months; +two hundred dollars' worth of seed, grain, or vegetables actually +provided for the purpose of sowing or planting. The proper tools, +instruments, or books of any mechanic, physician, dentist, lawyer, or +clergyman, and office furniture. To a miner his dwelling and all his +tools and machinery necessary for carrying on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> avocation, not to +exceed in value the aggregate sum of one thousand dollars, and also one +horse or mule, and its harness, with its food for three months, in case +such stock is used in working his mining claim. One horse, mule, or two +oxen, vehicle and harness, by which the debtor habitually earns his +living, and one horse with vehicle and harness, of physician or +clergyman, used in making professional visits, with food for such stock +for three months. All arms, uniforms, etc., required by law to be kept +by any person. The wages of the debtor earned at any time within thirty +days next preceding the levy, provided they are necessary for the use of +his family, residing in the State, supported wholly or in part by his +labor. All moneys growing out of life insurance. These exemptions are +restricted to married persons or to persons who are the heads of +families, and only the wearing apparel of an unmarried person is exempt +to him. None but <b>bona fide residents</b> can claim the benefit of this law. +A homestead not to exceed in value the sum of twenty-five hundred +dollars, if agriculture land it is not to exceed one hundred and sixty +acres. If within the limits of a town, plat, city, or village, not to +exceed one-fourth of an acre. The debtor has his option of the two and +may select either, with all improvements thereon, which are included in +the valuation.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEBRASKA.</span></p> + +<p>There is exempt from judicial sale to every family, whether owned by the +husband or wife, a homestead, not exceeding in value two thousand +dollars, consisting of dwelling-house in which claimant resides, and its +appurtenances, and land on which same is situated not exceeding one +hundred and sixty acres, or if within an incorporated city or village a +quantity of contiguous land not exceeding two lots. Or in case debtor +has no lands, there is exempt from execution five hundred dollars in +personal property. If title to homestead is in wife it is exempt, and in +such cases the head of the family is not entitled to exemption of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> five +hundred dollars in personality. Nor is he if his title is simply a +contract for sale. The clothing of the family, family supplies for six +months, supplies for domestic animals for three months, furniture, +family Bible and picture books, cooking utensils, certain domestic +animals, tools, implements of trade, etc., are exempt; also sixty days +wages to any laboring man, clerk, etc., who is the head of a family; +provided that there is no exemption from attachment or execution for +wages due to any clerk, laborer or mechanic. All pension money of United +States soldiers and sailors, and property purchased and improved +thereby, is exempt. The phrase "head of a family," as used in this +chapter includes within its meaning: 1. The husband, when the claimant +is a married person. 2d. Every person who has resided on the premises +with him or her, and under his care and maintenance, either: 1st. His or +her minor child, or the minor child of his or her deceased wife or +husband. 2d. A minor brother or sister, or the minor child of a deceased +brother or sister. 3d. A father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother. +4th. The father or mother, grandfather or grandmother of a deceased +husband or wife. 5th. An unmarried sister, or any other of the relatives +mentioned in this section who have attained the age of majority and are +unable to take care of or support themselves.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEVADA.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is exempt from execution except upon a judgment +for the purchase-money or upon a mortgage thereon: Chairs, tables, +desks, and books to the value of one hundred dollars; necessary +household and kitchen furniture, wearing apparel, etc., and provisions +and fire-wood actually provided sufficient for one month, farming +utensils, or implements of husbandry, and seed provided for planting +within the ensuing six months, not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars; two horses, two oxen, or two mules, and two cows and food for +one month for such animals,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> and one cart or wagon; the tools of a +mechanic necessary to his trade; the instruments and libraries of a +surgeon, physician, surveyor, or dentist; the professional library of an +attorney and counsellor, or minister of the gospel; the dwelling of a +miner not exceeding in value five hundred dollars, also his tools and +appliances necessary to carry on his mining operations, not exceeding in +value five hundred dollars; and two horses, two oxen, or two mules, and +their harness and one cart or wagon, by the use of which a teamster or +laborer habitually earns his living; one horse harness, and vehicle, of +a physician or surgeon, or minister of the gospel, and food for such +animal for one month. For every livery stable keeper, two horses or +mules, with vehicle and harness, provided the whole shall not exceed in +value five hundred dollars; one sewing-machine in actual use in the +debtor's family, not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; +all fire engines and property of fire companies; all arms, etc., +required by law to be kept by any person; a homestead to be selected by +the husband or wife, or other head of a family, not exceeding in value +five thousand dollars; the earnings of the debtor not exceeding fifty +dollars for his personal services for the calendar month during, or +immediately preceding, that in which process has been issued, where such +earnings are necessary for the use of a family supported wholly or +partly by the labor of the debtor.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEW HAMPSHIRE.</span></p> + +<p>The following goods and property are exempt from attachment, and from +liability to be taken upon execution: Necessary wearing apparel of the +debtor and his family; household furniture to the value of one hundred +dollars; one cooking-stove and its furniture; one sewing-machine; Bibles +and school books in actual use; library to the value of two hundred +dollars; one cow, six sheep and their fleeces, one hog, one pig, and the +pork of same when slaughtered; domestic fowls, not exceeding in value +fifty dollars; four tons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> of hay; provisions and fuel to the value of +fifty dollars; tools of his occupation to the value of one hundred +dollars; beasts of the plow, not exceeding a yoke of oxen or a horse; +the uniform, arms, and equipments of every officer or private in the +militia; the debtor's interest in one pew in any meeting house, and in +one lot in any cemetery. Damages recovered for conversion of property +exempt are also exempt. The wife, widow, and children of any person who +is the owner of a homestead, or any interest therein, are entitled to so +much thereof as does not exceed in value five hundred dollars as against +creditors, grantees, or heirs of such person during the life of the wife +or widow and minority of the children. A homestead of the value of five +hundred dollars is also exempt to an unmarried person owning the same. +(P. S. ch. 138.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEW JERSEY.</span></p> + +<p>All goods and chattels, not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred +dollars exclusive of wearing apparel, and all wearing apparel the +property of any debtor having a family residing in this State, are +exempt from seizure by virtue of execution or other civil process except +for the purchase money. (Gen. Statutes, p. 1421.) In addition thereto, +by conforming to the provisions of the homestead exemption act, the lot +and buildings thereon occupied as a residence and owned by the debtor, +being a householder and having a family, to the value of one thousand +dollars, may be exempted from sale or execution for debt. (Gen. +Statutes, pp. 2297-2298.)</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEW MEXICO.</span></p> + +<p>Every person who has a family may hold the following property exempt +from execution, attachment, or sale: The wearing apparel of such person +or family; the beds, bedsteads, and bedding necessary for the use of the +same; one cooking-stove and pipe; one stove and pipe used for warming +the dwelling; fuel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> sufficient for sixty days; one cow, or if the debtor +owns no cow, household furniture not exceeding forty dollars in value; +two swine or the pork therefrom, or, if the debtor owns no swine, +household furniture not exceeding fifteen dollars in value; six sheep, +the wool shorn from them and the cloth or other articles manufactured +therefrom, or, in lieu thereof, household furniture not exceeding twenty +dollars in value; sufficient food for such animals for sixty days; +Bibles, hymn-books, psalm-books, testaments, school and miscellaneous +books used in the family, and all family pictures; provisions provided +and designed for the use of such person or family; not exceeding fifty +dollars in value; and such other articles of household and kitchen +furniture, or either, necessary for such person or family, not exceeding +two hundred dollars in value; one sewing-machine, one knitting-machine, +one gun or pistol, and the tools or implements of debtor necessary for +carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding one hundred and fifty +dollars in value; the personal earnings of debtor for sixty days next +preceding his application for such exemption, when necessary for the +support of such debtor or his family; all articles, specimens in +cabinets of natural history or science, except such as may be intended +for exhibition for pecuniary gain; if engaged in agriculture; two horses +or one yoke of cattle, with the necessary gearing for the same, and one +wagon; if a doctor, one horse, one saddle and bridle, professional +books, medicines and instruments not exceeding one hundred dollars in +value; if a lawyer professional books not exceeding five hundred dollars +in value; every person engaged in the business of draying, or carrying +property from place to place with one horse and wagon, shall hold one +horse, harness, dray, or wagon also exempt from execution. Every +unmarried woman may hold exempt from execution, etc., wearing apparel +not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; one +sewing-machine, one knitting-machine; if engaged in teaching music, one +piano or organ; a Bible, hymn-book, psalm-book, album, and any other +books not exceeding in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> value fifty dollar; any beneficiary fund, not +exceeding five thousand dollars, set apart or paid by any benevolent +association to a family of a deceased member, or to any member of such +family, shall not be liable for the debts of such deceased member. +Husband and wife, widow or widower, living with an unmarried daughter, +or unmarried minor son, may hold exempt from sale or judgment of a +family homestead not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. Any head +of a family not the owner of a homestead may hold exempt from levy and +sale real or personal property not exceeding five hundred dollars in +value in addition to the chattel property otherwise by law exempted.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEW YORK.</span></p> + +<p>Necessary household furniture, working tools and team, professional +instruments, furniture and library (not exceeding in value two hundred +and fifty dollars); groceries actually provided for family use, and +ninety days necessary food for team, in addition to certain other +specified articles, when owned by householder, are exempt from levy and +sale under execution. A private burying-ground not exceeding one-quarter +of an acre, is also exempt. Insurance money, etc., paid or to be paid to +a member, or the widow of a member of a life or casualty corporation +doing business upon the co-operative or assessment plan, cannot be +reached for any debt or liability incurred before such money, etc., was +paid. The lot and buildings, not exceeding one thousand dollars in +value, owned and occupied by a householder having a family are exempted, +if designated and recorded as homestead property in the office of the +clerk of the county where it is situated. Such exemption continues after +the owner's death for the benefit of the widow and family, so long as +any of them continue to occupy such homestead, until the death of the +widow and the majority of the youngest child. A married woman is +entitled to the same homestead as a householder having a family.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NORTH CAROLINA.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Personal property to the value of five hundred dollars, to be selected +by any resident of the State, is exempt from execution; and also a +homestead, and the dwelling and building, not exceeding one thousand +dollars, to be selected by the owner thereof; or, in lieu thereof, any +lot in a city, town, or village, with the dwelling and buildings used +thereon, owned and occupied by any resident of the State, not exceeding +the value of one thousand dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NORTH DAKOTA.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is absolutely exempt to the head of a family from +attachment or mesne process, and from levy and sale on execution, and +from any other final process issued from any court: All family pictures; +a pew or other sitting in any house of worship; a lot or lots in any +burial-ground; the family Bible, and all school books used by the +family, and other books used as a part of the family library, not +exceeding in value one hundred dollars; all wearing apparel of the +debtor and his family; the provisions for the debtor and his family +necessary for one year's supply either provided or growing, or both, and +fuel necessary for one year; the homestead, as defined, created, and +limited by law. In addition to the above mentioned property, the head of +a family may, by himself or his agent, select from all other of his +personal property, not absolutely exempt, goods, chattels, merchandise, +money, or other personal property, not to exceed in the aggregate one +thousand dollars in value, which is also exempt. The library and +instruments of any professional person, not exceeding six hundred +dollars in value.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">OHIO.</span></p> + +<p>Every unmarried woman may hold the following property exempt from +execution, attachment, or sale,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> to satisfy any judgment, decree, or +debt, to wit: 1st. Wearing apparel, not exceeding one hundred dollars in +value. 2d. One sewing-machine. 3d. One knitting-machine. 4th. Bible, +etc., and other books not exceeding in value twenty-five dollars. Every +person who has a family, and every widow, can hold exempt from +execution, attachment, or sale from any debt, damage, fine, or +amercment: 1st. Wearing apparel of such person or family necessary beds, +etc., two stoves, and fuel for sixty days. 2d. Certain domestic animals, +and their feed for sixty days, or, in lieu of such as the debtor has +not, household furniture of equal value, amounting, in the aggregate to +sixty-five dollars. 3d. Family books and pictures. 4th. Provisions to +the amount of fifty dollars, and other necessary household furniture to +the amount of fifty dollars. 5th. One sewing-machine, one +knitting-machine, the tools and implements of debtor necessary for +carrying on his or her trade or business, whether mechanical or +agricultural, to the amount of one hundred dollars 6th. The personal +earnings of debtor or minor child for three months previous to the +issuing of the attachment or rendition of judgment, when necessary for +support of debtor or his or her family. 7th. All animal, vegetable, or +mineral specimens of natural history or science not kept for pecuniary +gain. In addition to the above, the debtor, if a drayman, can hold one +horse, harness, and dray; if a farmer one horse or one yoke of cattle, +with necessary gearing for same, and one wagon; if a physician, one +horse, one saddle and bridle, and professional books, medicine and +instruments, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value. Husband and +wife living together, a widower living with an unmarried daughter or +minor son, every widow, and every unmarried female having in good faith +the care, maintenance and custody, of any minor child or children of a +deceased relation, residents of Ohio, and not the owner of a homestead, +may hold other real or personal property, to be selected by such person, +his agent or attorney, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, in +addition to the amount<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> of chattel property otherwise by law exempted, +provided that such selection shall not be made as to wages due to the +extent of more than ninety per cent, of such wages as against claims for +necessaries.</p> + +<p>A homestead, not exceeding one thousand dollars in value, which shall +remain exempt from sale on execution and exempt from sale under any +order of the court so long as the widow, if she remain unmarried, or any +unmarried minor child, resides thereon. Husband and wife living +together, a widow or widower living with an unmarried daughter or +unmarried minor son, may hold exempt a family homestead not exceeding +one thousand dollars in value.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">OKLAHOMA.</span></p> + +<p>The exemptions of the head of a family residing in the State are: 1st. +The homestead of the family. 2d. All household and kitchen furniture. +3d. Any lot or lots in a cemetery held for the purpose of sepulture. +4th. All implements of husbandry used upon the farm. 5th. All tools, +apparatus and books belonging to and used in any trade or profession. +6th. The family library and all family portraits and pictures and +wearing apparel. 7th. Five milk cows and their calves under six months +old. 8th. One yoke of work oxen, with necessary yokes and chains. 9th. +Two horses or two mules, and one wagon, cart, or dray. 10th. One +carriage or buggy, 11th. One gun. 12th. Ten hogs. 13th. Twenty head of +sheep. 14th. All saddles, bridles, and harness necessary for the use of +the family. 15th. All provisions and forage on hand and growing for home +consumption, and for use of exempt stock for one year. 16th. All current +wages and earnings for personal or professional services earned within +the last ninety days.</p> + +<p>The homestead of any family in the State within any city, town, or +village consists of not exceeding an acre of land to be selected by +owner, owned and occupied as a residence only, but not exceeding in +value five thousand dollars, but in no event shall the homestead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> be +reduced to less than a quarter of an acre regardless of value. If the +homestead is used for both residence and business purposes, the +homestead interest shall not exceed in value five thousand dollars, and +nothing in the laws of the United States or treaties with Indian tribes +deprives an Indian or other allottee of the benefit of the homestead and +exemption laws of the State.</p> + +<p>The exemptions reserved to a person not the head of a family are as +follows: 1st. A lot or lots in a cemetery held for the purpose of +sepulture. 2d. All wearing apparel. 3d. All tools, apparatus and books +belonging to any trade or profession. 4th. One horse, bridle, and +saddle, or one yoke of oxen. 5th. Current wages for personal services.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">OREGON.</span></p> + +<p>The following property shall be exempt from execution, if selected and +reserved by the judgment debtor or his agent at the time of levy, or as +soon thereafter before sale as the same shall be known to him, and not +otherwise. Books, pictures and musical instruments owned by any person, +to the value of seventy-five dollars; necessary wearing apparel owned by +any person, to the value of one hundred dollars, and, if such person be +a householder, to each member of his family to the value of fifty +dollars; the tools, implements, apparatus, team, vehicle, harness, or +library necessary to enable any person to carry on the trade, +occupation, or profession by which such person habitually earns his +living, to the value of four hundred dollars; also sufficient quantity +of food to support such team, if any, for sixty days. The word "team," +in this subdivision, shall not be construed to mean more than one yoke +of oxen, or pair of horses or mules, as the case may be. Homesteads the +actual abode of, and owned by, a family or some member thereof are +exempt from execution.</p> + +<p>The following property (is exempt), if owned by a householder and in +actual use, by and for his family,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> or when being removed from one +habitation to another on a change of residence: Ten sheep, with one +year's fleece, or the yarn or cloth manufactured there from, two cows, +and five swine, household goods, furniture, and utensils, to the value +of three hundred dollars; also, food sufficient to support such animals +if any, for three months, and provisions actually provided for family +use, and necessary for the support of such householder and family for +six months; the seat or pew occupied by a householder, or his family, in +a place of public worship; burial lots. Earnings or wages to the extent +of seventy-five dollars in thirty days, are exempt if necessary to +support family. One gun and one revolver exempt to every white male +citizen over sixteen years of age.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">PENNSYLVANIA.</span></p> + +<p>The law exempts from execution property, either real or personal, to the +amount of three hundred dollars, in addition to wearing apparel, Bibles, +and school books, if claimed by the debtor; the privilege is personal +and may be waived at any time. The widow or children of any decedent are +entitled to the same amount from his estate for her or their use. All +sewing-machines belonging to private families are exempt. Non-residents +of the State are not entitled to the exemption laws.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">RHODE ISLAND.</span></p> + +<p>The following are exempt from attachment and execution: The necessary +wearing apparel of a debtor and his family, his necessary working tools, +not exceeding two hundred dollars in value; and the professional library +of any professional man in actual practice; his household furniture and +family stores, if a housekeeper, not exceeding three hundred dollars in +value; one cow and one and one-half tons of hay, of a housekeeper; one +hog and one pig, and the pork of the same, of a housekeeper; arms, +equipments, etc., of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> a militiaman, and of any person which are kept for +use and not for sale; one pew in church; a burial lot; wages due or +accruing to any seaman; debts secured by bills of exchange or negotiable +promissory notes: and ten dollars due as the wages of labor except when +action is for necessaries furnished to defendant; the salary and wages +of the wife and minor children of any debtor; and such other property, +real or personal, as is or shall be exempt from attachment and +execution, either permanently or temporarily, by general or special +acts, charters of incorporation, or by the policy of the law.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">SOUTH CAROLINA.</span></p> + +<p>Homesteads in lands, whether held in fee or any lesser estate, to the +value of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as the property is +worth if its value is less than one thousand dollars, with the yearly +products thereof, and to every head of a family residing in this State, +whether entitled to a homestead exemption in lands or not, personal +property to the value of five hundred dollars, or so much thereof as the +property is worth if its value is less than five hundred dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">SOUTH DAKOTA.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is absolutely exempt from attachment or mesne +process, and from levy and sale on execution, and from any other final +process issued by any court: All family pictures; a pew or other sitting +in any house of worship; a lot or lots in any burial ground; the family +Bible, and all school books used by the family, and all other books used +as a part of the family library not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars; all wearing apparel of the debtor and his family; the +provisions for the debtor and his family necessary for one year's +supply, either provided or growing, or both, and fuel necessary for one +year; the homestead as defined, created, and limited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> by law. In +addition to the above-mentioned property, the debtor, if the head of a +family, may, by himself or his agent, select from all other of his +personal property, not to exceed in the aggregate seven hundred and +fifty dollars in value, and if a single person, not the head of a +family, three hundred dollars in value, which is also exempt.</p> + +<p>Instead of the seven hundred and fifty dollars exemption, the debtor, if +the head of a family, may select and choose the following property, +which shall be exempt, namely: All miscellaneous books and musical +instruments for the use of the family, not exceeding two hundred dollars +in value; all household and kitchen furniture, including beds, bedsteads +and bedding, used by the debtor and his family, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value; and in case the debtor shall own more than two +hundred dollars' worth of such property, he must select therefrom such +articles to the value of two hundred dollars, leaving the remainder +subject to legal process; two cows, five swine, two yokes of oxen or one +span of horses or mules, twenty-five sheep and their lambs under six +months old, and all wool of the same, and all cloth or yarn manufactured +therefrom, the necessary food for the animals hereinbefore mentioned for +one year, either provided or growing or both, as the debtor may choose; +also one wagon, one sleigh, two plows, one harrow, and farming machinery +and utensils, including tackle for team, not exceeding twelve hundred +and fifty dollars in value; the tools and implements of any mechanic, +whether a minor or of age, used and kept for the purpose of carrying on +his trade or business, and, in addition thereto, stock in trade not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value; the avails of life insurance +policies issued payable to the order, assignees, or estate of the +insured, and not assigned, are to the extent of five thousand dollars, +absolutely exempt to the surviving husband, or wife or minor children of +the insured, free from all claim of creditors of the insured.</p> + +<p>The homestead of the head of every family resident in this State, +whether owned by the husband or wife,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> so long as it remains a +homestead, is absolutely exempt, except for taxes and debts contracted +for the purchase thereof. If within a town plat it must not exceed one +acre in extent, and if not within a town plat it must not embrace in the +aggregate more than one hundred and sixty acres, with the house and +buildings appurtenant thereon; and is limited to five thousand dollars +in value. (C. C. P. Sec. 345.) If the homestead is claimed upon land, +the title or right of possession to which was acquired or is claimed +under the laws of the United States relating to mineral lands, the area +of the homestead, if within a town plat, must not exceed one acre, and +if without a town plat, must not exceed forty acres. If the title to the +homestead has been acquired as a placer claim but has been acquired +under the laws of Congress as a lode mining claim, the area of the +homestead must not exceed forty acres. (L. 1909, ch. 136.) Such +exemption continues after the debtor's death, for the benefit of the +surviving husband or wife and children; and if both husband and wife be +dead, until the youngest child becomes of age. (Prob. C. Sec. 153.) It +is very doubtful, however, in view of the provisions of the State +Constitution, if the title of the homestead can be in the wife, unless +the husband is for some reason incapacitated.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">TENNESSEE.</span></p> + +<p>Thirty-six dollars of the wages, salary, or income of any person drawing +forty dollars or less per month shall be exempt from legal process at +date of service of process.</p> + +<p>Household goods and provisions are exempt. The list includes practically +every article to be found in the average home. The liberality of the law +may be judged from the fact that one hundred gallons of sorghum molasses +and twenty pounds of coffee are listed. The list ends with: twenty +bushels of peanuts, three strings of red peppers, two gourds, two punger +gourds, a carpet in actual use by the family,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> not exceeding in value +twenty-five dollars, and two hundred bushels of cotton seed.</p> + +<p>If the head of the family is engaged in agriculture there is further +exempt in his hands the following property: Two plows, two hoes, one +grubbing hoe, one cutting knife, one harvest cradle, one set of plow +gears, one pitch-fork, one rake, three iron wedges, five head of sheep, +and ten head of stock hogs. There is exempt in the hands of each +mechanic in the State who is engaged in the pursuit of his trade or +occupation one set of mechanic's tools, such as are usual and necessary +to the pursuit of his trade; and, if he is the head of a family, two +hundred dollars' worth of lumber or material, or products of his labor; +also one gun in the hands of every male citizen of the age of eighteen +years and upward, and every female who is the head of a family; to the +heads of families fifty pounds of picked cotton and twenty-five pounds +of wool, and a sufficient quantity of upper and sole leather to provide +winter shoes for the family; also, three hundred pounds of tobacco in +the hands of the actual producer; also thirty-five dollars' worth of +roughness, to consist of oats, fodder, and hay, or either of them.</p> + +<p>A homestead or real estate in the possession of or belonging to each +head of a family, and the improvements thereon, to the value in all of +one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from sale under legal process +during the life of such head of a family, and shall inure to the benefit +of his widow and be exempt from sale in any way at the instance of any +creditor or creditors during the minority of the children occupying the +same and until the youngest child reaches the age of twenty-one years.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">TEXAS.</span></p> + +<p>The Constitution of 1875 provides that a homestead of a family not in a +town or city consisting of not more than two hundred acres of land, +which may be in one or more parcels, with the improvements thereon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> or, +if in a town or city, lot or lots, not exceeding in value five thousand +dollars at the time of designation, without reference to the value of +the improvements thereon is exempt, provided the same shall be used for +the purpose of a home, or as place to exercise the calling or business +of the head of the family.</p> + +<p>There is also exempted to every family, free from forced sale for debts; +all household and kitchen furniture; any lot or lots for sepulture in a +cemetery; all instruments of husbandry; all tools and apparatus +belonging to any trade or profession, and all books belonging to private +or public libraries, and family portraits and pictures, five milk cows +and calves, two yoke of work oxen, two horses and one wagon, one +carriage or buggy, one gun, twenty hogs, twenty head of sheep, all +provisions and forage on hand for home consumption, all bridles, +saddles, and harness necessary for the use of the family; and to every +citizen not a head of a family, one horse, bridle, and saddle; all +wearing apparel, any lot or lots for sepulture in a cemetery; all tools, +apparatus, and books belonging to his trade, profession, or private +library. Current wages for personal services are not subject to +garnishment.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">UTAH.</span></p> + +<p>The following property is exempt from execution, except on a judgment +for the purchase price, or on a judgment of a foreclosure of a mortgage, +or a mechanic's or laborer's lien thereon, or from sale for taxes, to +wit: 1st. Chairs, tables, and desks of the value of two hundred dollars, +and the library belonging to the judgment debtor, also musical +instruments in actual use in the family. 2d. Necessary household, table, +and kitchen furniture of the value of three hundred dollars, one +sewing-machine, family hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings, +portraits and their necessary frames, provisions on hand for three +months, two cows and their sucking calves, and two hogs and all sucking +pigs, all wearing apparel, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> beds and bedding, and all carpets in +use. 3d. A farmer may hold farming implements to the value of three +hundred dollars, two oxen, horses or mules, and their harness; a cart or +wagon; seed, grain or vegetable, for planting or sowing within six +months, not exceeding in value two hundred dollars and crops and the +proceeds thereof not exceeding two hundred dollars. 4th. Necessary +tools, tool chest, and implements of a mechanic or artisan, not +exceeding in value five hundred dollars; the seal and records of a +notary public; the instruments and chests of a surgeon, physician, +surveyor, and dentist, with their libraries, and the law libraries and +office furniture of attorneys and judges, and libraries of ministers, +and typewriters of reporters and copyist, the type, presses, and +material of a printer or publisher, not exceeding five hundred dollars. +5th. The cabin of a miner not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, +also his tools and appliances, not exceeding in value five hundred +dollars. 6th. Two oxen, or horses or mules and harness, and cart or +wagon, or dray or truck, by which a cartman, drayman, huckster, +teamster, or other laborer habitually earns his living; and one horse, +harness, and vehicle of a physician, surgeon, or minister. 7th. One-half +of the earnings of the judgment debtor for personal services rendered +within thirty days preceding the levy if debtor is married or is head of +a family residing in Utah and dependent upon such earnings for support. +If his earnings are two dollars per day or less, a married man or head +of a family is entitled to an absolute exemption of thirty dollars per +month. Costs cannot be taxed in any proceeding to obtain levy upon +moneys of judgments debtor earned within thirty days next preceding +levy. 8th. All moneys, benefits, privileges, or immunities accruing in +any manner from a life insurance on a debtor's life, when the annual +premiums do not exceed five hundred dollars. 9th. All arms, ammunition, +uniforms, and accoutrements required by law to be kept. 10th. To a head +of a family homestead, to be selected by the debtor. A homestead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +consisting of lands and appurtenances (which lands may be in one or more +localities), not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars in value for the head +of the family and five hundred dollars additional for his wife, and two +hundred and fifty dollars for each other member of his family, shall be +exempt from judgment lien and from execution or forced sale, for +mechanics' or laborers' lien thereon, lawful mortgage thereon, or lien +for purchase. The statute provides that the homestead exemption may be +claimed by either the husband or the wife, and defines the terms "head +of the family" and "members of the family." In case of sale the money +received by the judgment debtor for value of his exemption is also +exempt, and so, too, is insurance money when fire occurs (to the extent +of the exemption).</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">VERMONT.</span></p> + +<p>The law exempts a homestead from attachment or levy of execution to the +amount of five hundred dollars; also (unless turned out to the officer +by the debtor, to be taken on the attachment in execution) such suitable +apparel, bedding, tools, arms, and articles of household furniture as +may be necessary for upholding life, one sewing-machine kept for use, +one cow, the best swine, or the meat of one swine, sheep not exceeding +in number ten, and one year's product of said sheep in wool yarn, or +cloth, forage sufficient for keeping not exceeding ten sheep and one cow +through one winter, ten cords of firewood or five tons of coal, twenty +bushels of potatoes, all growing crops, ten bushels of grain, one barrel +of flour, three swarms of bees and hives, together with their produce in +honey, two hundred pounds of sugar, and all lettered gravestones, the +Bibles and other books used in a family, one pew or slip in a +meeting-house or place of religious worship, live poultry not exceeding +in value the sum of ten dollars, the professional books and instruments +of physicians, and the professional books of clergymen and attorneys at +law, to the value<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> of two hundred dollars; and also one yoke of oxen or +steers, as the debtor may select, two horses kept and used for +team-work, and such as the debtor may select in lieu of oxen or steers, +but not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred dollars, with +sufficient forages for keeping the same through the winter; also the +pistols, side arms, and equipments personally used by any soldier in the +service of the United States and kept by him or his heirs as mementoes +of his service, also one two-horse wagon with whiffle-trees and +neck-yoke; or one ox-cart, as the debtor may choose; one sled or one set +of traverse sleds, either for horses or oxen, as the debtor may select; +two harnesses, two halters, two chains, one plow, and one ox-yoke, which +with the oxen or steers or horses which the debtor may select for team +work, shall not exceed in value two hundred and fifty dollars; also one +tool chest kept for use by a mechanic.</p> + +<p>A housekeeper or head of a family has a homestead exemption from +attachment or execution in a dwelling-house and lands appurtenant, used +or kept as a homestead, to the value of five hundred dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">VIRGINIA.</span></p> + +<p>The exemption laws are very liberal. A householder residing in this +State may hold exempt from levy or distress the family Bible, family +pictures, school-books, and library for the use of the family, not +exceeding in all one hundred dollars in value; a seat or pew in any +house or place of public worship; a lot in a burial ground; all +necessary wearing apparel of the debtor and his family; all beds, +bedsteads and bedding necessary for the use of such family, and all +stoves and appendages put up for the necessary use of the family, not +exceeding three; one cow and her calf till one year old, one horse, six +chairs, one table, six knives, six forks, six plates, one dozen spoons, +two dishes, two basins, one pot, one oven, six pieces of wooden or +earthen ware, one loom and its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> appurtenances, one safe or press, one +spinning-wheel, one pair of cards, one axe, two hoes, ten barrels of +corn, or in lieu thereof twenty-five bushels of rye or buckwheat, five +bushels of wheat or one barrel of flour, two hundred pounds of bacon or +pork, three hogs, ten dollars in value of forage or hay, one +cooking-stove and utensils for cooking therewith, and one +sewing-machine; and, in the case of a mechanic, the tools and utensils +of his trade, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value; and in case of +an oysterman or fisherman, his boat and tackle, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value, the same shall be sold, and out of the +proceeds the oysterman or fisherman shall first receive two hundred +dollars in lieu of such boat and tackle; and if the householder is at +the time actually engaged in the business of agriculture, there shall +also be exempt from such levy or distress, while he is so engaged, to be +selected by him or his agent, the following articles, or so many there +he may have, to wit: one yoke of oxen, or a pair of horses or mules in +lieu thereof (unless he selects or has selected a horse or mule under +the preceding section, in which case he shall be entitled to select +under this section only one), with the necessary gearings, one wagon or +cart, two plows, one drag, one harvest cradle, one pitchfork, one rake, +and two iron wedges; wages, owing to a laboring man being a householder, +not exceeding fifty dollars per month, shall also be exempt from +distress, levy, or garnishment. These embrace what is known as the Poor +Debtor's Exemption. (<b>Code, ch. 178.</b>)</p> + +<p>The Homestead Exemption is as follows: Every householder residing in +this State shall, in addition to the property or estate to hold exempt +from levy, distress, or garnishment, under ch. 178, be entitled to +exempt from levy, seizure, garnishment, or sale under any execution, +order, or process issued on any demand for any debt or liability on +contract, his real and personal estate, or either, to be selected by +him, including money and debts due him, to the value of not exceeding +two thousand dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">WEST VIRGINIA.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>Any husband or parent residing in this State, or the widow or infant +children of deceased parents, may set apart his personal estate, not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value, to be exempt from execution or +other process. He or they may also hold a homestead of the value of one +thousand dollars (provided the homestead is recorded among the public +land records of the county wherein it is situate, before the debt +against which it is claimed is contracted), as against debts created +since. Any resident mechanic, artisan, or laborer, whether a husband or +parent or not, may hold the working tools of his trade or occupation to +the value of fifty dollars exempt, provided that in no case shall the +exemption allowed any one person exceed two hundred dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">WASHINGTON.</span></p> + +<p>All real and personal estate belonging to a married woman at the time of +her marriage, and all she subsequently acquires or becomes entitled to +in her own right, and all her personal earnings, and rents and profits +of such real estate, shall not be liable for her husband's debts so long +as she or any minor heir of her body is living, but her separate +property is liable for debts owing by her at the time of her marriage.</p> + +<p>To a householder, being the head of a family, a homestead of the value +of two thousand dollars while occupied by such family, wearing apparel, +private libraries (not to exceed five hundred dollars in value), family +pictures, and keepsakes. To each householder one bed and bedding and one +additional bed and bedding for each additional member of the family, and +other household goods of the coin value of five hundred dollars. +Provisions and fuel for family for six months. Two cows with their +calves, five swine, two stands of bees, thirty-six domestic fowls and +feed for six months. To a farmer one span of horses and harness, or two +yokes of oxen, and one wagon, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> farming utensils not exceeding five +hundred dollars in coin value, one hundred and fifty bushels of wheat, +one hundred and fifty bushels of oats or barley, fifty bushels of +potatoes, ten bushels of corn, and ten bushels of peas, and ten bushels +of corn, ten bushels of peas and ten bushels of onions for seeding +purposes. To a mechanic, the tools used to carry on his trade for the +support of himself and family, also material of the value of five +hundred dollars. To a physician, his library, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value, horse and carriage, instruments and medicines not +exceeding two hundred dollars in coin. To attorneys and clergymen, their +libraries, not exceeding in value of one thousand dollars, also office +furniture, stationery and fuel not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars. All firearms kept for use and a canoe, skiff, or small boat, +not exceeding in value two hundred and fifty dollars. To a person +engaged in lightering, one or more lighters or scows and a small boat, +not exceeding the aggregate value of two hundred and fifty dollars. To a +drayman, his team. To a person engaged in logging, three yokes of work +oxen, and implements of the value of three hundred dollars. Proceeds or +avails of all life and accident insurance shall be exempt from all +liability for any debt. To any person whose exempt property is insured, +and destroyed by fire, the insurance money coming to or belonging to the +person thus insured to an amount equal to the exempt property thus +destroyed. Burial lot exempt. Pension money exempt, but exemption may be +waived.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">WISCONSIN.</span></p> + +<p>The following personal property is exempt from seizure or sale on any +execution and from attachment or garnishment: 1st. The family Bible. 2d. +Family pictures and school-books. 3d. The library of the debtor. 4th. +The seat or pew in any place of public worship. 5th. All wearing apparel +of the debtor and his family; all stoves and appendages kept for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +use of the debtor and his family; all cooking utensils and all other +household furniture not exceeding two hundred dollars in value, and one +gun, rifle, or other firearm not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 6th. +Two cows, ten swine, one yoke of oxen, and one horse or mule, or, in +lieu of one yoke of oxen and horse or mule, two horses or two mules, ten +sheep and the wool from the same, either in the raw material or +manufactured into yarn or cloth; the necessary food for one year's +support for all such stock, also one wagon, cart, or dray, one sleigh, +one plow, one drag, and other farming utensils, including a tackle for +teams, not exceeding two hundred dollars in value. 7th. The provisions +for the debtor and his family necessary for one year's support, and fuel +necessary for one year. 8th. The tools, implements, and stock in trade +of any mechanic, miner, merchant, trader, or other person, used or kept +for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value. 9th. All sewing-machines owned by individuals +and kept for the use of themselves or family. 10th. Any sword, plate, +books, or other article presented or given to any person by congress, +legislature of any of the United States, or by either body of congress +or of such legislature, whether presented by vote or raised by +subscription of the members of either of the aforesaid bodies, 11th. +Printing material and press or presses used in the business of any +printer or publisher, to an amount not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars +in value, provided no sum exceeding four hundred dollars shall be exempt +from payment of employees. 12th. Horses, arms, equipment, and uniforms +of all officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates used for +military purposes in the organized militia of the State. 13th. All +books, maps, plates, and other papers kept or used by any person for the +purpose of making abstracts of title to land. 14th. The interests owned +by any inventor in any invention secured to him by letters patent of the +United States. 15th. The earnings of all married persons and other +persons having a family dependant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> upon them for support, for three +months next preceding the issue of an attachment, execution, or +garnishment, to the amount of sixty dollars only for each month. Such +exemption shall not exceed one hundred and eighty dollars in all for the +three months. 16th. All fire-engines, apparatus, and equipments, used or +to be used for the protection of property from fire. 17th. All moneys +arising from insurance of any exempt property when such property has +been destroyed by fire. 19th. All money arising on any policy of +insurance on the life of a minor, payable to his father or mother, or +both, shall be exempt against the creditors of such father or mother, +but not against the creditors of such minor. Certain other life +insurance moneys are also exempt. 20th. All cemetery lots owned by +individuals and all monuments therein, the coffins and other articles +for the burial of any dead person, and the tombstone or monuments for +his grave, by whomsoever purchased. 21st. Pensions paid policemen, +firemen, their widows or minor children. 22d. Shares of the value of one +thousand dollars at time of withdrawal in a local building and loan +association held by one not owning a homestead which is exempt. A +homestead to be selected by the owner, consisting, when not included in +any city or village, of any quantity of land not exceeding forty acres, +used for agricultural purposes, and when included in any city or +village, of any quantity of land not exceeding one-fourth of an acre and +the dwelling-house thereon and its appurtenances owned and occupied by +any resident of the State, not exceeding five thousand dollars in value, +is exempt. Proceeds of homestead not exceeding five thousand dollars are +exempt for two years. Husband cannot assign exempt wages except by a +written instrument signed by wife with two witnesses, nor for a longer +period than two months in advance.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">WYOMING.</span></p> + +<p>Every householder being the head of a family, and every resident who has +attained the age of sixty years,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> is entitled to a homestead not +exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars, exempt from execution or +attachment for any debt, contract, or civil obligation, while such +homestead is actually occupied as such by the owner thereof, or his or +her family. The homestead may consist of a house and lot or lots in any +town or city, or a farm of not more than one hundred and sixty acres.</p> + +<p>Besides the homestead above mentioned, the wearing apparel of every +person is exempt from judicial or ministerial process; also the +following property when owned by any person being the head of a family +and residing with the same, to wit: the family Bible, pictures, and +school-books; a lot in any cemetery or burial ground; furniture, +bedding, provisions, and such other articles as the debtor may select, +not to exceed in all the value of five hundred dollars, to be +ascertained by the appraisment of three disinterested householders; +provided that no personal property of any person about to remove or +abscond from the State shall be exempt. The tools, teams, and +implements, or stock in trade of a mechanic, miner, or other person, and +used and kept for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, is +exempt to a value not exceeding three hundred dollars; also the library, +instruments or implements of any professional man, not to exceed in +value three hundred dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">BRITISH COLUMBIA.</span></p> + +<p>Personal property to be selected by the debtor to the value of five +hundred dollars is exempt from execution. Under the Homestead Act lands +to the value of twenty-five hundred dollars may be registered as a +homestead, and are then exempt from seizure or sale.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">MANITOBA.</span></p> + +<p>1st. Bedding and furniture not exceeding five hundred dollars. (This +exemption does not apply, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> claim, for which distress warrant has +issued, is for wages.) 2d. Necessary clothing for judgment debtor and +his family. 3d. Twelve volumes of books and the books of a professional +man, one axe, one saw, one gun, six traps. 4th. Food for judgment debtor +and family for eleven months if in possession. 5th. Three horses, mules, +or oxen, six cows, ten sheep, ten pigs, fifty fowl, and food for the +same during eleven months, provided that the exemption as to horses over +four years of age shall apply only in case they are used by the judgment +debtor in earning his living. 6th. Tools and implements up to five +hundred dollars. 7th. Farm lands up to one hundred and sixty acres +actually resided upon, cultivated by the judgment debtor, or used for +grazing or other purposes, and the houses, stables, barns on the farm +lands resided upon by judgment debtor. 8th. The actual residence or +house of any person other than a farmer, provided the same does not +exceed in value fifteen hundred dollars. 9th. All the necessary seeds of +various varieties or roots for proper seeding and cultivation of eighty +acres. 10th. Insurance on exemptions also exempt. There are no +exemptions in cases of judgments for board and lodgings. No article is +exempt when judgment was for purchase price of article seized.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NOVA SCOTIA.</span></p> + +<p>The necessary wearing apparel and bedding and bedsteads of the debtor +and his family, and the tools and instruments of his trade or calling to +the value of thirty dollars, one stove, and his last cow, cooking +utensils, six each of knives, forks, plates, cups, saucers, spoons, +chairs, one shovel, one table, teapot, jug, spinning-wheel, weaving +loom, ten religious volumes, food and fuel for thirty days, two sheep, +one hog, and food for same and cow for thirty days shall be exempt from +execution.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">NEW BRUNSWICK.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wearing apparel, bedding, kitchen utensils, and tools of trade or +calling to the value of one hundred dollars.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">ONTARIO.</span></p> + +<p>The following chattels are exempt from seizure under any writ of +execution whatever, and after the death of the debtor are exempt from +the claims of his creditors: Furniture, bedding, and wearing apparel not +exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; fuel and provisions +not exceeding in value forty dollars; animals not exceeding in value +seventy-five dollars, and food therefor for thirty days; tools to the +value of one hundred dollars; one dog and fifteen hives of bees. Free +grants and homesteads to actual settlers in the districts of Algoma and +Nipissing, and of certain lands between the River Ottawa and the +Georgian Bay, are also free from creditor's claims.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="big">QUEBEC.</span></p> + +<p>The debtor may select and withdraw from seizure: 1st. The bed, bedding +and bedsteads in use by him and his family. 2d. The ordinary and +necessary wearing apparel of himself and his family. 3d. Two stoves and +their pipes, one pot-hook and its accessories, one pair of andirons, one +pair of tongs, and one shovel 4th. All the cooking utensils, knives, +forks, spoons, and crockery in use by the family, two tables, two +cupboards or dressers, one lamp one mirror, one washing stand with its +toilet accessories, two trunks or valises, the carpets or matting +covering the floors, one clock, one sofa, and twelve chairs, provided +that the total value of such effects does not exceed the sum of fifty +dollars. 5th. All spinning-wheels and weaving looms intended for +domestic use, one axe, one saw, one gun, six traps, such fishing-nets, +lines,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> and seines as are in common use, one tub, one washing machine +one wringer, one sewing-machine, two pails, three flat-irons, one +blacking-brush, one scrubbing-brush, one broom. 6th. Fifty volumes of +books, and all drawings and paintings executed by the debtor or the +members of his family, for their use. 7th. Fuel and food sufficient for +the debtor and his family for three months. 8th. One span of plow-horses +or a yoke of oxen; one horse, one summer vehicle and one winter vehicle, +and harness used by a carter or driver for earning his livelihood; one +cow, two pigs, four sheep, the wool from such sheep, the cloth +manufactured from such wool, and the hay and other fodder intended for +the feeding of said animals; and, moreover, the following agricultural +tools and implements; one plow, one harrow, one working sleigh, one +tumbril, one hay-cart with its wheels, and all harness necessary and +intended for farming purposes. 9th. Books relating to the profession, +art, or trade of the debtor, to the value of two hundred dollars. 10th. +Tools and implements or other chattles ordinarily used in his +profession, art, or trade to the value of two hundred dollars, 11th. +Bees to the extent of fifteen hives.</p> + +<p>The following are exempt from seizure: Consecrated vessels and things +used for religious worship; family portraits; immovables by a donor or +testator, or by law, to be exempt from seizure, and sums of money or +objects given or bequeathed upon the condition of their being exempt +from seizure; old age annuities created by the act of Parliament of +Canada, alimentary allowances granted by a court, and sums of money or +pensions given as alimony, even though the donor or testator has not +expressly declared them to be exempt from seizure (they may, however, be +seized for alimentary debts); pensions granted by financial and other +institutions to their employees; pay and pensions of persons belonging +to the army or to the navy; the salaries of some public officers and +professors, tutors, school teachers, and public officers; salaries of +some public officers and employees of the Province,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> and salaries of +city and town clerks, and of other municipal officers and employees and +of city and town assessors in incorporated cities or towns, are seizable +for one-fifth of every monthly salary not exceeding one thousand dollars +per annum; one-fourth of every monthly salary exceeding one thousand +dollars, but not exceeding two thousand dollars per annum, and one-third +of every monthly salary exceeding two thousand dollars per annum. +Four-fifths of the salary, remuneration, or earnings of members of the +Corporation of Pilots for and below the harbor of Quebec for the +pilotage of vessels are exempt from seizure. All other salaries and +wages are exempt from seizure for four-fifths when they do not exceed +three dollars per day; three-quarters when they exceed three dollars but +do not exceed six dollars per day; and two-thirds when they exceed six +dollars per day. There are also special exemptions in favor of settlers +and fishermen.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge"><i>INDEX.</i></span></p> + + +<p> +Accounts<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Close collection, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Items over year apart, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Payment on, revives, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Attitude<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Toward Debtors, <a href="#Page_11">11</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">" the poor, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">" off-color women, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">" children, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Bookkeeping<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Systems, <a href="#Page_19">19</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Original entry, <a href="#Page_19">19</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Marks and Ciphers, <a href="#Page_19">19</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Charity practice, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Checks<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Post-dated, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Due on Sunday or holiday, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Changing date makes void, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Not dated, never payable, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Are orders, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Do not hold, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If not paid, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Certified, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Erase endorsement, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Collectors<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On commission, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Office girl best, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Corporation orders, <a href="#Page_30">30</a><br /> +<br /> +Discounting bills, <a href="#Page_9">9</a><br /> +<br /> +Forms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Letter when debtor fails to keep appointment, <a href="#Page_18">18</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Collecting letters, bluff, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sentiment, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Class, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pen written, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Class 1, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Class 2, <a href="#Page_27">27</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Class 3, <a href="#Page_28">28</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Personal, <a href="#Page_28">28</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Items for, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Order-note, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Statement, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Exemptions, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Provisions for physicians, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Runs to widows and minors, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Not certain claims, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Not for fines, Tennessee, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wages of seamen, Rhode Island, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Homestead not, Pennsylvania, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gun and revolver, Oregon, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Public buildings, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Property, selection, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Until youngest child of age, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Laws, liberal, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>-<a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" North Dakota, liberal, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Alabama, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Alaska, <a href="#Page_36">36</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Arizona, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Arkansas, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" California, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Colorado, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Connecticut, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Delaware, <a href="#Page_43">43</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Dist. of Columbia, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Florida, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Georgia, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Hawaii, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Indiana, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Iowa, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Illinois, <a href="#Page_53">53</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Idaho, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Kansas, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Kentucky, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Louisiana, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Maine, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Maryland, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Massachusetts, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Michigan, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Minnesota, <a href="#Page_61">61</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Mississippi, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Missouri, <a href="#Page_63">63</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Montana, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Nebraska, <a href="#Page_65">65</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Nevada, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" New Hampshire, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" New Jersey, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" New Mexico, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" New York, <a href="#Page_70">70</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" North Carolina, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" North Dakota, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Ohio, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Oklahoma, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Oregon, <a href="#Page_74">74</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Pennsylvania, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Rhode Island, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" South Carolina, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" South Dakota, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Tennessee, <a href="#Page_78">78</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Texas, <a href="#Page_79">79</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Utah, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Vermont, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Virginia, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" West Virginia, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Washington, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Wisconsin, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Wyoming, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" British Columbia, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Manitoba, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Nova Scotia, <a href="#Page_90">90</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" New Brunswick, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Quebec, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">" Ontario, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Judgments, foreign, Oklahoma, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8.2em;">West Virginia, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Limitations, All States, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<br /> +Padding accounts, <a href="#Page_15">15</a><br /> +<br /> +Proper time to collect, <a href="#Page_16">16</a><br /> +<br /> +Notes, <a href="#Page_18">18</a><br /> +<br /> +Sight Draft, <a href="#Page_29">29</a><br /> +<br /> +Successful Physician, the, <a href="#Page_7">7</a><br /> +<br /> +Loans, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge"><i>The Physician's</i><br/> +<i>Improved Account System</i></span></p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figright"><img src="images/ad-1.jpg" alt="" /></div> + +<p>The card ledger is the up-to-date book-keeping system and is being used +for all kinds of accounts.</p> + +<p>It is the simplest and best method a doctor can use. With it there are +no dead accounts to handle (when an account is paid the card is +transferred to the closed accounts); no indexing to do, the cards being +filed in alphabetical order; there is a great economy of time, the +statement of an account is always ready when a client asks for it; +because of this, collections are made prompter and easier.</p> + +<p><b>The Physician's Account System</b> consists of a handsome quarter-sawed, +dust-proof oak box (like the illustration shown) 5×6×9 inches, with a +hinged lid, 500 buff cards, 3×5 inches, ruled on both sides, and two +sets (A to Z) of alphabet guide cards, one set for the open accounts, +the other for the closed accounts, and a movable metal partition to +separate the open from the closed accounts.</p> + +<p>Additional cards for this outfit may be secured at low cost, and as dead +accounts may after a time be filed away, it constitutes a perpetual and +very inexpensive ledger or account system.</p> + +<p>Hundreds of physicians are using this system, and have nothing but +praise for it; not one has raised an objection to it.</p> + +<p><b>Don't</b> spend a lot of money for an elaborate accounting system. No matter +what you pay you cannot find as simple, convenient and satisfactory +system as this.</p> + +<p class="center"><b>Price, Complete In Oak Cabinet, with Pocket Call Book $5.00</b></p> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="big"><b><i>Physicians Drug News, Newark, N. J.</i></b></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><i>In connection with our account system we supply a</i></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge"><i>Physicians Practical Call Book</i></span></p> + +<p class="center"><i>for recording daily calls</i></p> +<p> </p> +<p>"The object of this book is to furnish physicians with a simple and +convenient method of recording calls, in as small compass as possible."</p> + +<p>It is perpetual; may be begun at any time. It is elastic; if one double +page is not sufficient, two may be employed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/ad-2.jpg" alt="" /></div> + +<p>It is free from the mass of printed matter which cumbers up the average +call book and nearly all of which is unnecessary.</p> + +<p>Size 7×4 inches. Handsomely bound, gilt edges, with flap.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="big"><i>Price $1.00</i></span></p> + +<p class="center">With name on, stamped in gold $1.25</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<p class="center"><span class="big"><b><i>Physicians Drug News, Newark, N. J.</i></b></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:</span></p> +<p> </p> + +<p> +Punctuation has been corrected without note.<br /> +<br /> +Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original.<br /> +<br /> +Page 1 in the Table of Contents has been corrected to Page 7.<br/> +<br/> +Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 16: I changed to 1</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 21: acounts changed to accounts</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 50: individal changed to individual</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 51: libary changed to library</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 55: Ilinois changed to Illinois</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 57: usefruct changed to usufruct</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 67: minor changed to miner</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.7em;">debtors changed to debtor's</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.7em;">calender changed to calendar</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 68: virture changed to virtue</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 70: owners changed to owner's</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 79: pusuit changed to pursuit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 95: Dicounting changed to Discounting</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Page 99: Newark, N. changed to Newark, N. J.</span><br /> +<br /> +On page 40, note that <i>16th</i> is missing in the original text.<br /> +</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's How to Collect a Doctor Bill, by Frank P. Davis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO COLLECT A DOCTOR BILL *** + +***** This file should be named 37748-h.htm or 37748-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/4/37748/ + +Produced by David Garcia, David E. 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Davis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: How to Collect a Doctor Bill + +Author: Frank P. Davis + +Release Date: October 13, 2011 [EBook #37748] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO COLLECT A DOCTOR BILL *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, David E. Brown, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned +images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + + + + + + + + + _HOW TO COLLECT + A DOCTOR BILL_ + + + BY + FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D. + + Secretary Oklahoma State Board of Medical Examiners, 1908-11. + Superintendent Oklahoma State Institution for Feeble Minded, + 1910-11. Member County, State and American Medical Association. + Member American School Hygiene Association. Member State and + National Eclectic Associations. Member Oklahoma Association of + Charities and Corrections. Member Oklahoma Press Association. Member + Southwestern Medical Association. Late Editor Davis' Magazine of + Medicine, Etc. + + + Publishers + PHYSICIANS DRUG NEWS CO. + NEWARK, N. J., U. S. A. + 1913 + + + COPYRIGHT 1913 BY + FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D. + + + + +Contents + + + Page + +CHAPTER I +The Successful Physician 1 + +CHAPTER II +Attitude Toward Debtors 11 + +CHAPTER III +Proper Time to Collect 16 + +CHAPTER IV +Books and Bookkeeping 19 + +CHAPTER V +Letters and Forms 24 + +CHAPTER VI +Statutes of Limitations 31 + +CHAPTER VII +Exemption Laws and Their Application 33 + +CHAPTER VIII +Extracts from Exemption Laws of All States 35 + + + + +PREFACE + + +My excuse for presenting this little book to the profession is that I +have often felt the want of just such information as is herein +contained. In fourteen years of practice I have made it a point to study +my patients and the business problems that confront the man in our +profession. Some of the things that I have learned are embodied in this +book. Taking my professional experience as a whole I have collected over +=ninety per cent= of my accounts. + +If this book shall be the means of causing any physician to study the +business side of professional life, and get what is due him, I will feel +that I have not worked in vain. + +Enid, Okla., June 6, 1912. + + FRANK P. DAVIS, M. D. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SUCCESSFUL PHYSICIAN. + + +A man with a bulging forehead once said that "Life is what you make it." +This is very true in the profession of medicine. The successful +physician must live in the manner of successful men. To do this, most +men must live upon the income from their practice. If the physician +properly cares for his wife and children, he must realize on his +investment--his medical education. A man's first duty is to his own, and +it is written that the man who fails to collect that which is due him, +and "provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own +house, is worse than an infidel." + +To successfully conduct any enterprise it is necessary to adopt business +methods. System is the key-note of modern business, and the simplest +system is the best. A cash system is by far the simplest. + +No man can succeed in practice, nor can he be considered a safe medical +adviser so long as he is handicapped by poverty, a worried mind or poor +health; or if he is compelled to dodge around corners to escape his +creditors. + +There are men who tell us that they are not in practice so much for +money as for the glory and honor of the profession. If these men are +sincere, I pity them from the bottom of my heart, and feel sorry for +their wives and children. Nor can I understand where the profession can +gain much honor from men who are financial failures. Not that money is +the only thing for which we should strive, but that the man who provides +not for his own, cannot be representative of the noble profession of +medicine. Also, I have observed that the path of glory leads in the +direction of the cemetery, and checks on the National Bank of Fame are +generally protested when the rent comes around. + +The applause and compliments of the multitude are no doubt sweet, but it +only lulls to rest the voice of duty, and fails to provide sustenance +for those dependent upon us. Man cannot live on air alone--even though +it be flavored by the ambrosia of sweet compliments and the hypnosis of +applause. Again, I have observed that a larger crowd will turn out any +time to see a man hung than to compliment him on a duty well performed. + +The man who answers calls at all hours of the day and night, for any and +every one who may request his services; with no assurance of ever +receiving pay; and who is afraid to demand settlement for fear of losing +practice, is not competent to conduct his own affairs, much less to +practice medicine. It is this class of men who make dead-beats of our +patrons, and thus reduce the income of physicians to a point where a +bare existence is all we can hope for. + +To be a safe medical advisor requires that the mind be free from the +petty cares of life. He should live in a manner in keeping with the +dignity of the profession to which he has given his life. He must have a +neat office, wear good clothes, have a happy home and a contented mind. + +It is well to achieve the reputation of being an indefatigable and +shrewd collector. It pays. It will influence your regular patrons to pay +more promptly. It will also help to keep away those who trespass upon +your time and never pay you. The only sure way to hold practice is to +require your patrons to pay their bills promptly. If they do not owe you +they are not so liable to avoid you and cease to employ you. Let a +family once get greatly in arrears, then it will happen that--not having +the cheek to face you--they will call another physician, and give every +reason but the true one for deserting you. Thus, through your own +neglect you lose patronage, friends and your good name and reputation. +The public will never place any higher value on your services than you +do yourself. The death-knell of any physician's success is tolled when +he becomes known as a "cheap doctor." + +Not only must you require others to pay you, but you must also pay your +own bills. Physicians, as a rule, are considered poor pay by business +men. It is a very good rule in life to discount all bills that you owe, +and never to discount a bill due you. Make it a rule to never owe any +man anything, and to have as few owe you as possible. + +Many physicians will cut their bills to whatever the debtor cares to +pay. In this way they lose a large part of their fees, and achieve the +reputation of being poor business men. + +I heard an old Arkansas doctor relate his experience in discounting a +bill that well illustrates the weakness of many physicians. A client +owed him $60, and after the account had run about six months, the man +came in and said, "Doc, I hain't got the money, but if you will cut that +bill in two I'll borrow it from my father-in-law." The doctor thought +$30 would be better than waiting, so agreed. Three months later the man +returned and said, "Doc, I couldn't get the money from my father-in-law, +but I have a fat hog I can sell and get some money if you will cut that +bill in two." The account was growing old and the doctor thought he had +better take the $15, so he said all right. Six months from that time the +fellow hove in view again. This time he said, "Doc, my wife thought we +needed that hog for meat and I couldn't get her consent to sell it, but +I have a job now, and if you will cut that bill in two, I'll pay you." +This time the doctor thought he saw $7.50 in sight, so again he agreed. +"All right, Doc," said the debtor, "as soon as I get in a few weeks +work, I'll be in and pay you." The doctor said the fellow did come +around a few months later and began a similar story, but he told him to +go to a country where rotary snow plows are not much in demand. + +One of the greatest mistakes is in allowing accounts for different cases +to accumulate until the amount becomes so large that it is difficult to +pay. It is always best to require settlement as soon after each case is +dismissed as possible. In sending statements, be careful to itemize by +cases only, as "John, fever, $15," "Wife, confinement, $25," etc. I +seldom give the disease unless it is some special case that required +much attention. In some cases it refreshes their memory when reference +is made to the disease. + +You must know your business. Give every man a square deal, and require +others to do the same by you. When you have completed your work, +remember the advice of old Prof. Joslyn, "Get money, still get money, +boy, no matter by what means" so long as it is justly due you for +services rendered. If you fail to require your patrons to pay you for +your services, you have not done your full duty. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ATTITUDE TOWARD DEBTORS. + + +A fundamental principle in being a good collector is to never lose the +good will of your patrons. So long as you are on friendly terms with a +man you can approach him and talk over the matter. It will be easy to +keep advised as to what he is doing, and when he is expecting to receive +money. The time will come sometime when he can pay at least a part or +secure your claim. We must not lose sight of the fact that in this +country poor men sometimes become rich, and rich men sometimes become +poor, and we should deal with them accordingly. It is poor business +policy to permit well-to-do clients to run up big bills, and at the same +time hound your poor patrons. + +One of the easiest ways to collect a bill, when they have persistently +failed to pay, is to loan them some money. This plan is fully covered in +the following editorial from =Davis' Magazine of Medicine=. + +"Let us now consider the investment of the doctor's savings. His fees +are received in small sums, generally ranging from a few dollars to a +hundred dollars at a time. He seldom has over a few hundred dollars on +hand at any one time. And failing to find a good place to invest such +sums as he has, he becomes a prey for the stock companies and the land +sharks, where he can make his investment on the installment plan. Most +physicians are earnestly seeking a safe investment for these small sums +of money, but very few have found a plan that appeals to them. Most of +the advice one gets from the journals is 'Don't' or to invest in farm +mortgages. When he looks around for a farm mortgage he finds that the +small amount of money he has to loan will not meet the requirements of +the man who desires the loan. Even should he find a small loan that he +could handle, the interest would be so low, that it would produce a very +small income after paying taxes. I believe the doctor's earnings should +net him ten per cent, and be in such form that he can realize on them in +case of emergency. To take chances on getting a greater rate of interest +would be to accept too great risk, and a less rate would be poor +business policy. + +"The problem simmers down to about this: How can we invest small sums, +from twenty-five to one hundred dollars, so they will be safe, and earn +at least ten per cent interest?" + +I solved this problem several years ago while engaged in general country +practice. In fact, it can be applied better in the country than in the +city. The plan is this, loan your money to your slow pay patrons. Sounds +risky, don't it? I have found it to prove a success. I learned that most +of my poor pay or slow pay patrons were always ready to borrow money, +and that they could generally secure me with chattel mortgages, or get +good men to sign their notes. The note and mortgage always covered the +amount loaned and the amount of my bill. There are few who cannot give +you suitable security, and these few should be turned over to the other +doctor who is practicing for the love and honor of the profession. + +"When it is known that you have a little money loaned out, and that you +will only loan to those who have you for their physician, your practice +will steadily grow." + +Be on your guard and do not permit your old accounts to become +"outlawed" by the statutes of limitations of your State. This may be +prevented in a measure by getting a small payment from time to time on +account, as the law of limitations does not apply until the lapse of the +period of time named in the law, after the last payment on the account +or note. + +The exemption laws of most states are so liberal that a very small per +cent. of physician's bills could be collected by law, should the debtor +elect to take advantage of the exemption law. The only safe method is to +put it up to your client as a debt of honor, and depend upon their +inherent honesty and pride. It does no good to sue a man for a doctor +bill except in extreme cases. You will lose more than you will gain. Not +only will you in all probability lose the account and expenses, but you +will make a lot of enemies, who will injure your practice more than the +amount of the bill. + +Treat your poor patrons with the same respect and courtesy that you do +rich ones. Mr. Smith will do his best to pay you, while Old Bill Smith +will not exert himself very much to balance your ledger. Then above all +treat the woman in the flowered Mother-Hubbard as if she were the Queen +of Sheba, and the off-color lady from the red-light district as you +would the President of the Purity Society. The child that is ragged and +dirty should receive the same cordial attention as the one in silks. +When the time comes that you cannot treat all your patrons as you would +like for them to treat you if your positions were reversed, it is time +for you to "Fold up your tent like the Arab and silently steal away," +your usefulness is at an end. The day when you can make money in that +location has passed. + +Be kind to little children. Women and children furnish the greater part +of our patrons. Men do not count for much in the practice of +medicine,--unless you are a G-U specialist. I have always found that +where grandma and the children liked me, that I had no trouble in +getting practice or in collecting my money. + +Do not pad your accounts. Charge what you consider your services worth, +and then stick to it. Deal a square hand to all. The golden rule is just +as bright and as true today as it was thousands of years ago, and it is +not recorded that any man was ever hung that lived up to it. After you +have done your full duty =demand= that your patrons do their duty by you. +Keep after the money that is justly due you. Get money; but get it +honestly. You will be criticised by some, and cussed by others, but in +the words of Carrie Nation, "Why care for the criticism of men who +change and die?" + +And finally remember, that in this world there is nothing that will pay +dividends equal to smiles--unless it is gall, and do not forget the +injunction of the prophet, "Physician, 'heel' thyself," lest in old age +the world will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter +thou--into the poor house." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PROPER TIME TO COLLECT. + + +"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the +sun."--Eccle. 3: 1. + +The time to collect depends to a considerable extent upon the location +and the class of patronage. In cities, as a rule, collections should be +made weekly, as many patrons move frequently, and you lose track of +them. It is proper and wise to present your bill as early after the +service is rendered as possible. Bills should be presented to working +men at the time of their regular payday. In country practice I have +found it best to send statements monthly and to require settlement +quarterly by cash or note. I have adopted this rule in a cotton country +where it was the rule to only pay the doctor once a year, if at all. +Farmers and planters can borrow money to pay the doctor as well as they +can to pay farm hands and cotton-choppers, or at least can give notes +bearing interest. + +When a man consults you and commences to run down some other doctor, +require him to pay cash. He's in bad with the other fellow. Dead-beats +should never be temporized with. Don't do a man's practice in the hope +that he will pay you, when you know that he has beat the other fellow. + +While every case is to a certain extent a rule unto itself, yet, there +are a few essentials that are necessary to make a success in collecting. +The two principle rules are, to keep everlastingly after them, and never +to lose their friendship. So long as you are on good terms there is +hope. + +Keep your accounts collected closely. The man who carries more than +one-third of his business on his books is a business failure. Old +accounts breed knockers. Go thou to the lawyer and consider his +ways--then cinch the money. + +Never employ a collector on commission. Your office girl will prove the +best collector if you have not time to attend to it yourself. In fact, +for general collecting, she will prove the best collector you can get. +Give her an honorium in addition to her salary if she makes good. At +many places the collector will be informed that the party she is seeking +is not at home, or is not in the office. Instruct her to stay until they +return, even if she finds it necessary to take her sewing along, and +spend the day. Frequently the party desired is just hiding in another +room, waiting until the collector leaves. Rather than stand the siege of +a determined collector they will sometimes pay the bill. The collector +should carry a note-book and jot down just what the debtor has to say. +This should be done in the presence of the debtor. Collectors should +always try to get something on account, even if only 25 or 50 cents. It +keeps the account alive, and helps defray expenses. + +Take notes if you find it impossible to get the cash. Have them well +secured if possible. Where you cannot get security get at least two +names on the note. Two dead-beats are better on a note than one on the +books, but, better still, get the "order note" shown on another page of +this book. If you take unsecured notes have them to mature in not to +exceed thirty days. Don't overlook the fact that a married woman's note +is valueless in many states. + +Frequently a debtor will promise to pay at a certain day, and then +usually fails to show up. When he makes the promise, make a note of the +time in your note-book. If he fails to keep the appointment, write him a +nice letter, something along this line: + +Dear Sir:-- + +I am sorry that I was not in the office on the 15th. when you called to +settle your account. When we were talking about the matter the other day +I neglected to tell you that if I was not in the office when you called +you could pay the office girl, and that she would give you a receipt for +the amount. + +I hope that you are well and prosperous, and that little =Mary= has fully +regained her strength. + +If I am not in when you come up again, just pay the amount to the girl +and it will be all right. + +Thanking you for your attention to this matter, and wishing you success, +I remain, + + Yours very truly, + + +This will generally bring him in with many excuses and some money. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BOOKKEEPING AND STATEMENTS. + + +A simple system of keeping accounts is necessary. There are many systems +on the market, ranging all the way from the simple blank ledger to the +elaborate desk systems. I prefer the card system or the single book. As +only records of original entry are accepted in courts as evidence of +account, a complicated system would hardly be suited to the average +physician. The entry must be so clear and simple that any ordinary +person can readily understand the account, hence, any system that +depends upon ciphers or marks is valueless. A physician that is a good +bookkeeper can no doubt handle the complicated systems successfully, +but as I was not trained as a bookkeeper, the simplest, clear, legal +system meets my needs. + +Always enter each day's work on the day it is done. Don't wait until +tomorrow, or next Sunday to make up your books. By cultivating the habit +you can get as much pleasure out of entering charges in your books as +you could from some calls. I have seen the time when I got more real joy +out of receipting one bill than I would in going seven miles in the +country on a stormy night to see a dead-beat. Life is but a joke, but it +isn't wise to let the dead-beat have the joke on you all the time. + +Don't scatter your accounts on the book. Keep them close together and +they will be seen more frequently. It is better to run over the pages +when entering charges than to refer to the index, as you will be +reminded of other entries that should be made, and accounts that need +looking after. + +Once an account goes on your books, never lose sight of it or give up +until it is settled, or otherwise disposed of. It is a bad habit to skip +an account when making out statements. Treat them all alike. It may be +advisable to classify your accounts, but you should never fail to push +the collection of every account on your books. + +In charity practice, enter on your book at the regular rate, and credit +to charity to balance. In this way you keep an account of the extent of +your contributions to charities. + +Keep a stub of each statement you send out so that your client can not +bring in an old one and dispute your account. The following form will +meet every requirement for a statement. By retaining the stub you have a +complete record of your statements. + + No................| STATEMENT + Name..............| .......................19.. + Address...........| Mr................................ + Date sent.........| To J. M. SMITH, M.D. Dr. + Previous bill sent| To Professional services + ..................| to date - - - $........... + Am't paid.........| All accounts are due and payable + Collector.........| when services are rendered. + +The best way to hold practice is to collect your accounts. More people +change doctors because they owe big bills than for any other reason. + +Never tell a debtor that you are hard up and need the money. He won't +believe you, and will not only neglect to pay you, but will change to +some other doctor. Tell them that you must have the money because it is +yours and that you want the profit that may be made with it. Put it up +to them as a plain business proposition and loan them the amount if they +pay you interest and give good security. They will respect you when you +make them pay. A man is judged in this country by his business success. +Most men would rather pay a lawyer a thousand dollars to keep them out +of the penitentiary for a year, than to pay a doctor fifty dollars to +keep them out of hell for a life time. + +Office and transient practice should be cash or an order note. The +following form will prove valuable: + + ..............191.. + + After date, for value received, I promise to pay + ............. or order...........Dollars, + the same to be paid in...............payments of + $.............each, until the sum of $............ + has been paid. + + For Value Received, I, the undersigned, hereby + sell, assign, transfer and set over unto.............. + all my right, title and interest in and to all of my + salary, wages or any moneys due, or to become due, + to the amount of.................Dollars, from any + person, firm or corporation, and order the said amount + to be paid to the bearer out of the first moneys due + me after the presentation of a copy of this instrument. + I hereby irrevocably waive all exemptions or + other rights I may have by means of any law of + any state in which I now, or may hereafter be employed + or reside. I agree to pay all costs and attorney's + fees that may be incurred in collecting the + above amount. + + Name................................. + + Occupation.............. Address.................. + Employed by............. Address.................. + +I have this form printed on cards and file them in a card file. This +contract note not only helps to get the money, but it solves the problem +of holding chronics and venerals. It is seldom necessary to present the +order for payment. When you write a letter advising your client that you +will be compelled to present the order to his employer if he doesn't +come in and see you, he will show up in a very short time. + +Subscribe to the Merchant's Exchange. If a man will not pay his store +bills you cannot expect him to pay his doctor. Get the cash when you +find his name on the list, or let the other doctor have the case. + +After entering an account on your books, make no rebates or discounts. +Buy a hog for four times its value, if necessary, but don't discount +your bill. + +If account is paid by check, remember the following points: + +When a check is post-dated (dated ahead), if payed before the date +mentioned, the money can be recovered. + +When post-dated checks fall due on Sunday or a legal holiday they should +be presented on the day following. + +Changing the dates of checks without the consent of the drawers will +make the checks void. + +Checks that are not dated, or that do not contain any statement when +they are to be paid, are never payable. + +Bank checks are but orders on the bank for the payment of money, and are +payable in the order in which they are presented at the bank. + +Do not hold checks, but present them for payment as soon as possible. + +If a check is not paid on proper presentation, resort may be made to the +original claim. Have the banker endorse the reason for non-payment on +the check. + +Certified checks are checks that have been endorsed by the bank, and +constitute payment as to the persons drawing them. + +If a check is turned down at the bank notify the drawer at once. + +If you receive a check and endorse it and place in your bank for +collection, and it is turned down, do not return it to the drawer until +you get a remittance to cover, without first erasing your endorsement. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FORMS AND COLLECTING LETTERS. + + +Nearly every form of letter that has been devised for collecting +physicians accounts has been based upon those used by installment houses +and those in general use by wholesale merchants who deal with retail +dealers. They all carry the bluff idea. This is all right in dealing +with installment customers with whom you have a contract that will take +away the goods purchased, or with retail merchants who know they must +meet their obligations if they continue in business. The credit men of +mercantile institutions keep tab on their customers through the local +merchants exchange and the commercial agencies, and are in a position to +know to what extent it is safe to extend credit. The merchant cannot +refuse to pay his bills and go to another wholesale house and buy +goods, hence if he is a little tardy in meeting his obligations the +bluff letter will awaken him to the necessity of paying the bill. + +With the doctor's customers it is altogether different. He knows that he +cannot be compelled to pay the bill, and that some other physician will +be only too ready to come at his call. + +It is then evident that the bluff idea will not work with the man who +knows that he can get another doctor whenever he wants one, and that he +is so protected by the exemption laws that the bill cannot be collected +by resorting to law. So in reaching this class we must devise other +plans if we hope to accomplish anything. Here, my experience has shown +that sentiment is the key note in an effective collecting letter for +physicians. I have found that the more human interest, sentiment and +friendly feeling that can be woven into the letter the better it is. +Every time that I write a letter to a client I try and refer in some +manner to the patient or to some member of the family, and try to +impress them with the fact that I have a personal interest in them. The +following forms are suggestive of the idea, and have proven very +successful in my practice. The classification is, of course used with +every account--they are all No. 1 until they fail to pay. The word +"Class" and the number are stamped with a rubber stamp. Letters of this +kind should be pen written--typewriter and form letters will not +answer, they lose the personal sentiment. + +A duplicator that will easily reproduce 100 copies of a pen written +letter may be had for about $5, and the letters may be "formed" on this, +leaving space in which the personal matter may be written. If properly +done they will have the appearance of a hand written letter. Don't have +your letters too polished. Remember you are a very busy man--just +writing a note to a friend. Omit the rhetorical embellishments from this +class of correspondence in all cases. + +The first of my series of letters is along the following line. + + +CLASS 1. + +Dear Sir:-- + +In looking over my books with a view of raising a small amount of money, +I note there is a balance due on your account of =$10.00=, and as you have +always been one of my best paying patrons, I have let this run, knowing +I could get it whenever I called on you. I always divide my accounts +into three classes: 1. Those who I can depend upon to pay when I call on +them. 2. Those who are slow to pay, and that I must keep after. 3. Very +poor pay and unsatisfactory clients. Whenever one of my patrons fails to +respond to my statements it reduces him to the next lower class. + +As you are one of my First Class patrons, I know you will be only too +glad to assist me at this time. I saw little Mary on the street the +other day, and she is looking well and hearty. I am glad she is so well, +as we had a hard fight to save her last spring. + +Wishing you health, happiness and success, I am, + + Yours very truly. + + + +Now if this fails to bring the money, we will try Class No. 2. + + +CLASS 2. + +Dear Sir:-- + +I was very much disappointed in not receiving the small amount of your +account, =$10.00=, as you were one of my Class 1 customers, and I felt +sure you would not fail me when I called on you. I hope you will attend +to this at once, as I would like to place you back on my Class 1 list. + +A good credit is the greatest asset that any man can have, and I find I +can only maintain my credit by making prompt payment of my bills. To do +this I must have a prompt settlement of the bills due me. I know that +you value a good credit, and feel sure that you will not again +disappoint me. + +How is baby getting along? I guess he can almost stand by this time. +Come in and see me any way, and we can no doubt make arrangements that +will help us both out, and continue the best of friends. + + Yours very truly. + + +In case he is not interested in your friendship, and does not show up +with the money, we will try our third and last shot. + + +CLASS 3. + +Dear Sir:-- + +I am very sorry that you did not see fit to reply to my letters of =July +15= and =August 15=. Not so much on account of your failure to pay me the +=$10.00= which you owe, but because I dislike to lose faith in my fellow +man, and you know it hurts a fellow when he finds his judgment was +wrong. I have often wondered how I would feel if I knew my little child +was up in heaven, looking down at me with her angelic eyes, wondering +why I did not pay the doctor who worked so hard all night to give her +ease and to keep her with me. I don't believe that I could be happy. + +Still =John=, I believe in you, and feel sure you will come in and see me +about this little matter. I just can't believe I was mistaken in you. + +Wishing you success, I am, + + Very truly yours. + + +The personal matter must be fitting to the case. If your patients do not +die, you might speak of the "innocent little babe who will grow up to +womanhood unpaid for." Lawyers in Oklahoma hold a lien on the cause of +action until their fees are paid. Wonder how that would work with the +medical profession? + +The point that I want to press home to you is that if you cannot get a +settlement with sentiment, you cannot get it any other way. You cannot +bluff them for they know they are execution proof. Read the exemption +laws of your state and you will find that there is not a third of your +patrons but could beat you if you tried to enforce payment by law. + +Here are some thoughts that have been worked into form letters that may +give you an idea that you can use in some special cases: + +"Your continued silence after receiving our previous letters, compels us +to infer that you neither propose nor intend to remit us the small +balance on your account." + +"The amount is justly due, and we now state positively that on account +of our having been patient, lenient and courteous with you in the past +we cannot let the matter drop at this time by merely writing you." + +"From information we have received from different sources we appreciate +the fact that you are amply able to pay the amount due." + +"We are placing the utmost reliance upon receiving a remittance from you +in the next few days." + +Sometimes you can get settlement by means of a sight draft. Some people +seem to fear a bank and will pay an account when held by a bank when +they would pay no attention to anyone else. + +Always get an order from a corporation before rendering service. If they +call you to attend any of their employees, have them sign an order +before giving the case any attention, otherwise you may not be paid for +your services. They will refuse to pay, and the patient will claim he +did not call you. Have some order cards with you all the time for the +signature of corporations or others who will call you to attend a +patient who is not related to them. The following form will answer: + + ......................1912 + + =Dr. John Smith:= + + You will please attend + + ...................................................... + + during his present illness. + + .................................. + + +When some corporation or other responsible party calls you up and wants +you to attend some one, have them sign the card, then they will be bound +to pay if the patient fails to do so. The person representing a +corporation should sign, as in many cases they have no authority to bind +the company. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +LIMITATIONS. + + +The following table gives the time an account or instrument of writing, +(note, judgment, etc.) will survive before becoming "out-lawed" by the +statutes of limitations in the several states. + + Open account Note Judgment + years years years + +Alabama 3 6 20 +Alaska 6 10 +Arizona 3 +Arkansas 3 10 +California 4 4 5 +Colorado 6 6 6 +Connecticut 6 17[1] +Delaware 3 6 +Florida 3 5 20 +Georgia 10 6 7 +Hawaii 6 6 20 +Idaho 4 5 6 +Illinois 5 10 10[2] +Indiana 6 10 20 +Iowa 5 10 20 +Kansas 3 5 5[3] +Kentucky 5 5 15 +Louisiana 3 5 10 +Massachusetts 6 20 20 +Michigan 6 10 +Minnesota 6 6 10 +Mississippi 3 6 7 +Missouri 10 +Montana 6 +Nebraska 4 5 +Nevada 3 4 6 +New Hampshire 20 +New Jersey 20 +New Mexico 4 6 7 +New York 10 20 +North Carolina 3 3 10 +North Dakota 6 6 +Ohio 6 6 15 +Oklahoma 3 5 +Oregon 6 6 10 +Pennsylvania 6 6 20[4] +Rhode Island 6 20 20 +South Carolina 6 6 20 +South Dakota 6 6 20[5] +Tennessee 6 10[6] +Texas 2 4 10 +Utah 4 6 8 +Vermont +Virginia 2 5 10 +Washington 6 6 +West Virginia 5 5 10 +Wisconsin 6 10 20 +British Columbia[7] +Manitoba 6 10 +Wyoming 8 5 10 +New Brunswick 6 6 20 +Nova Scotia 6 20 +Ontario 6 10 +Quebec 5[8] 5 +Mexico 1 3 + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Promissory note not negotiable. + +[2] Justice Court. Court of Record, 20 years. + +[3] Judgment may be kept alive by issuing execution every five years. + +[4] May be revived by proof of non-payment. + +[5] If judgment is from any other state, 10 years. + +[6] "Where the statute of limitations of another State or government has +created a bar to an action upon a cause accruing therein, while the +party to be charged was a resident in such State or under such +government, the bar is equally effectual in this State." (Code (M. & V.) +Sec. 3481.) + +[7] "All actions for debt upon any recognizance, shall be commenced +within twenty years after the cause of action arose." + +[8] "Surgeon's, physician's and dentist's accounts dating from the time +the services or medicine is supplied." + +This table is as near complete as we are able to make it at this time. +The laws are changed frequently. This is accurate enough to enable any +physician to look over his books and find what per cent. of his accounts +have outlawed by his failure to enforce payment. + +Remember that a payment, however small it may be, will revive an +account, even after it has become outlawed. Hence the advisability of +getting small payments at every opportunity. These payments should be +less than one year apart, as some States do not consider payments made +over one year apart. + +Under the Oklahoma law a foreign judgment is limited to one year. In +West Virginia a foreign judgment against a person who has been a +resident of the State for ten years is barred. + +A similar clause to the following, taken from the laws of the State of +Washington, is incorporated in the acts of nearly all States, and may be +considered as a general rule: + +"In an action brought to recover a balance due upon a mutual, open and +current account, where there have been reciprocal demands, the cause of +action shall be deemed to have accrued from the time of the last item of +the account proved on either side, but when more than one year shall +have intervened between any of a series of items, they are not to be +deemed such an account." + +Thus, if you do practice for a person, and a year elapses and you again +attend him, you cannot combine the two as one account, and enforce +collection by law. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +EXEMPTION LAWS. + + +Before starting a suit to collect money due you, carefully read up on +the exemption laws of your State. After carefully considering the +matter you will find that a judgment, if obtained, will avail you +nothing, should the debtor elect to take advantage of the exemption +allowed him by law. + +Some States are very liberal in the amount of property a man may hold +which is exempt from execution on a judgment for indebtedness. Take for +instance, the State of North Dakota, where the head of a family may hold +a homestead and personal property to the value of $6,450, and in case +the head of the family should die, and was insured, the widow and +children could hold an additional $5,000 of life insurance money, making +a total exemption of $11,450. + +Delaware is the only State that has made a special provision for +physicians in any manner. Here the statutes provide that a physician's +bill shall be a preferred claim for services in the last illness of the +patient. + +In nearly all States the exemption runs to the widow and minor children. +This is so general a rule that I have not included that part of the +statutes covering this phase of the law. There is no exemption against +money due on mortgages, for the purchase price of property, for manual +labor or taxes. Tennessee also provides that there shall be no exemption +on fines for failure to work the roads, for voting out of the district +the voter lives in, for carrying concealed weapons, or for giving away +or selling intoxicating liquors on election day. + +Rhode Island exempts wages due or accruing to seamen. + +Pennsylvania does not exempt the homestead, and personal property to the +value of three hundred dollars only is exempt. The chances to collect a +bill in Pennsylvania are better than in any other State, so far as the +exemption laws are concerned. + +Oregon exempts one gun or revolver to each white citizen over sixteen +years of age, in addition to the other exemptions. + +Public buildings owned by the State or municipality are always exempt. +Other buildings are not exempt against liens for material or labor used +in their construction. + +The exempt property may be selected by the debtor, or on his failure to +make such selection, some States permit the wife to make the selection, +but in case no selection is made, the proper officer will make the +selection for them. + +The exemption of estates generally runs until the youngest child is of +age. Judgments usually expire in twenty years or less if not renewed. +Hence you will see that the attorney's fees that you will have to pay to +secure judgment will generally be worth more to you than the judgment, +if you have to wait so many years to satisfy it. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +EXEMPTION LAWS. + + +The following extracts from the statutes of the various States gives the +exemption laws in so far as they apply to the collection of accounts. + + +ALABAMA. + +The personal property of any resident of the State, to the amount of one +thousand dollars, to be selected by such resident, is exempt for any +debt contracted since the 13th of July, 1868. Every homestead, not over +eighty acres of land, if in the country, or any lot in a city, town or +village, to be selected by the owner, together with the improvements +thereon, not exceeding two thousand dollars in value, is exempt from +execution for any debt contracted since July 13th, 1868. The Statutes +provide that the homestead may consist of as much as one hundred and +sixty acres not exceeding in value two thousand dollars. (Code of Ala. +Sec. 4164 et seq.) + + +ALASKA. + +1. Earnings of judgment debtor, for personal services rendered within +sixty days next preceding the levy of execution or attachment, when +necessary for the use of his family, supported in whole or in part by +his labor. 2. Books, pictures and musical instruments owned by any +person, to the value of seventy-five dollars. 3. Necessary wearing +apparel owned by any person for the use of himself or family, but +watches or jewelry exceeding one hundred dollars in value are not +exempt. 4. The tools, implements, apparatus, team, vehicle, harness, or +library necessary to enable any person to carry on the trade, occupation +or profession by which such person habitually earns his living, to the +value of five hundred dollars; also sufficient quantity of food to +support such team, if any, for six months; the word "team" being +construed to include not more than one yoke of oxen, or a span of horses +or mules, or two reindeer, or six dogs. Ten sheep with one year's fleece +or the yarn or cloth manufactured therefrom; two cows and five swine; +household goods, furniture and utensils to the value of three hundred +dollars; also food sufficient to support such animals, if any, for six +months, and provisions actually provided for family use and necessary +for the support of such person and family for six months. 6. The seat or +pew occupied by the head of a family or his family in a place of public +worship. + +Homestead. The homestead of any family, or the proceeds thereof, is +exempt. Such homestead must be the actual abode of, and owned by such +family or some member thereof, and not exceed two thousand five hundred +dollars in value, nor exceed one hundred and sixty acres in extent, if +not located in a town or city laid off into blocks or lots, or if +located in any such town or city, one fourth of an acre. + + +ARIZONA. + +Personal property to the amount of five hundred dollars to a family +only. One half of earnings of debtor for thirty days next previous to +levy necessary to family support are exempt. Prospector's mining tools +and camping outfit are exempt. + +Homestead. Twenty-five hundred dollars in one compact; not necessary to +live on the same, but family must reside in Territory. + + +ARKANSAS. + +The exemption law is contained in the present Constitution, and is as +follows: "Section 1. The personal property of any resident of this +State, who is not married or the head of a family, in specific articles +to be selected by such resident, not exceeding in value the sum of two +hundred dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, shall be +exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on execution or other process +from any court, issued for the collection of any debts by contract; +provided that no property shall be exempt from execution for debts +contracted for the purchase-money therefor, while in the hands of the +vendee. Sec. 2. The personal property of any resident of this State, who +is married or the head of a family, in specific articles to be selected +by such resident, not exceeding in value the sum of five hundred +dollars, in addition to his or her wearing apparel, and that of his or +her family, shall be exempt from seizure on attachment, or sale on +execution, or other process from any court, on debt by contract. Sec. 4. +The homestead outside any city, town or village, owned and occupied as a +residence, shall consist of not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres of +land, with the improvements thereon, to be selected by the owner; +provided the same shall not exceed in value the sum of twenty-five +hundred dollars, and in no event shall the homestead be reduced to less +than eighty acres, without regard to value. Sec. 5. The homestead in +any city, town or village, owned and occupied as a residence, shall +consist of not exceeding one acre of land, with the improvements +thereon, to be selected by the owner; provided the same shall not exceed +in value the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, and in no event +shall such homestead be reduced to less than one quarter of an acre of +land, without regard to value." + + +CALIFORNIA. + +The following property is exempt from execution for any debt, except it +be for the purchase price of such property, or a debt secured by +mortgage, lien or pledge thereon, to wit: 1st. Chairs, tables, desks and +books, to the value of two hundred dollars. 2d. Necessary household, +table and kitchen furniture of the debtor, including one sewing machine, +stoves, stove pipes and stove furniture, wearing apparel, beds, bedding, +bedsteads, hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings drawn or painted +by any member of the family, family portraits and their necessary +frames, provisions and fuel actually provided for individual or family +use sufficient for three months, and three cows and their sucking +calves, four hogs with their sucking pigs, and food for such cows and +hogs for one month; also one rifle, one shotgun, one piano. 3d. Farming +utensils, or implements of husbandry, not exceeding in value one +thousand dollars, of the judgment debtor, also two oxen, or two horses, +or two mules and their harness, one cart or buggy, and two wagons, and +food for such animals for one month, also seed grain or vegetables +reserved or on hand for planting within six months, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value; and seventy-five beehives, and one horse and +vehicle belonging to any person who is maimed or crippled, the same +being necessary to his business. 4th. Tools or implements of a mechanic +or artisan, notary's seal, office furniture and records; instruments and +library and necessary office furniture of a surgeon, physician, +surveyor or dentist, necessary to the exercise of their profession; +books, professional libraries and office furniture of attorneys, judges, +ministers of the gospel, editors, and school and music teachers, and all +the indexes, abstracts, books, papers, maps and office furniture of +searcher of records necessary to be used in his profession, and +instruments actually used by music teachers in giving instructions; also +typewriters used by owner in making his living, also one bicycle. 5th. A +miner's cabin, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, also his +sluices, pipes, tools, etc., necessary for his business, not exceeding +five hundred dollars in value, and two horses, mules, or oxen, and their +harness, and food for the same for one month, when necessary to be used +for any windlass, derrick, car, pump, or hoisting gear; and the miner's +claim worked by him, and not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. +6th. Two oxen, horses, or mules and their harness and food for one +month, and one cart, wagon, dray, truck, coupe, hack, or carriage for +one or two horses, by the use of which a cartman, drayman, truckman, +huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer habitually earns +his living, and one horse, vehicle, and harness used by physician, +surgeon, constable, or minister of the gospel in the legitimate practice +of his profession or business, with food for such animal for one month. +7th. One fishing boat and net not exceeding the value of five hundred +dollars, the property of any fisherman, by the lawful use of which he +earns a livelihood. 8th. Poultry worth not more than seventy-five +dollars. 9th. Seamen and seagoing fishermen's wages and earnings not +exceeding three hundred dollars. 10th. Earnings for personal service +rendered within thirty days of levy, if the defendant swears they are +necessary for the use of his family residing in the State, and supported +in whole or in part by his labor; but only one-half of such earnings are +exempt where the debt is for necessaries of life. 11th. Shares in +homestead associations, not exceeding in value one thousand dollars, if +the debtor has not a homestead selected. 12th. Nautical instruments and +wearing apparel of any master, officer, or seamen of any vessel. 13th. +All moneys, benefits, etc., accruing or growing out of any life +insurance, if the annual premiums paid do not exceed five hundred +dollars; if they exceed that sum, a like exemption exists, which shall +bear the same proportion to the money, immunities, etc., so accruing or +growing out of such insurance that five hundred dollars bears to the +whole annual premiums paid. 14th. All fire-engines, etc. 15th. All +firearms, etc., required by law to be kept by any person, and one gun +selected by the debtor. 17th. All material not exceeding one thousand +dollars purchased in good faith for use in or about to be applied in +good faith to the construction, alteration, or repair of any building, +mining claim, or other improvement entered upon a judgment recovered, +for its price or foreclosure of a mortgage thereon. 18th. All machinery, +etc., necessary for constructing surface or artesian wells to the value +of one thousand dollars. 19th. Shares of stock in any building and loan +association to one thousand dollars. 20th. Moneys derived from United +States pension. + + +COLORADO. + +Every householder, being the head of a family, is entitled to a +homestead of the value of two thousand dollars exempt from execution and +attachment while such homestead is occupied by the owner or his or her +family. Entry of homestead is made by writing the word "homestead" on +the margin of the recorded title thereof, attested by the recorder with +date of entry. There is also exempt from execution and attachment the +necessary wearing apparel of every person, and the following property of +a person being the head of a family: Family pictures, school-books, and +library, a seat or pew in any house of public worship, the sites of +burial for the dead, all wearing apparel of the debtor and his family, +all beds, bedsteads, and bedding, kept and used for the debtor and his +family, all stoves and appendages kept for the use of the debtor or his +family, all cooking utensils, and all the household furniture not above +enumerated not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, the provisions +for the debtor and his family necessary for six months, and fuel +necessary for six months. The tools and implements or stock in trade of +any mechanic, miner, or other person not exceeding two hundred dollars +in value, the library and implements of any professional man not +exceeding three hundred dollars in value, one bicycle, one +sewing-machine, working animals of any person to the value of two +hundred dollars, one cow and calf, ten sheep, and food for same for six +months, one farm wagon, cart or dray, one plow, one harrow, and other +farming implements, including harness and tackle for team not exceeding +fifty dollars in value. If the head of the family dies the family is +entitled to the exemption. There is also exemption from levy on +execution, attachment, or garnishment sixty per cent. of the amount, due +at the time of levy, of wages or earnings of the head of the family or +his wife when such family resides in the State and is dependent in whole +or in part, upon such earnings, and all wages are exempt when they do +not exceed five dollars per week. + +Pension money received from the United States is exempt from all legal +process, whether in the actual possession of the pensioner, deposited or +loaned, and whether the pensioner be the head of a family or not. This +exemption runs to the pensioner's wife and children, or either of them, +in case of his death or absconding. + + +CONNECTICUT. + +The following property shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by +warrant or execution, namely: of the property of any person, his +necessary apparel and bedding, and household furniture necessary for +supporting life, arms, militia equipments, uniforms, or musical +instruments owned by any member of the militia for military purposes, +any pension moneys received from the United States while in the hands of +the pensioner, implements of the debtor's trade, his library not +exceeding five hundred dollars in value, one cow not exceeding one +hundred and fifty dollars in value, any number of sheep not exceeding +ten nor exceeding in all one hundred and fifty dollars in value, two +swine and two hundred pounds of pork, and poultry not exceeding +twenty-five dollars in value; of the property of any one person having a +wife or family, twenty-five bushels of charcoal, two tons of other coal, +two hundred pounds of wheat flour, two cord of wood, two tons of hay, +two hundred pounds each of beef and fish, five bushels each of potatoes +and turnips, ten bushels each of Indian corn and rye, and the meal or +flour manufactured therefrom, twenty pounds each of wool and flax, or +the yarn or cloth made therefrom; the horse of any practicing physician +or surgeon of a value not exceeding two hundred dollars, and his saddle, +bridle, harness, buggy, and bicycle; one boat owned by one person and +used by him in the business of planting or taking oyster or clams, or +taking shad, together with the sails, tackle, rigging and implements +used in said business not exceeding in value two hundred dollars; one +sewing-machine, being the property of any one person using it or having +a family; one pew, being the property of any person having a family, who +ordinarily occupy it; and lots in any burying ground appropriated by its +proprietors for the burial of any person or family. So much of any debt +which has accrued by reason of the personal services of the debtor as +shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, including wages due for the +personal services of any minor child under the age of twenty-one years, +shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by foreign attachment or +execution. + +Any person owning and actually occupying any dwelling and real estate +can file for record, in same manner as a deed, a declaration that he +occupies and intends to occupy said dwelling and real estate as a +homestead, and from the filing such declaration said property, to the +value of one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from execution so long as +actually occupied by the owner as a dwelling, and only the excess in +value above one thousand dollars can be set off. (Gen. Stat. 1902 Sec. +4065, 4066.) + +Money due on insurance losses for exempt property, whether real or +personal, are also exempt. + + +DELAWARE. + +Family Bible, school-books, and family pictures, seat or pew in church, +lot in burial ground, all wearing apparel of debtor and family, and in +addition to above tools, implements, and fixtures necessary to carry on +a trade or business, not exceeding seventy-five dollars in New Castle +and Sussex Counties and fifty dollars in Kent County. There is exempted +to the Head of a family, in addition to above, other personal property +(goods and chattels of a merchantable character bought to be sold and +trafficked in by the debtor in the transaction of his or her business or +occupation, excepted) not exceeding two hundred dollars in New Castle +County, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars in Kent County, +and in the latter county consisting of household goods only; but there +is no such additional exemption in Sussex County, and there is no such +additional exemption when such exemption would prevent the collection of +a debt due or growing due for labor or services (other than professional +services) rendered by any clerk, mechanic, or other employee of the +debtor. Sewing-machines owned and used by seamstresses or private +families are exempt from execution on attachment process, and also from +distress for rent. In New Castle County ninety per cent. of all wages +are exempt from execution attachment, except for board, lodging, or +both, not exceeding fifty dollars. Widows in all cases shall have the +benefit of the same exemption out of the husband's goods that the +husband would have had if living. Funeral expenses, reasonable bills for +medicine and medical attendance, nursing, and necessaries of last +sickness, are paid out of personality of a deceased person before there +is any application to the execution. Above exemptions extended to +distress for rent. + + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. + +The following property is exempt from execution: Wearing apparel +belonging to all persons and to all heads of families being +householders; beds, bedding, household furniture, stoves, cooking +utensils, etc., not exceeding three hundred dollars in value; provisions +for three months' support, whether provided or growing; fuel for three +months; mechanics' tools and implements of professional man or artist to +value of three hundred dollars; one horse, one mule, or yoke of oxen; +one cart, one wagon or dray, and harness for such team; farming +utensils, with food for such team for three months, and if the debtor be +a farmer, any other farming tools of value of one hundred dollars; all +family pictures and all family library not exceeding in value four +hundred dollars; one cow, one swine, six sheep. (Sec. 1105, Code.) + +The earnings, not to exceed one hundred dollars each month, of all +actual residents of the District of Columbia, and who are married +persons or who have to provide for the support of a family in the +District, for two months next proceeding the issuing of any writ or +process from any court or justice of the peace, or other officer of and +in the District against them, shall be exempt from attachment, levy, +seizure, or sale upon such process; and the same shall not be seized, +levied on, or taken, reached or sold by attachment, execution, or in any +other process or proceedings of any court, judge, justice of the peace, +or other officer of and in the District. (Sec. 1107, Code.) + + +FLORIDA. + +Article X of the constitution of 1885 provides as follows: "Sec. 1. A +homestead to the extent of one hundred and sixty acres of land, or the +half of one acre within the limits of any incorporated city or town, +owned by the head of the family residing in this State, together with +one thousand dollars' worth of personal property, and the improvements +on the real estate, shall be exempt from forced sale under process of +any court, and the real estate shall not be alienable without the joint +consent of husband and wife, when that relation exists. But no property +shall be exempt from sale for taxes or assessments or for payment of +obligations contracted for the purchase of said property, or for the +erection or repair of improvements on the real estate exempted, or for +house, field or other labor performed on the same. The exemption herein +provided for in a city or town shall not extend to more improvements or +buildings than the residence and business house of the owner; and no +judgment or decree or execution shall be a lien upon exempted property +except as provided in this article. Sec. 2. The exemptions provided for +in section one shall insure to the widow and heirs of the party entitled +to such exemption, and shall apply to all debts, except as specified in +said section. Sec. 3. The exemptions provided for in the constitution of +this State adopted in 1868 shall apply as to all debts contracted and +judgments rendered since the adoption thereof and prior to the adoption +of this constitution. Sec. 4. Nothing in this article shall be construed +to prevent the holder of a homestead from alienating his or her +homestead so exempted by deed or mortgage duly executed by himself or +herself, and by husband and wife, if such relation exists, nor, if the +holder be without children, to prevent him or her from disposing of his +or her homestead by will, in a manner prescribed by law. Sec. 5. No +homestead provided for in Section 1 shall be reduced in area on account +of its being subsequently included within the limits of an incorporated +city or town, without the consent of the owner." + + +GEORGIA. + +The Constitution of 1877 provided: "There shall be exempt from levy and +sale, by virtue of any process whatever, under the laws of this State, +except as hereinafter excepted, of the property of every head of a +family, or guardian, or trustee of a family of minor children or every +aged or infirm person having the care and support of dependant female of +any age, who is not the head of a family, realty or personalty or both, +to the value in the aggregate of sixteen hundred dollars. No court or +ministerial officer in this State shall ever have jurisdiction or +authority to enforce any judgment, execution, or decree against the +property set apart for such purpose, including such improvements as may +be made thereon from time to time, except for taxes, for the +purchase-money of the same, for labor done thereon, for material +furnished therefor, or for the removal of incumbrances thereon. The +debtor shall have the power to waive or renounce in writing his right to +this benefit of exemption except as to wearing apparel and not exceeding +three hundred dollars' worth of household and kitchen furniture and +provision, to be selected by himself and his wife, if any, and he shall +not, after it is set apart, alienate or incumber the property so +exempted, but it may be sold by the debtor and his wife, if any, +jointly, with the sanction of the judge of the superior court of the +county where the debtor resides or the land is situated, the proceeds to +be reinvested upon the same uses." The act of 1878 carries out these +provisions. + + +HAWAII. + +The following property is exempt from execution, attachment, distress, +and forced sale: 1st. All necessary household, table, and kitchen +furniture, one sewing-machine, crockery, tin and plated ware, calabashes +and mats, family portraits and photographs and their necessary frames, +wearing apparel, bedding, household linen, and provision for household +use for three months. 2nd. Farming implements and utensils not exceeding +five hundred dollars in value; two horses or mules, and their harness +and their food for one month; one horse, one set of single harness, and +one vehicle of any person who is maimed or crippled. 3d. The tools or +implements of a mechanic or artisan necessary to carry on his trade; the +instruments and chest of a physician, dentist, or surveyor necessary to +the exercise of his profession, together with his necessary office +furniture and fixture; the necessary office furniture, fixtures, blanks, +stationery, and office equipment of attorneys and judges, ministers of +the gospel and rabbis; the typewriter, one desk, and six chairs of a +stenographer or typewriter; the musical instruments of every teacher of +music, used in giving instruction; one bicycle used in carrying on of +one's business or transporting him to and from his place of business; +the fishing nets, dips and seines, and the boats with their tackle and +equipment, of every fisherman. 4th. The horses or mules and their +harness, one cart, wagon, or stage, one dray or truck, one coupe, hack +or carriage for one or two horses, by use of which a cartman, drayman, +truckster, huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer earns +his living; and one horse and harness and one vehicle used by a +physician, surgeon, or minister of the gospel in the practice or +exercise of his profession. 5th. The nautical instruments and wearing +apparel of every master, officer, and seaman of any steamship or other +vessel. 6th. All books, papers, pamphlets, and manuscripts, together +with book-cases, shelvings, cabinets, and other devices for holding the +same except those kept for sale by any dealer therein. 7th. One-half of +the wages due every laborer or person working for wages. 8th. The +proceeds of insurance on, and the proceeds of sale of the property +aforesaid for the period of three months after such proceeds are +received. (Sec. 1831.) There is also exempt from execution the family +Bible, family pictures, school-books, two swine or six goats, and all +necessary fish, meat, flour, and vegetables, and one piece of land where +kalo or any other vegetable is growing, not to exceed one-half acre +actually cultivated for family use, also a house lot not to exceed +one-quarter acre, and the dwelling and other buildings thereon, provided +the value thereof shall not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars. But +this exemption does not apply as against mechanics and material-men +having liens for labor or material. (Sec. 1830.) + + +INDIANA. + +Every resident householder, or resident married woman, may claim as +exempt from execution against them respectively his or her property, +real or personal, to the amount of six hundred dollars, on any debt +founded on contract made since May 31, 1879. This right exists while in +transitu from one residence to another within the State, and may be +claimed by the wife for the husband in his absence. + +The property of a resident householder, exempt from sale on execution, +may be real or personal, or both. It must be properly appraised under +direction of the officer, after receiving from the debtor a sworn +schedule of all his property, credits, effects, etc. The statute makes +ample provisions for the sale of real property where it is alone, or in +part, claimed under the exemption law, in case its value exceeds six +hundred dollars. The exemption does not effect liens for labor, +purchase-money, or realty, or taxes in any event. + + +IOWA. + +To an unmarried person not the head of a family and to non-resident +there is exempt from execution their own ordinary wearing apparel and +trunks necessary to contain the same. If the debtor is a resident of +this State, and is the head of a family, he may hold exempt from +execution the following property: Wearing apparel of himself and family +kept for actual use and suitable for their condition, and the trunks to +contain the same; one musket, or rifle, and shot-gun; all private +libraries, family Bibles, portraits, pictures, musical instruments, and +paintings, not kept for sale; a pew in church; a lot in burying ground, +not to exceed one acre; two cows and two calves; fifty sheep and the +wool therefrom, and the materials manufactured from such wool; six +stands of bees, five hogs, and all pigs under six months; poultry to the +value of fifty dollars; the necessary food for all animals exempt from +execution for six months: one bedstead and the necessary bedding for +every two in the family; all cloth manufactured by the defendant not +exceeding one hundred yards; household and kitchen furniture not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value; all spinning-wheels and looms, +one sewing-machine, and other instruments of domestic labor kept for +actual use; the necessary provisions and fuel for the use of the family +for six months; the proper tools, instruments, or books of the debtor, +if a farmer, mechanic, surveyor, clergyman, lawyer, physician, teacher, +or professor; the horse, or team consisting of not more than two horses +or mules, or two yoke of cattle, and the wagon with the proper harness +tackle, by the use of which the debtor, if a physician, public officer, +farmer, teamster, or other laborer, habitually earns his living, +otherwise one horse; and to the debtor, if a printer, there is also +exempt a printing press and the type, furniture, and material necessary +for the use of such printing press and a newspaper office connected +therewith, not to exceed in value twelve hundred dollars. But if the +debtor being the head of family, has started to leave the State, he will +have exempt only the ordinary wearing apparel of himself and family, and +seventy-five dollars' worth of property in addition, to be selected by +himself. But no exemptions shall extend to property against an execution +issued for the purchase-money thereof. The earnings of a debtor, if a +resident, and head of a family, for his personal services at any time +within ninety days next preceding the levy, are also exempt. If a debtor +is a seamstress, one sewing-machine shall be exempt from execution and +attachment. + +The homestead of every head of a family is exempt from judicial sale. It +may be sold on execution for debts contracted prior to the purchase of +such homestead; or for those created by written contract, expressly +stipulating that it is liable therefor. If within a city or town plat +it must not exceed one-half acre in extent, and if without, it must not +embrace in the aggregate more than forty acres; and in each case +embraces all the buildings and improvements thereon without limitation +as to value. Upon the death of either husband or wife, the survivor may +continue to possess and occupy the whole homestead. If there is no +survivor and no will, the homestead descends to the issue of either +husband or wife, and is to be held exempt from any antecedent debts of +their parents or their own. Money received as a pension from the United +States is exempt, whether pensioner is a head of a family or not, and a +homestead purchased with such pension money is exempt from all debts +whether contracted prior or subsequent to such purchase. The avails of +all policies of insurance on the life of any individual payable to his +surviving widow shall be exempt from liabilities for all debts of such +beneficiary contracted prior to the death of the assured, the total +exemption for any one person not exceeding five thousand dollars. + + +KANSAS. + +The Constitution provided that a "homestead to the extent of one hundred +and sixty acres of farming land, or of one acre within the limits of an +incorporated town or city, occupied as a residence by the family of the +owner, together with all the improvements on the same, shall be exempted +from forced sale under any process of law, and shall not be alienated +without the joint consent of husband and wife, when that relation +existed. By statute, each resident, being the head of a family, is +entitled to have exempt from seizure and sale, upon any judicial +process, the family books and musical instruments, a seat or pew in +church and a lot in burial ground, all wearing apparel, bedding, +bedstead, stoves and cooking utensils used by the family, one +sewing-machine, all implements of industry, five hundred dollars' worth +of other household furniture, two cows, ten hogs, one yoke of oxen, and +one horse or mule (or, in lieu of one yoke of oxen and one horse or +mule, a span of horses or mules;) twenty sheep and the wool from same; +the necessary food for the stock above described for one year, either +provided or growing; one wagon, cart or dray; two plows, one drag, and +other farming utensils including harness and tackle for team, not +exceeding in value three hundred dollars; provisions and fuel for the +support and use of the family, for one year; the necessary tools and +implements of any mechanic, minor, or other person, used and kept for +the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, and in addition +thereto stock in trade not exceeding four hundred dollars in value, and +the library, implements, and office furniture of any professional man." + +A resident, not being the head of a family, has exempt his wearing +apparel, church pew, burial lot, necessary tools and implements used in +his trade or business, stock in trade not exceeding four hundred +dollars; and, if a professional man, his library, implements, and office +furniture. (Sec. 3650.) The earnings of a debtor resident of the State +for three months are exempt when it shall be made to appear that the +same are necessary for the maintenance of a family supported wholly or +partly by his labor. (Sec. 6127.) + +So, also, the money received by any debtor as pensioner of the United +States within three months preceeding the issuing of execution, +attachment, or garnishment process must be released when it is shown in +like manner that said money is necessary for the maintenance of a family +supported wholly or in part by such pension. (Sec. 3653.) + + +IDAHO. + +Execution issue on judgment at any time within five years. Homestead, +after the same has been declared and recorded is exempt. Where the +selection is made by the husband, or, in case of his failure, by the +wife or other head of the family, such homestead may be selected to the +value of five thousand dollars, and to the value of one thousand +dollars by any other person. The declaration, properly acknowledged and +recorded, is prior to all claims against the property which were not +existing liens at the time the declaration of homestead was recorded. In +addition thereto are the following exemptions from execution: 1st. +Chairs, tables, desks, and books to the value of two hundred dollars. +2d. Necessary household furniture to the value of three hundred dollars, +wearing apparel, paintings, drawings, pictures, etc., and provisions +provided for individual or family use, sufficient for six months, two +cows and two hogs with their increase. 3d. Farmer's utensils to the +value of three hundred dollars, four horses, four oxen or four mules, +with harnesses, cart or wagon, and food for the same for six months; +waterright, not exceeding one hundred and sixty inches of water, for the +irrigation of lands annually cultivated, and crop or crops growing or +grown on fifty acres of land leased, owned, or possessed by claimant. +4th. Necessary tools or implements of a mechanic or artisan of the value +of five hundred dollars; notary's seal and records; necessary instrument +for use of surgeon, physician, surveyor, and dentist, with their +libraries; professional libraries and office furniture of attorneys, +counsellors, and judges; and the libraries of clergymen. 5th. Cabin or +dwelling of a miner, of the value of five hundred dollars, also his +sluices, pipes, hose, and other necessary tools and machinery of the +value of two hundred dollars: one saddle horse, and one pack horse, +together with their saddles and equipments, belonging to a miner +actually engaged in prospecting, of the value of two hundred and fifty +dollars. 6th. The team, wagon, or cart and harnesses of teamster or +other laborer; a horse, harness and vehicle used by physician, surgeon, +or clergyman, with food for all such animals for six months. 7th. +Earnings of judgment debtor, if necessary for his family, for services +rendered within the thirty days next proceeding levy of execution where +his family is residing in the State. 8th. Shares held by a member of a +homestead association, or building or loan association, duly +incorporated under the laws of the State, where the person holding the +shares is not the owner of the homestead, under the laws of the State. +9th. Life insurance in an amount represented by an annual premium not +exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars. 10th. Engines, apparatus, and +uniforms of a fire company or department organized under any law of the +State, 11th. Arms, uniforms, and accoutrements required by law to be +kept. + + +ILLINOIS. + +HOMESTEAD. (=Hurd, 1067.=) The farm or lot of land and buildings thereon +of every householder having a family, occupied as a residence, to the +extent in value of one thousand dollars is exempt. The exemption +continues after the death of the householder to the surviving husband or +wife so long as he or she occupies the homestead, and to the children +until the youngest becomes twenty-one years of age. But such property is +subject to taxes and debts incurred for its purchase or improvement. In +case the premises are worth more than one thousand dollars, and can be +divided without injury, a portion thereof, including the dwelling house, +of the value of one thousand dollars, is set off, and the remainder is +subject to execution and sale. If the premises cannot be divided the +property is valued by appraisers, and the debtor may pay the surplus +over one thousand dollars; otherwise the property may be sold, and the +officer having the execution pays one thousand dollars to the debtor and +the remainder is applied in satisfaction of the creditor's claim. +Substantially the same thing can be done by a court of chancery in a +proceeding to foreclose a lien. Insurance money in case of fire, is +exempt to the same extent as the property insured. Upon a conveyance of +the homestead the exemption continues to the grantee to the same extent. +The proceeds from such sale, not over one thousand dollars, are exempt +for one year, and may be invested in another homestead. The homestead +right of exemption by abandonment, may be extinguished by a conveyance +by both husband and wife, properly acknowledged by abandonment, or, in +case of right in children, by order of court of competent jurisdiction. + +PERSONAL PROPERTY.--The following personal property is exempt: 1st. The +necessary wearing apparel, Bibles, school-books, and family pictures. +2d. One hundred dollars' worth of other property to be selected by the +debtor, and in addition, when the debtor is the head of a family and +resides with the same, three hundred dollars' worth of other property to +be selected by the debtor, provided the exemption shall not be allowed +from any money, salary, or wages due the debtor. When the head of a +family dies, deserts, or does not live with the same, the exemption +continues to the family. No personal property is exempt from process +under a judgment for a debt for the wages of a laborer or servant. +Exemptions cannot be claimed out of partnership property. (=37 Ill. App. +489; 38 Ill. App. 269.=) When a debtor desires to claim exemptions he +must, within ten days after service of process and notice, schedule +under oath all his personal property of every kind, including money in +hand and debts due or owing him. Property not so scheduled is subject to +process. Appraisers are then appointed by the officer having the writ, +who place a fair value on each article. The debtor may select articles +so appraised of a total value not exceeding the amount of the exemption +allowed, the remainder being sold by the officer in satisfaction of the +debt. Money or benefits received from life or accident insurance +companies, organized under the Act of July 1, 1893, are exempt. (=Hurd, +1262.=) The wages of a wage earner, being the head of a family, and +residing with the same, are exempt from garnishment to the amount of +fifteen dollars per week. (=Hurd, 1152.=) It is made a misdemeanor to send +a claim to another State for collection out of the earnings of the +debtor by garnishment or other proceedings when the debtor is a resident +and the creditor, debtor, and garnishee are all within the jurisdiction +of the courts of Illinois, with intent to deprive the debtor of his +rights under the exemption laws of this State; or to transfer for such +purpose a claim against a citizen of Illinois. The penalty is not less +than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars. A non-resident, as to +wages earned and payable outside of this State, is allowed here the same +exemption he would be entitled to in the State of his residence. (=Hurd, +1155.=) Wages earned and payable outside of this State are exempt from +attachment or garnishment, where the cause of action arose out of the +State, unless the defendant in the attachment or garnishment suit is +personally served with process. If the defendant be not served +personally, the court or justice of the peace issuing the writ must +dismiss the suit at the cost of the plaintiff. (=Hurd, 1155.=) The law of +exemptions applies to cases of distress for rent, except as to crops +growing on the premises. (=Hurd, 1343.=) + + +KENTUCKY. + +The following personal property shall be exempt from execution, +attachment, distress, or fee bill against a person with a family +residence in this State: two work beasts, or one work beast and one yoke +of oxen, two plows and gear, one wagon and one set of gear, or cart or +dray, three hoes, one spade, one shovel, two cows and calves; beds, +bedding, and furniture sufficient for family use; one loom and +spinning-wheel and pair of cards; all the spun yarn and manufactured +cloth manufactured by the family, necessary for family use; carpeting +for all family rooms in use; one cooking-stove and all cooking utensils, +not to exceed twenty-five dollars in value; one table, all books, not to +exceed fifty dollars in value, two saddles and their appendages; two +bridles, six chairs, or so many as shall not exceed ten dollars in +value, one cradle; all the poultry on hand; ten head of sheep, not to +exceed two dollars and fifty cents in value for each sheep; all wearing +apparel; sufficient provisions including bread-stuffs and animal food to +sustain the family one year; provender suitable for live stock, if +there is any live stock, not to exceed seventy dollars in value; if +none, then other property not to exceed seventy dollars in value in lieu +thereof; all washing apparatus not to exceed fifty dollars in value; one +sewing-machine and all family portraits and pictures. And also on all +debts and liabilities created after the first day of June, 1866, so much +land, including the dwelling-house and appurtenances owned by a debtor +who is =a bona fide= housekeeper with a family resident in Kentucky, and +living on or claiming the land as a homestead, as shall not exceed in +value one thousand dollars; and on all liabilities, the libraries of +preachers, the professional libraries of lawyers, physicians, and +surgeons, and their instruments, to the amount of five hundred dollars, +and tools, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, of a mechanic. +Ninety per cent. of wages or salaries of persons earning seventy-five +dollars per month or less is exempt, the remaining ten per cent, being +subject to debts. As to persons earning more than seventy-five dollars +per month the law exempts sixty-seven dollars and fifty cents per month +and holds the balance subject to debts. + + +LOUISIANA. + +Homesteads are exempt from seizure. They consist of not exceeding one +hundred and sixty acres of land, buildings, and appurtenances, whether +rural or urban, bona fidely occupied by the head of a family, or persons +dependent upon him or her for support, and exist without registration. +The homestead also includes certain farm implements and animals, +together with a certain quantity of fodder, corn, etc. Homestead cannot +exceed two thousand dollars in value. If so, the beneficiary shall be +entitled to that amount only in case of a sale of the homestead under +legal process. No husband shall have the benefit of a homestead whose +wife owns or is in actual possession of property to the amount of two +thousand dollars. The benefit of this exemption may be claimed by the +surviving spouse or minor children of a deceased beneficiary. Laborer's +wages, the clothes belonging to the debtor or his wife, his bed, the +beds of his family, his arms and military accoutrements, the tools and +instruments necessary for the exercise of the trade or profession by +which he gains a living, the rights of personal servitude, use, and +habitation, the usufruct to the estate of a minor child, the income of +dotal property, the books and sewing-machine necessary for the exercise +of one's calling, trade, or profession by which the owner makes a +living, the salary of an officer, cooking-stove and utensils, plates, +forks, etc., dining-table, chairs, wash-tubs, smoothing-irons and +ironing furnaces, family portraits and musical instruments played on by +any member of the family, are exempt from seizure. Whenever the widow or +minor children of a deceased person are left in necessitous +circumstances, they shall be entitled to demand and receive from the +succession of their deceased husband or father a sum, which, added to +the amount of property owned by them or either of them in their own +right, will make up the sum of one thousand dollars, which shall be paid +in preference to all other debts, except vendor's privilege and expenses +incurred in selling the property. + + +MAINE. + +The following =personal property= is exempt from attachment and levy: +Wearing apparel, household furniture necessary for himself, wife, and +children not exceeding one hundred dollars in value, and one bedstead, +bed and bedding for each two members, family portraits, Bibles, +school-books in actual use; copy of State statutes, library worth one +hundred and fifty dollars, pew in use, one cooking and all iron-warming +stoves, charcoal, twelve cords of wood at home for use; five tons of +anthracite and fifty bushels of bituminous coal, ten dollars' worth of +lumber, wood or bark, all produce till harvested, one barrel flour, +thirty bushels of corn, grain, all potatoes raised or bought and +necessary for debtor or his family, half an acre of flax and +manufactures therefrom for use of himself or family, tools of trade, +fifty dollars' worth of materials and stock procured and necessary for +trade or business and intended to be used in same, sewing-machine worth +one hundred dollars, one pair of working cattle, or one pair of horses +or mules worth three hundred dollars, and hay to keep them through the +winter, one harness worth twenty dollars for each horse or mule; a horse +sled or ox sled, two swine, one cow, and a heifer under three years, or +two cows if no oxen, horse, or mule, ten sheep with their wool and lambs +until one year old, hay sufficient to keep them through the winter, +fifty dollars' worth of domestic fowl, one plow, one cart or truck wagon +or one express wagon, one harrow, one yoke with bows, ring, and staple, +two chains, one ox sled, one mowing machine, one boat of two tons +employed in fishing and owned exclusively by an inhabitant of the State, +life and accident policies except excess of annual cash premiums for two +years above one hundred and fifty dollars. Also two shares in loan and +building associations, also the receipts of certain agricultural +societies until their expenses, purses, and premiums are paid, provided +the same are paid within three months from close of fair. + +REAL ESTATE.--Lot of land and buildings worth five hundred dollars, if +owner files required certificate in registry of deeds, is exempt as a +homestead from all attachments except for liens of mechanics and +material men; also one cemetery lot. + + +MARYLAND. + +In Maryland the sheriff cannot take in execution wearing apparel, +mechanical text-books, or books of professional men, or mechanical or +professional men's tools (except books and tools kept for sale). And, +except under executions issued upon judgments for seduction or breach of +promise of marriage, he must also leave one hundred dollars' worth of +other property, to be selected by the defendant, or, if one hundred +dollars' worth cannot be conveniently set aside, pay him one hundred +dollars out of the proceeds of sale. Also money payable in the nature of +insurance for accident, death, etc. + + +MASSACHUSETTS. + +The following exemptions of personal property are allowed: 1st. The +necessary wearing apparel of the debtor and his wife and children, and +household necessaries to a limited amount. 2d. Other household furniture +necessary for him and his family, not exceeding three hundred dollars in +value. 3d. The Bibles, school-books, and library used by him or his +family, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 4th. One cow, six sheep, +one swine, and two tons of hay. 5th. The tools, implements, and fixtures +necessary for carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding one +hundred dollars in value. 6th. Materials and stock for carrying on his +trade or business, and intended to be used or wrought therein, not +exceeding one hundred dollars in value. 7th. The provisions necessary +for the use of the family, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 8th. +One pew occupied by him or his family in a house of public worship; but +this does not prevent the sale of a pew for the non-payment of a tax +legally laid thereon. 9th. The boat, fishing tackle, and nets of +fishermen, actually used by them in the prosecution of their business, +to the value of one hundred dollars. 10th. The uniform of an officer or +soldier in the militia, and the arms and accoutrements required by law +to be kept by him. 11th. Rights of burial and tombs while in use as +repositories for the dead. 12th. One sewing-machine, not exceeding one +hundred dollars in value in actual use by the debtor or by his family. +13th. Shares in co-operative associations formed under the Revised Laws, +ch. 110, not exceeding in value twenty dollars in the aggregate. + +Every householder having a family is entitled to an estate or homestead +to the value of eight hundred dollars exempt from levy on execution, if +proper steps have been taken, by deed recorded in the registry of deed +of the county where it is situated, to declare it a homestead. + + +MICHIGAN. + +The laws of this State exempt from sale on execution to every +householder a homestead not exceeding forty acres of land and the house +thereon, if in the country, or a house and lot in any city or village +not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars. A married householder +cannot sell or encumber such homestead without the consent of his wife. + +Of personal property, the laws exempt from sale on execution various +articles, such as seats in churches, cemeteries, tombs, and right of +burial, all arms and accoutrements, and all wearing apparel of every +person and his family, the library and school-books of every individual +and family, not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, and all family +pictures. To each householder, ten sheep and their fleeces, two cows, +five swine, and provisions and fuel sufficient to keep such householder +and family six months. To each householder all household goods, +furniture, and utensils, not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars in +value. The tools, implements, material stock, apparatus, team (either +one yoke of oxen, a horse or pair of horses, as the case may be), +vehicle, horses harness, or other things to enable any person to carry +on the profession, trade, occupation, or business in which he is wholly +or principally engaged, not exceeding in value two hundred and fifty +dollars, and also one sewing-machine; and a sufficient quantity of hay, +grain, feed, etc., to keep the animals enumerated for six months. Only +household goods, library, pictures, rights in cemeteries, and one cow +and provisions, and fuel for one month, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value, are exempt from execution issued on judgment for +labor. No lien can be created by mortgage or otherwise on any of the +above property, except on profession, etc., without the consent of the +wife, if he have one, by signing such mortgage or lien. + +If a person entitled to the benefit of a homestead shall die, his widow +or minor children shall have the same benefit during the time they +continue to occupy the same. + + +MINNESOTA. + +Family Bible, family pictures, school-books or library, and musical +instruments for use of family; seat or pew in any house or place of +public worship; a lot in a burial ground; all wearing apparel of debtor +and family, all beds, bedding, and bedsteads kept and used by debtor and +used by debtor and his family; all stoves and appendages put up or kept +for use of debtor and family; all cooking utensils, and all other +household furniture not herein enumerated, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value. + +As to debtors residing in this State only: Three cows; ten swine; one +yoke of oxen and a horse, or in lieu thereof a span of horses or mules; +twenty sheep and the wool from same; necessary food for such stock for +one year, provided or growing, or both; one wagon, cart, or dray, one +sleigh, two plows, one drag, and other farming utensils, including +tackle for teams, not exceeding three hundred dollars in value; +provisions for debtor and family for one year's support, provided or +growing, or both, and one year's fuel; the tools and instruments of a +mechanic, miner, or other person, used and kept for the purpose of +carrying on his trade, and stock in trade not exceeding four hundred +dollars; library and implements of a professional man; the presses, +stones, type, cases, and other tools and implements used by any person +or co-partnership, in printing or publishing a newspaper, not to exceed +two thousand dollars in value, together with stock in trade not +exceeding four hundred dollars in value; one watch, one sewing-machine, +one bicycle, one typewriter; necessary seed for personal use of debtor +for one season not exceeding one hundred bushels of wheat, one hundred +bushels barley, one hundred bushels potatoes, one hundred bushels oats, +one hundred bushels flax, and ten bushels corn, and binding material for +use in harvesting crop raised from such seed; the library and apparatus +of and used by any public college or school; moneys from insurance on +exempt property; life insurance not exceeding ten thousand dollars +payable to wife or child on life of deceased husband or father; moneys +or benefits payable by a police or fire department, beneficiary, or +fraternal benefit association, to any person entitled to assistance +therefrom, or beneficiary under certificate thereof; wages not exceeding +twenty-five dollars due from services rendered during thirty days +preceding attachment, garnishment, or levy of execution; earnings of a +minor child of debtor, by reason of liability of debtor not contracted +for the special benefit of such minor; claim for damages, and judgment +thereon by reason of levy on or sale under execution of exempt personal +property or the wrongful taking or detention of such property. If within +an incorporated place of less than five thousand inhabitants, one-half +acre, of more than five thousand inhabitants, one-third acre. Surviving +or deserted spouse and minor children are entitled to the exemption. As +to debts created prior to March 1, 1906, exemption continues. + + +MISSISSIPPI. + +A homestead to every citizen of the State, male or female, being a +householder and having a family, not to exceed two thousand dollars in +value in country, or three thousand in town, nor one hundred and sixty +acres in extent; this exemption is forfeitable, if the debtor cease to +reside on the place, unless his removal be temporary. + +The following property of each head of a family is also exempt: 1st. Two +work-horses, or mules, and one yoke of oxen. 2d. Two heads of cows and +calves. 3d. Ten hogs. 4th. Twenty sheep and goats each. 5th. All +poultry. 6th. All colts under three years, raised in this State by +debtors. 7th. Two hundred and fifty bushels of corn. 8th. Ten bushels of +wheat or rice. 9th. Five hundred pounds of pork, bacon, or other meat. +10th. One hundred bushels of cottonseed. 11th. One wagon, and one buggy +or cart, and one set of harness for each. 12th. Five hundred bundles of +fodder and one thousand pounds of hay. 13th. Forty gallons of sorghum or +molasses or cane syrup. 14th. one thousand stalks of sugar-cane. 15th. +One molasses-mills and equipments, not exceeding one hundred and fifty +dollars in value. 16th. Two bridles and one saddle, and one side-saddle. +17th. One sewing-machine. 18th. Household and kitchen furniture not +exceeding in value two hundred dollars. 19th. All family portraits. +20th. One mower and rake. 21st. Wages to amount of fifty dollars per +month. + +The following property is also exempt to any person: 1st. The tools of a +mechanic necessary for carrying on his trade. 2nd. Agricultural +implements of a farmer necessary for two male laborers. 3d. The +implements of a laborer necessary in his usual employment. 4th. The +books of a student necessary for the completion of his education. 5th. +Wearing apparel. 6th. Libraries and pictures of all persons not +exceeding five hundred dollars in value. 7th. Instruments of surgeons +and dentists, used in their professions, not exceeding two hundred and +fifty dollars in value. 8th. The arms and accoutrements of each +militiaman. 9th. All globes and maps used by teachers of schools, +academies and colleges. 10th. The proceeds of insurance on, or the sale +of, exempt property. + + +MISSOURI. + +Certain animals, implements, and domestic furniture and wearing apparel, +as specified by the statute, is exempt from execution and attachment +when owned by the head of a family. Wearing apparel and the necessary +tools and implements of trade of any mechanic, while carrying on his +trade, are exempt from execution when owned by a person not the head of +a family. Every householder or head of a family is entitled to have +exempt from execution and attachment the homestead occupied by him, not +exceeding in value three thousand dollars in cities of over forty +thousand inhabitants, and not exceeding in quantity eighteen square rods +of ground. In cities having less than forty thousand and not less than +ten thousand inhabitants the homestead cannot exceed in value fifteen +hundred dollars nor thirty square rods of ground; in cities having less +than ten thousand inhabitants, five acres and not exceeding in value +fifteen hundred dollars; and one hundred and sixty acres of land in the +country, not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars. + + +MONTANA. + +Exemptions are as follows: All clothing of the debtor and family, and +chairs, tables, desks, and books to the value of two hundred dollars; +also all necessary household, table and kitchen furniture, of the +judgment debtor, including one sewing-machine, stove, stove-pipe, and +stove furniture heating apparatus, beds, bedding and bedsteads and +provisions and fuel for individual or family use, sufficient for three +months; one horse, saddle and bridle, two cows with their calves, four +hogs, and fifty domestic fowl, and feed for such animals for three +months; one clock, and all family pictures. In addition to the above, +there is exempt to a farmer his farming utensils not exceeding six +hundred dollars in value, two oxen, or two horses or mules and their +harness, one cart or wagon, and food for such stock for three months; +two hundred dollars' worth of seed, grain, or vegetables actually +provided for the purpose of sowing or planting. The proper tools, +instruments, or books of any mechanic, physician, dentist, lawyer, or +clergyman, and office furniture. To a miner his dwelling and all his +tools and machinery necessary for carrying on his avocation, not to +exceed in value the aggregate sum of one thousand dollars, and also one +horse or mule, and its harness, with its food for three months, in case +such stock is used in working his mining claim. One horse, mule, or two +oxen, vehicle and harness, by which the debtor habitually earns his +living, and one horse with vehicle and harness, of physician or +clergyman, used in making professional visits, with food for such stock +for three months. All arms, uniforms, etc., required by law to be kept +by any person. The wages of the debtor earned at any time within thirty +days next preceding the levy, provided they are necessary for the use of +his family, residing in the State, supported wholly or in part by his +labor. All moneys growing out of life insurance. These exemptions are +restricted to married persons or to persons who are the heads of +families, and only the wearing apparel of an unmarried person is exempt +to him. None but =bona fide residents= can claim the benefit of this law. +A homestead not to exceed in value the sum of twenty-five hundred +dollars, if agriculture land it is not to exceed one hundred and sixty +acres. If within the limits of a town, plat, city, or village, not to +exceed one-fourth of an acre. The debtor has his option of the two and +may select either, with all improvements thereon, which are included in +the valuation. + + +NEBRASKA. + +There is exempt from judicial sale to every family, whether owned by the +husband or wife, a homestead, not exceeding in value two thousand +dollars, consisting of dwelling-house in which claimant resides, and its +appurtenances, and land on which same is situated not exceeding one +hundred and sixty acres, or if within an incorporated city or village a +quantity of contiguous land not exceeding two lots. Or in case debtor +has no lands, there is exempt from execution five hundred dollars in +personal property. If title to homestead is in wife it is exempt, and in +such cases the head of the family is not entitled to exemption of five +hundred dollars in personality. Nor is he if his title is simply a +contract for sale. The clothing of the family, family supplies for six +months, supplies for domestic animals for three months, furniture, +family Bible and picture books, cooking utensils, certain domestic +animals, tools, implements of trade, etc., are exempt; also sixty days +wages to any laboring man, clerk, etc., who is the head of a family; +provided that there is no exemption from attachment or execution for +wages due to any clerk, laborer or mechanic. All pension money of United +States soldiers and sailors, and property purchased and improved +thereby, is exempt. The phrase "head of a family," as used in this +chapter includes within its meaning: 1. The husband, when the claimant +is a married person. 2d. Every person who has resided on the premises +with him or her, and under his care and maintenance, either: 1st. His or +her minor child, or the minor child of his or her deceased wife or +husband. 2d. A minor brother or sister, or the minor child of a deceased +brother or sister. 3d. A father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother. +4th. The father or mother, grandfather or grandmother of a deceased +husband or wife. 5th. An unmarried sister, or any other of the relatives +mentioned in this section who have attained the age of majority and are +unable to take care of or support themselves. + + +NEVADA. + +The following property is exempt from execution except upon a judgment +for the purchase-money or upon a mortgage thereon: Chairs, tables, +desks, and books to the value of one hundred dollars; necessary +household and kitchen furniture, wearing apparel, etc., and provisions +and fire-wood actually provided sufficient for one month, farming +utensils, or implements of husbandry, and seed provided for planting +within the ensuing six months, not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars; two horses, two oxen, or two mules, and two cows and food for +one month for such animals, and one cart or wagon; the tools of a +mechanic necessary to his trade; the instruments and libraries of a +surgeon, physician, surveyor, or dentist; the professional library of an +attorney and counsellor, or minister of the gospel; the dwelling of a +miner not exceeding in value five hundred dollars, also his tools and +appliances necessary to carry on his mining operations, not exceeding in +value five hundred dollars; and two horses, two oxen, or two mules, and +their harness and one cart or wagon, by the use of which a teamster or +laborer habitually earns his living; one horse harness, and vehicle, of +a physician or surgeon, or minister of the gospel, and food for such +animal for one month. For every livery stable keeper, two horses or +mules, with vehicle and harness, provided the whole shall not exceed in +value five hundred dollars; one sewing-machine in actual use in the +debtor's family, not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; +all fire engines and property of fire companies; all arms, etc., +required by law to be kept by any person; a homestead to be selected by +the husband or wife, or other head of a family, not exceeding in value +five thousand dollars; the earnings of the debtor not exceeding fifty +dollars for his personal services for the calendar month during, or +immediately preceding, that in which process has been issued, where such +earnings are necessary for the use of a family supported wholly or +partly by the labor of the debtor. + + +NEW HAMPSHIRE. + +The following goods and property are exempt from attachment, and from +liability to be taken upon execution: Necessary wearing apparel of the +debtor and his family; household furniture to the value of one hundred +dollars; one cooking-stove and its furniture; one sewing-machine; Bibles +and school books in actual use; library to the value of two hundred +dollars; one cow, six sheep and their fleeces, one hog, one pig, and the +pork of same when slaughtered; domestic fowls, not exceeding in value +fifty dollars; four tons of hay; provisions and fuel to the value of +fifty dollars; tools of his occupation to the value of one hundred +dollars; beasts of the plow, not exceeding a yoke of oxen or a horse; +the uniform, arms, and equipments of every officer or private in the +militia; the debtor's interest in one pew in any meeting house, and in +one lot in any cemetery. Damages recovered for conversion of property +exempt are also exempt. The wife, widow, and children of any person who +is the owner of a homestead, or any interest therein, are entitled to so +much thereof as does not exceed in value five hundred dollars as against +creditors, grantees, or heirs of such person during the life of the wife +or widow and minority of the children. A homestead of the value of five +hundred dollars is also exempt to an unmarried person owning the same. +(P. S. ch. 138.) + + +NEW JERSEY. + +All goods and chattels, not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred +dollars exclusive of wearing apparel, and all wearing apparel the +property of any debtor having a family residing in this State, are +exempt from seizure by virtue of execution or other civil process except +for the purchase money. (Gen. Statutes, p. 1421.) In addition thereto, +by conforming to the provisions of the homestead exemption act, the lot +and buildings thereon occupied as a residence and owned by the debtor, +being a householder and having a family, to the value of one thousand +dollars, may be exempted from sale or execution for debt. (Gen. +Statutes, pp. 2297-2298.) + + +NEW MEXICO. + +Every person who has a family may hold the following property exempt +from execution, attachment, or sale: The wearing apparel of such person +or family; the beds, bedsteads, and bedding necessary for the use of the +same; one cooking-stove and pipe; one stove and pipe used for warming +the dwelling; fuel sufficient for sixty days; one cow, or if the debtor +owns no cow, household furniture not exceeding forty dollars in value; +two swine or the pork therefrom, or, if the debtor owns no swine, +household furniture not exceeding fifteen dollars in value; six sheep, +the wool shorn from them and the cloth or other articles manufactured +therefrom, or, in lieu thereof, household furniture not exceeding twenty +dollars in value; sufficient food for such animals for sixty days; +Bibles, hymn-books, psalm-books, testaments, school and miscellaneous +books used in the family, and all family pictures; provisions provided +and designed for the use of such person or family; not exceeding fifty +dollars in value; and such other articles of household and kitchen +furniture, or either, necessary for such person or family, not exceeding +two hundred dollars in value; one sewing-machine, one knitting-machine, +one gun or pistol, and the tools or implements of debtor necessary for +carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding one hundred and fifty +dollars in value; the personal earnings of debtor for sixty days next +preceding his application for such exemption, when necessary for the +support of such debtor or his family; all articles, specimens in +cabinets of natural history or science, except such as may be intended +for exhibition for pecuniary gain; if engaged in agriculture; two horses +or one yoke of cattle, with the necessary gearing for the same, and one +wagon; if a doctor, one horse, one saddle and bridle, professional +books, medicines and instruments not exceeding one hundred dollars in +value; if a lawyer professional books not exceeding five hundred dollars +in value; every person engaged in the business of draying, or carrying +property from place to place with one horse and wagon, shall hold one +horse, harness, dray, or wagon also exempt from execution. Every +unmarried woman may hold exempt from execution, etc., wearing apparel +not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; one +sewing-machine, one knitting-machine; if engaged in teaching music, one +piano or organ; a Bible, hymn-book, psalm-book, album, and any other +books not exceeding in value fifty dollar; any beneficiary fund, not +exceeding five thousand dollars, set apart or paid by any benevolent +association to a family of a deceased member, or to any member of such +family, shall not be liable for the debts of such deceased member. +Husband and wife, widow or widower, living with an unmarried daughter, +or unmarried minor son, may hold exempt from sale or judgment of a +family homestead not exceeding one thousand dollars in value. Any head +of a family not the owner of a homestead may hold exempt from levy and +sale real or personal property not exceeding five hundred dollars in +value in addition to the chattel property otherwise by law exempted. + + +NEW YORK. + +Necessary household furniture, working tools and team, professional +instruments, furniture and library (not exceeding in value two hundred +and fifty dollars); groceries actually provided for family use, and +ninety days necessary food for team, in addition to certain other +specified articles, when owned by householder, are exempt from levy and +sale under execution. A private burying-ground not exceeding one-quarter +of an acre, is also exempt. Insurance money, etc., paid or to be paid to +a member, or the widow of a member of a life or casualty corporation +doing business upon the co-operative or assessment plan, cannot be +reached for any debt or liability incurred before such money, etc., was +paid. The lot and buildings, not exceeding one thousand dollars in +value, owned and occupied by a householder having a family are exempted, +if designated and recorded as homestead property in the office of the +clerk of the county where it is situated. Such exemption continues after +the owner's death for the benefit of the widow and family, so long as +any of them continue to occupy such homestead, until the death of the +widow and the majority of the youngest child. A married woman is +entitled to the same homestead as a householder having a family. + + +NORTH CAROLINA. + +Personal property to the value of five hundred dollars, to be selected +by any resident of the State, is exempt from execution; and also a +homestead, and the dwelling and building, not exceeding one thousand +dollars, to be selected by the owner thereof; or, in lieu thereof, any +lot in a city, town, or village, with the dwelling and buildings used +thereon, owned and occupied by any resident of the State, not exceeding +the value of one thousand dollars. + + +NORTH DAKOTA. + +The following property is absolutely exempt to the head of a family from +attachment or mesne process, and from levy and sale on execution, and +from any other final process issued from any court: All family pictures; +a pew or other sitting in any house of worship; a lot or lots in any +burial-ground; the family Bible, and all school books used by the +family, and other books used as a part of the family library, not +exceeding in value one hundred dollars; all wearing apparel of the +debtor and his family; the provisions for the debtor and his family +necessary for one year's supply either provided or growing, or both, and +fuel necessary for one year; the homestead, as defined, created, and +limited by law. In addition to the above mentioned property, the head of +a family may, by himself or his agent, select from all other of his +personal property, not absolutely exempt, goods, chattels, merchandise, +money, or other personal property, not to exceed in the aggregate one +thousand dollars in value, which is also exempt. The library and +instruments of any professional person, not exceeding six hundred +dollars in value. + + +OHIO. + +Every unmarried woman may hold the following property exempt from +execution, attachment, or sale, to satisfy any judgment, decree, or +debt, to wit: 1st. Wearing apparel, not exceeding one hundred dollars in +value. 2d. One sewing-machine. 3d. One knitting-machine. 4th. Bible, +etc., and other books not exceeding in value twenty-five dollars. Every +person who has a family, and every widow, can hold exempt from +execution, attachment, or sale from any debt, damage, fine, or +amercment: 1st. Wearing apparel of such person or family necessary beds, +etc., two stoves, and fuel for sixty days. 2d. Certain domestic animals, +and their feed for sixty days, or, in lieu of such as the debtor has +not, household furniture of equal value, amounting, in the aggregate to +sixty-five dollars. 3d. Family books and pictures. 4th. Provisions to +the amount of fifty dollars, and other necessary household furniture to +the amount of fifty dollars. 5th. One sewing-machine, one +knitting-machine, the tools and implements of debtor necessary for +carrying on his or her trade or business, whether mechanical or +agricultural, to the amount of one hundred dollars 6th. The personal +earnings of debtor or minor child for three months previous to the +issuing of the attachment or rendition of judgment, when necessary for +support of debtor or his or her family. 7th. All animal, vegetable, or +mineral specimens of natural history or science not kept for pecuniary +gain. In addition to the above, the debtor, if a drayman, can hold one +horse, harness, and dray; if a farmer one horse or one yoke of cattle, +with necessary gearing for same, and one wagon; if a physician, one +horse, one saddle and bridle, and professional books, medicine and +instruments, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value. Husband and +wife living together, a widower living with an unmarried daughter or +minor son, every widow, and every unmarried female having in good faith +the care, maintenance and custody, of any minor child or children of a +deceased relation, residents of Ohio, and not the owner of a homestead, +may hold other real or personal property, to be selected by such person, +his agent or attorney, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, in +addition to the amount of chattel property otherwise by law exempted, +provided that such selection shall not be made as to wages due to the +extent of more than ninety per cent, of such wages as against claims for +necessaries. + +A homestead, not exceeding one thousand dollars in value, which shall +remain exempt from sale on execution and exempt from sale under any +order of the court so long as the widow, if she remain unmarried, or any +unmarried minor child, resides thereon. Husband and wife living +together, a widow or widower living with an unmarried daughter or +unmarried minor son, may hold exempt a family homestead not exceeding +one thousand dollars in value. + + +OKLAHOMA. + +The exemptions of the head of a family residing in the State are: 1st. +The homestead of the family. 2d. All household and kitchen furniture. +3d. Any lot or lots in a cemetery held for the purpose of sepulture. +4th. All implements of husbandry used upon the farm. 5th. All tools, +apparatus and books belonging to and used in any trade or profession. +6th. The family library and all family portraits and pictures and +wearing apparel. 7th. Five milk cows and their calves under six months +old. 8th. One yoke of work oxen, with necessary yokes and chains. 9th. +Two horses or two mules, and one wagon, cart, or dray. 10th. One +carriage or buggy, 11th. One gun. 12th. Ten hogs. 13th. Twenty head of +sheep. 14th. All saddles, bridles, and harness necessary for the use of +the family. 15th. All provisions and forage on hand and growing for home +consumption, and for use of exempt stock for one year. 16th. All current +wages and earnings for personal or professional services earned within +the last ninety days. + +The homestead of any family in the State within any city, town, or +village consists of not exceeding an acre of land to be selected by +owner, owned and occupied as a residence only, but not exceeding in +value five thousand dollars, but in no event shall the homestead be +reduced to less than a quarter of an acre regardless of value. If the +homestead is used for both residence and business purposes, the +homestead interest shall not exceed in value five thousand dollars, and +nothing in the laws of the United States or treaties with Indian tribes +deprives an Indian or other allottee of the benefit of the homestead and +exemption laws of the State. + +The exemptions reserved to a person not the head of a family are as +follows: 1st. A lot or lots in a cemetery held for the purpose of +sepulture. 2d. All wearing apparel. 3d. All tools, apparatus and books +belonging to any trade or profession. 4th. One horse, bridle, and +saddle, or one yoke of oxen. 5th. Current wages for personal services. + + +OREGON. + +The following property shall be exempt from execution, if selected and +reserved by the judgment debtor or his agent at the time of levy, or as +soon thereafter before sale as the same shall be known to him, and not +otherwise. Books, pictures and musical instruments owned by any person, +to the value of seventy-five dollars; necessary wearing apparel owned by +any person, to the value of one hundred dollars, and, if such person be +a householder, to each member of his family to the value of fifty +dollars; the tools, implements, apparatus, team, vehicle, harness, or +library necessary to enable any person to carry on the trade, +occupation, or profession by which such person habitually earns his +living, to the value of four hundred dollars; also sufficient quantity +of food to support such team, if any, for sixty days. The word "team," +in this subdivision, shall not be construed to mean more than one yoke +of oxen, or pair of horses or mules, as the case may be. Homesteads the +actual abode of, and owned by, a family or some member thereof are +exempt from execution. + +The following property (is exempt), if owned by a householder and in +actual use, by and for his family, or when being removed from one +habitation to another on a change of residence: Ten sheep, with one +year's fleece, or the yarn or cloth manufactured there from, two cows, +and five swine, household goods, furniture, and utensils, to the value +of three hundred dollars; also, food sufficient to support such animals +if any, for three months, and provisions actually provided for family +use, and necessary for the support of such householder and family for +six months; the seat or pew occupied by a householder, or his family, in +a place of public worship; burial lots. Earnings or wages to the extent +of seventy-five dollars in thirty days, are exempt if necessary to +support family. One gun and one revolver exempt to every white male +citizen over sixteen years of age. + + +PENNSYLVANIA. + +The law exempts from execution property, either real or personal, to the +amount of three hundred dollars, in addition to wearing apparel, Bibles, +and school books, if claimed by the debtor; the privilege is personal +and may be waived at any time. The widow or children of any decedent are +entitled to the same amount from his estate for her or their use. All +sewing-machines belonging to private families are exempt. Non-residents +of the State are not entitled to the exemption laws. + + +RHODE ISLAND. + +The following are exempt from attachment and execution: The necessary +wearing apparel of a debtor and his family, his necessary working tools, +not exceeding two hundred dollars in value; and the professional library +of any professional man in actual practice; his household furniture and +family stores, if a housekeeper, not exceeding three hundred dollars in +value; one cow and one and one-half tons of hay, of a housekeeper; one +hog and one pig, and the pork of the same, of a housekeeper; arms, +equipments, etc., of a militiaman, and of any person which are kept for +use and not for sale; one pew in church; a burial lot; wages due or +accruing to any seaman; debts secured by bills of exchange or negotiable +promissory notes: and ten dollars due as the wages of labor except when +action is for necessaries furnished to defendant; the salary and wages +of the wife and minor children of any debtor; and such other property, +real or personal, as is or shall be exempt from attachment and +execution, either permanently or temporarily, by general or special +acts, charters of incorporation, or by the policy of the law. + + +SOUTH CAROLINA. + +Homesteads in lands, whether held in fee or any lesser estate, to the +value of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as the property is +worth if its value is less than one thousand dollars, with the yearly +products thereof, and to every head of a family residing in this State, +whether entitled to a homestead exemption in lands or not, personal +property to the value of five hundred dollars, or so much thereof as the +property is worth if its value is less than five hundred dollars. + + +SOUTH DAKOTA. + +The following property is absolutely exempt from attachment or mesne +process, and from levy and sale on execution, and from any other final +process issued by any court: All family pictures; a pew or other sitting +in any house of worship; a lot or lots in any burial ground; the family +Bible, and all school books used by the family, and all other books used +as a part of the family library not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars; all wearing apparel of the debtor and his family; the +provisions for the debtor and his family necessary for one year's +supply, either provided or growing, or both, and fuel necessary for one +year; the homestead as defined, created, and limited by law. In +addition to the above-mentioned property, the debtor, if the head of a +family, may, by himself or his agent, select from all other of his +personal property, not to exceed in the aggregate seven hundred and +fifty dollars in value, and if a single person, not the head of a +family, three hundred dollars in value, which is also exempt. + +Instead of the seven hundred and fifty dollars exemption, the debtor, if +the head of a family, may select and choose the following property, +which shall be exempt, namely: All miscellaneous books and musical +instruments for the use of the family, not exceeding two hundred dollars +in value; all household and kitchen furniture, including beds, bedsteads +and bedding, used by the debtor and his family, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value; and in case the debtor shall own more than two +hundred dollars' worth of such property, he must select therefrom such +articles to the value of two hundred dollars, leaving the remainder +subject to legal process; two cows, five swine, two yokes of oxen or one +span of horses or mules, twenty-five sheep and their lambs under six +months old, and all wool of the same, and all cloth or yarn manufactured +therefrom, the necessary food for the animals hereinbefore mentioned for +one year, either provided or growing or both, as the debtor may choose; +also one wagon, one sleigh, two plows, one harrow, and farming machinery +and utensils, including tackle for team, not exceeding twelve hundred +and fifty dollars in value; the tools and implements of any mechanic, +whether a minor or of age, used and kept for the purpose of carrying on +his trade or business, and, in addition thereto, stock in trade not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value; the avails of life insurance +policies issued payable to the order, assignees, or estate of the +insured, and not assigned, are to the extent of five thousand dollars, +absolutely exempt to the surviving husband, or wife or minor children of +the insured, free from all claim of creditors of the insured. + +The homestead of the head of every family resident in this State, +whether owned by the husband or wife, so long as it remains a +homestead, is absolutely exempt, except for taxes and debts contracted +for the purchase thereof. If within a town plat it must not exceed one +acre in extent, and if not within a town plat it must not embrace in the +aggregate more than one hundred and sixty acres, with the house and +buildings appurtenant thereon; and is limited to five thousand dollars +in value. (C. C. P. Sec. 345.) If the homestead is claimed upon land, +the title or right of possession to which was acquired or is claimed +under the laws of the United States relating to mineral lands, the area +of the homestead, if within a town plat, must not exceed one acre, and +if without a town plat, must not exceed forty acres. If the title to the +homestead has been acquired as a placer claim but has been acquired +under the laws of Congress as a lode mining claim, the area of the +homestead must not exceed forty acres. (L. 1909, ch. 136.) Such +exemption continues after the debtor's death, for the benefit of the +surviving husband or wife and children; and if both husband and wife be +dead, until the youngest child becomes of age. (Prob. C. Sec. 153.) It +is very doubtful, however, in view of the provisions of the State +Constitution, if the title of the homestead can be in the wife, unless +the husband is for some reason incapacitated. + + +TENNESSEE. + +Thirty-six dollars of the wages, salary, or income of any person drawing +forty dollars or less per month shall be exempt from legal process at +date of service of process. + +Household goods and provisions are exempt. The list includes practically +every article to be found in the average home. The liberality of the law +may be judged from the fact that one hundred gallons of sorghum molasses +and twenty pounds of coffee are listed. The list ends with: twenty +bushels of peanuts, three strings of red peppers, two gourds, two punger +gourds, a carpet in actual use by the family, not exceeding in value +twenty-five dollars, and two hundred bushels of cotton seed. + +If the head of the family is engaged in agriculture there is further +exempt in his hands the following property: Two plows, two hoes, one +grubbing hoe, one cutting knife, one harvest cradle, one set of plow +gears, one pitch-fork, one rake, three iron wedges, five head of sheep, +and ten head of stock hogs. There is exempt in the hands of each +mechanic in the State who is engaged in the pursuit of his trade or +occupation one set of mechanic's tools, such as are usual and necessary +to the pursuit of his trade; and, if he is the head of a family, two +hundred dollars' worth of lumber or material, or products of his labor; +also one gun in the hands of every male citizen of the age of eighteen +years and upward, and every female who is the head of a family; to the +heads of families fifty pounds of picked cotton and twenty-five pounds +of wool, and a sufficient quantity of upper and sole leather to provide +winter shoes for the family; also, three hundred pounds of tobacco in +the hands of the actual producer; also thirty-five dollars' worth of +roughness, to consist of oats, fodder, and hay, or either of them. + +A homestead or real estate in the possession of or belonging to each +head of a family, and the improvements thereon, to the value in all of +one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from sale under legal process +during the life of such head of a family, and shall inure to the benefit +of his widow and be exempt from sale in any way at the instance of any +creditor or creditors during the minority of the children occupying the +same and until the youngest child reaches the age of twenty-one years. + + +TEXAS. + +The Constitution of 1875 provides that a homestead of a family not in a +town or city consisting of not more than two hundred acres of land, +which may be in one or more parcels, with the improvements thereon, or, +if in a town or city, lot or lots, not exceeding in value five thousand +dollars at the time of designation, without reference to the value of +the improvements thereon is exempt, provided the same shall be used for +the purpose of a home, or as place to exercise the calling or business +of the head of the family. + +There is also exempted to every family, free from forced sale for debts; +all household and kitchen furniture; any lot or lots for sepulture in a +cemetery; all instruments of husbandry; all tools and apparatus +belonging to any trade or profession, and all books belonging to private +or public libraries, and family portraits and pictures, five milk cows +and calves, two yoke of work oxen, two horses and one wagon, one +carriage or buggy, one gun, twenty hogs, twenty head of sheep, all +provisions and forage on hand for home consumption, all bridles, +saddles, and harness necessary for the use of the family; and to every +citizen not a head of a family, one horse, bridle, and saddle; all +wearing apparel, any lot or lots for sepulture in a cemetery; all tools, +apparatus, and books belonging to his trade, profession, or private +library. Current wages for personal services are not subject to +garnishment. + + +UTAH. + +The following property is exempt from execution, except on a judgment +for the purchase price, or on a judgment of a foreclosure of a mortgage, +or a mechanic's or laborer's lien thereon, or from sale for taxes, to +wit: 1st. Chairs, tables, and desks of the value of two hundred dollars, +and the library belonging to the judgment debtor, also musical +instruments in actual use in the family. 2d. Necessary household, table, +and kitchen furniture of the value of three hundred dollars, one +sewing-machine, family hanging pictures, oil paintings and drawings, +portraits and their necessary frames, provisions on hand for three +months, two cows and their sucking calves, and two hogs and all sucking +pigs, all wearing apparel, and beds and bedding, and all carpets in +use. 3d. A farmer may hold farming implements to the value of three +hundred dollars, two oxen, horses or mules, and their harness; a cart or +wagon; seed, grain or vegetable, for planting or sowing within six +months, not exceeding in value two hundred dollars and crops and the +proceeds thereof not exceeding two hundred dollars. 4th. Necessary +tools, tool chest, and implements of a mechanic or artisan, not +exceeding in value five hundred dollars; the seal and records of a +notary public; the instruments and chests of a surgeon, physician, +surveyor, and dentist, with their libraries, and the law libraries and +office furniture of attorneys and judges, and libraries of ministers, +and typewriters of reporters and copyist, the type, presses, and +material of a printer or publisher, not exceeding five hundred dollars. +5th. The cabin of a miner not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, +also his tools and appliances, not exceeding in value five hundred +dollars. 6th. Two oxen, or horses or mules and harness, and cart or +wagon, or dray or truck, by which a cartman, drayman, huckster, +teamster, or other laborer habitually earns his living; and one horse, +harness, and vehicle of a physician, surgeon, or minister. 7th. One-half +of the earnings of the judgment debtor for personal services rendered +within thirty days preceding the levy if debtor is married or is head of +a family residing in Utah and dependent upon such earnings for support. +If his earnings are two dollars per day or less, a married man or head +of a family is entitled to an absolute exemption of thirty dollars per +month. Costs cannot be taxed in any proceeding to obtain levy upon +moneys of judgments debtor earned within thirty days next preceding +levy. 8th. All moneys, benefits, privileges, or immunities accruing in +any manner from a life insurance on a debtor's life, when the annual +premiums do not exceed five hundred dollars. 9th. All arms, ammunition, +uniforms, and accoutrements required by law to be kept. 10th. To a head +of a family homestead, to be selected by the debtor. A homestead +consisting of lands and appurtenances (which lands may be in one or more +localities), not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars in value for the head +of the family and five hundred dollars additional for his wife, and two +hundred and fifty dollars for each other member of his family, shall be +exempt from judgment lien and from execution or forced sale, for +mechanics' or laborers' lien thereon, lawful mortgage thereon, or lien +for purchase. The statute provides that the homestead exemption may be +claimed by either the husband or the wife, and defines the terms "head +of the family" and "members of the family." In case of sale the money +received by the judgment debtor for value of his exemption is also +exempt, and so, too, is insurance money when fire occurs (to the extent +of the exemption). + + +VERMONT. + +The law exempts a homestead from attachment or levy of execution to the +amount of five hundred dollars; also (unless turned out to the officer +by the debtor, to be taken on the attachment in execution) such suitable +apparel, bedding, tools, arms, and articles of household furniture as +may be necessary for upholding life, one sewing-machine kept for use, +one cow, the best swine, or the meat of one swine, sheep not exceeding +in number ten, and one year's product of said sheep in wool yarn, or +cloth, forage sufficient for keeping not exceeding ten sheep and one cow +through one winter, ten cords of firewood or five tons of coal, twenty +bushels of potatoes, all growing crops, ten bushels of grain, one barrel +of flour, three swarms of bees and hives, together with their produce in +honey, two hundred pounds of sugar, and all lettered gravestones, the +Bibles and other books used in a family, one pew or slip in a +meeting-house or place of religious worship, live poultry not exceeding +in value the sum of ten dollars, the professional books and instruments +of physicians, and the professional books of clergymen and attorneys at +law, to the value of two hundred dollars; and also one yoke of oxen or +steers, as the debtor may select, two horses kept and used for +team-work, and such as the debtor may select in lieu of oxen or steers, +but not exceeding in value the sum of two hundred dollars, with +sufficient forages for keeping the same through the winter; also the +pistols, side arms, and equipments personally used by any soldier in the +service of the United States and kept by him or his heirs as mementoes +of his service, also one two-horse wagon with whiffle-trees and +neck-yoke; or one ox-cart, as the debtor may choose; one sled or one set +of traverse sleds, either for horses or oxen, as the debtor may select; +two harnesses, two halters, two chains, one plow, and one ox-yoke, which +with the oxen or steers or horses which the debtor may select for team +work, shall not exceed in value two hundred and fifty dollars; also one +tool chest kept for use by a mechanic. + +A housekeeper or head of a family has a homestead exemption from +attachment or execution in a dwelling-house and lands appurtenant, used +or kept as a homestead, to the value of five hundred dollars. + + +VIRGINIA. + +The exemption laws are very liberal. A householder residing in this +State may hold exempt from levy or distress the family Bible, family +pictures, school-books, and library for the use of the family, not +exceeding in all one hundred dollars in value; a seat or pew in any +house or place of public worship; a lot in a burial ground; all +necessary wearing apparel of the debtor and his family; all beds, +bedsteads and bedding necessary for the use of such family, and all +stoves and appendages put up for the necessary use of the family, not +exceeding three; one cow and her calf till one year old, one horse, six +chairs, one table, six knives, six forks, six plates, one dozen spoons, +two dishes, two basins, one pot, one oven, six pieces of wooden or +earthen ware, one loom and its appurtenances, one safe or press, one +spinning-wheel, one pair of cards, one axe, two hoes, ten barrels of +corn, or in lieu thereof twenty-five bushels of rye or buckwheat, five +bushels of wheat or one barrel of flour, two hundred pounds of bacon or +pork, three hogs, ten dollars in value of forage or hay, one +cooking-stove and utensils for cooking therewith, and one +sewing-machine; and, in the case of a mechanic, the tools and utensils +of his trade, not exceeding one hundred dollars in value; and in case of +an oysterman or fisherman, his boat and tackle, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value, the same shall be sold, and out of the +proceeds the oysterman or fisherman shall first receive two hundred +dollars in lieu of such boat and tackle; and if the householder is at +the time actually engaged in the business of agriculture, there shall +also be exempt from such levy or distress, while he is so engaged, to be +selected by him or his agent, the following articles, or so many there +he may have, to wit: one yoke of oxen, or a pair of horses or mules in +lieu thereof (unless he selects or has selected a horse or mule under +the preceding section, in which case he shall be entitled to select +under this section only one), with the necessary gearings, one wagon or +cart, two plows, one drag, one harvest cradle, one pitchfork, one rake, +and two iron wedges; wages, owing to a laboring man being a householder, +not exceeding fifty dollars per month, shall also be exempt from +distress, levy, or garnishment. These embrace what is known as the Poor +Debtor's Exemption. (=Code, ch. 178.=) + +The Homestead Exemption is as follows: Every householder residing in +this State shall, in addition to the property or estate to hold exempt +from levy, distress, or garnishment, under ch. 178, be entitled to +exempt from levy, seizure, garnishment, or sale under any execution, +order, or process issued on any demand for any debt or liability on +contract, his real and personal estate, or either, to be selected by +him, including money and debts due him, to the value of not exceeding +two thousand dollars. + + +WEST VIRGINIA. + +Any husband or parent residing in this State, or the widow or infant +children of deceased parents, may set apart his personal estate, not +exceeding two hundred dollars in value, to be exempt from execution or +other process. He or they may also hold a homestead of the value of one +thousand dollars (provided the homestead is recorded among the public +land records of the county wherein it is situate, before the debt +against which it is claimed is contracted), as against debts created +since. Any resident mechanic, artisan, or laborer, whether a husband or +parent or not, may hold the working tools of his trade or occupation to +the value of fifty dollars exempt, provided that in no case shall the +exemption allowed any one person exceed two hundred dollars. + + +WASHINGTON. + +All real and personal estate belonging to a married woman at the time of +her marriage, and all she subsequently acquires or becomes entitled to +in her own right, and all her personal earnings, and rents and profits +of such real estate, shall not be liable for her husband's debts so long +as she or any minor heir of her body is living, but her separate +property is liable for debts owing by her at the time of her marriage. + +To a householder, being the head of a family, a homestead of the value +of two thousand dollars while occupied by such family, wearing apparel, +private libraries (not to exceed five hundred dollars in value), family +pictures, and keepsakes. To each householder one bed and bedding and one +additional bed and bedding for each additional member of the family, and +other household goods of the coin value of five hundred dollars. +Provisions and fuel for family for six months. Two cows with their +calves, five swine, two stands of bees, thirty-six domestic fowls and +feed for six months. To a farmer one span of horses and harness, or two +yokes of oxen, and one wagon, with farming utensils not exceeding five +hundred dollars in coin value, one hundred and fifty bushels of wheat, +one hundred and fifty bushels of oats or barley, fifty bushels of +potatoes, ten bushels of corn, and ten bushels of peas, and ten bushels +of corn, ten bushels of peas and ten bushels of onions for seeding +purposes. To a mechanic, the tools used to carry on his trade for the +support of himself and family, also material of the value of five +hundred dollars. To a physician, his library, not exceeding five hundred +dollars in value, horse and carriage, instruments and medicines not +exceeding two hundred dollars in coin. To attorneys and clergymen, their +libraries, not exceeding in value of one thousand dollars, also office +furniture, stationery and fuel not exceeding in value two hundred +dollars. All firearms kept for use and a canoe, skiff, or small boat, +not exceeding in value two hundred and fifty dollars. To a person +engaged in lightering, one or more lighters or scows and a small boat, +not exceeding the aggregate value of two hundred and fifty dollars. To a +drayman, his team. To a person engaged in logging, three yokes of work +oxen, and implements of the value of three hundred dollars. Proceeds or +avails of all life and accident insurance shall be exempt from all +liability for any debt. To any person whose exempt property is insured, +and destroyed by fire, the insurance money coming to or belonging to the +person thus insured to an amount equal to the exempt property thus +destroyed. Burial lot exempt. Pension money exempt, but exemption may be +waived. + + +WISCONSIN. + +The following personal property is exempt from seizure or sale on any +execution and from attachment or garnishment: 1st. The family Bible. 2d. +Family pictures and school-books. 3d. The library of the debtor. 4th. +The seat or pew in any place of public worship. 5th. All wearing apparel +of the debtor and his family; all stoves and appendages kept for the +use of the debtor and his family; all cooking utensils and all other +household furniture not exceeding two hundred dollars in value, and one +gun, rifle, or other firearm not exceeding fifty dollars in value. 6th. +Two cows, ten swine, one yoke of oxen, and one horse or mule, or, in +lieu of one yoke of oxen and horse or mule, two horses or two mules, ten +sheep and the wool from the same, either in the raw material or +manufactured into yarn or cloth; the necessary food for one year's +support for all such stock, also one wagon, cart, or dray, one sleigh, +one plow, one drag, and other farming utensils, including a tackle for +teams, not exceeding two hundred dollars in value. 7th. The provisions +for the debtor and his family necessary for one year's support, and fuel +necessary for one year. 8th. The tools, implements, and stock in trade +of any mechanic, miner, merchant, trader, or other person, used or kept +for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding two +hundred dollars in value. 9th. All sewing-machines owned by individuals +and kept for the use of themselves or family. 10th. Any sword, plate, +books, or other article presented or given to any person by congress, +legislature of any of the United States, or by either body of congress +or of such legislature, whether presented by vote or raised by +subscription of the members of either of the aforesaid bodies, 11th. +Printing material and press or presses used in the business of any +printer or publisher, to an amount not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars +in value, provided no sum exceeding four hundred dollars shall be exempt +from payment of employees. 12th. Horses, arms, equipment, and uniforms +of all officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates used for +military purposes in the organized militia of the State. 13th. All +books, maps, plates, and other papers kept or used by any person for the +purpose of making abstracts of title to land. 14th. The interests owned +by any inventor in any invention secured to him by letters patent of the +United States. 15th. The earnings of all married persons and other +persons having a family dependant upon them for support, for three +months next preceding the issue of an attachment, execution, or +garnishment, to the amount of sixty dollars only for each month. Such +exemption shall not exceed one hundred and eighty dollars in all for the +three months. 16th. All fire-engines, apparatus, and equipments, used or +to be used for the protection of property from fire. 17th. All moneys +arising from insurance of any exempt property when such property has +been destroyed by fire. 19th. All money arising on any policy of +insurance on the life of a minor, payable to his father or mother, or +both, shall be exempt against the creditors of such father or mother, +but not against the creditors of such minor. Certain other life +insurance moneys are also exempt. 20th. All cemetery lots owned by +individuals and all monuments therein, the coffins and other articles +for the burial of any dead person, and the tombstone or monuments for +his grave, by whomsoever purchased. 21st. Pensions paid policemen, +firemen, their widows or minor children. 22d. Shares of the value of one +thousand dollars at time of withdrawal in a local building and loan +association held by one not owning a homestead which is exempt. A +homestead to be selected by the owner, consisting, when not included in +any city or village, of any quantity of land not exceeding forty acres, +used for agricultural purposes, and when included in any city or +village, of any quantity of land not exceeding one-fourth of an acre and +the dwelling-house thereon and its appurtenances owned and occupied by +any resident of the State, not exceeding five thousand dollars in value, +is exempt. Proceeds of homestead not exceeding five thousand dollars are +exempt for two years. Husband cannot assign exempt wages except by a +written instrument signed by wife with two witnesses, nor for a longer +period than two months in advance. + + +WYOMING. + +Every householder being the head of a family, and every resident who has +attained the age of sixty years, is entitled to a homestead not +exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars, exempt from execution or +attachment for any debt, contract, or civil obligation, while such +homestead is actually occupied as such by the owner thereof, or his or +her family. The homestead may consist of a house and lot or lots in any +town or city, or a farm of not more than one hundred and sixty acres. + +Besides the homestead above mentioned, the wearing apparel of every +person is exempt from judicial or ministerial process; also the +following property when owned by any person being the head of a family +and residing with the same, to wit: the family Bible, pictures, and +school-books; a lot in any cemetery or burial ground; furniture, +bedding, provisions, and such other articles as the debtor may select, +not to exceed in all the value of five hundred dollars, to be +ascertained by the appraisment of three disinterested householders; +provided that no personal property of any person about to remove or +abscond from the State shall be exempt. The tools, teams, and +implements, or stock in trade of a mechanic, miner, or other person, and +used and kept for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, is +exempt to a value not exceeding three hundred dollars; also the library, +instruments or implements of any professional man, not to exceed in +value three hundred dollars. + + +BRITISH COLUMBIA. + +Personal property to be selected by the debtor to the value of five +hundred dollars is exempt from execution. Under the Homestead Act lands +to the value of twenty-five hundred dollars may be registered as a +homestead, and are then exempt from seizure or sale. + + +MANITOBA. + +1st. Bedding and furniture not exceeding five hundred dollars. (This +exemption does not apply, where claim, for which distress warrant has +issued, is for wages.) 2d. Necessary clothing for judgment debtor and +his family. 3d. Twelve volumes of books and the books of a professional +man, one axe, one saw, one gun, six traps. 4th. Food for judgment debtor +and family for eleven months if in possession. 5th. Three horses, mules, +or oxen, six cows, ten sheep, ten pigs, fifty fowl, and food for the +same during eleven months, provided that the exemption as to horses over +four years of age shall apply only in case they are used by the judgment +debtor in earning his living. 6th. Tools and implements up to five +hundred dollars. 7th. Farm lands up to one hundred and sixty acres +actually resided upon, cultivated by the judgment debtor, or used for +grazing or other purposes, and the houses, stables, barns on the farm +lands resided upon by judgment debtor. 8th. The actual residence or +house of any person other than a farmer, provided the same does not +exceed in value fifteen hundred dollars. 9th. All the necessary seeds of +various varieties or roots for proper seeding and cultivation of eighty +acres. 10th. Insurance on exemptions also exempt. There are no +exemptions in cases of judgments for board and lodgings. No article is +exempt when judgment was for purchase price of article seized. + + +NOVA SCOTIA. + +The necessary wearing apparel and bedding and bedsteads of the debtor +and his family, and the tools and instruments of his trade or calling to +the value of thirty dollars, one stove, and his last cow, cooking +utensils, six each of knives, forks, plates, cups, saucers, spoons, +chairs, one shovel, one table, teapot, jug, spinning-wheel, weaving +loom, ten religious volumes, food and fuel for thirty days, two sheep, +one hog, and food for same and cow for thirty days shall be exempt from +execution. + + +NEW BRUNSWICK. + +Wearing apparel, bedding, kitchen utensils, and tools of trade or +calling to the value of one hundred dollars. + + +ONTARIO. + +The following chattels are exempt from seizure under any writ of +execution whatever, and after the death of the debtor are exempt from +the claims of his creditors: Furniture, bedding, and wearing apparel not +exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars; fuel and provisions +not exceeding in value forty dollars; animals not exceeding in value +seventy-five dollars, and food therefor for thirty days; tools to the +value of one hundred dollars; one dog and fifteen hives of bees. Free +grants and homesteads to actual settlers in the districts of Algoma and +Nipissing, and of certain lands between the River Ottawa and the +Georgian Bay, are also free from creditor's claims. + + +QUEBEC. + +The debtor may select and withdraw from seizure: 1st. The bed, bedding +and bedsteads in use by him and his family. 2d. The ordinary and +necessary wearing apparel of himself and his family. 3d. Two stoves and +their pipes, one pot-hook and its accessories, one pair of andirons, one +pair of tongs, and one shovel 4th. All the cooking utensils, knives, +forks, spoons, and crockery in use by the family, two tables, two +cupboards or dressers, one lamp one mirror, one washing stand with its +toilet accessories, two trunks or valises, the carpets or matting +covering the floors, one clock, one sofa, and twelve chairs, provided +that the total value of such effects does not exceed the sum of fifty +dollars. 5th. All spinning-wheels and weaving looms intended for +domestic use, one axe, one saw, one gun, six traps, such fishing-nets, +lines, and seines as are in common use, one tub, one washing machine +one wringer, one sewing-machine, two pails, three flat-irons, one +blacking-brush, one scrubbing-brush, one broom. 6th. Fifty volumes of +books, and all drawings and paintings executed by the debtor or the +members of his family, for their use. 7th. Fuel and food sufficient for +the debtor and his family for three months. 8th. One span of plow-horses +or a yoke of oxen; one horse, one summer vehicle and one winter vehicle, +and harness used by a carter or driver for earning his livelihood; one +cow, two pigs, four sheep, the wool from such sheep, the cloth +manufactured from such wool, and the hay and other fodder intended for +the feeding of said animals; and, moreover, the following agricultural +tools and implements; one plow, one harrow, one working sleigh, one +tumbril, one hay-cart with its wheels, and all harness necessary and +intended for farming purposes. 9th. Books relating to the profession, +art, or trade of the debtor, to the value of two hundred dollars. 10th. +Tools and implements or other chattles ordinarily used in his +profession, art, or trade to the value of two hundred dollars, 11th. +Bees to the extent of fifteen hives. + +The following are exempt from seizure: Consecrated vessels and things +used for religious worship; family portraits; immovables by a donor or +testator, or by law, to be exempt from seizure, and sums of money or +objects given or bequeathed upon the condition of their being exempt +from seizure; old age annuities created by the act of Parliament of +Canada, alimentary allowances granted by a court, and sums of money or +pensions given as alimony, even though the donor or testator has not +expressly declared them to be exempt from seizure (they may, however, be +seized for alimentary debts); pensions granted by financial and other +institutions to their employees; pay and pensions of persons belonging +to the army or to the navy; the salaries of some public officers and +professors, tutors, school teachers, and public officers; salaries of +some public officers and employees of the Province, and salaries of +city and town clerks, and of other municipal officers and employees and +of city and town assessors in incorporated cities or towns, are seizable +for one-fifth of every monthly salary not exceeding one thousand dollars +per annum; one-fourth of every monthly salary exceeding one thousand +dollars, but not exceeding two thousand dollars per annum, and one-third +of every monthly salary exceeding two thousand dollars per annum. +Four-fifths of the salary, remuneration, or earnings of members of the +Corporation of Pilots for and below the harbor of Quebec for the +pilotage of vessels are exempt from seizure. All other salaries and +wages are exempt from seizure for four-fifths when they do not exceed +three dollars per day; three-quarters when they exceed three dollars but +do not exceed six dollars per day; and two-thirds when they exceed six +dollars per day. There are also special exemptions in favor of settlers +and fishermen. + + + + +_INDEX._ + + + Accounts + Close collection, 17 + Items over year apart, 33 + Payment on, revives, 33 + + Attitude + Toward Debtors, 11 + " the poor, 14 + " off-color women, 15 + " children, 15 + + Bookkeeping + Systems, 19 + Original entry, 19 + Marks and Ciphers, 19 + Charity practice, 20 + + Checks + Post-dated, 23 + Due on Sunday or holiday, 23 + Changing date makes void, 23 + Not dated, never payable, 23 + Are orders, 23 + Do not hold, 23 + If not paid, 23 + Certified, 24 + Erase endorsement, 24 + + Collectors + On commission, 7 + Office girl best, 17 + + Corporation orders, 30 + + Discounting bills, 9 + + Forms + Letter when debtor fails to keep appointment, 18 + Collecting letters, bluff, 24 + Sentiment, 25 + Class, 25 + Pen written, 25 + Class 1, 26 + Class 2, 27 + Class 3, 28 + Personal, 28 + Items for, 29 + Order-note, 22 + Statement, 21 + + Exemptions, 33 + Provisions for physicians, 34 + Runs to widows and minors, 34 + Not certain claims, 34 + Not for fines, Tennessee, 34 + Wages of seamen, Rhode Island, 34 + Homestead not, Pennsylvania, 34 + Gun and revolver, Oregon, 34 + Public buildings, 35 + Property, selection, 35 + Until youngest child of age, 35 + Laws, liberal, 14-34 + " North Dakota, liberal, 34 + " Alabama, 35 + " Alaska, 36 + " Arizona, 37 + " Arkansas, 37 + " California, 38 + " Colorado, 40 + " Connecticut, 41 + " Delaware, 43 + " Dist. of Columbia, 44 + " Florida, 44 + " Georgia, 45 + " Hawaii, 46 + " Indiana, 48 + " Iowa, 48 + " Illinois, 53 + " Idaho, 51 + " Kansas, 50 + " Kentucky, 55 + " Louisiana, 56 + " Maine, 57 + " Maryland, 58 + " Massachusetts, 59 + " Michigan, 60 + " Minnesota, 61 + " Mississippi, 62 + " Missouri, 63 + " Montana, 64 + " Nebraska, 65 + " Nevada, 66 + " New Hampshire, 67 + " New Jersey, 68 + " New Mexico, 68 + " New York, 70 + " North Carolina, 71 + " North Dakota, 71 + " Ohio, 71 + " Oklahoma, 73 + " Oregon, 74 + " Pennsylvania, 75 + " Rhode Island, 75 + " South Carolina, 76 + " South Dakota, 76 + " Tennessee, 78 + " Texas, 79 + " Utah, 80 + " Vermont, 82 + " Virginia, 83 + " West Virginia, 85 + " Washington, 85 + " Wisconsin, 86 + " Wyoming, 88 + " British Columbia, 89 + " Manitoba, 89 + " Nova Scotia, 90 + " New Brunswick, 91 + " Quebec, 91 + " Ontario, 91 + + Judgments, foreign, Oklahoma, 33 + West Virginia, 33 + + Limitations, All States, 33 + + Padding accounts, 15 + + Proper time to collect, 16 + + Notes, 18 + + Sight Draft, 29 + + Successful Physician, the, 7 + + Loans, 12 + + + + + _The Physician's + Improved Account System_ + + The card ledger is the up-to-date book-keeping system and is being used + for all kinds of accounts. + + It is the simplest and best method a doctor can use. With it there are + no dead accounts to handle (when an account is paid the card is + transferred to the closed accounts); no indexing to do, the cards being + filed in alphabetical order; there is a great economy of time, the + statement of an account is always ready when a client asks for it; + because of this, collections are made prompter and easier. + + [Illustration] + + =The Physician's Account System= consists of a handsome quarter-sawed, + dust-proof oak box (like the illustration shown) 5x6x9 inches, with a + hinged lid, 500 buff cards, 3x5 inches, ruled on both sides, and two + sets (A to Z) of alphabet guide cards, one set for the open accounts, + the other for the closed accounts, and a movable metal partition to + separate the open from the closed accounts. + + Additional cards for this outfit may be secured at low cost, and as dead + accounts may after a time be filed away, it constitutes a perpetual and + very inexpensive ledger or account system. + + Hundreds of physicians are using this system, and have nothing but + praise for it; not one has raised an objection to it. + + =Don't= spend a lot of money for an elaborate accounting system. No matter + what you pay you cannot find as simple, convenient and satisfactory + system as this. + + =Price, Complete In Oak Cabinet, with Pocket Call Book $5.00= + + _Physicians Drug News, Newark, N. J._ + + + + _In connection with our account system we supply a + Physicians Practical Call Book + for recording daily calls_ + + "The object of this book is to furnish physicians with a simple and + convenient method of recording calls, in as small compass as + possible." + + It is perpetual; may be begun at any time. It is elastic; if one + double page is not sufficient, two may be employed. + + [Illustration] + + It is free from the mass of printed matter which cumbers up the + average call book and nearly all of which is unnecessary. + + Size 7x4 inches. Handsomely bound, gilt edges, with flap. + + _Price $1.00_ + + With name on, stamped in gold $1.25 + + _Physicians Drug News, Newark, N. J._ + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + + + Text in italics is surrounded with underscores: _italics_. + + Text in bold is surrounded with equals signs: =bold=. + + Punctuation has been corrected without note. + + Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from + the original. + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows: + Page 16: I changed to 1 + Page 21: acounts changed to accounts + Page 50: individal changed to individual + Page 51: libary changed to library + Page 55: Ilinois changed to Illinois + Page 57: usefruct changed to usufruct + Page 67: minor changed to miner + debtors changed to debtor's + calender changed to calendar + Page 68: virture changed to virtue + Page 70: owners changed to owner's + Page 79: pusuit changed to pursuit + Page 95: Dicounting changed to Discounting + Page 99: Newark, N. changed to Newark, N. J. + + On page 40, note that 16th is missing in the original text. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's How to Collect a Doctor Bill, by Frank P. Davis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO COLLECT A DOCTOR BILL *** + +***** This file should be named 37748.txt or 37748.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/4/37748/ + +Produced by David Garcia, David E. Brown, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned +images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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