Money provided to the judgment debtor by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is exempt without making a claim.
§ 704.230.Fema Money
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 4. Exemptions · Article 3. Exempt Property · Enacted 2019 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 704.230 exempts money provided to a judgment debtor by the Federal Emergency Management Agency without any claim required.
Full Text of § 704.230
Plain-English Summary
Disaster relief money gets a simple, unqualified exemption. Money the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides to a judgment debtor is exempt without the debtor filing any claim.
This protection makes sense alongside the relocation and welfare exemptions elsewhere in this article — money meant to help someone recover from a disaster or displacement shouldn't be diverted to satisfy an unrelated judgment before it ever reaches its purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FEMA disaster assistance protected from creditors?
Yes. Section 704.230 exempts money provided by FEMA without any claim needed.
Do I need to file anything to protect FEMA money in my account?
No, the exemption applies automatically.
Amendment History
Added by Stats 2019 ch 552 (SB 616),s 10, eff. 1/1/2020.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: fema money exemption californiadisaster assistance exempt from creditors