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The Civil Enforcement Act of Alberta exempts from seizure the following goods of an individual debtor:
- food required by the debtor and the debtor's dependants for the next 12 months;
- necessary clothing of the debtor and the debtor's dependants to a maximum value of $4,000;
- furniture and appliances to a maximum value of $4,000;
- one motor vehicle that is of a value not exceeding $5,000;
- all medical and dental aids;
- the 160 acres on which is located the debtor's principal residence, if the debtor is a bona fide farmer whose principal source of livelihood is farming;
- the debtor's equity in a principal residence, including a mobile home, to a maximum of $40,000. (If the debtor is a co-owner, then the exemption amount is reduced to the amount proportionate to the debtor's ownership interest. In other words if there are 4 owners, the exemption for each is reduced to 25% of $40,000);
- the personal property used by the debtor to earn income (other than from farming) to a maximum value of $10,000;
- all property that is necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of the debtor's farming operations, if that constitutes debtor's primary source of income;
- payments received by a debtor as a social allowance under the Social Development Act, a disability benefit paid under the Assured Income Program, and a widow's pension paid under the Widow's Pension Act, provided that such monies are not intermingled with any other funds of the debtor.
The above exemptions DO NOT apply where the debt is in respect of maintenance or alimony or a fine imposed under the Criminal Code, or where the debtor has abandoned the goods.
An additional change is that the Act now authorizes the sale of seized goods where the debtor's equity in these goods "exceeds the prescribed value of the exemption." There appears to be no "absolute value" exemptions for any type of property. Money paid to a debtor pursuant to an exemption remains exempt for a period of 60 days, unless the money is intermingled with other funds of the debtor.