California provides homeowners with a homestead exemption, which is $75,000 for an individual with no dependents who is under 65 years old. Creditors can’t force the sale of a home that’s worth the exemption amount or less, but they can force the sale of a home that’s worth more than a person’s allowed homestead exemption.
Retirement plans also receive some protection from creditors. ERISA retirement plans (e.g. 401(k)s) and private retirement plans (e.g. profit-sharing plans) are fully protected in California. Non-ERISA retirement plans (e.g. IRAs) are protected only up to the “amount necessary for support.”