Complete form BOE-266, Claim for Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption. Obtain the claim form from the County Assessor's office where the property is located. Submit the completed form to the same office.
It does protect your home's equity from consumer creditors - up to the maximum amount afforded by California law - when is recorded before a judgment is recorded. A homestead declaration will also not protect you against a court judgment against you for unpaid child support, delinquent alimony or most mechanic's liens.
You can file a declared homestead by taking these steps: Buy a declared homestead form from an office-supply store, or download a form from the Registrar-Recorder's website. Fill out the form. Sign the form and have it notarized.
You can file a declared homestead by taking these steps: Buy a declared homestead form from an office-supply store, or download a form from the Registrar-Recorder's website. Fill out the form. Sign the form and have it notarized.
The protected amount is called the “homestead exemption.” All homeowners automatically have a homeowner's exemption, which protects part of their equity from involuntary sales (foreclosures). Recording a declaration of ownership extends this protection to voluntary sales.
In 2024, the exemption ranges from a minimum of $349,720 to a maximum of $699,426, based on county median home sale prices. The increased number provides more substantial equity protection for homeowners, acknowledging the varying real estate values across the state.
Property owners who occupy their homes as their principal place of residence on January 1 may be eligible for an exemption. The Homeowners' Exemption provides for a maximum reduction of $7,000 off the assessed value of your residence.
As of January 1, 2024, the new minimum homestead exemption is $349,720 and the new maximum is $699,426. For Riverside County, the 2024 homestead exemption is $612,000. For San Bernardino County, the 2024 homestead exemption is $475,000.
The home must have been the principal place of residence of the owner on the lien date, January 1st. To claim the exemption, the homeowner must make a one-time filing with the county assessor where the property is located.