EXEMPTION (Lat, cxemptio, from eximere, to take out, from es, out + emerc, to take, buy). The legal right to be excused from rendering cer tain services to the State. or to receive or retain certain property free from the claims of others. It is secured by a variety of statutes (popularly called exemption laws). Some of these designate the persons or classes who are not liable to jury duty or to military service. Others specify the portion of a decedent's estate which is to be set apart for the use and benefit of the widow and children, and which they are allowed to retain even in preference to the creditors of the de ceased. Still others describe the property of a tenant which is tree from distress for rent., or the property which is free from taxation, or from seizure under execution, or which may he re tained by a bankrupt free from liability for his debts.
These statutes differ greatly in detail, but all have the common object of saving the family of a debtor from penury. The articles most exempted are necessary household furniture, tools used in a trade, a team, certain domestic animals, and a limited quantity of food supplies for the debtor's family. In some of our States the tend ency is to increase exemptions unduly; but in all the courts are agreed that the policy of exemp tion is humane and wise, and that they should be very liberally construed. Simla of the exemption laws protect a debtor and his family against an improvident attempt on his part to waive the benefit of the statute. For the particular exemp tion laws of any State, consult the statutes of that State, or Ilubbel, Legal Directory for Law• errs and Business lien (New York, annually). See llomEsTuAo.