Michael Showalter v. J. Hopper

MEMORANDUM

Michael Trent Showalter (“Showalter”) appeals a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (“BAP”) decision affirming a bankruptcy court order sustaining Chapter 7 Trustee J. Michael Hopper’s objection under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 4003(b) to Showalter’s claimed homestead exemption in a one-third interest in a Florida property. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158 (d)(1), and we affirm.

Showalter sought an Article 5 “declared homestead” exemption under Cal.Civ.Proc. Code § 704.920. But an Article 5 exemption applies only to “voluntary sales,” and not to “forced sales” such as the filing of a bankruptcy petition at issue here. See, e.g., Kelley v. Locke (In re Kelley), 300 B.R. 11, 20-21 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.2003); Katz v. Pike (In re Pike), 243 B.R. 66, 70 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.1999).

Further, even if Showalter relied on California’s “automatic homestead” provision under Article 4, Cal.Civ.Proc.Code § 704.920 does not apply because Showal-ter did not reside in the homestead property when he filed for bankruptcy. See, e.g., Redwood Empire Prod. Credit Ass’n v. Anderson (In re Anderson), 824 F.2d 754, 757 (9th Cir.1987). To determine residency for homestead purposes…