In Re Lawrence Granger and Dixie Granger. Lawrence Eugene Granger and Dixie Lee Granger, Debtors-Appellants v. Ronald Watson, Trustee-Appellee

Lawrence Eugene and Dixie Lee Gran-ger, debtors in bankruptcy, who together own an equity in their dwelling, appeal from a determination that they are entitled to a $20,000 homestead exemption under Ore.Rev.Stat. § 23.240 instead of the $30,-000 exemption that they claim. They assert that the applicable federal statute provides a double exemption where two members of a household are bankruptcy debtors. 11 U.S.C. § 522 (m). We affirm.

A state may opt not to allow its residents to claim the federal exemptions set forth in 11 U.S.C. § 522 (d). 11 U.S.C. § 522 (b)(2)(A). A number of states have “opted out” of the federal exemption scheme. Most circuits that have addressed the issue have allowed the states considerable freedom in creating or limiting exemptions for their residents. See e.g., Giles v. Credithrift of America, Inc. (In re Pine), 717 F.2d 281 (6th Cir.1983), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 104 S.Ct. 1711 , 80 L.Ed.2d 183 (1984); First National Bank of Mobile v. Norris, 701 F.2d 902 (11th Cir.1983); McManus v. Avco Financial Services of Louisiana, Inc. (In re McManus), 681 F.2d 353 (5th Cir.1982); In re Sullivan, 680 F.2d 1131 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 992 , 103 S.Ct. 349…