homestead law

noun

plural homestead laws

: a law protecting a homestead (see homestead entry 1 sense 1a) from seizure or sale while the owner is being held liable for a debt

For the owner of a $125,000 house that's a primary residence and protected by state homestead laws, the value will increase only 2.1 percent, and $50,000 in value will be tax-exempt.—

Brittany Wallman

: any of several legislative acts authorizing the sale or free provision of public lands in homesteads (see homestead entry 1 sense 2)

Our land laws for the entry of agricultural lands are now as follows: The original homestead law, with the requirements of residence and cultivation for five years, much more strictly enforced now than ever before.—

William Howard Taft

Examples of homestead law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

For the owner of a $125,000 house that's a primary residence and protected by state homestead laws, the value will increase only 2.1 percent, and $50,000 in value will be tax-exempt. —

Brittany Wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, 27 Sep. 2017 For the owner of a $260,000 house that's a primary residence and protected by state homestead laws, the value for tax purposes would increase only 2.1 percent, and $50,000 in value would be exempt from taxation. —

Brittany Wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, 25 Sep. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of homestead law was in 1841

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Homestead law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homestead%20law. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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