Florida Statute 222.14
“Exemption of cash surrender value of life insurance policies and annuity contracts from legal process”
What it means
Section 222.14 protects two kinds of assets. The cash surrender values of life insurance policies issued on the lives of Florida citizens or residents, and the proceeds of annuity contracts issued to Florida citizens or residents, “upon whatever form,” are not liable to attachment, garnishment, or legal process.
The protection runs against a creditor of the person whose life is insured and against a creditor of the person who is the beneficiary of the annuity contract. The one exception is a policy or contract that was effected for the benefit of that creditor. The section states no dollar limit.
- The cash surrender value of life insurance issued on the life of a Florida citizen or resident is not liable to attachment, garnishment, or legal process. (§ 222.14)
- Annuity contract proceeds issued to Florida citizens or residents, in whatever form, are likewise protected. (§ 222.14)
- The protection applies against creditors of the insured and creditors of the annuity's beneficiary. (§ 222.14)
- It does not apply if the policy or contract was effected for the benefit of the creditor. (§ 222.14)
- The section contains no dollar cap. (§ 222.14)
Text of the statute (2026)
The cash surrender values of life insurance policies issued upon the lives of citizens or residents of the state and the proceeds of annuity contracts issued to citizens or residents of the state, upon whatever form, shall not in any case be liable to attachment, garnishment or legal process in favor of any creditor of the person whose life is so insured or of any creditor of the person who is the beneficiary of such annuity contract, unless the insurance policy or annuity contract was effected for the benefit of such creditor.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 222.14.
History. s. 1, ch. 10154, 1925; CGL 7066; s. 1, ch. 78-76.
How it applies
Section 222.14 is one of several Florida exemptions that apply to insurance and annuity assets, and it is a single sentence with one exception. It protects the cash surrender value and annuity proceeds from attachment, garnishment, or legal process in favor of creditors of the insured or of the annuity beneficiary, unless the contract was effected for that creditor's benefit. Section 222.13 addresses what happens to the death benefit. An inventory of an estate or household typically lists each policy and annuity so each can be matched to the section that governs it.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 222.14 does real work:
Questions people ask
Sources
- Florida Statutes s. 222.14 (2026), Florida Senate (“shall not in any case be liable to attachment, garnishment or legal process in favor of any creditor of the person whose life is so insured”)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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