Georgia
The Constitution of 1877 provided: “There shall be exempt from levy and sale, by virtue of any process whatever, under the laws of this State, except as hereinafter excepted, of the property of every head of a family, or guardian, or trustee of a family of minor children or every aged or infirm person having the care and support of dependant female of any age, who is not the head of a family, realty or personalty or both, to the value in the aggregate of sixteen hundred dollars. No court or ministerial officer in this State shall ever have jurisdiction or authority to enforce any judgment, execution, or decree against the property set apart for such purpose, including such improvements as may be made thereon from time to time, except for taxes, for the purchase-money of the same, for labor done thereon, for material furnished therefor, or for the removal of incumbrances thereon. The debtor shall have the power to waive or renounce in writing his right to this benefit of exemption except as to wearing apparel and not exceeding three hundred dollars’ worth of household and kitchen furniture and provision, to be selected by himself and his wife, if any, and he shall not, after it is set apart, alienate or incumber the property so exempted, but it may be sold by the debtor and his wife, if any, jointly, with the sanction of the judge of the superior court of the county where the debtor resides or the land is situated, the proceeds to be reinvested upon the same uses.” The act of 1878 carries out these provisions.