How to Collect Your Judgment in Colorado

A Colorado judgment is enforceable for 6 years, and can be renewed before it expires. County court money judgments are good for 6 years; district court judgments for 20 years (C.R.S. 13-52-102; JDF 82). A judgment may be revived before it expires using JDF 113 (Motion for Revival of Judgment), JDF 114 (Notice to Show Cause), and JDF 125 (Order for Revival); instructions in JDF 112. Revival is filed in the same court (no filing fee). The debtor has 14 days from service to respond; revival extends the judgment/lien for another period.

Yes. Garnishment in Colorado can reach Lesser of 20% of disposable earnings for the week, or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 40x the state/federal minimum wage (reduced from 25% to 20% by HB19-1189). Exemptions: First 40x minimum wage of weekly disposable earnings is fully exempt; minimum 80% of disposable earnings protected. Additional exemptions under C.R.S. 13-54-104.

Through Interrogatories to Judgment Debtor (written, under C.R.C.P. 69 / Rule 369); disclosure hearing available if debtor fails to answer (JDF 105 SC (Pattern Interrogatories - Individual); JDF 108 SC (Pattern Interrogatories - Business)) — the court orders the debtor to appear and disclose their assets under oath. Creditor serves pattern interrogatories (JDF 105/108) on the judgment debtor; if the judgment order authorized issuance (Rule 369(g)) no separate court order is needed. Debtor must answer within 14 days (JDF 82). If the debtor does not comply, creditor may seek a contempt citation / disclosure hearing.

Record a Transcript of Judgment (certified by the clerk) with the county clerk and recorder in any county where the debtor owns or later acquires real estate; lien attaches from the time of recording (C.R.S. 13-52-102). The lien lasts 6 years.

You pay the court and sheriff their own filing/levy fees directly — usually modest, and recoverable from the debtor on top of your judgment. If you hand the case to a judgment-recovery firm or collections attorney instead, expect them to take 33–50% of whatever they recover; doing it yourself with Colorado's own forms keeps everything you collect.

Some debtors are "judgment-proof" — no job, no bank account, no equity — and no tool can squeeze money that isn't there. The honest play is the debtor's exam to confirm what exists, then keep the judgment alive (it lasts 6 years and is renewable) and try again when their situation changes. We give you the tools, not a guaranteed payout.