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Wage Garnishment Limits in Colorado

Colorado limits wage garnishment for consumer debt to the lesser of 20% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40 times the federal or state minimum wage, and any debtor can ask the court to protect more pay needed for family support.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Colorado at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 20% or amount above 40x minimum wage
Disposable earnings also exclude health insurance withheld by the employer.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No
Any debtor can object and ask the court to exempt more pay needed to support the debtor or the debtor's family.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Colorado

How much of your wages can be garnished for consumer debt in Colorado?

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Colorado: Lesser of 20% or amount above 40x minimum wage. Disposable earnings also exclude health insurance withheld by the employer.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Colorado?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Colorado: yes.

Does Colorado protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Colorado: yes.

Does Colorado give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

No. Head of household exemption in Colorado: no. Any debtor can object and ask the court to exempt more pay needed to support the debtor or the debtor's family.

Where do the Colorado wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Colo. Rev. Stat. 13-54-104. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A debtor may file a written objection and seek a hearing to show that a greater portion of disposable earnings should be exempt for the support of the debtor or the debtor's family.

What this means in practice

Disposable earnings are what remains after deductions the law requires, such as income tax, Social Security and required withholding. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or retirement contributions are usually not subtracted, so the protected amount is often less than take home pay suggests.

The limits in this guide apply to ordinary consumer debt. Child support, alimony, federal and state taxes, and federal student loans follow separate rules that often allow a larger share of pay to be taken, even in states with strict limits for other debts.

Exemptions are often not applied automatically. A worker may need to file a claim of exemption with the court within a short deadline after receiving notice of the garnishment. Reading the notice promptly, and talking with the creditor about a payment plan or settlement, can keep more of each paycheck.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.