50-State Surveys / Wage Garnishment Limits / Colorado

Wage Garnishment Limits in Colorado

Short answer For ordinary debts, Colorado caps garnishment at the least of 20% of disposable earnings, earnings above 40 times the federal minimum wage, or earnings above 40 times the state minimum wage. A debtor may seek a larger exemption at a hearing based on necessary living expenses. Only one continuing garnishment is paid at a time, with support withholding first (C.R.S. §§ 13-54-104, 13-54.5-104).
State
Colorado
Statute checked
October 7, 2026
Sources
12 statutes
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At a glance

Governing lawC.R.S. § 13-54-104 sets the cap and exceptions; §§ 13-54.5-104, -110 govern competing writs and discharge.
Maximum that can be garnishedLeast of 20% of weekly disposable earnings, earnings over 40 times the federal minimum wage, or earnings over 40 times the Colorado minimum wage; a hardship hearing may protect more (C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I)).
State rule vs. federal floorMore protective than the federal 25%/30-times formula on both prongs (C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I); 15 U.S.C. § 1673(a)).
Minimum-wage protected floor40 times the higher of the state and federal hourly rates. Colorado’s 2026 state rate is $15.16/hour, yielding a $606.40 weekly floor (C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I); 7 CCR 1103-14, r. 1.2.1(A)).
Support, tax & student loan debtsSupport, Chapter 13 bankruptcy orders, and state or federal taxes are excluded from the ordinary cap; separate support tiers and a fraudulently obtained public assistance formula apply (C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(II), (3)).
Head-of-household/family exemptionA debtor may object and seek a hearing to protect more earnings if household income after garnishment cannot cover actual necessary living expenses (C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I)(D)).
Multiple garnishments at onceOne continuing writ paid at a time, by service order; child support first, then fraudulently obtained public or child care assistance, then ordinary writs (C.R.S. § 13-54.5-104(1)).
Protection from being firedEmployer may not discharge an employee because a creditor subjected or tried to subject earnings to garnishment; suit within 91 days for reinstatement and up to six weeks’ lost wages, costs, and fees (C.R.S. § 13-54.5-110).

Requirements one by one

Maximum garnishment amount

C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I) compares three amounts and allows the smallest. At $800 in weekly disposable earnings, 20% is $160, while earnings above 40 times the 2026 Colorado minimum wage of $15.16 are $193.60; the ordinary cap is $160. At $700, the wage-floor difference is $93.60, below the $140 percentage amount. The federal wage-floor prong uses the $7.25 hourly rate in 29 U.S.C. § 206(a)(1)(C) and must also be tested.

Head-of-household exemption

C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I)(D) lets a debtor object in writing and request a hearing. The court considers income left after garnishment, other family income, and actual necessary expenses including housing, utilities, food, medical care, child care, education, transportation, and support obligations. If those resources are insufficient, it must exempt more earnings.

Priority debt exceptions

C.R.S. § 13-54-104(3) sets separate support limits of 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, depending on whether the debtor supports another spouse or child. Those limits become 55% or 65% for support owed from more than twelve weeks earlier. A separate fraudulently obtained public assistance category uses the lesser of 35% or earnings above 30 times the applicable minimum wage under § 13-54-104(2)(a)(II). Federal student-loan administrative garnishment has its own 15% limit in 20 U.S.C. § 1095a(a)(1).

Multiple garnishments priority

C.R.S. § 13-54.5-101(1) defines a continuing writ as withholding earnings over the writ’s duration. Section 13-54.5-104(1)(a) pays continuing writs in service order. Subsection (1)(c) places child support first and fraudulently obtained public or child care assistance next. A suspended writ can retain priority under subsection (1)(b).

Employee termination protection

C.R.S. § 13-54.5-110 covers an employer's discharge after a creditor subjects, or attempts to subject, earnings to garnishment. The employee may sue within 91 days; recoverable lost wages are capped at six weeks, with costs and reasonable attorney fees.

What trips people up

Both federal and Colorado minimum wages appear in the ordinary formula, each multiplied by 40. The current state minimum wage is higher, so the state prong supplies the larger protected wage floor. The hardship increase requires a written objection and hearing; it is not automatic.

Common questions

Do two ordinary creditors split the same garnishable amount? No. C.R.S. § 13-54.5-104 satisfies one continuing writ at a time in service order.

Can a support order take more than an ordinary creditor? Yes. C.R.S. § 13-54-104(3) applies separate support percentages, and § 13-54.5-104 gives a support writ priority.

Statutes and sources

  • C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I)(D) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(II) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54-104(3) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54.5-104(1)(a) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54.5-104(1)(c) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54.5-110 — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • 15 U.S.C. § 1673(a) — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title15/html/USCODE-2024-title15-chap41-subchapII-sec1673.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • 20 U.S.C. § 1095a(a)(1) — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title20/html/USCODE-2024-title20-chap28-subchapIV-partG-sec1095a.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • 7 CCR 1103-14, Rule 1.2.1(A) (2026) — https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/adopted_2026_pay_calc_order_7_ccr_1103-14_12.8.25.pdf (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • C.R.S. § 13-54.5-101(1) — https://www.olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-13.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)
  • 29 U.S.C. § 206(a)(1)(C) — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2024-title29/html/USCODE-2024-title29-chap8-sec206.htm (accessed 2026-10-07)

Source links

Every statute quoted above, linked, with the date we checked it.

C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(I)(D) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54-104(2)(a)(II) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54-104(3) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54.5-104(1)(a) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54.5-104(1)(c) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54.5-110 · accessed 2026-10-07
15 U.S.C. § 1673(a) · accessed 2026-10-07
20 U.S.C. § 1095a(a)(1) · accessed 2026-10-07
7 CCR 1103-14, Rule 1.2.1(A) (2026) · accessed 2026-10-07
C.R.S. § 13-54.5-101(1) · accessed 2026-10-07
29 U.S.C. § 206(a)(1)(C) · accessed 2026-10-07
This page is general legal information about how a state limits ordinary wage garnishment, not legal advice about your paycheck or your debt. Which cap applies, whether you qualify for a head-of-household or other exemption, and how multiple garnishments interact often depend on case-specific facts (your dependents, your pay structure, what other orders already exist) that this page cannot resolve for you. Verified against the official statute text on the date shown; confirm current law or consult a licensed attorney in the state before relying on it.

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