Wage garnishment and exemptions in Utah

How much can they take from your paycheck in Utah?

After a court judgment on a credit card, medical bill or other consumer debt.

Deadline and form to protect your money in Utah

The papers from the court, your employer or your bank list the deadline to claim an exemption. Ask the court how to file the claim: Utah court self-help (official).

Utah's limit on wage garnishment

Wage limit

Same as federal for consumer credit judgments: no more than 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage per week, whichever is less. For a private education loan, no more than 15%.

Law

Utah Code § 70C-7-103

17 of our 48 state guides, Utah included, simply apply the federal cap (15 U.S.C. 1673(a)).

In nearby states

• Idaho: 25% (federal limit)
• Wyoming: 25% (federal limit)
• Colorado: Up to 20%
• Arizona: Up to 10%

What creditors can't take in Utah

• Utah protects equity in your primary home and a smaller amount in other real property.
• The dollar amounts rise with inflation every year and are published by the State Auditor: for 2025 they are $52,400 for a primary home ($104,700 per household if jointly owned) and $6,200 for other property ($12,500 per household) (Utah Code § 78B-5-503(2); Office of the State Auditor, January 2025).
• One motor vehicle is protected up to $3,000 (§ 78B-5-506(3)), and work tools up to $5,000 (§ 78B-5-506(2)).

Bank accounts and garnishment in Utah

Directly deposited Social Security, SSI, VA and certain other federal benefits are protected up to two months' worth, without filing anything (31 CFR 212.5, 212.6). Read the debt lawsuit guide.

Other kinds of debt follow other limits

• Child support: up to 50% of disposable earnings if you support another spouse or child, or 60% if you don't; 5% more if the support is more than 12 weeks late (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)).
• Federal student loans: no lawsuit is needed: up to 15% of disposable pay, after at least 30 days' written notice (20 U.S.C. 1095a).
• Other debts owed to a federal agency: 15% of disposable pay at most, with the same 30-times-minimum-wage floor as other garnishments (31 CFR 285.11).
• Federal taxes: an IRS levy leaves you an exempt amount based on your standard deduction and dependents; return the Statement of Dependents and Filing Status your employer gives you within 3 days (26 U.S.C. 6334(a)(9), (d); IRS wage levy rules).

Before a garnishment: the court case in Utah

If you are properly served and do not answer in time, the plaintiff can ask for a default judgment and gets what it asked for without hearing your side (Utah Courts).

The time to answer in Utah: 21 days after you are served in Utah (30 days if you were served outside Utah), in district or justice court (Utah R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)); the summons states the deadline.

What to do if you are sued in Utah

Protecting your pay and property in Utah

1. Read every notice

   Look for the date to claim exemptions on every court, employer or bank notice.

2. Know Utah's limit

   Utah's wage rule: Same as federal for consumer credit judgments: no more than 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage per week, whichever is less.

3. Look at your bank account

   Check that the bank protected your direct-deposited benefits (31 CFR 212.6).

4. Ask the court to protect your money

   Ask the court clerk for the exemption claim form and file it by the deadline. Start with Utah court self-help (official).

5. Get free help

   Free help in Utah: Utah Division of Consumer Protection and Utah Courts – Debt collection self-help.

Questions about garnishment in Utah

Keep reading about Utah

• The full Utah guide
• Statute of limitations in Utah: 6 years
• Sued by a debt collector in Utah: 21 days
• “Is my debt too old?” checker for Utah
• Dispute a debt and ask for proof (validation letter)
• Tell a collector to stop or limit contact
• Wage garnishment limits by state
• Guide: sued by a debt collector

Wage garnishment in nearby states