How Colorado Collects Unpaid Child Support: Wage Garnishment, License Suspension and Passport Denial
If you don’t pay child support in Colorado, each payment becomes a final money judgment with 10% interest. It can be collected by income assignment, tax refund and lottery intercepts, liens, license action and, above $2,500, federal passport denial.
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Colorado?
Each payment becomes a final money judgment when it is due and not paid and can be enforced as other judgments without further action by the court (C.R.S. 14-10-122(1)(c)). The creditor or the child support enforcement unit can use an income assignment, intercepts, liens, license actions and other remedies.
Can Colorado garnish wages for unpaid child support?
Whenever support or arrears are determined, the court or the enforcement unit orders them activated immediately as an income assignment against the obligor’s employers or other income sources, subject to the garnishment limits in section 13-54-104(3) (14-14-111.5). Federal law also limits how much of disposable earnings can be garnished for support: 50% if the person supports another spouse or child and 60% if not, rising to 55% and 65% for support more than 12 weeks overdue (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)).
| If the person | Limit | If support is more than 12 weeks overdue |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting a spouse or another child | 50% | 55% |
| Not supporting a spouse or another child | 60% | 65% |
How does a verified entry of support judgment work?
To enforce a support judgment the obligee files with the court that issued the order a verified entry of support judgment stating the period covered and the total amount. The obligee or the enforcement unit does not have to wait fourteen days to execute, and filing it revives all unsatisfied support judgments for that period without a separate motion, notice or hearing (14-10-122(1)(c)).
Can tax refunds and lottery winnings be taken?
Yes. No court order for support judgment or verified entry is needed for the county and state enforcement units to certify past-due amounts to the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Revenue to intercept a federal or state tax refund or lottery winnings (14-10-122(1)(c)).
Is there a lien?
In IV-D cases a lien arises by operation of law against the obligor’s real and personal property when a payment becomes a support judgment, limited to the amount of the judgment, accrued interest and filing fees (14-10-122(1.5)). The state agency can also issue a notice of administrative lien and attachment against workers’ compensation benefits in IV-D cases (26-13-122).
Can you lose a license for unpaid child support in Colorado?
Rules can provide for suspending, revoking or denying professional, occupational and recreational licenses of people who owe more than six months’ gross dollar amount of support and pay less than fifty percent of their current monthly obligation, after a notice giving thirty days to pay, negotiate a payment plan or ask for a hearing (26-13-126). For a driver’s license, the state agency sends an annual notice of noncompliance, the obligor has thirty days to request an administrative review, and the sole grounds are a mistake in identity, a disagreement over the amount or proof that all payments were made when due (26-13-123).
Can the court require security?
Yes. An interested party can ask the court to order the obligor to post security, a bond or another guarantee to secure payment, considering the nature of the obligor’s employment and whether the income is reachable by an income assignment (14-14-109).
What about passports?
If a state agency certifies that a person owes child support arrearages of more than $2,500, federal law requires the Secretary of State to refuse to issue a passport and allows revoking, restricting or limiting one already issued (42 U.S.C. 652(k)). The Colorado arrears calculator warns when the unpaid principal passes that figure.
What should you do if you owe?
Contact the enforcement unit about a payment plan before action escalates, add up the balance in the Colorado child support arrears calculator and, if your circumstances changed, file to modify the order because only later installments can change.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Colorado?
Each payment becomes a final money judgment with 10% interest, collectible by income assignment, tax refund and lottery intercepts, liens, license action and other remedies.
How much of my wages can be garnished for child support in Colorado?
Federal law limits it to 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, and 55% or 65% for support more than 12 weeks overdue, within the state garnishment limits.
Can Colorado intercept my tax refund for child support?
Yes. Past-due amounts can be certified to the IRS or the Department of Revenue to intercept federal or state tax refunds or lottery winnings.
When can a Colorado professional license be suspended for child support?
When the obligor owes more than six months' support and pays less than 50% of the current monthly obligation, after notice.
When can the passport of a Colorado parent who owes child support be denied?
When a state agency certifies arrears over $2,500 under federal law.
Official sources
- C.R.S. 14-14-106: interest on child support arrearages
- C.R.S. 5-12-101: statutory interest rate
- C.R.S. 14-10-122: support judgments, liens and modification
- C.R.S. 26-13-126: professional, occupational and recreational licenses
- C.R.S. 26-13-123: driver’s license and child support
- C.R.S. 14-14-111.5: income assignment
- C.R.S. 14-14-109: security for child support
- C.R.S. 26-13-122: administrative lien and attachment
- 15 U.S.C. 1673: restriction on garnishment
- 42 U.S.C. 652(k): denial of passports
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Colorado statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Colorado attorney.