Wage garnishment and exemptions in Utah

Utah uses the federal 25% limit on wage garnishment. Below: bank accounts, the property Utah lets you keep, and the steps to claim it.

Short answer

Utah follows the federal limit on wage garnishment. 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%. We could not confirm a general dollar amount protected in a bank account in Utah; directly deposited federal benefits are still protected (31 CFR 212.6).

Wage limit
25% (federal limit)
Federal benefits in a bank account
Up to 2 months protected
Law
Utah Code § 70C-7-103

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

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.

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).

Questions about garnishment in Utah

What is the wage garnishment limit in Utah?

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%.

What property is protected from creditors 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)).

Keep reading about Utah

Wage garnishment in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources