Wage Garnishment FAQs – Job Changes & Multiple Garnishments

Wage Garnishment Explained: What Happens When You Change Jobs or Face Multiple Garnishments

Driving down Eisenhower Boulevard or hopping on I-25 for your morning commute in Loveland is stressful enough without the added worry of a smaller paycheck. When a creditor takes legal action to seize a portion of your wages, it can feel like you are losing control of your financial life. You might wonder if switching jobs will solve the problem or how much they are actually allowed to take under Colorado law.

Our wage garnishment attorney understands that good people often face difficult financial circumstances. Our team treats every client with compassion and respect, never judgment. I want to help you understand your rights and options. Below, our legal team answers common questions about wage garnishment in Colorado to help you navigate this challenging time.

What Is the Maximum Amount Creditors Can Take?

Colorado law protects more of your paycheck than federal law does. For most consumer debts, like credit cards or medical bills, creditors cannot take your entire check. They must leave you with enough to cover basic living expenses.

Under Colorado statutes, the amount that can be garnished from your disposable earnings for a consumer debt is limited to the lesser of two amounts:

20% of your disposable weekly earnings; or
The amount by which your disposable weekly earnings exceed 40 times the current state or federal minimum wage

Disposable earnings are the amount remaining after required deductions, such as taxes and Social Security. As of January 1, 2026, the Colorado minimum wage is $15.16 per hour, meaning if you earn less than $606.40 per week in disposable income (40 times $15.16), a consumer creditor generally cannot garnish your wages at all.

These limits apply to consumer debts. Obligations such as child support or unpaid taxes follow different rules and may result in a higher percentage of your wages being withheld.

Does a Wage Garnishment Follow Me if I Change Jobs?

Many people ask if quitting their current job and finding a new one will stop the garnishment. The short answer is no. A wage garnishment is a court order against you, not just your employer, and it remains in effect until the debt is paid or a court order stops it.

When you leave a job, the garnishment stops temporarily because that specific employer no longer pays you. But creditors are persistent. They will likely use skip tracing or check your credit report to locate your new place of employment. Once they find your new employer, they will serve a new Writ of Continuing Garnishment. Your new boss is legally required to comply and resume withholding a portion of your wages.

Trying to outrun a garnishment by changing jobs can actually create more stress. It may lead to income gaps or instability, while the interest on your judgment continues to accrue.

Can I Have Multiple Garnishments at Once?

If you have multiple debts, you might worry about receiving a paycheck with $0.00. Colorado law prevents this by establishing a priority system for garnishments. You generally cannot have multiple active writs of continuing garnishment for consumer debt simultaneously.

The priority usually works like this:

Child Support: This takes top priority over almost everything else
Tax Levies: Debts owed to the IRS or the state often come next
Consumer Judgments: Credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills fall into this category

If you already have a garnishment for child support that takes up 25% or more of your disposable income, a credit card company typically cannot garnish you at all until the support obligation drops. If you have two consumer judgments, the “first in time” rule applies. The first creditor to serve your employer gets paid first. The second creditor must wait until the first debt is satisfied or the garnishment expires.

What If the Garnishment Amount Is Wrong?

Mistakes happen. Your employer might miscalculate your disposable earnings, or they might not be aware that your income falls below the protection threshold. If you believe the amount being withheld is incorrect, you have the right to object.

When your employer receives the writ, they must provide you with a copy along with a calculation of your exempt earnings. If you disagree with the numbers, you generally have seven days to try to resolve the issue directly with your employer. If that fails, you must file a written objection with the court quickly, typically within 14 days of receiving the calculation.

Filing an objection does not eliminate the debt, but it ensures that the creditor may recover only what the law allows.

Is Bankruptcy a Solution for Wage Garnishment?

For many Loveland residents, a garnishment is the tipping point. If you are struggling to pay rent or buy groceries because of a wage garnishment, filing for bankruptcy is a powerful legal tool to consider.

When you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the court issues an automatic stay. An automatic stay is a federal court order that immediately stops most collection actions, including wage garnishments. Your employer must stop withholding money from your check as soon as they receive notice of the filing. In many cases, bankruptcy can eliminate the underlying debt (discharge it), which means the garnishment stops permanently.

Take Back Control of Your Paycheck

Ignoring a wage garnishment will not make it go away. But you do not have to face it alone. At Holland Law Office, we focus on helping people find relief from overwhelming debt. Whether you need to correct a calculation error or want to explore how bankruptcy can stop collection actions instantly, our legal team is here to guide you.

We offer flat-rate fees so you know exactly what to expect, and we provide personal assistance throughout the process. You work directly with our attorney, not a call center.

Call Holland Law Office now at 970-205-9690.