Colorado Judgment Expiration: The 6-Year Deadline and How to Renew

Every Colorado County Court and small claims judgment has a built-in expiration date: 6 years from the date of entry. After that, the judgment becomes permanently unenforceable — no garnishments, no liens, no sheriff levies, nothing. The debtor walks free regardless of how much they still owe.

This deadline is absolute. There's no grace period, no retroactive extension, and no judicial discretion to revive an expired judgment. If you miss it, it's over.

How the 6-Year Clock Works

The clock starts on the date the judge enters the judgment, not when you first attempt collection or when the debtor last made a payment. For a judgment entered on March 15, 2021, enforcement power expires on March 15, 2027.

During the 6-year window, you can use every enforcement tool available: wage garnishment (Form 26), bank levy (Form 29), property liens (Transcript of Judgment), sheriff execution (Writ of Execution), and interrogatories. Once the clock runs out, all of those tools become unavailable.

Post-judgment interest continues to accrue during the 6 years at 8% per annum under C.R.S. § 5-12-102 (3% for medical debt), but accrued interest is worthless if the judgment itself has expired.

Filing a Motion for Revival

To extend the judgment beyond 6 years, you must file a Motion for Revival of Judgment combined with a Notice to Show Cause under C.R.C.P. 354(h). The motion must be filed before the expiration date — not after, not on the last day if you can avoid it.

The process:

1. Draft the motion. The motion requests the court to revive and extend the judgment. Include the case number, original judgment date, remaining balance, and a statement that the judgment has not been fully satisfied.
2. File with the court. Submit the motion to the County Court Clerk where the original judgment was entered.
3. Serve the debtor. The debtor must receive notice of the revival motion and the opportunity to appear and object.
4. Court decision. If the debtor files an answer, the court reviews it and may set a hearing. If no answer is filed within 14 days after service, the court signs the order for revival.

A revived judgment extends enforceability for another 6 years from the date of the revivor order. Real property liens recorded via Transcript of Judgment also extend for the new period.

What If You're Close to the Deadline?

Don't wait until year five to think about this. File the Motion for Revival with enough lead time — at least several months before expiration — to account for service delays, scheduling, and any potential objections.

If you've been actively collecting (garnishments running, payments trickling in), it's easy to lose track of the calendar. Set a reminder at the 5-year mark and start the revival process then.

County Court vs. District Court

The 6-year rule applies specifically to County Court and small claims judgments. District Court judgments have a 20-year lifespan — a dramatically different timeline. If your original case was filed in County Court's small claims division, you're on the 6-year clock regardless of the judgment amount.

What Happens to Liens When the Judgment Expires

Recorded judgment liens (Transcripts of Judgment filed with the County Clerk and Recorder) last 6 years from the original judgment entry. If the judgment expires without revival, the liens expire too. The debtor can then sell or refinance property free of the lien encumbrance.

Conversely, if you revive the judgment, the extended enforcement period also renews the lien capacity.

The Practical Calculus

Six years feels like a long time, but collection from a debtor who won't pay voluntarily is slow. Interrogatories take weeks. Wage garnishment runs 182 days per writ. Bank levies may need multiple attempts if the debtor's balance fluctuates. A property lien may not pay off until the debtor sells real estate years later.

Start enforcement early and track the expiration date alongside your judgment balance. The Colorado Judgment Collection Guide includes a timeline tracker covering every deadline from the 14-day appeal window through the 6-year expiration and revival process.

See more Colorado guides →