Utah Judgment Collection Costs: Every Fee You Will Pay to Enforce a Small Claims Judgment

Enforcing a judgment is not free. Every writ you file, every paper you serve, every lien you record comes with a fee — and those fees add up fast if you are pursuing multiple enforcement tools at once. Documented statutory enforcement fees are recoverable as post-judgment costs. You generally pay first and seek recovery through collection.

Here is every fee you will encounter when collecting a Utah small claims judgment, current as of 2026.

Court Filing Fees

The biggest recurring cost is the $75 writ filing fee under Utah Code § 78A-2-301(1)(w). This applies every time you file:

• Application for Writ of Garnishment (wage or property) — $75
• Application for Writ of Execution — $75
• Application for Writ of Attachment — $75
• Application for Writ of Replevin — $75

Each writ is a separate filing. If you garnish the debtor's wages and later file a separate writ to garnish their bank account, that is two $75 fees. If the first garnishment is returned unsatisfied and you need to file a new one with updated information, another $75.

Abstract of Judgment (needed to record a judgment lien): $50 from the court clerk.

Garnishee Fees

Under Utah Code § 78A-2-216, the entity receiving your writ — the employer or bank — is entitled to a processing fee:

• Single garnishment (bank account): $10
• Continuing garnishment (wages): $25

Since the May 6, 2026 rule change, you may either tender this fee upfront or let the garnishee deduct it from the withheld funds. If you do not advance it, the garnishee deducts the fee before remitting the balance to you. If the garnished amount from a bank account is $10 or less, the garnishee returns the writ unpaid and you owe the $10 fee separately. For wages, if the pay-period yield is $25 or less, the garnishee holds funds until the accumulated amount exceeds $25.

Process Server and Service Fees

Service requirements depend on the writ. A garnishee is served with the garnishment packet; the debtor packet can be sent by mail or hand delivery. Other enforcement actions have their own service requirements. Costs depend on who serves the papers:

Our breakdown of process server costs covers how to choose the right server for each enforcement tool.

County Recorder Fees

Recording a judgment lien requires filing the Abstract of Judgment (Form 1003DC) and Judgment Information Statement (Form 1004DC) with the county recorder:

• Salt Lake County: $40 per instrument
• Kane County, Summit County (updated schedules): $45 per instrument
• Additional property descriptions: $2 each beyond the first ten

If the debtor owns property in multiple counties, you record in each county separately — and pay each county's fee.

District Court Judgment Renewal Fees

Utah judgments are enforceable for 8 years under Utah Code § 78B-2-311. The fee table below applies to a District Court Motion to Renew Judgment, which must be filed before expiration. A Justice Court small claims judgment cannot be renewed by motion; the creditor must file a new small claims case or a regular civil case claiming nonpayment. See the renewal guide for the procedure.

Adding It All Up

A typical enforcement sequence — garnishing wages through a single employer — costs roughly:

If you also record a judgment lien to protect against real property transfers:

A creditor pursuing both wage garnishment and a lien spends about $230 before seeing any recovery. For a $5,000 judgment accruing 5.51% annual interest, that investment is small compared to the potential recovery.

How to Recover These Costs

Documented statutory fees you pay — writ filing fees, sheriff service charges, and recording fees — are recoverable as post-judgment costs. Keep itemized receipts for every payment. Log each expense with the date, amount, payee, and case number. A constable's fee above the statutory amount requires your advance approval and a court finding that the service and fee were justifiable. A private process server's charge above rates established by law is recoverable only if a court finds the service and charge justifiable. Add only recoverable costs to the judgment balance; calculate interest on the judgment amount at the rate set by the judgment or statute, rather than automatically applying it to each later service charge.

The complete Utah judgment collection guide includes a post-judgment accounting ledger template that tracks principal, interest, costs, and credits in one place — exactly what you need if the case ever goes to a supplemental proceedings hearing and the court asks for a current balance.

See more Utah guides →