File an Out-of-State Judgment in Colorado

Criteria for Filing an Out-of-State Judgment in Colorado

If you were awarded a money judgment in another state, and you need to enforce that judgment in Colorado, you will need to file paperwork related to that judgment in Colorado.

You may need to enforce your out-of-state foreign judgment in Colorado if:

1. The person who owes you money has moved to Colorado; or
2. The person who owes you money has not moved, but there are property or other assets in Colorado that can be used to pay you what you are owed.

Preparing to File an Out-of-State Judgment in Colorado

Before you file anything in Colorado, you must first get exemplified copies of your judgment paperwork from the other state. You will need to attach an authenticated copy of your judgment from the other state to the paperwork you file in Colorado.

Identify Where to File Your Paperwork

You should file your out-of-state judgment with the district court in the county:

1. Where the person who owes you money lives.
2. Where the person who owes you money owns real property.
3. That would have jurisdiction over the action if it was originally filed in Colorado.

If you are unsure where to file your paperwork, you may want to talk to an attorney.

Use the courts locator to find the location of a specific court.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Use the forms link above to download and complete JDF 138 Judgment Creditor Affidavit in Support of Foreign Judgment and JDF 139 Notice of Filing of Foreign Judgment. For detailed instructions on completing these forms, review JDF 137 Instructions for Filing a Foreign Judgment.

Paperwork Tips

You and the person who owes you money will have the same identities as you had in the out-of-state case.  For example, if you were the Plaintiff in the out-of-state case, you will be the Plaintiff on these forms.

If you are owed money, you will be known as the Judgment Creditor. The person who owes you money will be known as the Judgment Debtor.

JDF 138 Judgment Creditor Affidavit in Support of Foreign Judgment must be signed in front of a notary public or court clerk. You can find a notary public in the Yellow Pages, on the Internet, or by going to your local bank. Fill out all sections of this form, and make sure to attach the authenticated copy of your foreign judgment.

Fill out all sections of JDF 139 Notice of Filing of Foreign Judgment.

How to Submit Paperwork to the Court

1. Take your completed forms to the clerk at the counter in the courthouse. Give the forms to the clerk to file your case.
2. Pay the filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee, or visit our File Without Payment section for complete information.

What Happens Next?

After you file your paperwork, the court should mail a copy of JDF 139 Notice of Filing of Foreign Judgment to the person who owes you money. Check with the court to make sure they will mail the Notice. If the court does not mail the Notice, you will need to mail it to the person who owes you money. If you mail the Notice, fill out the "Certificate of Mailing" part of JDF 139 Notice of Filing of Foreign Judgment, then file it with the court.

After Paperwork Is Filed

If the person who owes you money files an Objection to your request to file the out-of-state judgment in Colorado, the court may need to set a hearing to resolve the issues.

Once your out-of-state judgment is entered in Colorado, you can use the court in Colorado to enforce the judgment. See Collecting a Judgment for more details.