Utah Marital Property Laws for Debt Collectors & Judgment Creditors
Utah is a common law property state with no tenancy by the entirety and a modest $42,075 homestead exemption. Standard 25% wage garnishment is available. Utah’s booming economy anchored by the Silicon Slopes tech corridor (Salt Lake City, Provo, Lehi, Draper), Park City luxury real estate, and explosive Wasatch Front growth has created enormous above-homestead equity across the Salt Lake Valley. No TBE means jointly held Wasatch Front real estate is directly reachable for the debtor’s proportionate share.
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Table of Contents
- Utah Marital Property Overview
- No Tenancy by the Entirety
- Utah’s $42,075 Homestead
- Common Law Property Rules
- Spousal Liability for Debts
- Utah Wage Garnishment Rules
- Judgment Liens on Real Property
- Bank Levies & Personal Property
- Utah Property Exemptions
- Skip Tracing Married Debtors in Utah
- Step-by-Step Enforcement Roadmap
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Resources
🏔 Utah Marital Property: The Creditor’s Overview
Utah is a common law property state governed by the Utah Code Annotated (U.C.A.). Utah does not recognize tenancy by the entirety. Utah’s $42,075 homestead exemption (U.C.A. §78B-5-503) is modest relative to the state’s explosive real estate appreciation. Salt Lake County median home prices now exceed $550,000–$600,000, and in Utah County (Provo/Lehi — heart of Silicon Slopes), Wasatch County (Heber City/Midway), and Summit County (Park City), prices routinely exceed $700,000–$5M+. The $42,075 homestead leaves enormous above-cap equity exposed across the Wasatch Front.
Utah’s Silicon Slopes technology corridor — anchored by Adobe, Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry, and dozens of high-growth startups in Lehi, Draper, and South Jordan — provides some of the highest-paid tech workforces outside California. Combined with no TBE and a low homestead, Utah is one of the most creditor-favorable environments in the Mountain West.
🚫 No Tenancy by the Entirety in Utah
Utah does not recognize tenancy by the entirety. Jointly held marital real estate is not shielded from single-spouse creditor claims. The debtor’s proportionate interest — typically 50% — is directly reachable via judgment lien. Combined with Utah’s low homestead and explosive real estate appreciation, this means jointly held Wasatch Front homes carry enormous directly accessible equity.
🏔 Utah No-TBE: Key Enforcement Implications
- Jointly held marital real estate NOT TBE-protected — debtor’s 50% share directly reachable via judgment lien
- Salt Lake Valley (Salt Lake, Davis, Weber counties): jointly held homes at $500K–$800K+ — debtor’s 50% share = $250K–$400K+ directly reachable above $42K homestead
- Utah County (Provo, Lehi, Orem, Silicon Slopes corridor): jointly held tech employee homes at $450K–$900K+ directly reachable
- Park City/Summit County luxury homes ($2M–$15M+): jointly held vacation/ski properties — debtor’s share directly reachable, no homestead as non-primary
- Joint bank accounts: debtor’s proportionate share reachable — no TBE shield
- Moab/San Juan County recreational properties: jointly held vacation land directly reachable
🏠 Utah’s $42,075 Homestead Exemption
Utah’s homestead exemption (U.C.A. §78B-5-503) protects only $42,075 in primary residence equity. This is a very low cap relative to Utah’s explosive real estate appreciation. Salt Lake County median homes now exceed $550,000–$600,000, leaving $508,000–$558,000 of above-homestead equity accessible. In Silicon Slopes (Utah County/Salt Lake County tech corridor), homes regularly trade at $600,000–$1.5M+. Park City luxury real estate is among the most expensive ski resort real estate in North America.
- 🏠$42,075 homestead cap (U.C.A. §78B-5-503) — very low vs. current Utah home values
- 💻Silicon Slopes corridor (Lehi, Draper, South Jordan, Saratoga Springs): $500K–$1.2M homes carry $458K–$1.16M+ above-homestead equity
- 😸Salt Lake City proper (Sugarhouse, Millcreek, Murray) and Cottonwood Heights: $500K–$800K homes carry $458K–$758K above cap
- 🏔Park City/Summit County: ski resort real estate at $2M–$15M+ — no homestead as non-primary vacation/ski properties
- 🏒St. George/Washington County (retirement/second home market): rapidly appreciating; homes at $400K–$800K+ carry large above-cap equity
⚖️ Common Law Property Rules for Creditors
| Asset Type | Creditor Reach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Debtor’s wages | 25% garnishable | Federal CCPA; U.C.A. §70C-7-103 |
| Joint bank account | Debtor’s share reachable | No TBE for UT bank accounts |
| Jointly held Wasatch Front real estate | Debtor’s share reachable (no TBE) | $42K homestead on primary; above cap and non-primary fully accessible |
| Primary residence equity above $42,075 | Reachable above cap | Most UT homes well above cap; vast above-homestead equity |
| Park City / ski resort vacation property | Fully reachable (no homestead) | No TBE, no homestead as non-primary; $2M–$15M+ values |
| Vehicle (individually titled) | Reachable above $3,000 | $3,000 vehicle exemption — very low |
👩⚖️ Spousal Liability for Debts in Utah
- 📄Joint contracts — both spouses co-signed
- 🏥U.C.A. §30-2-9 — mutual liability for family necessaries including medical care and household expenses
- 💳Joint credit accounts — both spouses named account holders
- 🏠Joint mortgage — both spouses signed trust deed and promissory note
💰 Utah Wage Garnishment Rules
Utah allows standard wage garnishment at 25% of disposable earnings (U.C.A. §70C-7-103). Utah has no head-of-household exemption eliminating consumer wage garnishment. Utah’s Silicon Slopes technology corridor provides some of the highest-wage garnishment targets in the Mountain West region.
Utah Wage Garnishment: Key Rules & Major Employers
- Standard 25% of disposable earnings (federal CCPA applies)
- No Utah head-of-household super-exemption for consumer debts
- Continuing garnishment order; served on employer via District Court process
- Major Utah employers: Adobe (Lehi — Adobe’s second-largest worldwide office; thousands of engineers and creative professionals), Qualtrics (Provo/Salt Lake City — experience management software; SAP subsidiary), Domo (American Fork — cloud business intelligence), Pluralsight (Draper — tech learning platform), Ancestry/Ancestry.com (Lehi), eBay/PayPal (Draper), Goldman Sachs (Salt Lake City — major operations hub), JPMorgan Chase (Salt Lake City operations), American Express (Salt Lake City), Vivint Smart Home (Provo), Nuvia/Qualcomm, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman (Hill Air Force Base area — Ogden/Roy), Intermountain Health (Salt Lake City — largest UT employer), University of Utah (Salt Lake City), Utah Valley University, BYU (Provo), Rio Tinto Kennecott Copper (Magna), Delta Air Lines (Salt Lake City hub — major maintenance center)
- Silicon Slopes (Lehi to Draper corridor): Adobe, Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry, Vivint — software engineers and tech professionals earning $100,000–$300,000+
- Goldman Sachs Salt Lake City: major operations center processing significant financial transactions — hundreds of financial analysts earning $80,000–$200,000+
- Hill Air Force Base (Davis County): largest single-site employer in Utah; thousands of highly paid civilian defense workers and contractors (Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Boeing)
- Park City/Summit County: hospitality and luxury real estate professionals — seasonal income patterns, time bank levies accordingly
- St. George/Washington County: fast-growing retirement and second-home market; construction and healthcare employment base
Utah: No TBE + $42K Homestead + Silicon Slopes Appreciation = Strong Creditor Position
Utah’s explosive real estate growth has created massive above-homestead equity across the Wasatch Front. No TBE means jointly held homes are directly reachable. Adobe, Qualtrics, Goldman Sachs SLC, and Hill AFB civilian wages are prime garnishment targets. Results in 24 hours.
🔍 Start Utah Skip Trace Now🏠 Judgment Liens on Utah Real Property
Utah judgment liens on real property are created by docketing the judgment with the Clerk of District Court in each county where the debtor owns real property (U.C.A. §78B-5-202). Utah has 29 counties. No TBE means jointly held marital real estate is directly reachable for the debtor’s proportionate share. Utah’s 8-year judgment lien duration (renewable) is moderate — longer than Ohio/Oklahoma/Pennsylvania’s 5-year terms but shorter than New England’s 20-year terms.
- Docket judgment with Clerk of District Court in each relevant countyUtah has 29 counties. Priority targets: Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan, Draper, Cottonwood Heights), Utah County (Provo, Lehi, Orem, American Fork, Saratoga Springs — Silicon Slopes), Davis County (Bountiful, Layton, Kaysville — Hill AFB corridor), Weber County (Ogden), Summit County (Park City), Washington County (St. George), and Cache County (Logan). For out-of-state judgments, domesticate in Utah District Court.
- No TBE — jointly held Wasatch Front homes directly reachable above $42K homesteadA Lehi home worth $700,000 held jointly has $658,000 above the homestead cap; debtor’s 50% share = $329,000 directly reachable via lien. Focus on Silicon Slopes corridor (Utah County/southern Salt Lake County) where tech employees own high-appreciation homes. See our judgment lien guide.
- Target Park City and Summit County luxury propertiesPark City luxury ski real estate ($2M–$15M+) is often individually titled vacation/investment property — no homestead as non-primary, no TBE. Summit County, Wasatch County (Heber Valley), and Sanpete County mountain properties represent Utah’s highest-value real estate enforcement targets outside the primary home context. Use our professional asset search.
- Renew before 8-year expirationUtah judgment liens are valid for 8 years and renewable. Set renewal reminders at 7.5 years.
🏢 Bank Account Levies & Personal Property in Utah
- 📋Obtain a writ of execution from the District Court
- 🏢Serve execution on financial institutions via county Sheriff
- 👥Joint bank accounts: debtor’s proportionate share reachable — no TBE for UT bank accounts
- 💵Federal benefits: protected for 2 months of direct deposits under federal law
- 🚘$3,000 vehicle exemption — very low; virtually all Utah vehicles carry equity above threshold
🛡️ Utah Property Exemptions
| Exemption Type | Protected Amount | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Homestead | $42,075 equity | U.C.A. §78B-5-503 — very low vs. current UT home values |
| 💼 Wages | 75% (25% garnishable) | Federal CCPA; no UT head-of-household super-exemption |
| 🚘 Motor Vehicle | $3,000 equity | Very low — most UT vehicles over threshold |
| 🛍️ Household goods | $1,000 total | U.C.A. §78B-5-505 — very limited |
| 🔧 Tools of trade | $5,000 | Implements for debtor’s occupation |
| 💰 Federal benefits | Unlimited | Social Security, SSI, VA |
| 👴 Retirement accounts | Unlimited | ERISA-qualified and Utah Retirement Systems (URS) |
| 💊 Life insurance | Unlimited (cash value to beneficiary) | U.C.A. §31A-22-1304 — strong life insurance protection |
🔍 Skip Tracing Married Debtors in Utah
Utah’s 29 counties are anchored by the Wasatch Front urban corridor: Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy, Draper, Midvale, Cottonwood Heights), Utah County (Provo, Orem, Lehi, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Saratoga Springs), Davis County (Bountiful, Layton, Kaysville, Farmington), and Weber County (Ogden, Roy, Clearfield). The I-15 corridor from Ogden to Provo contains approximately 80% of Utah’s population. Summit County (Park City) and Wasatch County (Heber City/Midway) host luxury mountain real estate markets. Washington County (St. George) is one of the fastest-growing metros in the US.
📋 Step-by-Step: Collecting from a Married Utah Debtor
- Run comprehensive property search across 29 Utah countiesNo TBE means jointly held marital real estate is directly reachable. Focus on Silicon Slopes corridor (Utah/Salt Lake counties), Park City luxury properties (Summit County), St. George second-home market (Washington County), and Salt Lake Valley primary residences with massive above-homestead equity. Use our professional asset search.
- Docket judgment in each relevant county — renew at 8 yearsPriority: Salt Lake County, Utah County (Silicon Slopes), Davis County (Hill AFB corridor), Summit County (Park City), Washington County (St. George). $42,075 homestead leaves $400,000–$1M+ of above-cap equity accessible on typical Silicon Slopes homes. See our judgment lien guide.
- Initiate wage garnishment targeting Silicon Slopes tech employersAdobe (Lehi), Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry, Goldman Sachs SLC, and Hill AFB civilian contractors represent Utah’s highest-wage garnishment targets. Standard 25% CCPA. No head-of-household exemption in Utah.
- Serve garnishment on financial institutions and levy vehiclesJoint bank accounts reachable — no TBE. $3,000 vehicle exemption is effectively minimal; levy all vehicles above $3,000 via writ of execution. See our asset levy guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
🏔 Ready to Enforce Your Utah Judgment?
No TBE + $42,075 homestead = one of the most creditor-favorable Mountain West states. Silicon Slopes homes carry $400K–$1M+ above-homestead equity. Park City ski resort properties often individually titled with no protection. Adobe, Qualtrics, and Goldman Sachs SLC wages. All 29 Utah counties — results in 24 hours or less.
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