(a) In General. Except as provided in C.R.C.P. 103 or an order of court directing otherwise, process to enforce a final money judgment shall be by writ of execution.
Rule 69.Execution and Proceedings Subsequent to Judgment
Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified July 10, 2026
In one sentenceRule 69 spells out how a Colorado judgment creditor collects a money judgment through a writ of execution and follow-up tools like debtor interrogatories, subpoenas, and depositions to track down the debtor's assets.
Full Text of Rule 69
(b) Proceedings for Costs. Costs finally awarded by order of court may be enforced in the same manner as any final money judgment. Costs awarded by an appellate court may be enforced in the same manner upon application by filing a remittitur or other order of the appellate court with the clerk of the trial court showing the award of costs.
(c) Debtor of Judgment Debtor; Debtor May Pay Sheriff. After issuance of a writ of execution against property, the judgment debtor or any person indebted to the judgment debtor may pay to the sheriff to whom the writ of execution is directed the amount necessary to satisfy the execution. The sheriff's receipt for the amount shall be a discharge for the amount so paid.
(d) Requirement that Judgment Debtor Answer Written Interrogatories.
(1) At any time after entry of a final money judgment, the judgment creditor may serve written interrogatories upon the judgment debtor in accordance with C.R.C.P. 45, requiring the judgment debtor to answer the interrogatories. Within 21 days of service of the interrogatories upon the judgment debtor, the judgment debtor shall appear before the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered to sign the answers to the interrogatories under oath and file them.
(2) If the judgment debtor, after being properly served with written interrogatories as provided by this Rule, fails to answer the served interrogatories, the judgment creditor may file a motion, with return of the previously served written interrogatories attached thereto, and request an order of court requiring the judgment debtor to either answer the previously served written interrogatories within 21 days in accordance with the provisions of (d)(1) of this Rule or appear in court at a specified time to show cause why the judgment debtor shall not be held in contempt of court for failure to comply with the order requiring answers to interrogatories; a copy of the motion, written interrogatories and a certified order of court shall be served upon judgment debtor in accordance with C.R.C.P. 45.
(e) Subpoena for Appearance of Judgment Debtor.
(1) At any time after entry of a final money judgment, a judgment creditor may cause a subpoena or subpoena to produce to be served as provided in C.R.C.P. 45 requiring the judgment debtor to appear before the court, master or referee with requested documents at a specified time obtained from the court to answer concerning property. A judgment debtor may be required to attend outside the county where such judgment debtor resides and the court may make reasonable orders for mileage and expenses. The subpoena shall include on its face a conspicuous notice to the judgment debtor that provides: “Failure to Appear Will Result in Issuance of a Warrant for Your Arrest.”
(2) If the judgment debtor, after being properly served with a subpoena or subpoena to produce as provided in C.R.C.P. 45, fails to appear, the court upon motion of the judgment creditor shall issue a bench warrant commanding the sheriff of any county in which the judgment debtor may be found, to arrest and bring the judgment debtor forthwith before the court for proceedings under this Rule.
(f) Subpoena for Appearance of Debtor of Judgment Debtor. At any time after entry of a final money judgment, upon proof to the satisfaction of the court, that any person has property of, or is indebted to a judgment debtor in any amount exceeding Five Hundred Dollars not exempt from execution, the court may issue a subpoena or subpoena to produce to such person to appear before the court, master or referee at a specified time and answer concerning the same. Service shall be made in accordance with C.R.C.P. 45, and the court may make reasonable orders for mileage and expenses.
(g) Order to Apply Property on Judgment; Contempt. The court, master, or referee may order any party or other person over whom the court has jurisdiction, to apply any property other than real property, not exempt from execution, whether in the possession of such party or other person, or owed the judgment debtor, towards satisfaction of the judgment. Any party or person who disobeys an order made under the provisions of this Rule may be punished for contempt. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent an action in the nature of a creditor's bill.
(h) Witnesses. Witnesses may be subpoenaed to appear and testify in accordance with C.R.C.P. 45.
(i) Depositions. After entry of a final money judgment, the judgment creditor, upon order of court which may be obtained ex parte, may take the deposition of any person including the judgment debtor, in the manner provided in these Rules.
Amendment History
Amended effective September 1, 1984; January 1, 1987; July 1, 1990; July 1, 1994; January 1, 2012.
Plain-English Summary
Once a court enters a final money judgment, Rule 69 governs how the winning party turns that judgment into actual payment. The standard tool is a writ of execution, which directs a sheriff to collect from the debtor's property; a debtor can also pay the sheriff directly after the writ issues to satisfy the judgment. Costs awarded by a trial or appellate court are collected the same way.
Because a creditor often does not know what the debtor owns, Rule 69 offers several ways to find out. A creditor can serve written interrogatories that the debtor must answer under oath before the clerk within 21 days, or can subpoena the debtor to appear in court and answer questions about property, with the subpoena warning that failing to appear can lead to arrest. A creditor can also subpoena someone who owes the debtor more than five hundred dollars and subpoena other witnesses. Taking a deposition of any person with relevant knowledge, including the debtor, needs a court order, though that order can be obtained ex parte.
If a debtor ignores interrogatories or a subpoena, the creditor can ask the court to compel an answer or hold the debtor in contempt, and a debtor who fails to appear after proper service can be arrested on a bench warrant. The court can also order any party or other person under its jurisdiction to turn over non-real property owed to or held for the debtor toward the judgment, and disobeying that order is punishable as contempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a judgment creditor collect a Colorado money judgment?
The standard method under Rule 69(a) is a writ of execution, which directs a sheriff to collect from the debtor's non-exempt property. A debtor may also pay the sheriff directly once the writ has issued.
Can a judgment creditor make a debtor disclose assets?
Yes. Rule 69(d) lets a creditor serve written interrogatories the debtor must answer under oath before the clerk within 21 days, and Rule 69(e) lets a creditor subpoena the debtor to appear in court and answer questions about property, with documents if requested.
What happens if a judgment debtor ignores a subpoena to appear?
The court, on the creditor's motion, issues a bench warrant directing a sheriff to arrest the debtor and bring them before the court. The subpoena itself must carry a conspicuous warning that failing to appear can lead to arrest.
Can a creditor reach money that a third party owes the judgment debtor?
Yes. Rule 69(f) lets a creditor subpoena anyone who owes the judgment debtor more than five hundred dollars, or who holds the debtor's property, to appear and answer questions about it.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (Colo. R. Civ. P. 69). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Colorado (C.R.S. § 13-2-108; Colo. Const. art. VI). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 10, 2026. ·
Official source
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