Debt Collection Lawsuits Surge in Utah as Filings Climb Across Multiple States
Debt collection lawsuits in Utah have reached levels not seen in more than a decade, with new court data showing filings increased 23% compared with 2019. The increase reflects a broader national trend as creditors and debt buyers pursue more delinquent accounts through state courts, although several states have experienced substantially larger increases.
According to KSL’s Nov. 5 report, Utah recorded 76,006 debt collection lawsuits in 2025, up from approximately 61,800 in 2019. The outlet also reported 80,501 filings in its latest 2026 figures, suggesting the state could exceed its previous annual highs.
How Utah Compares With Other States
Utah’s increase in debt collection litigation reflects a broader national trend, although several states have experienced substantially faster growth.
According to a July 2026 analysis by January Advisors, Missouri recorded 121,572 debt collection lawsuits in 2025, an 88% increase compared with 2019. Texas followed with 515,371 lawsuits, representing a 77% increase over the same period.
Massachusetts experienced a 53% increase, reaching 145,767 lawsuits, while Alabama recorded 108,308 cases, up 40%. Both states saw considerably faster growth than Utah’s 23% increase.
Other states experienced more modest changes. North Dakota reported a 19% increase, while Minnesota saw filings rise 11%. Virginia was among the exceptions, with filings declining 2% compared with 2019.
The comparisons show that Utah is part of a wider increase in debt collection litigation, rather than an isolated surge. However, filing volumes and growth rates vary considerably by state, and differences in court reporting methods make direct comparisons difficult.
The Pew Charitable Trusts has also documented rising debt collection caseloads, highlighting the growing role these lawsuits play in state and local court systems.
Debt Buyers and Consumer Financial Pressures Contribute to Rising Filings
Researchers have identified both consumer financial pressures and changes in creditor litigation activity as contributing factors.
January Advisors found that LVNV Funding, a national debt buyer, was a major contributor to the growth in lawsuits across the jurisdictions studied. The research suggests that increased litigation activity among large debt purchasers has played a significant role in the overall rise.
Consumer financial conditions are another factor. Rising living expenses, outstanding credit balances, and financial instability have left some households struggling to meet repayment obligations.
The increase also carries consequences for consumers. Pew has reported that fewer than 4% of defendants in debt collection lawsuits have legal representation, leaving many to navigate court proceedings independently.
What Rising Lawsuit Volumes Mean for Debt Collectors
For creditors, debt buyers and collection law firms, the growing number of lawsuits underscores the importance of documentation, accurate account information and litigation compliance.
As filing volumes increase, organizations must ensure that collection claims are supported by reliable records, including account ownership, payment histories, and the amounts sought.
In Utah, most defendants served within the state have 21 days to respond to a debt collection complaint, according to the Utah State Courts. Failure to respond can result in a default judgment, potentially allowing creditors to pursue additional lawful collection remedies.
The national data also shows that increased litigation is not limited to one regional market. While Utah’s filing growth has drawn attention, the larger increases in Missouri, Texas, and Massachusetts suggest that debt collection litigation remains an expanding component of creditor recovery strategies across multiple jurisdictions.
For the accounts receivable management industry, the trend reinforces the need to balance effective legal recovery practices with documentation standards, consumer protections and compliance obligations.
