Denver Child Support Attorney

Caring and Compassionate Child Support Legal Services

 

Child support in Denver runs on a formula, but the numbers still have to be right. A Denver child support lawyer can make sure income, parenting time, childcare, insurance, and other inputs are calculated correctly before the court enters an order.

Colorado changed its child support rules on March 1, 2026, including how parenting time affects the calculation. An outdated online calculator, hidden self-employment income, or an incorrect overnight count can all distort the final number.

Price Family Law helps Denver parents establish, modify, and enforce child support orders under current Colorado law. Call 720-615-1750 or use our online form to get a free consultation.

Why Choose Price Family Law as Your Denver Child Support Lawyer

Price Family Law gives parents direct access to family law attorneys who understand how much depends on getting the support calculation right.

Here’s why Denver trusts our attorneys:

  • Clear Answers on the Numbers: We explain how income, parenting time, childcare, insurance, and other inputs affect the support figure.
  • Appellate Experience: Our attorneys understand how to preserve important issues and build a clear record when child support or modification disputes are heavily contested.
  • Family Law Focus: Founder Trista McElhaney Price leads a practice focused on family law and Denver domestic relations cases.
  • Direct Attorney Access: You’ll always be able to reach your attorney directly.

Call Price Family Law at 720-615-1750 or use our online form to talk over your case for free.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Colorado?

Colorado calculates child support under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 using both parents’ adjusted gross incomes, parenting time, and certain shared expenses. The court starts with the guideline schedule and then adjusts the amount based on the family’s circumstances.

Changes that took effect March 1, 2026 altered how parenting time is credited and extended the guideline schedule to higher combined incomes. Since the result depends on accurate inputs, your Denver child support lawyer can review the numbers before the court enters an order.

What Counts as Income for Child Support?

In Colorado, child support income can include more than wages. Salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, pensions, and other earnings can affect the calculation. Disputes often arise when a parent owns a business, has a high income, works gigs, or appears to be voluntarily earning less.

A Denver child support lawyer can use financial records, discovery, and subpoenas to determine whether the reported income reflects the parent’s actual earnings.

What Expenses Can Affect Child Support in Colorado?

Colorado child support can include expenses beyond the basic guideline amount. These additional costs can meaningfully change what each parent pays, especially when childcare, insurance, or ongoing medical needs are significant.

Your attorney can make sure qualifying expenses are documented, included in the calculation, and divided correctly.

Common expenses include:

  • Childcare: Work-related daycare, before- and after-school care, and similar costs can be included in the calculation when necessary for a parent to work.
  • Health Insurance: The cost of providing health insurance for the child can affect the final support amount and how expenses are divided between the parents.
  • Medical and Other Needs: Uninsured medical costs, therapy, and other extraordinary medical expenses can also be considered when the child has needs beyond routine support.

What if the Other Parent Won’t Pay Child Support?

A valid child support order can be enforced when a parent falls behind. Depending on the circumstances, enforcement can involve income withholding, interception of certain payments, license consequences, or contempt proceedings.

A child support lawyer in Denver can identify the enforcement option that fits the situation and ask the court or appropriate agency to act on the unpaid balance.

Can Child Support Ever Change?

Child support can be modified when there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that meets Colorado’s legal requirements. A job loss, raise, significant income change, or new parenting schedule can all affect the calculation.

Existing orders didn’t automatically change when Colorado’s 2026 rules took effect. If your current order no longer reflects your circumstances, an attorney can determine whether you qualify for a modification and file the request for you.

Price Family Law can also help unmarried parents address paternity when it needs to be established, along with child support.

FAQ for Denver Child Support Lawyer

Do I Need a Denver Child Support Lawyer if We Agree on an Amount?

Even an agreed child support amount should be checked against Colorado’s guidelines. A Denver child support lawyer can review the calculation, confirm that the correct income and parenting-time figures were used, and make sure the agreement is presented properly to the court.


Do We Need a Court Order if We Already Agree on Child Support?

An informal agreement between parents is not the same as a court-approved child support order. A formal order imposes a clear obligation on both parents and provides a way to enforce payment if the agreement later breaks down.


Does Child Support End Automatically When My Child Turns 18?

Child support doesn’t always end automatically when a child turns 18. The correct end date can depend on emancipation, high school attendance, disability, and other circumstances.


How Does Parenting Time Affect Child Support?

Parenting time can directly affect the support calculation. Under the rules that took effect March 1, 2026, each overnight can affect the parenting-time credit, making an accurate overnight count especially important.


What if the Other Parent Hides Income?

Hidden or understated income can be challenged. A Denver child support attorney can use discovery, subpoenas, tax records, business records, and other financial evidence to show the court what a parent actually earns or is capable of earning.


How Much Does a Denver Child Support Lawyer Cost?

The cost of a child support lawyer in Denver depends on the case’s complexity and the amount of attorney time required. Price Family Law can explain our fee structure after reviewing your situation during a free consultation.

Connect With a Denver Child Support Attorney

Price Family Law helps parents establish, modify, and enforce child support orders based on accurate financial information and current Colorado law.

Call a child support lawyer in Denver today at 720-615-1750 for a free consultation, or get started online.


Price Family Law

720 S Colorado Blvd 452 South
Denver, CO 80246
Ph: (720) 615-1750

Attorney Trista Price

Trista McElhaney Price is a founding partner at Price Family Law, LLC. She specializes in high-asset divorce cases and legal matters involving complex business and financial issues as well as complex custody matters involving domestic violence, substance abuse issues, and mental health issues. Read Full Bio.

Request Free
Consultation

Please complete the form below to let us know how we can help you. Our team will be in touch to arrange a consultation.