- September 1, 2026
- Child Support
- Family Law
How Is Child Support Calculated in Colorado?
Colorado calculates child support with an income shares model. The state combines both parents’ adjusted gross incomes, matches the total to a support schedule, then divides the obligation based on each parent’s income share, parenting time, and certain child-related expenses.
Child support in Colorado is calculated with an income shares formula that considers both parents’ incomes and divides the cost of raising a child in proportion to what each one earns. As of 2026, that formula sits in C.R.S. § 14-10-115 and applies throughout the state.
The formula depends heavily on the numbers entered into it, especially income, overnights, childcare, and health insurance costs. One wrong figure can change the monthly payment, which is why getting the inputs right matters as much as understanding the formula itself.
Key Takeaways for Colorado Child Support
- Colorado uses an income shares model, so both parents’ incomes go into the calculation.
- A major law change took effect on March 1, 2026, and it counts every overnight toward parenting time instead of waiting for a set threshold.
- Gross income for support reaches well beyond wages, and self-employment income is a common source of disputes.
- Childcare, health insurance, and extraordinary costs can be added to the basic schedule amount.
- A Colorado judge can deviate from the guideline amount or modify an existing order when circumstances substantially change.
What Are the Steps to Calculate Child Support in Colorado?
Calculating child support in Colorado follows a set sequence, with each step affecting the next. The calculation generally works like this:
- Each parent reports their monthly adjusted gross income.
- The court combines those figures.
- The combined income is matched to the state support schedule based on the number of children.
- The basic obligation is divided according to each parent’s percentage of the combined income.
- The court adjusts the calculation for parenting time.
- Childcare, health insurance premiums, and qualifying extraordinary expenses are added and divided between the parents.
The final worksheet determines the monthly obligation. An incorrect income figure or overnight count can distort everything that follows.
What Counts as Income for Colorado Child Support?
Income for Colorado child support includes much more than regular wages. Gross income generally captures money from many sources before taxes are deducted.
Common examples include:
- Wages and Salary: Regular pay, tips, overtime, bonuses, and commissions can count.
- Self-Employment Earnings: Business profits count, and a court can add back personal expenses paid through a company.
- Investment and Property Income: Dividends, interest, rental income, and royalties can enter the calculation.
- Benefits and Other Sources: Pensions, Social Security benefits, and certain other regular payments can also count.
Colorado can also assign income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. If a court finds that a parent reduced their earnings to lower child support, it can calculate support based on what that parent could reasonably earn.
How Does Parenting Time Affect Child Support in Colorado?
Parenting time affects Colorado child support from the first overnight under new rules that took effect March 1, 2026. The previous threshold for receiving a parenting-time adjustment is gone, so each overnight can now affect the calculation.
The formula recognizes that a parent who has the children more often also pays more of their day-to-day expenses directly. More overnights can therefore change how much support that parent pays or receives.
That makes an accurate overnight count especially important. A vague parenting schedule can produce a support figure that doesn’t reflect how much time each parent actually spends with the children.
What Changed About Colorado Child Support in 2026?
House Bill 25-1159 changed Colorado’s child support guidelines effective March 1, 2026. The update changed parenting-time calculations and other parts of the guideline system.
Key changes include:
- Every Overnight Counts: Each overnight now receives proportional consideration rather than depending on the previous threshold.
- A Higher Income Ceiling: The guideline schedule now reaches $40,000 in combined monthly income.
- A Self-Support Reserve: The calculation protects a base amount of income for some lower-earning parents.
- An Updated Schedule: Colorado revised the support tables used to determine the basic obligation.
The changes don’t automatically rewrite existing orders. A parent generally has to request a modification before a court recalculates an older order.
What Expenses Get Added to the Basic Support Amount?
Colorado can add certain child-related costs to the basic support obligation because the guideline amount doesn’t cover every major expense. Those additions can include work-related childcare, the cost of providing health insurance for the child, qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses, and certain extraordinary expenses.
The court generally divides qualifying expenses between the parents according to their incomes. Leaving one out can materially change the final support calculation.
Can a Colorado Child Support Amount Be Changed?
A Colorado child support amount can change when the guideline result doesn’t fit the circumstances or when a substantial and continuing change occurs after the order is entered. A court can deviate from the guideline amount when appropriate, but it must explain the reason.
A job loss, significant raise, changed parenting schedule, or major change in a child’s expenses can support a modification. The order doesn’t change automatically, though. A parent generally must file a request before the court recalculates support.
FAQ for Colorado Child Support
Is My Child Support Based on Gross or Net Income in Colorado?
Colorado child support uses adjusted gross income rather than take-home pay. Each parent starts with gross income from applicable sources and subtracts limited deductions allowed under the statute.
How Is My Child Support Calculated if a Parent Is Self-Employed?
Colorado looks at the income available from the business, not just the number shown on a tax return. A court can scrutinize business deductions and add back personal expenses paid through the company.
Can I Agree on a Child Support Amount With the Other Parent?
You can agree on a child support amount, but the court still reviews the agreement. A judge can reject a figure that doesn’t adequately address the child’s support needs or comply with Colorado law.
Does My Colorado Child Support Cover College Expenses?
Colorado child support generally doesn’t continue through college simply because a child enrolls. Support typically ends at emancipation, subject to exceptions such as certain high school situations or a child with a disability.
What Happens if the Other Parent Stops Paying Child Support?
Colorado provides several enforcement options for unpaid child support. Depending on the circumstances, enforcement can include wage withholding, tax refund interception, license consequences, contempt proceedings, and interest on unpaid support.
Get Your Child Support Number Right
A child support order can shape your family’s budget for years, so the income, parenting time, and expenses behind the calculation need to be accurate. Price Family Law helps parents address child support under Colorado’s current rules, whether you’re establishing an order, requesting a modification, or enforcing an existing one.
Call 720-615-1750 or reach out through our online contact form for a free, no-pressure consultation.
