When parents go through a divorce or separation, two of the big issues that they face are child custody and child support. Questions about who pays support, how much support will be ordered, and what factors a court will consider can easily become overwhelming. Whether you expect to pay child support or receive it, understanding how Colorado calculates child support is essential to protect your financial stability.
Colorado law is designed to ensure that children continue to receive financial support from both parents after a separation. While the state uses specific guidelines and formulas to calculate support, every family situation is different. Parenting schedules, income levels, medical costs, childcare expenses, and other factors can all impact the final amount of child support ordered by the court.
At Solutions Based Family Law, we help parents in and around Denver navigate child support issues with a practical, goal-oriented approach. Whether you are establishing child support for the first time, seeking a modification, or trying to understand how the law applies to your situation, we are here to help. Reach out to our law offices to schedule a confidential consultation with a Denver child support attorney.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Colorado
Colorado uses what is known as the “income shares” model to determine child support. The goal of this system is to estimate the amount parents would have spent on their children if the household had remained intact. Courts then divide that financial responsibility proportionally between the parents based on income and parenting time.
There are several factors that influence this calculation:
- Combined Parental Income: The first step in determining child support is calculating both parents’ gross monthly income. Gross income can include money from a wide variety of financial sources, including:
- Wages and salaries
- Bonuses and commissions
- Self-employment earnings
- Rental income
- Investment income
- Retirement benefits
- Social Security benefits
- Unemployment compensation
- Other recurring income sources
Once both parents’ incomes are determined, the amounts are combined to establish the family’s total available income for support purposes. The higher the combined income, the higher the baseline child support obligation may be.
- Each Parent’s Percentage of Income: After calculating the combined income, the court determines each parent’s percentage share. For example:
- If one parent earns 70% of the combined income, that parent may be responsible for 70% of the total child support obligation.
- If one parent earns 45% of the combined income, they may be responsible for the 45% of the child support obligation.
This proportional system is intended to distribute financial responsibility fairly between parents.
- Parenting Time and Overnights: Parenting time has a major impact on child support obligations in Colorado. Generally, the more overnight parenting time a parent has with the child, the lower their support obligation may become. That is because the parent is directly covering more day-to-day expenses while the child is in their care. Colorado courts carefully evaluate parenting schedules when calculating support. Even relatively small adjustments to parenting time can affect support calculations significantly.
- Number of Children: The number of children involved also affects the support calculation. Colorado’s guideline tables increase the total support obligation based on the number of children requiring support. Generally, support obligations rise as additional children are included in the calculation. However, support does not simply double with each child. The state’s formula accounts for shared household expenses and economies of scale.
- Additional Child-Related Expenses: In addition to basic child support, courts may allocate other child-related expenses between the parents. Common additional expenses include:
- Health Insurance Costs: If one parent pays for the child’s health insurance coverage, that cost is often factored into the support calculation.
- Work-Related Childcare: Daycare and childcare expenses necessary for a parent to work or attend school are commonly included in the support calculation.
- Extraordinary Medical Expenses: Uninsured medical expenses, therapy, counseling, or ongoing treatment costs may be divided proportionally between the parents.
- Educational or Special Needs Costs: Children with special educational or developmental needs may require additional financial support beyond the standard guideline amount
Colorado’s statutory child support guidelines are presumed to be appropriate in most cases. However, judges have discretion to deviate from the standard formula when circumstances justify a different result. Potential reasons for deviation may include:
- Extraordinary medical needs
- Significant travel expenses for parenting time
- Special educational costs
- A child’s independent financial resources
- Unusual parenting arrangements
- Situations where the guideline amount would be unfair or inappropriate
If a court chooses to deviate from the guidelines, the judge must typically explain why a deviation is necessary and how the alternate amount better serves the child’s interests.
There are several online calculators that you can use to determine what the child support obligation may be. These calculators can provide an estimate, but the actual amount of support ordered may be different based on the facts of your case. For example, if your child requires a higher level of care due to disabilities, then your child support obligation may be higher than the result from the calculator.
Because child support does not always strictly align with the guidelines, it is incredibly important to have a skilled attorney to represent your interests. Your lawyer can work with you to determine how your family’s circumstances may impact child support. They can then advocate for a fair outcome in court.
Recent Updates to Colorado Child Support Laws
Colorado implemented important updates to its child support laws in 2026. This includes major changes that may significantly impact families throughout the state, such as:
- Increased Income Cap for Guidelines: Previously, Colorado’s standard child support guidelines applied to combined monthly parental incomes up to $30,000. Under the updated laws, this threshold has increased to $40,000. As a result, more higher-income families fall within the guidelines.
- Elimination of the “93 Overnight” Rule: One of the most significant changes involves parenting time calculations. Under the prior system, a parent generally needed at least 93 overnights before receiving any meaningful adjustments to child support calculations. Colorado now uses a more graduated approach in which every overnight visit matters. This ensures that support calculations more accurately reflect actual parenting time arrangements and day-to-day caregiving responsibilities.
- Simplified Calculation Methods: Colorado also moved towards a more unified support calculation, replacing some of the older worksheets to simplify calculations and create more consistency across cases.
- Updated Economic Tables: The state revised its economic support tables to better reflect current costs associated with raising children. This may result in increases or decreases in support obligations depending on income levels and parenting arrangements.
- Protections for Lower-Income Parents: Colorado also implemented provisions aimed at preventing low-income parents from becoming financially overwhelmed by support obligations. These changes include minimum support thresholds and caps tied to available income. The goal is to balance the child’s financial needs with realistic payment expectations.
- Tax Dependency Exemption Changes: Recent updates also give courts more flexibility regarding the allocation of tax dependency exemptions for children. Judges may now consider each parent’s financial resources, the tax benefit associated with the exemption, and the impact on each parent’s ability to provide for the child.
These legal updates demonstrate the potential complexity of Colorado child support cases. If you are involved in a child custody matter, a Denver child support lawyer can help you understand your rights and advocate for an outcome that complies with Colorado law.
Contact Us to Talk to a Denver Child Support Attorney
Child support cases are not always as straightforward as they appear. An experienced Colorado family law attorney can help parents accurately calculate income, address complex financial issues, develop parenting agreements, advocate for fair support orders, and protect parental rights during negotiations or litigation. Our law firm can also help you pursue a child support modification if your circumstances have changed.
Solutions Based Family Law assists clients in Denver and the surrounding areas with child support matters, the allocation of parental responsibilities, divorce, and other family law matters. We can advocate for a child support order to support the best interests of your child and your financial well-being. To learn more or to schedule a consultation with a Denver child support attorney, give us a call at (866) 522-7959 or fill out our online contact form.