Colorado Child Support Calculator 2025

Child support amounts depend on both parents' income and parenting time. Colorado uses guidelines based on what parents would spend if they stayed together. The minimum payment is $10 monthly for parents earning $650 or less. You can use the official Colorado child support calculator for exact amounts.

Child support typically ends at age 19 in Colorado. Support may continue past 19 if the child has special needs. Support can also end earlier if the child gets married or joins the military. Each case depends on specific court orders and circumstances.

You can file through your local county child support office or online. Individual counties manage child support orders and services. You need income information, Social Security numbers, and child details. The process typically takes 4-6 weeks to establish orders.

Yes, child support can be changed when circumstances change significantly. Parents can seek modification when income or custody changes occur. You must prove a substantial change in income or parenting time. File a motion with the court that issued your original order.

You may still pay child support with 50/50 shared custody. Colorado considers both parents' incomes and actual parenting time. The higher-earning parent often pays support even with equal time. Courts use specific calculations based on income differences and overnight stays.

Colorado uses an income shares model for calculations. Both parents' gross incomes are combined and multiplied by guidelines percentages. The court considers daycare costs, health insurance, and parenting time. The maximum combined income considered is $30,000 monthly.

Non-payment can result in wage garnishment, asset seizure, and license suspension. Employers can withhold up to 60% of your income for support. The state can also intercept tax refunds and report to credit bureaus. Jail time is possible for willful non-payment cases.

The timeline varies but typically takes several weeks to begin receiving payments. Establishing paternity can add time to the process. Once orders are in place, payments usually start within 30 days. Direct deposit and wage garnishment speed up the process.

Yes, you can establish support through the county child support office. County offices handle services and can answer questions about your situation. Administrative processes are faster than court proceedings. Both parents must agree to avoid court hearings.

Remarriage alone doesn't automatically change child support amounts. Your new spouse's income typically isn't considered in calculations. However, significant changes in household expenses might justify modification requests. Adoption by a step-parent can terminate original support obligations.

Contact your county child support enforcement office for help. They can pursue wage garnishment, asset seizure, and contempt actions. Past due support results in additional withholding to pay debt. The state has various tools to collect unpaid support.

Child support covers basic living expenses like housing, food, and clothing. It typically doesn't include extra activities, private school, or special expenses. Medical insurance and daycare costs are calculated separately in orders. Courts may order additional support for extraordinary expenses.