Colorado Child Support
Estimate for Colorado
Colorado uses the Income Shares model.
Official schedule: Colorado Child Support Guidelines, C.R.S. § 14-10-115, Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (2024 version, prior to HB25-1159 effective 3/1/2026). Income basis = Combined Adjusted Gross Income. (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $1,697 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $943 |
| Estimated monthly support | $943 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How Colorado calculates support
Colorado uses the Income Shares model under C.R.S. § 14-10-115. The calculation starts from each parent's gross monthly income, subtracts preexisting child support and actually-paid spousal maintenance to reach adjusted gross income, then combines both parents' adjusted incomes and looks up a basic support obligation on the statutory schedule. A parenting-time credit applies based on overnights (Worksheet A for 92 or fewer overnights, Worksheet B for shared care at 93+). Courts may deviate only with written findings. Support generally continues to age 19.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in Colorado
- Apply for services through your county Colorado Child Support Services office, or file a petition in district court.
- Establish legal parentage if the parents were not married (voluntary acknowledgment or court-ordered genetic testing).
- Exchange financial documents (pay stubs, tax returns) and complete the official Child Support Worksheet (JDF 1820/1821) using the Colorado Judicial Branch calculator or Family Law Software.
- Attend the hearing; the judge enters a support order based on the guideline worksheet (deviations require written findings).
- Payments are made through the Family Support Registry (FSR), which processes and distributes support, usually by income withholding.
- To modify, file a motion showing a substantial change in circumstances; the worksheet is recalculated and the court enters a new order.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A (obligor) adjusted gross income $3,900/mo; Parent B (obligee) $2,100/mo; combined $6,000/mo; one child. Child health insurance $150/mo; work-related childcare $300/mo.
Walk-through: Parent A earns 65% of combined adjusted income, so Parent A is responsible for 65% of the basic obligation plus 65% of add-ons. Using the statutory schedule, the basic obligation for $6,000 combined income and one child is approximately $920 (illustrative schedule figure); add-ons total $450. Parent A's share = 0.65 × ($920 + $450) ≈ $890/mo paid to Parent B.
Takeaway: In Colorado's income-shares model the paying parent's share equals their percentage of combined adjusted income applied to the basic obligation plus shared add-on costs.
Scenario: Same incomes as above, but Parent A has 120 overnights/year (shared physical care).
Walk-through: Because overnights exceed 92, Worksheet B applies and Parent A receives a parenting-time credit that reduces the amount transferred, reflecting duplicated household costs. The exact credit is computed on the worksheet from the overnight count.
Takeaway: More overnights generally lower the cash support transferred, but the custodial parent is still presumed to spend their own share directly on the child.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://childsupport.colorado.gov/about/faq · http://www.coloradojudicial.gov/es/topic/156 · C.R.S. § 14-10-115 (Colorado Child Support Guidelines)