Colorado child support guidelines
Colorado uses an income-shares guideline written into § 14-10-115 C.R.S. — support is based on both parents’ combined income. This page explains the rules and links Colorado’s official resources; it doesn’t compute your amount.
How the Colorado formula works
The statutory guideline works in steps:
- Combine both parents’ adjusted gross incomes;
- Find the basic obligation on the state schedule for that combined income and the number of children;
- Split it proportionally by each parent’s income share;
- Adjust for overnights, childcare, health insurance, and extraordinary expenses.
The 2026 parenting-time change
Colorado’s most important recent change is structural. The old law had a notorious 93-overnight cliff: a parent got no parenting-time credit below 93 overnights each, then a large jump to the shared-care Worksheet B at 93 — an all-or-nothing line that distorted custody negotiations. Effective 2026, that cliff was removed, and parenting time now reduces the obligation proportionally with every overnight, so a parent with even 50 overnights sees a corresponding adjustment. It’s the single biggest reason to run the current worksheet rather than an old one.
Duration and modification
Colorado support generally runs until the child turns 19 — later than many states — ending sooner on emancipation or later for a child still in high school or with a disability. An order can be modified on a continuing and substantial change that produces a 10% or greater change in the presumed amount, and a low-income adjustment keeps a basic-needs reserve for a low-earning parent.
Use the official calculator
The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Services publishes the guideline worksheet and calculation resources (linked above). Use them for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The court that issues your order has final authority.
For a real case
The guideline amount is presumed correct but can be adjusted when it would be inequitable. For advice on your situation, consult a Colorado family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Colorado is set by Colorado’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official Colorado calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Colorado for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in Colorado?
- Colorado uses an income-shares guideline in § 14-10-115 C.R.S. It combines both parents' adjusted gross incomes, finds the basic obligation on the state schedule for that combined income and the number of children, and each parent covers a proportional share adjusted for parenting time.
- How did the 2026 change affect parenting time?
- This is the big one for Colorado. The old law had a 93-overnight cliff — a parent got no parenting-time credit at all below 93 overnights each, then a large Worksheet-B credit at 93. Effective 2026, that cliff was removed: parenting time now reduces support proportionally with every overnight, so even 50 overnights produces a corresponding adjustment.
- Until what age is support paid in Colorado?
- Colorado support generally continues until the child turns 19, later than the 18 used in many states, ending earlier on emancipation or later for a child who is still in high school or has a disability. College contribution is handled separately.
- When can a Colorado order be modified?
- A court will consider a modification when there is a continuing and substantial change in circumstances that results in a 10% or greater change in the presumed support amount. A low-income parent is protected by an adjustment that keeps a basic-needs reserve.
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the Colorado Child Support Services resources linked on this page (and the guideline worksheet). This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.