Support in Colorado (2026)

Colorado’s Statutory Maintenance Guidelines

Colorado is one of only a handful of states that provides a statutory formula for calculating spousal maintenance (alimony). Enacted in 2014 and codified in C.R.S. Section 14-10-114, the advisory maintenance guidelines give courts and parties a concrete starting point for both the amount and duration of maintenance awards — an approach that brings unusual predictability to an area of law that in most states is left entirely to judicial discretion.

The formula works as follows: the recommended maintenance amount is 40% of the higher earner’s monthly adjusted gross income minus 50% of the lower earner’s monthly adjusted gross income. The result is then tested against a cap — the recipient’s combined income from maintenance and their own earnings should not exceed 40% of the parties’ combined monthly adjusted gross income. If the formula would push the recipient above that threshold, the award is reduced. These guidelines apply when the parties’ combined adjusted gross income does not exceed $240,000 per year.

The duration guidelines follow a sliding scale tied to the length of the marriage. A 3-year marriage produces a recommended duration of approximately 11 months, while a 20-year or longer marriage may produce an indefinite or open-ended duration recommendation. Between those extremes, duration increases in a roughly linear fashion. Courts are not bound by these advisory guidelines, but they create a strong gravitational pull in negotiations and in courtroom outcomes, and any deviation requires the court to make specific findings under the factors listed in C.R.S. Section 14-10-114(3).

How Colorado Calculates Child Support

Colorado uses an income shares model codified in C.R.S. Section 14-10-115. The model allocates the financial obligation of raising children between both parents based on their respective incomes, reflecting the principle that children should benefit from the financial resources of both households.

The calculation starts with each parent’s adjusted gross income. Gross income includes all income from any source — wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, dividends, pensions, Social Security, workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, rental income, business income, and other recurring sources. Adjustments are then made for preexisting child support obligations, alimony paid or received, and in some cases the actual cost of providing group health insurance for the child.

The parents’ combined adjusted gross incomes are applied to the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, which produces a total support obligation based on the combined income and the number of children. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.

For a broader overview of how income shares calculations work, see our guide on how child support is calculated. You can also estimate your potential obligation with our child support calculator.

Parenting Time Adjustments

Colorado’s guidelines include an adjustment for parenting time. When the non-custodial parent has 93 or more overnights per year with the child, the guidelines apply a formula that reduces the support obligation to reflect the costs that parent incurs directly during their parenting time.

The adjustment recognizes that certain child-related expenses — particularly food, transportation, and entertainment — shift from one household to the other as parenting time increases. The greater the number of overnights with the non-custodial parent, the larger the adjustment.

For approximately equal parenting time arrangements, Colorado calculates each parent’s theoretical obligation and offsets them so that the parent with the higher income pays the net difference.

Modifying or Terminating Child Support

Either parent may petition for modification by showing a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Colorado also allows modification when the existing order deviates from the guidelines amount by 10% or more.

Child support in Colorado continues until the child turns 19, or until age 19 if the child is still in high school (but not past age 21). Support also terminates upon the child’s emancipation, marriage, or entry into military service. Colorado does not generally require parents to pay for post-secondary education, though parents may agree to do so voluntarily.

Enforcement of Child Support Orders

Colorado’s Division of Child Support Services within the Department of Human Services has broad enforcement authority:

• Income assignment (wage withholding)
• Interception of state and federal tax refunds
• Suspension of driver’s licenses, professional licenses, and recreational licenses
• Liens on real and personal property, including motor vehicles
• Reporting arrearages to credit bureaus
• Contempt of court, which can result in fines or incarceration

Arrearages accrue interest and cannot be retroactively forgiven. Any modification takes effect from the date the motion is filed.

Spousal Maintenance in Colorado

Colorado uses the term “spousal maintenance” and provides advisory guidelines under C.R.S. Section 14-10-114 to help courts and parties determine both the amount and duration of maintenance awards. These guidelines apply to marriages where the parties’ combined adjusted gross income does not exceed a specified threshold.

The advisory guideline formula for the amount of maintenance is:

• 40% of the higher earner’s monthly adjusted gross income minus 50% of the lower earner’s monthly adjusted gross income

The resulting amount is then tested against a cap: the combined maintenance and the recipient’s income should not exceed 40% of the parties’ combined monthly adjusted gross income. If the formula would push the recipient’s total income above that threshold, the award is reduced accordingly.

The advisory guideline for duration is based on the length of the marriage, with a sliding scale that generally ranges from 11 months for a 3-year marriage to an indefinite period for marriages lasting 20 years or more.

When Courts Deviate from the Advisory Guidelines

The advisory guidelines create a starting point, not a mandate. Courts may deviate based on the factors listed in C.R.S. Section 14-10-114(3), which include:

• The financial resources of each party, including the actual or potential income from marital property
• The lifestyle during the marriage
• The distribution of marital property, including whether additional capital is necessary to enable a spouse to gain employment or enhance earning capacity
• Both parties’ income, employment, and employability, including any necessary education or training and the time and expense required
• The duration of the marriage
• The amount of temporary maintenance paid and the number of months it was paid
• The age and health of the parties
• Significant economic or noneconomic contributions to the marriage, including homemaking and child care
• Whether either party’s historical earnings have been less than their current earnings due to unemployment aimed at allowing the party to care for children or manage the home
• Any custody arrangements

Modification and Termination of Maintenance

Either party may seek modification of maintenance by demonstrating a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Maintenance terminates upon the death of either party, the remarriage of the recipient, or the establishment of a common-law marriage by the recipient.

Colorado law also provides that the court may consider the recipient’s cohabitation with another person as a factor in modification, though cohabitation alone does not automatically terminate maintenance.

When to Seek Legal Guidance

Colorado’s advisory maintenance guidelines bring welcome predictability to an area of law that often feels uncertain, but the final outcome still depends on the facts of each case. If you are evaluating child support or spousal maintenance in Colorado, consider scheduling a free consultation with an experienced family law attorney.

Statutes referenced: C.R.S. Section 14-10-115 (child support), C.R.S. Section 14-10-114 (spousal maintenance and advisory guidelines).

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Colorado?

Colorado uses the income shares model under C.R.S. Section 14-10-115. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined and applied to the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, which produces a total obligation based on combined income and number of children. Each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income. Adjustments are made for preexisting support obligations, alimony, and the cost of health insurance for the child.

How long does child support last in Colorado?

Child support in Colorado continues until the child turns 19. If the child is still in high school at 19, support may continue but not past age 21. Support also terminates upon the child’s emancipation, marriage, or entry into military service. Colorado does not generally require parents to pay for post-secondary education.

How does parenting time affect child support in Colorado?

When the non-custodial parent has 93 or more overnights per year, Colorado’s guidelines apply a formula that reduces the support obligation to reflect costs incurred directly during that parent’s parenting time. For approximately equal parenting time arrangements, each parent’s theoretical obligation is calculated and offset so the higher-income parent pays the net difference.

What is the advisory maintenance formula in Colorado?

Under C.R.S. Section 14-10-114, the formula is 40% of the higher earner’s monthly adjusted gross income minus 50% of the lower earner’s. The result is capped so that the recipient’s total income does not exceed 40% of the parties’ combined monthly adjusted gross income. Duration follows a sliding scale based on the length of the marriage. The guidelines apply when combined adjusted gross income is $240,000 or less.

What is the 10% rule for modifying child support in Colorado?

Under C.R.S. Section 14-10-122, either parent may petition for a modification of child support if the existing order deviates from the current guidelines amount by 10% or more. This provides an objective threshold for modification in addition to the general “substantial and continuing change of circumstances” standard. The 10% deviation is calculated by running the current incomes through the guidelines worksheet and comparing the result to the existing order.

Does Colorado require parents to pay for college?

No. Colorado does not have a statute requiring parents to contribute to post-secondary education expenses. However, parents may voluntarily agree to share college costs as part of a separation agreement, and such agreements are enforceable as contracts. Absent an agreement, the court has no authority to order college support.

How This Guide Was Researched

This guide was developed by reviewing C.R.S. Section 14-10-115 (child support guidelines, including the income shares model, the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, gross income definitions, and the parenting time adjustment threshold), C.R.S. Section 14-10-114 (spousal maintenance advisory guidelines, including the amount formula, duration schedule, $240,000 income cap, and the 10 statutory deviation factors), and C.R.S. Section 14-10-122 (enforcement mechanisms and the 10% modification threshold). Procedural details were confirmed against official Colorado child support worksheets and the Colorado Judicial Branch’s support self-help resources.

Sources and Legal References

This guide is based on publicly available legal information and official sources, including:

• C.R.S. § 14-10-115 (child support guidelines: income shares model, Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, gross income definition, and 93-overnight parenting time adjustment)
• C.R.S. § 14-10-114 (spousal maintenance advisory guidelines: amount formula, duration schedule, $240,000 income cap, and deviation factors)
• C.R.S. § 14-10-114(3) (10 factors courts consider when deviating from advisory guidelines)
• C.R.S. § 14-10-122 (child support enforcement, 10% modification threshold, and wage withholding)
• Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Services (enforcement authority and procedures)

Official Colorado Resources

• Colorado Judicial Branch — Support Self-Help
• Colorado Divorce Forms

For more about how we research our guides, see our editorial policy and sources methodology.

Related Guides

Colorado Support and Family Law

• Child Support in Colorado: Guidelines and Calculations
• Colorado Spousal Maintenance Guidelines
• Divorce in Colorado: Laws, Process, and Costs
• Child Custody in Colorado: Laws and Factors
• Colorado Parental Responsibilities: How Custody Works

Other Colorado Hub Pages

• Divorce in Colorado
• Child custody in Colorado

National Guides

• How child support is calculated
• How alimony works
• Child support calculator
• Property division in divorce
• Modifying child support