Child Support in Colorado: Guidelines and Calculations

A Denver couple with three children was preparing to divorce. The father earned $7,500 per month and the mother earned $3,200. They agreed to a parenting schedule giving the father 120 overnights per year. Because both parents had more than 92 overnights, the case qualified for Worksheet B — Colorado’s shared physical care calculation. The father assumed that his significant parenting time would substantially reduce his obligation. When they ran the numbers, his monthly support payment came out higher than he expected. The shared care formula accounts for parenting time, but income disparity drives the result — and with a $4,300 gap between their earnings, the guidelines produced a meaningful obligation.

Colorado’s child support guidelines apply to every case involving divorce, separation, or the allocation of parental responsibilities. This guide covers how the state calculates support under CRS 14-10-115, what counts as income, how overnights affect the calculation, and the rules for modification and enforcement. For a national overview, see our guide on how child support is calculated, and try our child support calculator for a quick estimate.

How Colorado Calculates Child Support

Colorado uses the Income Shares Model, the same framework adopted by roughly 40 states. The central principle: children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family had stayed together.

The calculation combines both parents’ adjusted gross incomes, looks up the total child support obligation from a statutory schedule based on income and number of children, and divides that obligation between the parents based on each one’s share of the combined income.

Colorado uses two different worksheets depending on the parenting time arrangement:

• Worksheet A (Sole Physical Care): Used when one parent has 92 or fewer overnights per year
• Worksheet B (Shared Physical Care): Used when each parent has more than 92 overnights per year

Step-by-Step Calculation (Worksheet A)

Step 1: Determine each parent’s monthly gross income. Colorado defines gross income broadly under CRS 14-10-115(5)(a). It includes income from virtually any source — wages, salary, tips, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, dividends, interest, rental income, Social Security benefits, disability insurance, retirement benefits, trust income, and more.

Step 2: Calculate Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). From gross income, subtract pre-existing child support obligations for other children and maintenance (alimony) paid to a former spouse. If a parent receives maintenance, multiply that amount by 1.25 before adding it to gross income (to account for its non-taxable status).

Step 3: Combine both parents’ AGI. Add Parent A’s AGI to Parent B’s AGI. This combined figure determines where the case falls on the child support schedule.

Step 4: Determine each parent’s percentage of income. Divide each parent’s AGI by the combined AGI. If Parent A earns $6,000 and Parent B earns $4,000, Parent A’s share is 60% and Parent B’s share is 40%.

Step 5: Find the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO). Using the statutory schedule in CRS 14-10-115, look up the combined AGI and number of children. The schedule provides the total monthly child support obligation. The schedule covers combined incomes from $1,100 to $30,000 per month.

Step 6: Calculate each parent’s share. Multiply the BCSO by each parent’s income percentage. The noncustodial parent’s share becomes the base child support obligation.

Step 7: Add supplemental costs. Health insurance premiums for the children, work-related childcare costs, and extraordinary medical expenses are added to the BCSO and divided proportionally between the parents.

Step 8: Determine the final obligation. The noncustodial parent’s share of the adjusted BCSO, minus any credits for costs they pay directly (such as the child’s health insurance premium), becomes the monthly child support payment.

Worksheet B: Shared Physical Care

When each parent has more than 92 overnights per year, the calculation uses Worksheet B. Under current law, the shared care formula applies a 1.5x multiplier to the basic schedule amount to account for the increased total cost of maintaining two households. The obligation is then divided based on each parent’s income share and offset based on their proportion of overnights.

The 92-overnight threshold matters significantly. A parent with 91 overnights falls under Worksheet A with no shared care adjustment. A parent with 93 overnights triggers Worksheet B, which can substantially change the support amount. If you’re near this threshold, the specific language in your parenting plan about overnights directly affects the calculation.

What Counts as Income (and What Doesn’t)

Colorado’s definition of gross income under CRS 14-10-115(5)(a) is one of the more expansive among states. The statute captures nearly every income source, whether earned or unearned.

Included:

• All employment income (wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime — whether required or voluntary)
• Self-employment earnings (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses)
• Severance pay
• Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains, rental income, royalties)
• Government benefits (Social Security, disability insurance, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance)
• Retirement and pension benefits
• Trust and annuity income
• Monetary gifts and prizes
• Expense reimbursements or in-kind benefits that reduce personal living expenses
• Maintenance (alimony) received from another case, multiplied by 1.25

Not included:

• Child support received for other children
• Means-tested public assistance benefits (SSI, SNAP/food stamps)
• Income from second jobs or overtime beyond a regular work schedule (in certain circumstances)
• Social Security benefits received by a child due to a stepparent’s death or disability
• Undistributed retirement account earnings (unless the parent could take a distribution without penalty)

Imputed Income

When a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, Colorado courts can impute income — assigning an earning capacity instead of using actual earnings. The rules changed significantly in 2023.

The 32-Hour Standard

Before 2023, courts typically imputed income based on a 40-hour workweek for 52 weeks per year (2,080 hours annually). Under the revised CRS 14-10-115(5)(b.5), the default has shifted. Courts now determine income based on the “prevailing earnings level in the local community” and “typical hours available to workers in the parent’s job sector.”

When reliable industry data isn’t available, the statute provides a fallback: courts determine income based on a 32-hour workweek for 50 weeks per year — approximately 1,600 hours annually. That represents roughly a 20% reduction from the old standard.

The party seeking imputation at 40 hours per week now bears the burden of proving that full-time work is standard in the parent’s industry. Without that evidence, the 32-hour/50-week standard applies by default.

Exceptions to Imputation

Courts cannot impute income to a parent who is:

• Physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to work
• Caring for a child under 24 months for whom the parents share legal responsibility
• Incarcerated and sentenced to 180 days or more

A mother in Colorado Springs earning $85,000 as a marketing director left her job to pursue freelance work that generated $28,000 in its first year. She argued the career change offered better work-life balance for the children. The court imputed income closer to her prior earning capacity, finding that her education and experience supported a higher figure. Courts evaluate whether the underemployment is truly involuntary or a lifestyle choice.

The Child Support Schedule

Colorado’s child support schedule provides the basic obligation amount based on combined adjusted gross income and the number of children. The schedule covers combined monthly incomes from $1,100 to $30,000.

Low-Income Provisions

For combined incomes below $1,100 per month, the guidelines set minimum monthly obligations:

• 1 child: $50
• 2 children: $70
• 3 children: $90
• 4 children: $110
• 5 children: $130
• 6 or more children: $150

Colorado also includes a self-support reserve — an amount designed to ensure the paying parent can meet basic subsistence needs. The self-support reserve equals 29 hours per week at the state minimum wage, multiplied by 50 weeks and divided by 12 months. As of 2025, that figure is approximately $1,789 per month. When the obligor’s income falls near this level, the guidelines may reduce the obligation to prevent it from pushing the parent below subsistence.

High-Income Cases

For families with combined adjusted gross income exceeding $30,000 per month ($360,000 per year), the schedule doesn’t provide a calculated amount. The court uses discretion to set support, but it may not order less than the amount calculated at the $30,000 level. The receiving parent can argue for higher support by demonstrating the children’s reasonable needs exceed the guideline amount.

Health Insurance, Childcare, and Additional Expenses

Health insurance for the children and work-related childcare costs are mandatory components of the Colorado child support calculation. They’re added to the BCSO and divided between the parents based on their income percentages.

• Health insurance: The child’s share of medical, dental, and vision premiums is factored in. The court determines which parent provides coverage based on availability and cost-effectiveness.
• Work-related childcare: Daycare, after-school programs, and education-related childcare expenses incurred so a parent can work or attend school are included.
• Extraordinary medical expenses: Recurring uninsured medical, dental, and orthodontic expenses beyond ordinary costs are divided proportionally.

Extraordinary Expenses

Costs beyond the standard schedule — such as travel expenses for parenting time when parents live far apart, special education needs, or other extraordinary expenses — may be addressed through deviations from the guidelines on a case-by-case basis.

Deviations from the Guidelines

Colorado’s child support guidelines create a rebuttable presumption — the calculated amount is presumed correct, but either parent can argue for a deviation. The court may deviate when applying the guidelines would be “inequitable, unjust, or inappropriate.”

When a court deviates, it must state the reasons in writing and specify what the support amount would have been under the standard calculation.

Common grounds for deviation include:

• Extraordinary medical or educational expenses for the child
• Travel costs for parenting time when parents live far apart
• Special needs of the child beyond what the guidelines cover
• A parent’s financial resources or obligations not reflected in income
• The child’s independent financial resources
• Seasonal or irregular income that makes the standard calculation unreliable
• Income from second jobs or overtime that a parent has historically worked

Modifying Child Support

Colorado child support orders are not permanent. Either parent can seek a modification when circumstances change, but the change must meet specific requirements under CRS 14-10-122.

The 10% Threshold

To modify a child support order, you must show a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that results in at least a 10% change in the calculated support obligation. The 10% applies to the support amount, not to income — a 10% income change may produce far less than a 10% change in the obligation.

The word “continuing” is critical. Short-term changes — a few months of unemployment, a temporary medical issue — generally won’t qualify. Changes lasting 12 months or more are much more likely to meet the standard.

Qualifying Changes

Common changes that trigger modification include:

• Significant and lasting income change (job loss, promotion, disability)
• Change in the parenting time arrangement
• Changed childcare or medical expenses
• Emancipation of one child when the order covers multiple children
• A missing medical support provision in the current order (this is a standalone basis for modification regardless of the 10% threshold)

Retroactivity

Modifications typically apply only to payments due after the modification petition is filed — not to the date circumstances changed. Two exceptions allow earlier application:

• Undue hardship or substantial injustice (rarely granted)
• Physical custody changes (can be retroactive to the date of the custody change)

A five-year cap limits how far back retroactivity can reach unless the court finds applying the cap would be substantially inequitable.

When Child Support Ends

In Colorado, child support terminates when the child emancipates. Under CRS 14-10-115(13)(a), child support ends automatically when the last or only child turns 19 years old (for orders entered on or after July 1, 1997).

Early Termination Before Age 19

Support can end before age 19 if the child:

• Marries or enters a civil union — emancipation is automatic as of the date of the marriage
• Enters active military duty — emancipation is automatic
• Is found by the court to be otherwise emancipated through financial self-sufficiency and independent living

Extensions Beyond Age 19

Three exceptions allow support to continue past 19:

• High school enrollment: If the child is still in high school or an equivalent program at age 19, support continues until the end of the month following graduation, with a maximum age limit of 21
• Disability: Courts may order child support to continue beyond 19 for a child with a mental or physical disability
• Parental agreement: Parents can agree in writing, accepted by the court, to extend support beyond 19

One critical detail: For orders entered before July 1, 1997, child support does not automatically terminate at 19 — you must file a motion with the court. Even with newer orders, it’s wise to confirm termination with the court rather than simply stopping payments, which could put you in arrears.

Colorado does not require parents to pay for college expenses as part of child support. Any contribution to post-secondary education must come from a voluntary agreement between the parents.

Enforcement

Colorado has comprehensive enforcement tools for child support, administered through Colorado Child Support Services.

• Income withholding — Colorado law directs that child support be paid by wage assignment in most cases. Support is deducted directly from the obligor’s wages and sent to the state disbursement unit for distribution. Employers can be required to withhold up to 50-60% of disposable income depending on whether the parent has other dependents.
• Tax refund interception — federal and state tax refunds can be intercepted to cover arrears.
• License suspension — driver’s licenses, professional licenses, and occupational licenses can be suspended for non-payment.
• Passport denial — for arrears exceeding $2,500, the federal government can deny or revoke a passport.
• Credit reporting — delinquent child support is reported to credit bureaus.
• Liens — placed on property, bank accounts, insurance settlements, and unclaimed property.
• Contempt of court — willful failure to pay can result in fines and jail time.
• Criminal nonsupport — under Colorado law, failure to pay child support can be charged as a criminal offense carrying potential jail time and fines.
• Interest on arrears — unpaid child support accrues interest at 10% per year for arrears accrued on or after July 1, 2021 (12% for arrears before that date). Arrears grow quickly when left unaddressed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is child support in Colorado for one child?

There’s no flat amount. Child support depends on both parents’ adjusted gross incomes, the parenting time arrangement, and additional expenses like health insurance and childcare. As a rough reference, for combined AGI of $9,200 per month with one child under a standard sole physical care arrangement, the BCSO is approximately $1,100 to $1,300 before adjustments. Use the Colorado Judicial Branch worksheet or our child support calculator for an estimate based on your actual numbers.

Does 50/50 custody eliminate child support in Colorado?

Almost never. When both parents have more than 92 overnights, Colorado uses Worksheet B (Shared Physical Care), which accounts for both parenting time and income. Even with equal time, the parent with higher income will typically owe support. The only scenario where equal custody produces zero support is when both parents have exactly the same income and child-related expenses — which rarely happens.

Can child support be modified if I lose my job?

Yes. Job loss can qualify as a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. You must demonstrate that the recalculated support amount differs by at least 10% from the current order. File your modification petition immediately — modifications are generally retroactive only to the filing date, not the date you lost income. If the court finds you voluntarily quit, it may impute income based on your earning capacity rather than your actual lower earnings.

Does my new spouse’s income affect child support in Colorado?

No. A new spouse’s or partner’s income is not included in the child support calculation. However, the court could consider how a new partner’s financial contributions reduce the parent’s personal living expenses in unusual circumstances. Your new spouse has no legal obligation to support your children from a prior relationship.

What’s the difference between Worksheet A and Worksheet B?

Worksheet A applies when one parent has the child for 92 or fewer overnights per year (sole physical care). Worksheet B applies when each parent has more than 92 overnights (shared physical care). Worksheet B uses a multiplier and offset formula that accounts for both parents’ direct costs of having the child in their home. The distinction matters — crossing the 92-overnight threshold can significantly change the support amount.

Does Colorado require parents to pay for college?

No. Colorado courts cannot order a parent to pay for post-secondary education as part of a child support order. Child support ends at emancipation — typically age 19 (or the end of the month after high school graduation if the child is still enrolled, up to age 21). Any college contribution must be a voluntary agreement between the parents, often negotiated as part of the divorce settlement.

How This Guide Was Researched

This guide was created by reviewing publicly available legal information from official state statutes, judiciary websites, court resources, and family law publications. The goal is to explain family law topics in plain English so readers can better understand the process before speaking with an attorney.

Sources and Legal References

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

• Colorado Revised Statutes Section 14-10-115 — Child Support Guidelines
• Colorado Revised Statutes Section 14-10-122 — Modification and Termination
• Colorado Judicial Branch — Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (JDF 1822)
• Colorado Judicial Branch — Shared Physical Care Worksheet (JDF 1821)
• Colorado Family Law Guide — Income Definition and Exceptions
• Colorado Family Law Guide — Child Support Modification and Termination

Official Colorado Resources

• Colorado Child Support Services — Calculating Payments
• Colorado Child Support Services — Enforcing Orders
• Colorado Child Support Services — Changing an Order
• Colorado Judicial Branch — End Child Support

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

Related Guides

Learn more about related family law topics:

• Colorado Spousal Maintenance Guidelines
• Colorado Parental Responsibilities
• Child Support Calculator
• How Is Child Support Calculated
• Child Support with 50/50 Custody
• How to File for Child Support
• Get a Free Consultation

Last updated: April 2026. This guide summarizes general legal information based on publicly available sources and is provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.