Colorado Child Support Calculator & Guide (2025)

Overview of Colorado Child Support

Colorado uses the Income Shares Model under C.R.S. §14-10-115. This model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents had remained together.

Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined to determine the basic support obligation from the state schedule. Colorado's guidelines also account for overnight parenting time, health insurance, childcare, and other factors that affect the final support amount.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Colorado

The Colorado child support formula follows these steps:

1. Determine each parent's adjusted gross income: Include wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and other sources
2. Combine both parents' incomes to find the total household income
3. Look up the basic obligation on the Colorado income schedule based on combined income and number of children
4. Add health insurance costs for the child and work-related childcare expenses
5. Allocate the total obligation between parents based on their proportional income shares
6. Apply overnight adjustments when a parent has 93+ overnights per year

Key Factors in Colorado Calculations

Adjusted Gross Income

Colorado defines adjusted gross income as income from all sources minus certain allowable deductions, including:

• Wages, salaries, bonuses, and commissions
• Self-employment income
• Interest and dividend income
• Rental income and royalties
• Social Security benefits
• Pensions and retirement distributions
• Minus: Federal/state income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance

Overnight Parenting Time Adjustments

Colorado provides a specific adjustment when a parent has 93 or more overnights per year with the child. The adjustment reflects the direct costs the parent incurs during those overnight stays, including food, housing, transportation, and entertainment.

College Expenses

Colorado is one of the states that may order post-secondary education expenses as part of or in addition to child support. This can include tuition, room and board, books, and other costs associated with college or vocational education.

Minimum and Maximum Amounts

Minimum: Colorado does not have a fixed statutory minimum. Low-income obligors benefit from the self-support reserve of $1,150/month, and the court may reduce obligations accordingly.

Maximum: The Colorado income schedule extends to $10,000 in combined monthly income. For incomes above this level, the court has discretion to determine an appropriate amount.

Modification and Enforcement

Modification

Colorado allows modification when:

• There has been a material and substantial change in circumstances
• A significant increase or decrease in either parent's income
• A change in custody or parenting time (including overnights)
• A change in the child's needs

Enforcement

Colorado Child Support Services enforces orders through:

• Income withholding from paychecks
• Tax refund interception (federal and state)
• Driver's license suspension
• Professional license suspension
• Credit bureau reporting
• Contempt of court proceedings
• Liens on property and financial accounts
• Passport denial for arrears over $2,500

Get your Colorado estimate: Use our free child support calculator to see what you might owe or receive under Colorado guidelines, or try the Colorado-specific calculator.