Colorado child support is calculated using the income shares model under C.R.S. § 14-10-115, which determines each parent's obligation based on their percentage of combined adjusted gross income. The Colorado child support calculator applies the statutory schedule to combined monthly incomes up to $40,000 (increased from $30,000 effective March 1, 2026), then divides the basic obligation proportionally between parents. For example, if combined monthly income is $10,000 and Parent A earns $6,000 (60%) while Parent B earns $4,000 (40%), Parent A would be responsible for 60% of the basic support obligation shown in the statutory table for one child at that income level.
Key Facts: Colorado Child Support 2026
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Governing Statute | C.R.S. § 14-10-115 |
| Calculation Model | Income Shares |
| Combined Income Cap | $40,000/month (effective March 1, 2026) |
| Self-Support Reserve (SSR) | $1,831.83/month (2026) |
| Minimum Support Order | $10/month (income ≤ $650) |
| Low-Income Cap | 20% of adjusted gross income |
| Parenting Time Credit | From first overnight (no 93-night threshold) |
| Worksheet Used | Single unified worksheet (replaced A/B system) |
| Official Calculator | Colorado Judicial Branch |
How the Colorado Child Support Calculator Works
The Colorado child support calculator determines each parent's financial obligation by combining both parents' monthly adjusted gross incomes, looking up the basic support obligation in the statutory schedule, and dividing that amount based on each parent's income percentage. Under HB 25-1159, which took effect March 1, 2026, Colorado eliminated the previous 93-overnight threshold for parenting time credit, meaning every overnight now reduces the paying parent's obligation proportionally.
The calculation follows five sequential steps: (1) determine each parent's monthly adjusted gross income, (2) combine incomes to find the basic support obligation from the schedule, (3) allocate the obligation based on income percentages, (4) apply parenting time adjustments based on overnights, and (5) add allocations for childcare, health insurance, and extraordinary expenses. The final support amount reflects these combined calculations.
Step 1: Calculate Monthly Adjusted Gross Income
Monthly adjusted gross income forms the foundation of every Colorado child support calculation, encompassing all income sources before taxes and deductions. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(5), gross income includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, dividends, pensions, retirement benefits, royalties, rents, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, severance pay, and unemployment benefits. Courts examine pay stubs, tax returns, and employer statements to verify income claims.
Income Sources Included in Calculations
Colorado courts count virtually all regular income when calculating child support obligations. Wage earners must include base salary plus overtime, bonuses, and commissions. Self-employed parents report gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. Investment income counts regardless of whether it is reinvested or distributed. Expense reimbursements and in-kind payments reduce personal living expenses count as income.
Income Sources Excluded from Calculations
Certain income sources do not count toward child support calculations under Colorado law. Child support received for other children is excluded. Benefits from means-tested public assistance programs (TANF, SSI, food stamps) are not counted. Income from subsequent spouses or partners does not factor into the calculation. However, if a new spouse's income allows the parent to reduce work hours, imputation may apply.
Imputed Income for Underemployed Parents
Colorado courts may impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, attributing earning capacity rather than actual earnings to the calculation. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(5)(b), when a parent has the ability to work but chooses not to or works below their capacity without justification, the court calculates support based on potential income. Courts typically impute income at the parent's former earning level or based on a 32-hour workweek at prevailing wage rates in the region.
Exceptions to imputation exist for parents who are physically or mentally incapacitated, caring for a child under 24 months, or incarcerated for 180 days or more. The burden falls on the underemployed parent to prove the legitimacy of their reduced income.
Step 2: Look Up the Basic Support Obligation
Once both parents' monthly adjusted gross incomes are calculated, combine them to find the basic support obligation in Colorado's statutory schedule. The schedule in C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(b) provides specific dollar amounts based on combined income and number of children. For incomes falling between listed amounts, courts interpolate the support figure.
2026 Schedule Changes Under HB 25-1159
House Bill 25-1159, signed by Governor Polis on May 31, 2025 and effective March 1, 2026, updated the support schedule based on the Betson-Rothbarth Study and 2023 Consumer Price Index data. The previous schedule, based on 2010 economic data, significantly underestimated the actual cost of raising children. Key changes include:
- Combined income cap increased from $30,000 to $40,000 per month
- Support amounts updated to reflect 2023 cost-of-living data
- New self-support reserve of $1,831.83 monthly (based on $15.16 minimum wage × 29 hours × 50 weeks ÷ 12 months)
- Low-income adjustments restructured for fairness
Sample Basic Support Obligations
The statutory schedule provides the starting point for all calculations. For a combined monthly income of $10,000 with two children, the basic support obligation is approximately $1,820. At $15,000 combined monthly income with two children, the basic obligation rises to approximately $2,420. These figures are divided between parents based on their income percentages before parenting time adjustments.
Step 3: Allocate by Income Percentage
Each parent's share of the basic support obligation equals their percentage of combined adjusted gross income. If Parent A earns $7,000 monthly and Parent B earns $3,000 monthly, combined income is $10,000. Parent A's share is 70% ($7,000 ÷ $10,000), and Parent B's share is 30% ($3,000 ÷ $10,000). The higher-earning parent typically pays the difference between their obligation and what they would provide through direct care.
This income-shares approach ensures children receive support proportional to what they would have received had their parents remained together. The method recognizes that higher-income families spend more on children, and children should not suffer financially because of divorce.
Step 4: Apply Parenting Time Adjustments
The most significant change under HB 25-1159 is elimination of the 93-overnight threshold that previously determined whether parenting time affected support calculations. Before March 1, 2026, parents with 92 or fewer overnights annually received no credit in the formula. Beginning March 1, 2026, every overnight reduces the paying parent's obligation through a graduated formula.
How Overnight Credit Works in 2026
The new unified worksheet applies a parenting time multiplier based on each parent's overnight percentage. The formula recognizes that parents incur direct costs (food, activities, utilities) during their parenting time. Rather than a cliff at 93 overnights, the credit increases smoothly from the first overnight.
For example, a parent with 100 overnights annually (27.4% of nights) receives proportionally more credit than under the old Worksheet B system, while a parent with 80 overnights (21.9%) now receives credit that was previously unavailable. This change particularly benefits parents who share time but fall short of the old threshold.
Equal Parenting Time Scenarios
When parents share parenting time equally (182.5 overnights each), the higher-earning parent still pays support to equalize the children's standard of living between households. If Parent A earns $8,000 monthly and Parent B earns $4,000 monthly with 50/50 parenting time, Parent A pays the difference needed to ensure children experience consistent financial support in both homes.
Step 5: Add Additional Expenses
Beyond the basic support obligation, Colorado requires proportional sharing of certain additional expenses. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(11), these costs are divided based on each parent's income percentage.
Childcare Costs
Work-related childcare expenses (daycare, after-school programs, summer camps during work hours) are added to the basic obligation and divided proportionally. If childcare costs $1,200 monthly and Parent A earns 60% of combined income, Parent A pays $720 and Parent B pays $480 toward childcare, in addition to their basic support share.
Health Insurance Premiums
The cost of adding children to a parent's health insurance policy is divided proportionally. Only the marginal cost of covering children counts—not the parent's individual or family premium. If adding children costs $300 monthly above the parent's individual coverage, that $300 is allocated based on income percentages.
Extraordinary Medical Expenses
Uninsured medical, dental, and mental health expenses exceeding $250 annually per child are shared proportionally. This includes copays, deductibles, orthodontia, therapy, and prescription costs not covered by insurance. Beginning March 1, 2026, parents share all medical expenses from the first dollar rather than only amounts exceeding a threshold.
Extraordinary Expenses
Courts may allocate special expenses for children's specific needs, including tutoring, special education services, travel for parenting time, and extracurricular activities. These expenses require court approval and are divided based on income percentages.
Low-Income Protections in Colorado
Colorado's child support guidelines include protections for low-income obligors to ensure support orders do not create unsustainable hardship. The 2026 changes under HB 25-1159 refined these protections with specific income thresholds and caps.
Minimum Order Amount
If the obligor's monthly adjusted gross income is $650 or less, the court orders the minimum support amount of $10 per month regardless of the other parent's income or number of children. This minimum recognizes that parents at or below poverty level cannot meaningfully contribute more while meeting their own basic needs.
Self-Support Reserve (SSR)
The 2026 self-support reserve of $1,831.83 monthly ensures obligors retain enough income for basic subsistence. For obligors earning between $650 and the SSR, support is capped at flat monthly amounts based on number of children: $50 for one child, $70 for two children, $90 for three children, $110 for four children, $130 for five children, and $150 for six children.
20% Income Cap
For low-income obligors earning between the SSR and $1,500 monthly, the support obligation cannot exceed 20% of their adjusted gross income. This cap prevents support orders from consuming so much income that obligors cannot maintain employment or housing.
Using the Colorado Child Support Calculator Online
The Colorado Judicial Branch provides a free online child support calculator that applies the statutory formula to your specific circumstances. The calculator is available at childsupport.state.co.us and produces results consistent with courtroom calculations.
Information Needed for the Calculator
Before using the child support calculator Colorado provides, gather the following for both parents:
- Monthly gross income from all sources
- Number of children subject to the support order
- Number of overnights each parent has annually
- Monthly health insurance premium for children
- Monthly work-related childcare costs
- Extraordinary medical expenses anticipated
- Maintenance (alimony) paid or received
- Child support paid for other children
Interpreting Calculator Results
The calculator produces a recommended monthly support amount based on inputs provided. This figure represents the guideline amount courts use as the starting point. Actual orders may deviate from guidelines based on specific circumstances, but deviations require written findings explaining why the guideline amount is inappropriate.
The child support estimator results should be viewed as approximations. Exact amounts depend on documentation provided to the court and any contested facts about income or parenting time. Calculator results do not constitute legal advice or binding court orders.
When Courts Deviate from Guidelines
Colorado courts may order support above or below the calculated guideline amount when application of guidelines would be inequitable. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(8), deviations require specific written findings. Common deviation factors include:
- Extraordinary medical, educational, or special needs of children
- Significant travel costs for parenting time
- Children's independent income or resources
- Voluntary payment of debt for family benefit
- Financial resources of both parents beyond income
- Standard of living children would have enjoyed absent divorce
Deviations are not automatic and require specific evidence justifying departure from guidelines. Courts generally follow guidelines absent compelling circumstances.
Modifying Colorado Child Support Orders
Child support orders may be modified when circumstances change substantially and continuously, resulting in at least a 10% difference between the existing order and recalculated amount. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, either parent may file for modification based on:
- Significant income changes for either parent
- Changes in parenting time arrangements
- Changes in childcare or medical expenses
- Child reaching emancipation age
- Remarriage affecting available resources
- Application of new 2026 guidelines
The filing fee for modification is $105 as of January 2025. Modifications apply prospectively from the filing date—courts cannot retroactively reduce support owed.
2026 Law Changes as Grounds for Modification
Parents with existing orders may seek modification based on HB 25-1159 changes if recalculation under the new formula produces at least a 10% difference. Parents with 93+ overnights who previously received parenting time credit may see increased obligations if the new graduated formula produces different results. Parents with fewer than 93 overnights may see reduced obligations now that overnight credit begins from day one.
Colorado Child Support Enforcement
Colorado Child Support Services enforces support orders through multiple mechanisms when obligors fail to pay. Enforcement tools under C.R.S. § 14-14-104 include:
- Income withholding orders sent directly to employers
- Interception of federal and state tax refunds
- Suspension of driver's licenses and professional licenses
- Liens on real property and financial accounts
- Passport denial for arrears exceeding $2,500
- Contempt proceedings with potential jail time
- Credit bureau reporting affecting credit scores
Support obligations continue until each child reaches 19 years of age, or 21 if still in high school. Emancipation by marriage, military service, or court order terminates the obligation for that child.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated in Colorado?
Child support in Colorado is calculated using the income shares model under C.R.S. § 14-10-115, which combines both parents' monthly adjusted gross incomes, looks up the basic obligation in the statutory schedule (capped at $40,000 combined monthly income as of March 2026), and divides the amount based on each parent's income percentage, then adjusts for parenting time overnights and additional expenses like childcare and health insurance.
What income counts for Colorado child support?
Colorado child support calculations include virtually all income sources: wages, salary, tips, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, pensions, retirement distributions, dividends, interest, rental income, royalties, capital gains, and severance pay. Courts may also impute income to voluntarily underemployed parents based on their earning capacity.
How do overnights affect child support in Colorado after March 2026?
Under HB 25-1159 effective March 1, 2026, parenting time credit begins from the first overnight rather than requiring the previous 93-overnight threshold. Each additional overnight proportionally reduces the paying parent's obligation through a graduated formula, eliminating the sharp cliff that previously existed between 92 and 93 overnights.
What is the minimum child support in Colorado?
Colorado's minimum child support order is $10 per month, which applies when the obligor's monthly adjusted gross income is $650 or less. For obligors earning between $650 and the self-support reserve of $1,831.83 monthly (2026), support is capped at flat amounts ranging from $50 for one child to $150 for six children.
Can I modify child support based on the 2026 law changes?
Yes, either parent may seek modification if recalculation under HB 25-1159's new formula produces at least a 10% difference from the existing order. Parents previously above or below the 93-overnight threshold may see significant changes. The modification filing fee is $105 as of January 2025, and changes apply prospectively from the filing date.
What happens if I am voluntarily unemployed or underemployed?
Colorado courts may impute income based on your earning capacity rather than actual earnings if you are voluntarily unemployed or underemployed without justification. Courts typically impute income at your former earning level or based on a 32-hour workweek at prevailing wages. Exceptions exist for parents who are incapacitated, caring for a child under 24 months, or incarcerated for 180+ days.
How are childcare and medical expenses divided?
Childcare and medical expenses are divided between parents based on their percentage of combined adjusted gross income, added to the basic support obligation. For example, if Parent A earns 65% of combined income, they pay 65% of work-related childcare costs and 65% of unreimbursed medical expenses.
Does Colorado's child support calculator account for multiple children from different relationships?
Yes, child support paid for children from other relationships reduces the paying parent's adjusted gross income before calculating support for the current case. This prevents double-counting of support obligations. However, only court-ordered support actually paid counts toward this adjustment.
What is the self-support reserve in Colorado for 2026?
Colorado's self-support reserve (SSR) for 2026 is $1,831.83 per month, calculated as the Colorado minimum wage ($15.16/hour) times 29 hours per week, times 50 weeks per year, divided by 12 months. The SSR ensures low-income obligors retain enough income for basic subsistence while meeting support obligations.
How long does child support last in Colorado?
Child support in Colorado continues until the child turns 19 years old, or until age 21 if the child is still enrolled in high school or an equivalent program. Support terminates earlier if the child marries, enters military service, or becomes legally emancipated by court order.