Colorado enacted its most significant child support reform in over a decade on March 1, 2026, eliminating the long-criticized 93-overnight cliff that punished parents for sharing time, raising the combined income cap from $30,000 to $40,000 per month, updating cost-of-living data from 2010 to 2023, and introducing a $1,831 monthly self-support reserve. Most parents will see support amounts increase roughly 10%.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What changed | Colorado overhauled its child support guidelines under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 |
| Effective date | March 1, 2026 |
| Jurisdiction | Colorado (all family law courts statewide) |
| Major changes | Eliminated 93-overnight cliff, raised income cap to $40K/month, updated to 2023 cost-of-living data, added $1,831/month self-support reserve |
| Who is affected | All parents with new or modifiable child support orders in Colorado |
| Estimated impact | Support amounts increase approximately 10% for many families |
The 93-Overnight Cliff Is Finally Gone
Colorado courts will now credit every overnight of parenting time on a sliding scale rather than applying the binary 93-overnight threshold that dominated support calculations for years. Under the prior version of C.R.S. § 14-10-115, a parent with 92 overnights received zero parenting-time credit while a parent with 93 overnights received a substantial reduction in support owed. That single overnight could swing a support obligation by hundreds of dollars per month, creating perverse incentives for parents to litigate over one or two nights rather than focus on what arrangement actually served their children.
The new formula treats parenting time as a continuum. A parent exercising 50 overnights per year now receives proportional credit, and a parent exercising 140 overnights receives proportionally more. Colorado joins a growing number of states that have moved away from cliff-based models, recognizing that the cost of raising a child does not vanish the moment a parent crosses an arbitrary overnight threshold.
For parents who previously settled at exactly 93 overnights solely to capture the credit, the reform removes that artificial target. Parenting plans can now be designed around the best interests of the child under C.R.S. § 14-10-124 without one party gaming an overnight count.
Income Cap Jumps 33% to $40,000 Per Month
Colorado raised the combined gross income ceiling for guideline calculations from $30,000 to $40,000 per month, a 33% increase that captures higher-earning families who were previously subject to judicial discretion above the cap. Under the old schedule, when combined parental income exceeded $30,000 per month ($360,000 annually), courts had broad latitude to set support with minimal guidance. The updated C.R.S. § 14-10-115 now provides a formula-driven result for families earning up to $480,000 per year combined.
This change matters for two reasons. First, it reduces litigation costs because fewer families will need to argue over discretionary above-guidelines support. Second, it provides predictability. An earning parent making $25,000 per month whose co-parent earns $12,000 per month now falls entirely within the guideline schedule rather than partially outside it.
The 33% increase also reflects the reality that Colorado's median household income and cost of living have risen substantially since the last major update. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Colorado's median household income reached approximately $87,598 in 2023, well above the national median of $80,610.
Cost-of-Living Data Updated From 2010 to 2023
The support schedule now reflects 2023 economic data, replacing figures that were 13 years old. Between 2010 and 2023, the Consumer Price Index rose approximately 42%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Calculator. Housing costs in Colorado's Front Range climbed even faster, with the Colorado Association of Realtors reporting that the median home price in metro Denver exceeded $580,000 by late 2023.
The practical effect of updating the underlying data is straightforward: support amounts calculated under the new schedule will generally be higher than amounts calculated under the old schedule for the same income and parenting-time inputs. Family Law Software estimates that many families will see an approximate 10% increase in calculated support, though the actual change depends on income levels, number of children, and overnights.
New $1,831 Self-Support Reserve Protects Low-Income Parents
Colorado introduced a $1,831 per month self-support reserve, ensuring that obligor parents retain enough income to meet basic living needs before support is calculated. This reserve prevents support orders from pushing paying parents below subsistence level, which historically led to non-compliance, enforcement actions, and contempt proceedings that benefited no one.
The $1,831 figure aligns roughly with 2023 federal poverty guidelines for a single individual ($15,060 annually, or $1,255 per month) with an adjustment for Colorado's above-average cost of living. Courts applying C.R.S. § 14-10-115 will first deduct the self-support reserve from the obligor's income before running the guideline calculation.
For low-income parents, this is a meaningful protection. A parent earning $3,500 per month gross would previously have had support calculated on the full amount. Under the new framework, the first $1,831 is reserved, and the support calculation runs on the remaining $1,669.
Can Existing Orders Be Modified?
Colorado allows modification of child support when changed circumstances produce a support amount that differs from the existing order by 10% or more under C.R.S. § 14-10-122. Because the new schedule itself increases support by approximately 10% for many families, the updated guidelines alone may satisfy the threshold for modification. However, courts evaluate the totality of circumstances, and a modification is not automatic simply because the schedule changed.
Parents seeking modification should run their numbers through the updated worksheet before filing. Colorado's family courts require a completed Verified Financial Statement (JDF 1111) with any modification request.
Practical Takeaways
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Run your numbers under the new schedule immediately. If you pay or receive child support in Colorado, calculate your obligation using the March 2026 guidelines to determine whether your current order now deviates by 10% or more from the updated formula.
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Stop negotiating around the 93-overnight threshold. The cliff is gone. Parenting plans should be built around your family's actual needs and your children's best interests, not around hitting or avoiding an arbitrary overnight count.
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Higher-income families gain predictability. If your combined household income falls between $30,000 and $40,000 per month, you now have guideline-driven support calculations rather than open-ended judicial discretion.
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Low-income obligors should review the self-support reserve. If you earn under $3,500 per month, the new $1,831 reserve may substantially reduce your calculated obligation compared to the prior schedule.
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File sooner rather than later. Modification is not retroactive to the date the law changed. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, modified support runs from the date of the filing, not the date of the new statute. Every month you wait is a month at the old amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the new Colorado child support law apply to my existing order?
The March 2026 changes apply to all new orders and any existing order that is modified after March 1, 2026. Existing orders do not automatically change. You must file a motion to modify under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, and the court must find a 10% or greater deviation from the updated guidelines.
How much will Colorado child support increase under the 2026 changes?
Most families will see calculated support amounts increase approximately 10% due to the updated 2023 cost-of-living data replacing the 2010 schedule, according to Family Law Software. The exact change depends on combined income, number of children, and parenting-time split under C.R.S. § 14-10-115.
What was the 93-overnight cliff in Colorado child support?
The 93-overnight cliff was a threshold in Colorado's prior child support guidelines where a parent received zero parenting-time credit below 93 overnights but a significant credit at 93 or above. One additional overnight could change support by hundreds of dollars monthly. The March 2026 reform eliminates this cliff entirely, crediting every overnight proportionally.
What is the new self-support reserve in Colorado?
Colorado's 2026 child support reform introduced a $1,831 per month self-support reserve that protects low-income obligor parents from orders that push them below basic living costs. Courts deduct this amount from the obligor's gross income before calculating support under the updated C.R.S. § 14-10-115 schedule.
Can I modify my Colorado child support order just because the law changed?
A statutory change alone does not guarantee modification. Under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, you must demonstrate that the new guidelines produce a support amount at least 10% different from your current order. Because the 2026 schedule increases support by roughly 10% for many families, the updated law may meet that threshold depending on your specific income and parenting-time arrangement.
Connect with a Colorado family law attorney who can run your updated calculation and advise whether filing for modification makes sense for your situation.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.