Answer
Child support in Colorado ends automatically when the child turns 19 years old under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a). Colorado is one of only a handful of states where the default termination age is 19 rather than 18. However, support may continue until age 21 if the child is still enrolled in high school, may extend indefinitely for a child with a mental or physical disability, or may terminate before age 19 through emancipation events such as marriage or active military service.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Default Termination Age | 19 years old |
| Governing Statute | C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a) |
| High School Exception | Support continues until month after graduation, max age 21 |
| Disability Exception | No upper age limit; court discretion |
| Emancipation Events | Marriage, active military duty, court finding |
| Modification Filing Fee | $105 (as of January 2025) |
| Divorce Filing Fee | $260 (as of January 2025) |
| Residency Requirement | 91 days for filing spouse |
| Waiting Period | 91 days from service or filing |
| Property Division | Equitable distribution |
| Support Formula | Income Shares Model |
| Major 2026 Change | HB 25-1159 effective March 1, 2026 |
When Does Child Support End in Colorado Under Default Rules
Colorado child support terminates automatically when the last or only child reaches age 19 under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a), which applies to all orders entered on or after July 1, 1997. Neither parent needs to file a motion or appear in court for this automatic termination to take effect. Colorado sets the termination age at 19, which is higher than the 46 states that use age 18 as the default cutoff.
The automatic termination provision applies specifically to the support obligation itself. Income withholding orders (wage garnishments) do not stop automatically when the child turns 19. The paying parent must either obtain a court order or provide written notice to the employer and the recipient parent to stop the wage assignment. Failing to take this step means the employer will continue deducting child support from the obligor's paycheck even after the legal obligation has ended.
For families with multiple children, Colorado calculates a "step-down" amount when the oldest child ages out. The support order does not simply reduce proportionally. Instead, the court recalculates support using the guidelines for the remaining number of children. A parent paying $1,800 per month for 3 children will not automatically drop to $1,200 for 2 children. The new amount depends on both parents' current incomes and the updated guidelines schedule.
High School Enrollment Exception: Support Through Age 21
Colorado extends child support beyond age 19 if the child is still enrolled in high school or an equivalent program at the time of their 19th birthday, as provided by C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a)(III). Under this exception, support continues until the end of the month following the child's high school graduation, but the absolute maximum age is 21 regardless of enrollment status.
This exception covers several scenarios that Colorado families commonly encounter. A child who was held back a grade or who started school late may still be completing high school at age 19. A child pursuing a GED through an equivalent program also qualifies for continued support under this provision. Colorado courts have interpreted "equivalent program" broadly to include accredited GED preparation programs and alternative education tracks.
A child who drops out of high school before turning 19 loses the protection of this exception, and support terminates at age 19 under the default rule. However, if that same child later reenrolls in high school or an equivalent program before turning 19, the exception reactivates and support continues through graduation or age 21, whichever comes first. The reenrollment provision under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a)(III) gives children flexibility to resume their education without losing financial support.
Child Support for Children With Disabilities
Colorado courts may order child support to continue indefinitely for a child with a mental or physical disability under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a)(II). There is no upper age limit for disability-based child support in Colorado, making this the only exception that can extend the obligation beyond age 21. The court may also order continued coverage for medical expenses and health insurance premiums as part of the extended support order.
To obtain extended support for a disabled child, the parent seeking continuation must file a motion with the court before the child turns 19. Colorado courts evaluate whether the child's disability prevents self-support and whether the disability existed before the child reached the termination age. The standard requires showing that the child cannot maintain employment or live independently due to the disability. Medical documentation, vocational assessments, and testimony from treating professionals typically form the evidentiary basis for these motions.
The disability exception does not automatically extend support. A parent who fails to file a motion before the child turns 19 risks losing the right to continued support, even if the child clearly qualifies. Colorado courts have limited discretion to retroactively reinstate support after termination, so timely filing is essential. The modification filing fee is $105 as of January 2025.
Emancipation: When Child Support Ends Before Age 19
Colorado recognizes several events that emancipate a child before age 19 and automatically terminate the child support obligation under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a). Marriage emancipates a child as of the wedding date, immediately ending the support obligation. If the marriage is later annulled, dissolved, or declared invalid, the court may reinstate child support for the remaining period until the child turns 19.
Active military duty emancipates a child upon enlistment in any branch of the armed forces. Colorado law specifies that active duty service triggers emancipation, but participation in military reserves alone does not qualify. A child who joins the National Guard on a part-time basis while still living at home remains eligible for child support until age 19.
Colorado courts may also find a child "otherwise emancipated" based on a totality-of-circumstances analysis. The landmark case In re Marriage of Robinson, 629 P.2d 1069 (Colo. 1981), established the framework courts use to evaluate general emancipation claims. Factors include whether the child is financially self-supporting, living independently, employed full-time, and no longer dependent on either parent for basic needs. Simply turning 18 or graduating high school does not constitute emancipation in Colorado. The parent seeking early termination bears the burden of proving emancipation by a preponderance of the evidence.
How to Terminate or Modify Child Support in Colorado
Terminating child support before the automatic age-19 cutoff requires filing a Motion to Terminate Child Support (Form JDF 1408) with the court that issued the original order. The filing fee for a motion to modify or terminate a decree or final order in Colorado is $105 as of January 2025, per the fee schedule updated by HB 2024-1286. After filing, the moving party must serve the other parent with copies of all documents.
Colorado requires a showing of "substantial and continuing" change in circumstances to modify an existing child support order under C.R.S. § 14-10-122. Common qualifying changes include a 10% or greater deviation from the current order when recalculated under current guidelines, job loss or significant income change, a child's emancipation, or a change in the parenting time schedule. The court will not modify support based on temporary or voluntary changes in income.
The modification process typically follows these steps:
- File Form JDF 1408 (termination) or JDF 1403 (modification) with the original court
- Pay the $105 filing fee at the clerk's office
- Serve the other parent within 35 days of filing
- Attend mediation if ordered by the court
- Appear at the hearing with financial documentation
- Receive the court's order (Form JDF 1409 for termination)
Filing fees verified as of January 2025 per the Colorado Judicial Branch fee schedule. Verify current fees with your local clerk before filing.
Colorado Child Support Guidelines Formula
Colorado uses the Income Shares Model to calculate child support under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7). Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the basic child support obligation is determined from the statutory schedule based on combined income and the number of children. Each parent's share is proportional to their percentage of combined income.
The basic monthly child support obligation in Colorado for 2 children at a combined parental income of $10,000 per month is approximately $1,690. For 1 child at the same income level, the obligation is approximately $1,175. These amounts are then adjusted for health insurance premiums, childcare costs, extraordinary medical expenses, and parenting time credits.
Adjustments to the basic obligation include:
- Health insurance premiums paid for the child (added to the basic obligation, then allocated proportionally)
- Work-related childcare expenses (allocated proportionally between parents)
- Extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance (split proportionally)
- Travel expenses for parenting time (court discretion)
- Prior-born children from other relationships (deducted from gross income)
Major 2026 Changes Under HB 25-1159
House Bill 25-1159, signed on May 31, 2025, and effective March 1, 2026, represents the most significant overhaul of Colorado child support law in over a decade. The new law restructures the guidelines formula, expands low-income protections, and changes how parenting time credits are calculated. All child support orders entered or modified on or after March 1, 2026, must use the updated guidelines.
The most impactful change eliminates the 93-overnight threshold for parenting time credits. Under the prior law, a parent needed at least 93 overnights per year (roughly 25% of the time) to receive any credit against their child support obligation. Under HB 25-1159, the parenting time credit now applies from the first overnight, providing a more gradual and proportional adjustment.
Additional changes under HB 25-1159 include:
- Income cap raised from $30,000 to $40,000 per month combined gross income for the guidelines schedule
- Self-Support Reserve (SSR) established at $1,831.83 per month in 2026, calculated as 29 hours per week at Colorado minimum wage times 50 weeks divided by 12 months
- Parents earning $650 per month or less pay a flat $10 per month in child support
- Parents earning between $650 and the SSR of $1,831.83 pay reduced flat amounts of $50 to $150 depending on the number of children
- Maximum child support obligation for low-income parents capped at 10% of gross income, reduced from 20% under prior law
- Medical expense sharing threshold of $250 eliminated; parents now share costs from the first dollar
- The 1.5x multiplier formula for calculating the parenting time adjustment has been removed and replaced with a statutory table
College Expenses and Post-Secondary Education
Colorado does not require either parent to pay for college expenses or post-secondary education costs as part of a child support order. Unlike states such as Illinois and New Jersey that allow courts to order college contributions, Colorado treats education funding beyond high school as a voluntary matter under C.R.S. § 14-10-115. The child support obligation ends at age 19 regardless of whether the child attends college.
Parents who want to ensure college expenses are shared can include a provision in their separation agreement or parenting plan. A written agreement to fund post-secondary education is enforceable as a contract, even though the court cannot order it independently. Common provisions specify the type of institution covered (in-state public university, for example), the percentage each parent pays, conditions such as maintaining a minimum GPA, and a maximum age or duration for the obligation.
The absence of a court-ordered college support provision means that when does child support end in Colorado is definitively answered by the age-19 rule for most families. A child who graduates high school at 18 and immediately enrolls in college will lose child support at 19, and the paying parent has no further legal obligation to contribute to education costs unless a separate agreement exists.
Residency and Filing Requirements
To file for divorce or modify child support in Colorado, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Colorado for a minimum of 91 consecutive days immediately preceding the filing under C.R.S. § 14-10-106. For child custody and support provisions to be included, each child must have lived in Colorado for at least 182 days before the petition is filed. Colorado also imposes a 91-day waiting period from the date of service or joint filing before a divorce can be finalized.
The divorce filing fee in Colorado is $260, and the response fee is $146, as updated by HB 2024-1286 effective January 1, 2025. Child support modification motions cost $105 to file. Fee waivers are available for parties who demonstrate financial hardship by filing a verified motion with supporting documentation of income and assets.
Colorado follows the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) for cases involving parents in different states. If the original child support order was issued in Colorado, Colorado retains continuing exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order as long as one party or the child remains in the state. Parents who have both left Colorado may need to register the order in the new state before seeking modification.
Arrears and Back Child Support After Termination
The termination of the current child support obligation at age 19 does not eliminate any arrears (past-due support) that accumulated during the life of the order. Colorado enforces child support arrears until they are paid in full, with no statute of limitations on collection. A parent who owes $15,000 in back child support when the child turns 19 remains legally obligated to pay the full amount regardless of the child's age.
Colorado uses several enforcement mechanisms for unpaid child support, including wage garnishment, tax refund interception (state and federal), professional license suspension, passport denial for arrears exceeding $2,500, contempt of court proceedings with potential jail time, and liens on real and personal property. Interest accrues on unpaid child support at 12% per year under C.R.S. § 14-14-106, making prompt payment financially important.
A parent who falls behind on child support should file a motion to modify the order prospectively rather than simply stopping payments. Colorado courts cannot retroactively reduce child support to a date before the motion was filed. Every month of unpaid support becomes a fixed judgment that cannot be reduced or forgiven, even by agreement of the parties without court approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does child support automatically stop at 19 in Colorado?
Yes, child support terminates automatically at age 19 under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a) for orders entered after July 1, 1997. Neither parent needs to file a motion or appear in court. However, wage garnishment orders must be separately terminated through a court order or written notice to the employer.
Can child support continue past age 19 in Colorado?
Colorado child support extends past age 19 in 3 situations: the child is still enrolled in high school (support continues until the month after graduation, maximum age 21), the child has a mental or physical disability (no upper age limit), or the parents agreed in writing to extend support. College enrollment alone does not extend child support in Colorado.
Does Colorado require parents to pay for college?
No, Colorado does not allow courts to order parents to pay for college or post-secondary education expenses under C.R.S. § 14-10-115. Child support ends at 19 regardless of college enrollment. Parents can voluntarily agree to share college costs in their separation agreement, and such agreements are enforceable as contracts.
How do I terminate child support early in Colorado?
To terminate child support before age 19, file Form JDF 1408 (Motion to Terminate Child Support) with the court that issued the original order and pay the $105 filing fee. You must prove emancipation through marriage, active military service, or the child being financially self-supporting and living independently. The court evaluates the totality of circumstances.
What happens to child support if my child gets married?
Marriage automatically emancipates a child in Colorado, terminating the child support obligation as of the wedding date under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a). No court filing is required for the obligation to end. If the marriage is later annulled or dissolved, the court may reinstate support for the remaining period until the child turns 19.
How does HB 25-1159 change child support in 2026?
HB 25-1159, effective March 1, 2026, overhauls Colorado's child support formula. The parenting time credit now applies from the first overnight instead of requiring 93 overnights. The income cap increases from $30,000 to $40,000 per month. A new Self-Support Reserve of $1,831.83 per month protects low-income parents. Parents earning under $650 per month pay only $10 per month.
Do I still owe back child support after my child turns 19?
Yes, Colorado enforces child support arrears until paid in full with no statute of limitations. Interest accrues at 12% per year under C.R.S. § 14-14-106. Enforcement tools include wage garnishment, tax intercepts, license suspension, passport denial for arrears over $2,500, and contempt proceedings. The obligation to pay arrears survives the child's emancipation.
Can child support be modified in Colorado?
Yes, either parent can request modification by filing Form JDF 1403 with the court and paying the $105 filing fee. Colorado requires a "substantial and continuing" change in circumstances under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, such as a 10% or greater deviation from the current order, job loss, income change, or a significant change in parenting time.
What is the residency requirement for child support in Colorado?
At least one parent must have lived in Colorado for 91 consecutive days to file for divorce or child support. For custody and support provisions, each child must have resided in Colorado for at least 182 days before filing. The divorce filing fee is $260 and there is a mandatory 91-day waiting period before finalization.
Does joining the military end child support in Colorado?
Active duty military service automatically emancipates a child and terminates child support under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(13)(a). The support obligation ends upon enlistment in active duty. However, joining the military reserves or National Guard on a part-time basis does not constitute emancipation, and child support continues until age 19 or another termination event occurs.