How Much Is Child Support in Colorado?

Many parents wonder how much child support is in Colorado, especially when dealing with the legal and financial challenges of separation or divorce. At Hogan Omidi, we’ve guided countless families through this process and know how important it is to understand your obligations to ensure your child’s well-being.

Child support in Colorado isn’t a one-size-fits-all calculation. The amount depends on factors like each parent’s income, child-related expenses (healthcare, education), and the time the child spends with each parent, as outlined in the parenting plan. The state uses guidelines and a formula to calculate a base amount, but adjustments can be made for special needs or extraordinary expenses.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Colorado?

Colorado uses a uniform formula for calculating child support, and the statewide guideline is considered fair because each parent must pay a percentage of his or her income that reflects what he or she would have spent on the child if the family were staying together.

These calculations arise in considering many key factors, including:

• Gross income earned by both parents before taxes, including bonuses or commissions, as well as salary or base pay. This also includes both employment income and investment income, such as interest or dividends.
• Any other needs of the child, which include health insurance and daycare.
• The number of overnights the child spends with each parent during a year.
• Any pre-existing payment obligations, such as child support and spousal maintenance.

This approach seeks to create a balanced and equitable system that prioritizes the child’s well-being.

Other factors to be considered

The child support formula provides a strong base, but unique circumstances can adjust the final amount to ensure fairness and meet the child’s needs. Judges may account for factors like a child’s financial resources, such as a trust fund, which could reduce the parents’ burden. Extraordinary costs like medical care, private school, or special sports or academic activities can also affect calculations. These adjustments focus on the child’s well-being and adapt support to each family’s situation.

Colorado Child Support Guidelines

The Colorado Child Support Guidelines ensure consistency and fairness, prioritizing children’s financial needs during parental separation or divorce. Using a standardized formula, these guidelines balance both parents’ financial responsibilities and reduce ambiguity to create equitable outcomes.

The formula considers both parents’ incomes, expenses, and standard child-rearing costs. This clear, transparent method helps determine support amounts and minimizes potential disagreements.

Colorado uses an “income shares model,” estimating what parents would have spent on their child if living together. This includes housing, food, clothing, education, and medical expenses. The total is divided based on each parent’s income, reflecting their ability to contribute. Adjustments can also be made for shared custody or extraordinary expenses to accommodate each family’s unique needs.

Call Hogan Omidi Today

Determining how much child support is in Colorado can feel daunting, but you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Whether you’re filing for the first time or seeking to modify an existing order, Hogan Omidi offers compassionate, experienced legal support. Call us today at 303-391-9600 to schedule a consultation.