Denver Child Support Attorneys

Establishing financial stability for your children is often the most stressful part of a separation. While parents may disagree on many things during a divorce, they usually agree that their children deserve proper care. Child support exists to cover essential needs like food, housing, and education. It is not a fee for seeing your kids, nor is it a punishment for the paying parent. It is simply a way to maintain a consistent standard of living for the child across two households.

At the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group, we help mothers create fair financial arrangements. Whether you are establishing an initial order or need to modify an existing one, we provide the advocacy you need. Our team handles standard calculations as well as complex situations involving high-net-worth families, children with special needs, or self-employed spouses who might be underreporting income.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Colorado?

Colorado follows specific legal standards known as the Income Shares Model (C.R.S. 14-10-115). This approach operates on the philosophy that a child should receive the same proportion of parental income that they would have received if the parents lived together. It does not simply take a percentage of the paying parent’s paycheck.

Instead, the court looks at the combined adjusted gross income of both parents. The court then determines a basic support obligation based on a statutory schedule. This total obligation is divided between the parents in proportion to their incomes.  The number of overnight visits each parent has with the child is then factored into the child support calculation. 

What Counts as Gross Income?

Determining “gross income” is often where disputes arise. Colorado law defines this broadly. It includes salaries and wages, but it also encompasses:

• Commissions and tips
• Bonuses
• Pension and retirement benefits
• Dividends and interest
• Trust income
• Social Security benefits
• Rental income

For parents who are voluntarily unemployed or working less than they are capable of, the court may calculate support based on “potential income.” This prevents a parent from quitting a job just to lower their payment obligations.

How Does Parenting Time Affect Payments?

The number of overnights you have with your children significantly impacts the final support figure. Colorado uses different worksheets depending on the custody arrangement.

If a child spends fewer than 92 nights per year with one parent, the calculation uses Worksheet A (Sole Physical Care). If each parent has the child for at least 92 overnights per year, the court uses Worksheet B (Shared Physical Care). In a shared physical care arrangement, the higher-income parent usually pays support to the other parent, but the amount is typically lower than in a sole custody arrangement. This is because the higher earner is presumably spending money directly on the child during their parenting time.

When Does Child Support End in Colorado?

Unlike many states that end support at age 18, Colorado generally requires child support to continue until the child turns 19. However, there are exceptions.

Support may continue past age 19 if the child is still attending high school or an equivalent program. Conversely, support might end earlier if the child joins the military or marries. For children with physical or mental disabilities who cannot support themselves, payments can sometimes continue indefinitely.

What Happens if a Parent Refuses to Pay?

A court order is legally binding. If a parent fails to meet their obligations, you have options for enforcement. The Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group can help you recover missed payments through various legal tools.

Common enforcement methods in Colorado include:

• Income Assignments: This is often called wage garnishment. The support amount is deducted directly from the payer’s paycheck.
• Contempt of Court: A judge can fine or even jail a parent who willfully refuses to pay.
• License Suspension: The state can suspend a driver’s license or professional licenses until the debt is addressed.
• Tax Intercepts: State and federal tax refunds can be seized to pay off arrears.

Contact Us for Help with Child Support

Calculating payments or fighting for fair support can be confusing without legal counsel. Our team at the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group is here to bring clarity to your case. Whether you are the one receiving support or the one paying it, our goal is to achieve an outcome that protects your financial future and supports your children. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation.