Colorado child support for one child has no fixed dollar amount — it depends on both parents' income, custody time, and other factors the court calculates using a state formula.

Colorado courts do not assign a standard payment. Instead, they use the Colorado Child Support Guidelines, a mathematical formula that takes the combined income of both parents, subtracts certain deductions, and applies a percentage based on how many children are involved and how much time each parent spends with the child. A parent earning $40,000 per year will not pay the same amount as one earning $80,000, and a parent who has the child 50 percent of the time will not pay the same as one who has the child 10 percent of the time.

The actual number comes from a court order or a signed agreement between the parents. You cannot know what you will pay or receive until a judge reviews both parents' financial information or both parents agree on an amount and file it with the court.

Key Takeaways

  • Colorado uses a percentage-based formula that multiplies combined parental income by a set percentage (roughly 20 percent for one child, but this varies based on custody time).
  • Both parents' gross income counts, including wages, self-employment income, bonuses, and some benefits; the formula then subtracts specific costs like health insurance and child care.
  • The parent with less custody time typically pays the parent with more custody time, but if custody is close to equal, the higher earner may still owe support.
  • A court order or signed parenting agreement is the only way to know the exact amount; online calculators can estimate but do not replace a legal information.
  • Child support in Colorado continues until the child turns 19, or until age 23 if the child is still in high school full-time.

How the Colorado formula works

Colorado courts start by adding together both parents' gross monthly income. Gross income includes salary, wages, self-employment earnings, bonuses, commissions, rental income, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, and some other sources. It does not include child support received from another relationship or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

From that combined total, the court subtracts certain costs: health insurance premiums paid for the child, child care expenses, and court-ordered support for other children. The remaining number is called adjusted gross income.

The court then applies a percentage to that adjusted income. For one child, the base percentage is roughly 20 percent of adjusted gross income. However, this percentage changes based on how much time each parent spends with the child. If one parent has the child 90 percent of the time and the other has the child 10 percent, the calculation differs from a 50-50 split. Colorado has a parenting time adjustment that reduces the percentage if the non-custodial parent (or lower-income parent) has significant parenting time.

The result is divided between the parents based on their income share. If one parent earns 60 percent of the combined income and the other earns 40 percent, the higher earner typically pays 60 percent of the calculated support obligation.

What income counts and what does not

Colorado courts look at gross income, which is broader than what you might expect. It includes regular salary and hourly wages, but also bonuses, commissions, overtime, self-employment net income, rental income, interest and dividend income, Social Security retirement or disability benefits, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and military allowances.

Income does not include child support received from another case, TANF payments, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or need-based public assistance. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed (earning less than they could), the court may impute income — meaning it assigns an income level based on what the parent is capable of earning — but this requires a specific finding by the judge and is not automatic.

Self-employed parents must provide tax returns and business records. The court uses net self-employment income (revenue minus legitimate business expenses) rather than gross revenue. If a parent's income fluctuates, the court may average it over a period of time or use the most recent year's tax return.

How parenting time affects the amount

The percentage of time each parent spends with the child directly changes the support calculation. Colorado defines parenting time as the number of overnights per year the child spends with each parent. If one parent has the child 292 overnights per year (80 percent) and the other has 73 overnights (20 percent), the adjustment is different than a 50-50 split.

When parenting time is close to equal — typically defined as each parent having between 40 and 60 percent of overnights — the court uses a different calculation method that accounts for both parents' income and time. The parent with higher income typically still owes support, but the amount is lower than it would be if one parent had primary custody.

If one parent has the child fewer than 40 overnights per year, that parent is considered to have minimal parenting time, and the standard percentage applies with less adjustment.

What a court order or agreement looks like

Child support becomes legally binding only when a court issues an order or both parents sign a written agreement that is filed with the court. The order states the exact monthly amount, the date it is due, and the method of payment (often wage withholding, where the employer deducts it from the paying parent's paycheck).

The order also specifies who pays for health insurance, how uncovered medical expenses are split, and whether either parent owes child care costs. It may include a provision for cost-of-living adjustments or require the order to be reviewed every three years.

If parents reach an agreement on their own, they can file a Stipulation and Order with the court. If they cannot agree, one parent files a case and the court holds a hearing where both parents present income documents and the judge issues an order. The judge is not required to follow what either parent proposes; the judge applies the Colorado formula and issues what the law requires.

When child support starts and stops

Child support begins on the date the court order is issued or the agreement is filed, not retroactively to when the child was born (unless the parents agree otherwise or the court finds that one parent was avoiding a support obligation). If a parent was not paying support before the order, the court may order back support — payment for the period between when the child was born and when the order was entered — but this is a separate issue from the ongoing monthly amount.

Support continues until the child turns 19, or until age 23 if the child is enrolled in high school full-time and making progress toward graduation. Support also ends if the child is emancipated (legally declared an adult before age 19), marries, or dies. If the child turns 19 and is not in high school, support stops automatically, even if the child is in college.

Either parent can request a modification of the order if circumstances change significantly — for example, if one parent's income drops by 10 percent or more, or if parenting time changes. The modification is not automatic; the parent requesting it must file a motion with the court.

How to find out the specific amount for your situation

The only way to know the exact amount is to have a court calculate it or to reach an agreement with the other parent. If you are in a court case, your attorney or the court will prepare a Child Support Calculation Worksheet that shows both parents' income, deductions, and the resulting obligation. This worksheet is filed with the court and becomes part of the public record (though some income details may be sealed).

Colorado has an online child support calculator on the Judicial Department website that allows you to enter income and parenting time to see an estimate. This calculator is a tool for understanding the formula, not a legal information. The actual order from a court or a signed agreement is what matters legally.

If you are negotiating with the other parent, both of you should provide recent pay stubs, tax returns, and documentation of child care costs and health insurance premiums. If you cannot agree, you will need to file a case with the district court in the county where the child lives or where the other parent lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Colorado child support change if I lose my job?

Not automatically. Your existing order remains in effect until you file a motion to modify it. You must show the court that your income has decreased by a significant amount and that the decrease is not voluntary. If you are laid off or your hours are cut, you can request a modification, but you should file it promptly — the court will not reduce support retroactively to before you filed the motion.

What if the other parent is self-employed or has irregular income?

The court uses tax returns and business records to determine net self-employment income. If income varies year to year, the court may average it or use the most recent return. Self-employed parents must provide documentation; claiming you do not know your income does not excuse you from support. If a parent refuses to provide records, the court may impute income based on what similar work typically earns.

Can child support be waived if both parents agree?

Not completely. Colorado law requires that child support be ordered based on the formula, even if both parents agree to a lower amount or no amount. However, parents can agree to an amount that differs from the formula if they both sign a written agreement and the court finds it is in the child's best interest. The court must approve any deviation from the guideline amount.

Does the amount change when the child gets older?

Not unless you file a motion to modify. The percentage used in the formula does not increase as the child ages. However, if either parent's income changes significantly or parenting time changes, either parent can request a modification. Some parents agree to review the order every few years and adjust it if circumstances have changed.

What happens if the paying parent does not pay?

The receiving parent can file a motion for contempt or request wage withholding through the court. Colorado has enforcement mechanisms including wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, suspension of driver's license, and contempt of court proceedings. The court can also order the paying parent to pay the other parent's attorney fees if the case goes to enforcement.