If you are trying to figure out how child support is calculated in Colorado, the answer starts with a table set by state law and adjusted for your specific circumstances. Colorado courts do not leave this to a judge’s discretion alone. Instead, they follow guidelines under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 that produce a dollar amount based on both parents’ combined adjusted gross income, the number of children, and several additional factors. Our team of Denver family lawyers team at Baker Law Group, PLLC helps parents across Colorado understand exactly how those numbers work and what to do when the result does not seem fair.
This page walks you through the full calculation process, what affects the final number, and when to get legal help.
The Starting Point: Adjusted Gross Income for Both Parents
The first step in calculating child support is determining each parent’s gross income. Colorado defines gross income broadly under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(5). It includes:
- Wages and salaries
- Bonuses and commissions
- Rental income
- Self-employment income based on gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses
- Dividends, interest, and trust income
- Workers’ compensation and disability benefits
- Any other regular source of income
From that gross income figure, Colorado then subtracts certain items to arrive at each parent’s adjusted gross income. Deductions include preexisting child support obligations paid to other children and alimony actually paid to the other party. Both parents’ adjusted gross income figures then combine into a single number. That combined figure is what the guidelines schedule applies to.
Getting this number right matters. Underreporting income, whether intentional or accidental, produces a child support figure that does not reflect reality and can be challenged in court.
How the Colorado Child Support Formula Works
Colorado uses an income shares model to determine child support. The court does not apply a flat percentage to combined income. Instead, it looks up the basic child support obligation directly from the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations in C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(b). That schedule cross-references the parents’ combined adjusted gross monthly income against the number of children to produce a specific dollar amount.
Once the schedule produces the basic obligation, the court divides that amount between the parents in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined adjusted gross income. The parent who does not have primary physical custody typically pays their proportionate share to the other parent as a monthly support payment.
For example, if the combined adjusted gross monthly income is $6,000 and one parent earns 60% of that amount, that parent carries 60% of the basic obligation. The schedule then determines what that total obligation is before any further adjustments apply.
If you want to run preliminary numbers before consulting an attorney, the Colorado Child Support Worksheet (JDF 1821) is the official form Colorado courts use. Your attorney will use the same worksheet to verify and formalize the calculation.
How Much Child Support for One Child in Colorado?
For one child, the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations produces the following example figures based on combined adjusted gross monthly income:
- Combined income of $3,000 per month: basic obligation of $533
- Combined income of $5,000 per month: basic obligation of $820
- Combined income of $6,000 per month: basic obligation of $920
- Combined income of $8,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,072
- Combined income of $10,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,215
That total obligation then splits between the parents based on each parent’s proportionate share of combined adjusted gross income. If the paying parent earns 65% of the combined income at the $6,000 level, their monthly payment is $598 before any adjustments apply.
How Much Child Support for Two Kids in Colorado?
For two children, the schedule produces higher obligation amounts at each income level:
- Combined income of $3,000 per month: basic obligation of $821
- Combined income of $5,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,256
- Combined income of $6,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,404
- Combined income of $8,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,631
- Combined income of $10,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,844
The paying parent’s share still depends on their proportion of combined adjusted gross income.
How Much Child Support for Three Kids in Colorado?
For three children, the schedule produces the following figures:
- Combined income of $3,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,002
- Combined income of $5,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,523
- Combined income of $6,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,696
- Combined income of $8,000 per month: basic obligation of $1,967
- Combined income of $10,000 per month: basic obligation of $2,219
Again, the paying parent’s share splits proportionately based on adjusted gross income, and adjustments may apply on top of the base figure.
Adjustments That Change the Final Number
The basic obligation from the schedule is rarely the final number. Colorado law allows several adjustments that can raise or lower what each parent pays.
Parenting time. Colorado law defines shared physical care as each parent having the children more than 92 overnights per year. When that threshold applies, the court uses a separate shared physical care calculation rather than the standard division. That calculation is more involved than a simple reduction and requires an attorney to run accurately, since it accounts for duplicated expenses and the percentage of time the children spend with each parent. A Denver child custody lawyer can help you document parenting time accurately so the adjustment reflects your actual arrangement.
Health insurance. The cost of the child’s health insurance premium adds to the basic obligation and splits between the parents proportionately. The parent who carries the policy receives a credit against their share.
Childcare expenses. Work-related childcare costs, such as daycare or after-school programs, add to the total obligation. Both parents share these costs in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes.
Extraordinary medical expenses. Uninsured medical expenses exceeding $250 per child per calendar year qualify as extraordinary medical expenses under the statute. These add to the obligation and split proportionately between the parents.
Each of these adjustments requires documentation. Courts expect receipts, insurance statements, and childcare invoices. Coming to a support hearing without that paperwork puts you at a disadvantage.
Modifying a Child Support Order
Child support orders are not permanent. Either parent can request a modification when circumstances change significantly, and a Denver divorce lawyer can help you file before the change in circumstances costs you money you cannot recover. Common reasons to modify include:
- A substantial increase or decrease in either parent’s income
- A change in parenting time arrangements
- A change in the child’s medical or educational needs
C.R.S. § 14-10-122 governs the modification process. The requesting parent must file a motion with the court and provide evidence of a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Colorado courts will review whether that change produces a meaningful difference in the calculated support amount. The statute references a 10% change in certain administrative review contexts as a relevant benchmark, but every modification request turns on its specific facts. Waiting too long to file works against you. A modification only takes effect from the date you file, not from the date the change in circumstances occurred.
Talk to a Denver Child Support Lawyer Before You File
Child support calculations affect your finances and your child’s welfare for years. A mistake in the initial calculation, or a failure to account for all adjustments, produces a number that is harder to fix after the fact.
Whether you are establishing a new child support order, contesting a calculation you believe is wrong, or filing to modify an existing order, our Denver child support lawyer team handles child support matters across Colorado. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and make sure the numbers reflect your actual situation.
