Family Law Blog

Determining Colorado Child Support Obligations

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on May 12, 2010

In Colorado, the amount of child support that one parent must pay another depends on a variety of factors set out under Colorado law. The level of support is determined based on the gross income of both parents, which includes investments, social security, etc. but does not include the income of a new spouse of a parent. The court also looks at the number of children and the percentage of time the children spend with each parent. In addition, if one child lives with one parent and another child or children live with the other parent, separate support obligations must be determined and weighed against each other.

The rules are fairly inflexible, and do not take into account how much a parent’s living expenses or child-related expenses actually are. However, an experienced Colorado child support lawyer knows the court will take into consideration child care expenses and medical insurance and other medical expenses in making its child support determination.

If one parent or both parents are unemployed or underemployed (taking a job at less pay than he or she could otherwise earn in order to avoid child support obligations), the court may decide to impute, or assign, to that parent extra income when making the determination. However, if a parent is in school or is a stay at home parent caring for a child under 30 months old, income may not be imputed to that parent. Child support typically continues until the child turns 19, graduates from high school, marries, or joins the military.

Child support issues in Colorado can be tricky. If you need help with a modification of child support or other child support issues, contact the experienced Denver child support attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC. We will work hard to ensure your rights are protected and that your child support matters are successfully and efficiently resolved.