How is Child Support Calculated in Colorado?

Colorado calculates child support by combining both parents' gross incomes and looking up the result on the state's Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) schedule. The state follows the Income Shares Model under C.R.S. 14-10-115 — the idea being that a child should receive the same financial support they would have gotten if the family stayed together. Each parent then contributes their proportional share based on their income. When a parent has more than 92 overnights per year, a parenting time adjustment reduces the base obligation to account for the direct costs they're bearing during that time.

The Income Shares Model — the core idea

Colorado's Income Shares Model starts from a straightforward premise: a child should not be financially worse off because their parents divorced. To apply this, both parents' gross incomes are combined into a single number. That combined income is then used to look up a scheduled monthly obligation on the BCSO table, which shows what a family at that income level would typically spend on a child. Each parent pays their proportional share of that scheduled amount based on their percentage of the combined gross income.

The non-custodial parent's share is the amount they pay to the custodial parent. The custodial parent's share is presumed to be spent directly on the child during their parenting time, so it generally doesn't flow through a payment — it's already accounted for in the model.

What Colorado counts as gross income

Colorado's definition of gross income is broad. It generally includes all income from any source before taxes and deductions. Courts look at the full financial picture of each parent, not just their paycheck.

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or working below their earning capacity, Colorado courts may impute income — assigning a figure based on what that parent could reasonably earn given their education, work history, and the local job market. Quitting a higher-paying job or reducing hours doesn't automatically lower a child support obligation. Courts look at earning potential, not just current earnings.

Certain income types are excluded. Means-tested government assistance like SNAP or Medicaid benefits generally doesn't count. Child support received for children from another relationship is also excluded. The specifics depend on the circumstances, and courts have some discretion in how they categorize unusual income sources.

Adjustments before combining incomes

Before the two parents' incomes are added together, Colorado allows a limited set of adjustments. These reduce each parent's gross income to arrive at their adjusted gross income for child support purposes.

Adjustment	How it works
Court-ordered maintenance paid in this case	Spousal maintenance being paid from one parent to the other in the same case is deducted from the paying parent's income and added to the receiving parent's income
Court-ordered child support for children from other relationships	Child support actually being paid under a court order for children not in this case is deducted
Children from other relationships living in the home	A credit may apply for biological or adopted children from prior relationships who live with the parent

Federal and state income taxes are not deducted. Health insurance premiums and retirement contributions are not deducted from gross income at this stage — they're handled separately as add-on costs. Colorado's list of allowed adjustments is intentionally narrow so the formula stays consistent and hard to game.

How the BCSO schedule works

Once both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined, that total is used to look up the Basic Child Support Obligation on Colorado's schedule. The BCSO table shows a monthly obligation for each income level and number of children, from one child through six or more.

Each parent's share of that scheduled amount is then calculated based on their percentage of the combined gross income. If one parent earns 60% of the combined total, they're responsible for 60% of the BCSO. The non-custodial parent's proportional share is what they pay to the custodial parent.

The BCSO table covers a wide range of combined incomes. For combined incomes that fall below the lowest bracket on the table, minimum order provisions apply. For incomes above the top of the table, courts use discretion to set a figure that reflects the child's actual needs and the family's established standard of living.

Worked Example — Two incomes, one child

The parenting time adjustment — more than 92 overnights

Colorado's statute specifically accounts for the reality that a parent who spends significant time with their child is also spending money directly on that child during their parenting time — on food, clothing, activities, and transportation. The basic BCSO calculation doesn't reflect this; it's built around a primary custodial arrangement.

When the non-custodial parent has more than 92 overnights per year — 93 or more — Colorado applies a parenting time adjustment. The adjustment is computed using a formula in C.R.S. 14-10-115 that takes into account both the number of overnights and each parent's income share. As overnights increase toward 50/50, the adjustment grows and the obligation decreases.

For parents who share close to equal time — such as a 50/50 schedule with around 182 overnights each — the parenting time adjustment can significantly reduce or even eliminate the base child support obligation. At true equal parenting time, the calculation compares incomes directly, and only a meaningful income gap between the parents generates a meaningful support amount.

Add-ons: health insurance and work-related childcare

The BCSO amount is the starting point, not the total. Colorado adds certain specific costs on top of the base obligation and splits them between the parents proportionally. These add-ons are separate from the BCSO and calculated independently.

Health insurance premiums for the children are added to the calculation. If one parent provides the coverage through their employer, the children's share of the premium is determined and each parent contributes their proportional share. Work-related childcare costs — daycare, after-school programs, or other care that allows a parent to work — are handled the same way. The parent who pays those costs gets credit, and the other parent contributes their share proportionally.

Extraordinary medical expenses that arise after the order is in place are typically split proportionally as well, though how they're handled depends on what the court order specifies. Routine medical costs that fall within a standard range are generally considered covered by the BCSO baseline.

The self-sufficiency reserve for low-income parents

Colorado has a built-in protection for parents with very limited incomes. If applying the full guideline amount would leave the paying parent with less income than what Colorado determines is needed for self-sufficiency, the court has the ability to set a lower amount. This reserve is meant to prevent child support orders from pushing a parent below the ability to meet their own basic needs — which ultimately doesn't serve the child's interests either.

The self-sufficiency reserve doesn't eliminate the obligation; it creates a floor. An order can still be entered even when a parent has very low income. If circumstances improve, the order can be reviewed and increased.

When courts may deviate from the guidelines

Colorado courts treat the guideline amount as the presumed correct number. A deviation — up or down — requires specific findings about why the guideline doesn't serve the child's best interest. The judge must put the reasons on the record.

Factors that courts may consider when evaluating a deviation include the child's special medical or educational needs, extraordinary costs one parent bears for the child, significant income fluctuations for a self-employed parent, a substantial financial disparity in the two households, and the financial resources the child independently has access to. The burden is on the parent requesting the deviation to show why the formula produces an unjust result in their specific circumstances.

If you're navigating Colorado divorce finances more broadly — including property division and spousal maintenance — our Colorado divorce finances overview covers all three topics in one place. We also have a dedicated guide on how spousal maintenance is calculated in Colorado, including the advisory formula and duration guidelines.

When Colorado child support ends

Colorado child support generally ends when the child turns 19. Colorado sets 19 as the age of emancipation for child support purposes — one year later than most states. If the child is still enrolled in high school at 19, support may continue through graduation, but typically no later than age 21. Courts may also order support to continue beyond 19 for a child with a mental or physical disability that prevents self-support, depending on documented need and what the court orders.

Parents can agree to extend support voluntarily through college or for other reasons, and those agreements can be incorporated into the court order. But without a specific court order, the obligation ends at 19 — or when the child graduates high school if that comes later. For a deeper look at how child support duration works generally, see our guide on how long child support lasts.

Common questions about Colorado child support

Can Colorado child support be modified? Yes. Either parent can request a modification by showing a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Colorado also allows an automatic review every three years without needing to prove a change — if the recalculated amount would differ from the current order by 10% or more, that's generally sufficient to trigger a modification. Either parent may request this three-year review through the county child support office.

What if a parent is self-employed? Self-employment income is included in gross income. Courts look at business revenue minus ordinary and necessary business expenses to determine the net income available for child support. Expenses that appear personal or disproportionately high relative to the business may be scrutinized. Courts can require tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, and bank records when self-employment income is disputed.

Does Colorado child support cover college expenses? Not automatically. Colorado's child support statute does not require support to continue through college unless the parents agree to it and it's incorporated into the court order. Some parents do include college support provisions in their separation agreement — covering tuition, room and board, or a portion thereof — but that's a negotiated term, not a default legal requirement.

What happens if a parent doesn't pay? Colorado has enforcement mechanisms similar to other states. These include wage garnishment, intercepting federal and state tax refunds, suspending driver's licenses and professional licenses, placing liens on property, and reporting the delinquency to credit bureaus. Child support enforcement in Colorado is handled at the county level through the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS).