Calculating Child Support in Colorado

Guiding Principles of Child Support

Child support in Colorado is calculated based on complex formulas devised by the court. The overarching principle of child support is to ensure that the lifestyle of the child is not affected in any way by the separation of the parents. Outside observers frequently wonder why a parent who doesn't get to spend much time with the child has to pay more for child support. They argue that since the parent is getting less "time" with the child, they should be paying less and not more.

The courts however, have decided that the parent spending more time with the child is also spending more money on child related activities which needs to be compensated. The formulas proposed by the court are designed to introduce as much objectivity into the payments as possible and ensure that consistent treatment is meted out to different parties over a period of time. However, judges do occassionally change the child support amount for extraordinary costs such as medical and work related expenses.

Calculating Child support in Colorado

The Colorado Revised Statutes take into account the total combined gross income and segregates it into two slabs. The first slab is below $850 a month. In this case, a minimum payment of $50 is required except when each parent keeps the child at home for more than 3 months in a year. The second slab is between $850 and $20,000 a month.

There are different amounts to be paid based on the number of children for whom child support is required. The total range of monthly child support goes from monthly payments of $184 to $4,049 depending on the income of the parents as well as the number of kids. When the combined income falls between a given range, the child support amount is interpolated to arrive at the actual figure.

Hiring a Child Support Attorney

There are many more factors to be taken into consideration over and above the basic guidelines laid down by the courts. The section of the Colorado Revised Statutes that deals with Child support payments is Title 14, Article 10, Section 115 and it's a very long and complex portion of Colorado Family law. By contacting an experienced Clawson child support attorney, you will be able to benefit from hidden provisions and prevent many pitfalls that could end up harming you seriously. Come to us for a free initial consultation!