Starting March 1, 2026, Colorado is implementing sweeping changes to child support guidelines that may warrant a revision to your child support orders. The updates make child support payments more fair and predictable, and are designed to better reflect real parenting schedules and financial situations.
Whether you are a parent considering divorce, starting the process or have already have child support orders, here’s what you need to know about Colorado HB 25-1159.
Who Colorado’s New Child Support Guidelines Apply To
The new law applies to anyone with new child support orders or modifications that are entered on or after March 1, 2026. Modifications will still require a “substantial and continuing” change that would cause at least a 10% difference between the existing order and the recalculated amount under the new guidelines. If you think you have grounds to modify your child support or want help navigating the new guidelines, contact our office at 720-922-3880.
Worksheets For Overnights Replaced; Every Overnight Counts
Old Rule: Previously, there was a two-worksheet system, based on whether a parent had more or fewer than 93 overnights with their child(ren). Because getting to 93 overnights could potentially save a parent thousands of dollars, they might push to get to that threshold, even when it wasn’t in the best interest of the child, then bring the other parent to court to litigate the child support.
New Rule: Goodbye 93-overnight cliff! Now, parents get credit for every overnight and the worksheets are replaced by one child support calculation for all cases. A new parenting-time credit table applies a credit based on the number of overnights a parent spends with the child each year. As parenting time increases, so does the credit applied to that parent’s child support obligation.
Child‑Support Schedule Extended to $40,000 Combined Monthly Income
Old Schedule: To determine a child support base, Colorado takes the parents’ combined monthly gross income and matches it with the number of shared children using Colorado’s Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations. Previously the schedule was capped at $30,000 of monthly income, which left the courts to estimate support above the table amounts.
New Schedule: HB 25-1159 expands the schedule to $40,000 combined monthly income. This better reflects Colorado’s economic data and takes the guess work out of high-income cases.
Protections Strengthened for Low-Income Parents
Old Rule: Low/limited-income parents could previously get an adjustment, but it was not clearly defined in the law. Without structured guidance on how to ensure that a low-income parent could meet their own basic living expenses while providing child support, outcomes varied widely depending on the court, and it was difficult for many parents to understand how their income would be treated.
New Rule: The update aims to ensure that a low-income parent can meet their basic needs before paying child support. Under the new rules, a self-support reserve is calculated by multiplying Colorado’s minimum wage by 29 hours per week, then by 52 weeks per year and dividing the result by 12 months. Parents whose income falls below certain thresholds may have their child support obligation reduced to low as $10 a month.
Child-Related Expenses Expanded and Clarified
Old Rule: Child support calculations included adjustments for work- or education-related child care, health insurance premiums for the child, and extraordinary medical expenses. However, extraordinary medical expenses were narrowly defined and often had to meet annual thresholds before they would be shared with the other parent. There was also more leeway for the courts to decide what qualified. Smaller, routine medical costs (such as co-pays or minor out-of-pocket expenses) were not always clearly addressed, which could lead to disputes over whether and how those costs should be shared.
New Rule: The updated law expands what qualifies as medical and extraordinary expenses, and clarifies that these costs are shared between parents in proportion to their incomes. This eliminates the issue of meeting an annual threshold before cost-sharing applies. With more child-related expenses factored into support calculations, there should be fewer costs that fall into gray areas requiring litigation to solve.
Medical expenses now more clearly include:
- Therapy and mental health treatment.
- Ongoing or chronic medical care.
- Adaptive services or equipment.
- Out-of-pocket medical costs such as co-pays, deductibles, medications, and medical equipment.
Using Child Support Calculation Tools
The Colorado Judicial Branch offers free child support calculation software that allows parents to input their information and generate an estimate based on the current guidelines. HB 25-1159 includes state funding to update the systems and software.
While these tools can be helpful, they do not account for every nuance of an individual case. Working with an experienced family law attorney can help ensure that income is properly calculated, parenting time is accurately reflected, and all applicable adjustments are considered.
How Andersen Law PC Can Help
Every family’s situation is different, and child support outcomes can vary significantly based on the details of your case. At Andersen Law PC, we help clients understand how Colorado’s child support guidelines apply to their specific circumstances and advocate for fair support orders.
If you have questions about child support or need help navigating the calculation process, contact Andersen Law PC at 720-922-3880 or visit BethLynnAndersenJD.com to schedule your free consultation.
