How to Use This Calculator
This calculator gives you an estimate based on Colorado’s 2026 Income Shares Model under C.R.S. §14-10-115. It is a planning tool, not a court order and not legal advice. Your result may differ in a real case. That said, it’s one of the most up-to-date calculators available, reflecting the major changes brought by House Bill 25-1159, which took effect March 1, 2026.
If you have questions after running the numbers, the team at Colorado Legal Group is here to help.
What’s Changed in 2026 and Why This Calculator Is Different
Colorado’s child support law changed significantly on March 1, 2026. Many calculators online still use the old formula. Here is what is new under HB25-1159, and why it matters to your estimate.
The 93-overnight threshold is gone. Under the old law, a parent needed at least 93 overnights per year before any parenting time credit applied. If you had 92 nights, you received zero credit. Under the 2026 law, every overnight counts from the first night. The more time you spend with your children, the more credit you receive, with no minimum threshold.
The income cap expanded from $30,000 to $40,000 per month combined. This means more Colorado families now fall within the standard schedule instead of requiring court extrapolation at higher income levels.
The support schedule itself was updated. Obligation amounts across the table were revised to reflect the current cost of raising children. If you ran an estimate using a pre-2026 calculator, your number may be materially different under the new formula.
Child support law in Colorado has never been static, it reflects how society values children's wellbeing as circumstances change. The 2026 reforms represent a meaningful shift toward recognizing that parenting time and financial responsibility go hand in hand.
David Crum Founder & CEO, Colorado Legal Group
Colorado Legal Group · 2026 Update
Colorado Child Support — By the Numbers
Child support in Colorado is calculated using the Income Shares Model — a formula that estimates what both parents would have spent on their children if the family had stayed together, then divides that responsibility proportionally by income. House Bill 25-1159, signed May 31, 2025 and effective March 1, 2026, made the most significant changes to Colorado's child support guidelines in years. The infographic below explains the key numbers, how the formula works, and what changed — so you can understand your estimate before speaking with an attorney.
Key numbers at a glance
Per month combined — up from $30K. More families now fall within the standard formula.
Every overnight now earns a parenting time credit. The old 93-night minimum is gone.
Or 21 if the child is still enrolled in high school. Longer if the child has a disability.
If a recalculation produces a number 10% or more different, Colorado presumes a modification is warranted.
How the 2026 Income Shares formula works — step by step
Sample monthly basic obligation — 2 children, 50/50 parenting time
The blue bar shows the total basic obligation based on combined income. Because parenting time is split 50/50 in this example, each parent's credit offsets roughly half — meaning the net payment between parents is small. Change the income or overnights in the calculator above to see how dramatically the number shifts.
What goes into the calculation
✓ Included in this calculator
- Both parents' gross monthly income
- Number of children
- Annual overnights (all count in 2026)
- Monthly child care costs
- Children's health insurance share
- Extraordinary medical / education
→ Courts may also consider
- Bonus and overtime income
- Self-employment net income
- Prior child support orders
- Special needs of the child
- Travel costs for parenting time
- Significant recent income changes
What changed on March 1, 2026 — HB25-1159
93 overnights per year were required before any parenting time credit applied. Parents with 92 nights received zero reduction.
Every overnight earns a proportional credit from night one. No minimum threshold. More parenting time always means a lower net obligation.
The support schedule topped out at $30,000/month combined income. High earners required court extrapolation beyond the table.
The schedule now extends to $40,000/month, covering more families within the standard model and reducing discretionary extrapolation.
The shared physical care calculation used a 1.5× multiplier on the basic obligation, then an offset. A separate Worksheet B applied.
A unified formula replaces the old worksheet system. The basic obligation is taken directly from the standard schedule for all custody arrangements.
Sources: C.R.S. §14-10-115 · HB25-1159 (signed May 31, 2025, effective March 1, 2026) · Colorado Child Support Services · Math4Law. This infographic is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Colorado family law attorney for guidance specific to your case.
What You Will Enter
1. Number of children
Enter the number of children shared between the two parents for this case. Each additional child increases the total support obligation based on the state schedule.
2. Monthly gross income: both parents
Use gross income, the amount before taxes, retirement contributions, or health insurance deductions. If income varies, use a fair average from the past three to six months.
- Paid every two weeks? Multiply one paycheck by 26, then divide by 12.
- Self-employed? Use net business income after legitimate business expenses. Courts treat self-employment income carefully, read our guide on how child support is calculated when you are self-employed.
- Gross income can include wages, bonuses, overtime, pensions, rental income, workers’ compensation, and unemployment benefits.
3. Overnights per year
Enter how many nights the child sleeps at each parent’s home. The calculator auto-syncs both fields to 365. Under the 2026 law, every overnight earns a proportional parenting time credit, there is no longer a minimum threshold. If time is roughly equal, enter 182 and 183.
4. Additional expenses (optional)
You can enter monthly child care costs, the children’s share of health insurance premiums, and extraordinary medical or education expenses. These are added to the basic obligation and split by income proportion, matching how Colorado courts actually handle them.
How the Calculation Works
Colorado uses the Income Shares Model. The logic behind it is straightforward: children should receive the same proportion of their parents’ income they would have received if the family had stayed together. Here is how the calculator applies it:
- Both parents’ gross incomes are added together to produce a combined monthly income.
- That combined income is looked up against Colorado’s Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (updated for 2026) to find the baseline amount for the number of children.
- Any additional expenses (child care, insurance, medical) are added to the baseline.
- The total is split between parents in proportion to their income shares.
- Each parent receives a parenting time credit based on their fraction of annual overnights.
- The parent with the higher net obligation pays the difference to the other parent.
The income shares model is designed to be fair to both parents and to children. It recognizes that what a child needs financially doesn't change just because their parents separated and that both parents should contribute to meeting those needs in proportion to their ability to do so.
David Crum Founder & CEO, Colorado Legal Group
Step-by-Step Examples
Example A: Roughly equal income and equal parenting time
- 2 children
- Parent 1 monthly income: $3,500
- Parent 2 monthly income: $3,500
- Parent 1 overnights: 183 | Parent 2: 182
Combined income is $7,000. The basic obligation for 2 children at $7,000 is approximately $1,085/month. Income is split 50/50. Each parent’s credit is roughly $543/month (50% of the basic obligation). The net obligations nearly cancel out, resulting in a very small offset payment as expected when incomes and overnights are equal.
Example B: Higher earner with fewer overnights
- 2 children
- Parent 1 monthly income: $5,500
- Parent 2 monthly income: $2,500
- Parent 1 overnights: 110 | Parent 2: 255
Combined income is $8,000. The basic obligation for 2 children is approximately $1,183/month. Parent 1’s income share is 69%, so their proportional obligation is ~$814. Their parenting time credit is 110/365 × $1,183 ≈ $357. Net obligation: ~$457/month payable to Parent 2.
Try adjusting the overnight slider to see how much parenting time affects your estimate, this is one of the most impactful variables in the 2026 formula.
Common Questions
Does the calculator include daycare and health insurance?
Yes. This calculator includes fields for monthly child care costs, the children’s share of health insurance premiums, and extraordinary medical or education expenses. These are added to the basic obligation and split by income proportion, which is how Colorado courts handle them. This is an improvement over many online calculators that omit these fields.
Do more overnights lower what I owe?
Often, yes. Under the 2026 law, every overnight earns a parenting time credit. The parent who spends more time with the children is already covering day-to-day costs directly, and the formula accounts for that. Learn more about how overnights affect your situation in our post on tips for getting child support with shared custody.
What if my income changes?
Child support orders are not permanent. If your financial situation changes significantly, job loss, a substantial raise, or a change in parenting time, then you may be eligible to request a modification. Colorado presumes a modification is warranted when the recalculated amount differs from the current order by 10% or more. Read more about whether you can lower child support if you lose your job and how post-decree modifications work in Colorado.
What if I’m self-employed or my income varies?
Courts look carefully at fluctuating or self-employment income. Regular overtime is typically included; irregular overtime and bonuses may be averaged across multiple years. If you receive income from business ownership, rental properties, or investments, our guide on child support when you are self-employed covers what courts look at.
Is child support taxable?
No. Child support payments are not tax-deductible for the paying parent and are not counted as income for the receiving parent. However, dependency exemptions and child tax credits may be allocated by the court based on each parent’s income share. See our posts on whether child support counts as income and whether child support is tax-deductible for the full picture.
What can child support actually be used for?
Basic support is intended to cover food, housing, clothing, school supplies, transportation, and everyday activities. Extraordinary expenses such as tutoring, specialized medical care, or travel for parenting time are handled separately. Our post on what child support covers in Colorado explains the distinction between basic and extraordinary expenses.
What happens if payments stop?
Failure to pay court-ordered child support has serious consequences in Colorado, including wage garnishment, license suspension, and contempt of court. Read our post on whether you can lose custody for not paying child support for what enforcement looks like in practice.
Can child support be modified?
Yes. Either parent can request a modification when there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Read our FAQ on modifying child support payments and our post on post-decree modifications to understand the process.
Related Resources From Our Attorneys
Our attorneys write regularly about child support and family law in Colorado. These posts go deeper on specific situations the calculator cannot account for:
- How to File for Child Support in Colorado — step-by-step guide to starting or modifying a support case
- Child Support Credits in Colorado — what credits exist and how they can reduce your obligation
- Why Denver Judges Prioritize Children’s Best Interests — how courts think about support decisions
- Tips for Getting Child Support With Shared Custody — navigating support when both parents share time
- Can I Lower Child Support if I Lose My Job? — what to do if your financial situation changes
- Navigating Divorce in Denver — complete guide including child support, custody, and property division
- Uncontested Divorce and Child Custody — how support fits into an agreed-upon divorce
- How Is Alimony Calculated in Colorado? — spousal maintenance often runs alongside child support
This Calculator Is a Starting Point. Your Case Deserves More
An estimate is useful. An attorney is essential.
Child support calculations can be significantly affected by factors this calculator cannot weigh: complex income structures, prior support orders, a child’s special needs, disputed parenting time, or self-employment income that fluctuates month to month.
I've seen cases where two families with nearly identical income and parenting time arrived at very different outcomes in court because the details matter enormously. A calculator gives you a floor to stand on. An attorney builds the case.
David Crum Founder & CEO, Colorado Legal Group
The attorneys at Colorado Legal Group represent clients in Denver and Colorado Springs in all matters related to child support, child custody, paternity, and post-decree modifications. Call us at 720.594.7360 or schedule a free consultation to talk through your situation.
Use of this calculator does not constitute legal advice. Results are estimates based on Colorado’s 2026 Income Shares Model (C.R.S. §14-10-115, as amended by HB25-1159, effective March 1, 2026). Actual court-ordered support may differ based on judicial findings, income adjustments, and case-specific factors. Colorado Legal Group makes no representations that calculator results will match court outcomes. Always consult a licensed Colorado family law attorney for accurate, case-specific guidance.