Fort Collins Child Support Lawyer
Expert Guidance for Child Support Matters in Colorado
Figuring out all the rules and regulations governing child support orders in Colorado can be confusing and frustrating. If you are navigating a child support dispute, be sure to retain a trusted lawyer. I am a Fort Collins child support attorney with 15 years of experience to apply to your case. Let me guide you forward through mediation, negotiation, or litigation if need be.
Can A Lawyer Help Reduce Child Support?
If you are amid a divorce or child custody battle, having a family law attorney will get you the help you need to ensure you get the best results. A family law lawyer can help you, if necessary, assist you change the amount in various ways including filing a modification request, also known as a “Motion to Modify”.
Call me at (970) 293-8371or complete my online contact formto get started with a free consultation.
How Does the Court Determine Child Support in Colorado?
Colorado has guidelines that determine child support awards. The guidelines are used to determine the cost to raise the child had the parents not separated. The formula is based on:
- each party’s gross income,
- the number of children,
- and the number of overnights.
It also factors in health insurance premiums, tax breaks, childcare costs, and other expenses. Most often, the court orders the amount calculated through the guidelines.
What is a Childcare Adjustment?
Childcare costs are added to the basic obligation. Net childcare costs (the cost of childcare after the federal tax credit) are divided between the parents if the childcare is necessary because of employment, job search, or education. The childcare costs must be reasonable, meaning that they cannot exceed what a licensed professional would charge to give quality care.
What are Considered Extraordinary Medical Expenses?
Extraordinary medical expenses are also added to the basic obligation. Extraordinary medical expenses are payments over health care premiums that not covered by health insurance. The statute defines an “extraordinary” expense as any medical expense of over $250 per child. These expenses are divided proportionally between the parties based on their incomes.
How Do they Calculate Child support in Colorado?
The amount of child support you pay depends solely on the amount of children you have. To determine this, calculate your gross income by 20% for one child, and then 10% for each additional one. Gross income should not include things such as public assistance or retirement plans.
When Can Courts Deviate from Child Support Guidelines?
The court may deviate from the guidelines if the award would be inequitable, unjust, or inappropriate. This does not normally occur.
The court might deviate from the guidelines if:
- The parent or their current spouse requires extraordinary medical care
- There is a gross disparity in income between the parties
- One parent has substantial income from a second job
- A parent has significantly more parenting time than is being reflected in the overnight calculation
How Can Child Support Payments Be Used?
Child support is not a payment to the other parent. Instead, the recipient is supposed to use child support on childcare expenses, such as:
- food,
- housing,
- clothing,
- extracurricular activities, etc.
That said, the payor cannot force the recipient to use the child support payments on any specific item or even on childcare in general. This can be frustrating for the person paying child support.
The law presumes that child support will be spent on childcare and does not provide any means of enforcing that the recipient uses it in a particular manner. The statute does contain a provision that states that the court may refer the parties to a mediator if the noncustodial parent claims the child support is not being spent on childcare.
Steps to Take When a Parent Fails to Pay Child Support
Child support is entirely independent of visitation rights. You cannot take matters into your own hands and refuse visitation, even if your former spouse is refusing to pay child support. If you do so, you will be in violation of the court’s custody order. Instead, visitation is a matter you should discuss with your child support lawyer.
This is not to say that a person will not face penalties if they fall behind on child support payments.
In Colorado, child support payment can be enforced with:
- Wage garnishment
- Tax offsets
- Credit bureau reporting
- Suspension of professional license
- Suspension of driver’s license
- Fines
- Liens on real estate, personal property, or motor vehicles
- Jail time
Understanding Income Assignments in Child Support Orders
The judge can order an income assignment. When an income assignment is ordered, a notice is sent to the payor’s employer, telling them to deduct child support payments from the payor’s paycheck. The support payment goes directly to the Family Support Registry before it reaches your paycheck.
The court can also apply an income assignment to retirement benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment checks, and other sources of gross income.
What Happens if the Parent Owing Support Moves out of State?
The motion to collect support will still be in order, however the state in which the non-custodial parent lives in will take any further action regarding the case. The Child Support Enforcement Unit will be working with the non-custodial parent to ensure that payments are still being made.
How Long Does Child Support Last?
You must pay child support until your child turns 19 or until the month following high school graduation. This rule is different than many states that only require you to pay until the child reaches 18 years old. If your child is disabled, child support may continue even after the age of 19.
If you have questions about your unique situation, you should speak to a knowledgeable Fort Collins child support lawyer. Contact me at (970) 293-8371 today.
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