Parker Child Support Attorney

Child Support Services in Parker, CO

Child support is a court-ordered payment made by a noncustodial parent to a custodial parent to help pay for the child’s needs. Child support is typically paid until the child turns 19 or graduates high school, whichever comes first. In some cases, a child with special needs may require child support to continue into adulthood. Child support is intended to help pay for a child’s basic needs, including housing, food, and clothing.

Colorado has a child support formula that is used to determine how much child support should be paid. This formula takes into account a number of factors, such as the income of both parents, the number of children, and the amount of parenting time each parent has. While the formula is used in most cases, there are some instances in which it may be deviated from.

Whether you are the parent who will be paying child support or the parent who will be receiving it, you need to make sure your child’s best interests are protected. At Moreno Family Law, we can help you understand what to expect and advocate for your rights and interests through every stage of the process. Our Parker child support lawyers are here to help you get the best possible outcome.

Need help with child support? Call (303) 590-3690 or contact us online.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Colorado?

Colorado uses a child support formula that takes into account the income of both parents, the number of children, and the amount of parenting time each parent has. In most cases, the formula is used to determine child support. However, there are exceptions.

Colorado will deviate from the formula if:

• The child has a high income, such as from a trust fund or modeling career
• The child has high expenses, such as medical expenses not covered by insurance
• The child has significant needs, such as a disability
• The child has a standard of living that is significantly different than that of the parent who has the most parenting time
• The child has a standard of living that is significantly different than that of the parent who is receiving child support
• The parents have a high combined income
• The parents have a low combined income
• The parents have a high number of children
• The parents have a low number of children

In cases where the court deviates from the formula, it will consider a variety of additional factors, including the financial resources of the child, the physical and emotional health of the child, the child’s educational needs, the child’s standard of living, the financial resources of each parent, the physical and emotional health of each parent, and any other relevant factors.

How to File for Child Support in Colorado

Child support is typically ordered as part of a divorce or legal separation. However, it can also be ordered when parents are not married or living together. To request child support, you must file a petition with the court. Once the petition is filed, the court will schedule a hearing.

At the hearing, you will need to provide documentation to support your request for child support. You will also need to provide the other parent with a copy of the petition and notice of the hearing. The other parent will have the opportunity to respond to the petition and present evidence to support their case.

After reviewing the evidence and hearing testimony from both parties, the court will make a determination as to whether child support should be ordered and, if so, how much should be paid. The court will issue a child support order that will include the amount of child support that must be paid, the date by which it must be paid, and the manner in which it must be paid.