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Colorado Child Support Is Changing in March 2026: What Parents Need to Know Now

Comprehensive Legal Analysis of Colorado House Bill 25-1159 and Its Impact on Parents, Attorneys, and Courts

Colorado House Bill 25-1159 (HB 1159), signed into law on May 31, 2025, implements the Colorado Child Support Commission’s recommended updates to the statewide child-support guidelines. The legislation substantially revises the calculation of child support under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 and applies to all new child-support orders and all modifications entered on or after March 1, 2026.

These changes will impact families across Colorado, including those in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Pueblo, Douglas County, Arapahoe County, Teller County, and El Paso County, by introducing new income schedules, a new parenting-time credit formula, and updated low-income adjustments.

This blog provides a detailed, attorney-level analysis of HB 1159 and explains how the new law interacts with existing statutes, including C.R.S. § 14-10-115 (child support guidelines) and C.R.S. § 14-10-122 (modification of support).

1. Overview of HB 25-1159

HB 1159 amends several subsections of Colorado’s primary child-support statute, C.R.S. § 14-10-115, including:

  • Expansion of the guideline income schedule under § 14-10-115(10)

  • Repeal and replacement of the 93-overnight credit rule in § 14-10-115(8)(e)

  • Updated low-income provisions in § 14-10-115(10)(a)–(d)

  • System and software updates funded through state appropriation

The bill modernizes Colorado’s income-shares model and aligns state policy with national child-support trends.

2. Expanded Child-Support Schedule: Income Up to $40,000 Monthly

Before HB 1159, Colorado’s child-support schedule capped at $30,000 combined monthly income. Courts frequently extrapolated beyond the table, creating inconsistent results, especially in high-income areas such as Castle Rock, Douglas County, and Colorado Springs.

HB 1159 increases the schedule to $40,000 combined monthly adjusted gross income, which will be incorporated into § 14-10-115(10) beginning March 1, 2026.

Benefits of the new schedule include:

  • Reduced need for judicial extrapolation

  • More predictable negotiations and mediation outcomes

  • Increased uniformity in high-asset cases

  • More accurate representation of Colorado’s economic landscape

3. New Parenting-Time Credit: Credit for Every Overnight

Under prior law, § 14-10-115(8)(e) gave parenting-time credit only when a parent exercised 93 or more overnights per year. This threshold often produced distorted outcomes because parents who exercised meaningful but sub-threshold time received no reduction.

HB 1159 replaces the 93-overnight rule with a graduated, overnight-based formula that gives credit for every overnight a parent exercises.

Practical outcomes include:

  • More accurate and equitable support calculations

  • Proportional adjustments in 50/50, 60/40, and 70/30 parenting plans

  • Fewer disputes over “threshold manipulation.”

  • Transparent financial modeling for mediation and settlement

This change is expected to significantly alter support outcomes in shared-parenting cases across El Paso County, Douglas County, and Pueblo.

4. Updated Low-Income Adjustments and Minimum Support Obligations

HB 1159 revises the low-income schedule contained in § 14-10-115(10)(a)–(d). Changes include:

  • A minimum support amount for very low-income obligors

  • Adjusted poverty-level thresholds

  • Reduced risk of uncollectible arrears

  • Improved long-term compliance

These provisions reflect federal Title IV-D guidance and Colorado’s commitment to realistic and enforceable support obligations.

5. Effective Date and Application of the New Law

HB 1159 applies to:

  • All initial child-support orders entered on or after March 1, 2026

  • All temporary orders entered on or after March 1, 2026

  • All modification requests filed on or after March 1, 2026

Important: Existing child-support orders will not be automatically recalculated. Modification continues to be governed by § 14-10-122(1)(a), requiring:

  1. A substantial and continuing change in circumstances

  2. A recalculated support amount that differs by at least 10% from the current order

6. Does HB 25-1159 Apply to Divorce or APR Cases Filed Before March 1, 2026?

No. HB 1159 is not retroactive. The key date is not when the case was filed but when the child-support order is entered or modified.

Application rules:

  • Orders entered before March 1, 2026 → old guidelines apply

  • Orders modified on or after March 1, 2026 → new guidelines apply

HB 1159 will apply to many families with preexisting orders once they file modification requests under § 14-10-122.

7. Strategic Considerations for Parents and Attorneys

Parenting-time negotiations: Every overnight now affects support. Attorneys should model multiple overnight scenarios to show how different schedules impact obligations.

High-income households: Families between $30,000 and $40,000 combined income now fall within the standardized statute, reducing contested valuations and expert involvement.

Modification timing: Parents who believe the new law may reduce or increase child support should evaluate whether to file a modification after March 1, 2026.

Mediation strategy: The revised formula provides clearer negotiation anchor points, which may increase settlement efficiency across Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Castle Rock, and surrounding regions.

8. Frequently Asked Questions About HB 25-1159

  1. When does HB 25-1159 take effect?
    March 1, 2026.

  2. Does it apply to cases filed before March 1, 2026?
    No. It applies only to orders entered or modified on or after that date.

  3. Will existing orders be automatically recalculated?
    No. Modification must follow § 14-10-122.

  4. Is the change in law alone enough for modification?
    No. You must show a substantial and continuing change in circumstances.

  5. How does the new parenting-time formula work?
    It provides credit for every overnight, replacing the repealed 93-night rule.

  6. Will this affect 50/50 parenting cases?
    Yes. It generally produces more proportional calculations.

  7. How does the expanded income schedule impact high-income families?
    It standardizes support for incomes up to $40,000 combined monthly income.

  8. Do temporary orders use the new guidelines?
    Yes, if entered on or after March 1, 2026.

  9. What if a decree is entered in February 2026 and modified later?
    Any modification filed after March 1, 2026, uses the new guidelines.

  10. Do medical support and child-care expenses change?
    No. They remain governed by § 14-10-115(11) and related subsections.

  11. How are low-income parents affected?
    Revised minimum support obligations and updated schedules apply.

  12. Will child-support payments increase or decrease?
    It depends on income, overnights, and parenting structure.

  13. How should attorneys guide parenting-time negotiations?
    Use overnight modeling to show how schedules change the support amount.

  14. Can courts still deviate from the guidelines?
    Yes. Judicial discretion remains under § 14-10-115(3)(a).

  15. What should parents do now?
    Run comparison calculations and assess modification timing under § 14-10-122.

Conclusion

Colorado’s HB 25-1159 brings the most significant update to child-support calculations in more than a decade. The expanded income schedule, the new overnight-based parenting-time formula, and the revised low-income provisions will affect thousands of families statewide.

Beginning March 1, 2026, all new and modified support orders must follow the updated law. Parents and attorneys should begin preparing now to model financial impacts, adjust negotiation strategy, and consider modification timing.

Schedule a Confidential Free Initial Consultation

Matthew C. Clawson, Colorado Family Law Attorney, serves clients throughout Colorado, including Colorado Springs, Falcon, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Teller County, Parker, and surrounding Front Range communities.

For more information about a divorce or child support review anywhere in Colorado, contact Matthew C. Clawson. His team will answer questions, evaluate cases, and provide clear guidance on the best course of action based on individual needs.

Matthew has been recognized by Forbes as one of the best attorneys in Colorado. U.S. News & World Report has named Matthew and Clawson & Clawson LLP as one of the Best Law Firms in America. He has also been honored by Colorado Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

Matthew brings extensive experience to every matter, from complex high-net-worth property and custody cases to straightforward child-support modifications. His team understands the Colorado legal system and will help clients navigate each stage with confidence.

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Legal Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content or contacting the author does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case, and Colorado laws may change over time. Consult an attorney for advice tailored to your circumstances. No guarantee is made regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information.

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