Colorado updates its child support laws regularly, but the changes that happened in 2025 and will go into effect in 2026 are more than minor adjustments. From how parenting time credits are calculated to how medical expenses are handled, these updates can materially change cash flow for families navigating divorce or post-decree modifications.
As a financial professional who works closely with people during divorce, I see firsthand how child support isn’t just a legal formula. It’s also a monthly budget reality. Understanding these changes now can help you plan more effectively and avoid unpleasant surprises later. In this post, we’ll detail what to expect from these changes. We highly suggest reviewing these changes with your legal counsel to get more information and determine if a modification or previous orders may be something for you to consider.
One of the most significant changes is the elimination of the old 93-overnight threshold. Under the prior system, a parent with 92 overnights received no credit at all, while a parent with 93 overnights suddenly received a meaningful reduction in support. From a financial standpoint, that “all-or-nothing” approach often made little sense.
The new law replaces that cliff with a graduated scale. Parenting time credits now increase gradually based on the actual number of overnights a parent has, starting at zero and building up to a full credit at equal parenting time. This better reflects the real costs parents incur, including food, housing, clothing, transportation, and even when parenting time is limited.
That said, the credit is not one-to-one. A parent with 25% of the overnights does not receive a 25% credit. The system recognizes that the majority parent still carries higher fixed costs, especially related to housing and daily expenses. Financially, this makes the calculation more nuanced and, in some cases, more contentious.
Another notable change affects extraordinary medical expenses. The prior $250 per-child annual threshold has been removed, meaning medical costs are now shared from the first dollar. This simplifies the math but increases the need for communication and reimbursement between parents, even for smaller expenses like co-pays.
The definition of extraordinary medical expenses has also been expanded to clearly include things like therapy, orthodontia, vision care, and medical equipment. At the same time, the statute now clarifies that everyday items like bandages or over-the-counter medications are not included unless they’re medically recommended for a chronic condition.
From a budgeting perspective, this means parents need clearer systems for tracking and documenting expenses and reimbursing one another. Without that structure, small costs can quietly add up, both financially and emotionally.
The child support guidelines now apply to combined monthly incomes up to $40,000, up from $30,000. This brings more families under a predictable framework and reduces the need for discretionary extrapolation by the court.
At the same time, the basic support schedules have been updated, including changes that affect lower-income parents and an overall increase in the combined support obligation shared between parents. For many families, this means recalculating expectations around monthly cash flow sooner rather than later.
Finally, the law now harmonizes child support and spousal maintenance rules around income imputation. If a parent is caring for a child under 24 months, income generally will not be imputed for either calculation. This alignment removes a long-standing inconsistency and makes financial planning more coherent during early childhood years.
These changes apply to new child support orders and future modifications, not automatically to existing orders. But if a modification is on the horizon, these rules will shape the outcome.
From a financial perspective, the takeaway is simple: child support is becoming more detailed, more individualized, and more sensitive to real-world costs. That makes preparation, budgets, cash-flow analysis, and long-term projections more important than ever.
If you’re navigating divorce or considering a modification, understanding how these changes intersect with your financial picture can help you make smarter, more informed decisions for yourself and your children. Contact us to learn more about post-divorce budgeting and how you can be best prepared for these changes.