Broomfield Child Support Attorney

Child support issues frequently arise in parents’ lives. Whether you are a divorcing parent, live separately from your child’s other parent, or are a parent in need of a child support modification, the Broomfield child support attorneys at Danielsen Westhoff, PC, can help. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Why Choose Danielsen Westhoff, PC?

Danielsen Westhoff, PC’s, Broomfield child support attorneys represent parents across Jefferson County. We offer clients affordable, quality legal services in all areas of family law including child support, divorce, child custody, parentage, and more.

Let Danielsen Westhoff, PC, guide you through Colorado’s child support calculation process to ensure your payments are a fair and accurate representation of your income and your child’s requirements.

Call (720) 649-4876 or contact Danielsen Westhoff, PC, online at our Broomfield office to schedule your consultation with an experienced child support attorney.

How an Experienced Child Support Attorney Can Help

Colorado’s child support formula calculates monthly support amounts based on parents’ gross monthly incomes and the number of overnights spent with the child as detailed in the parenting plan. It also takes into consideration other routine expenses associated with raising a child, including health insurance and child care.

This may sound easy, but a simple calculation or clerical error could cause either parent a huge problem. Common child support mistakes include:

  • Simple math errors or inputting the wrong number;
  • Failure to properly account for credits related to other children, alimony payments, health insurance, and daycare costs; and
  • Excluding income from all sources (this is broader than the definition of income for tax purposes and can be difficult to calculate for a business owner or day laborer.)

An experienced Broomfield family law attorney, like those at Danielsen Westhoff, PC, can help you avoid these and other missteps. This may keep you from the added expense of repeat trips to court, potential tax implications, and owing support to your co-parent.

Remember to periodically review your child support for important changes such as a child turning 18, a job loss, or significant increases in health insurance expenses. If any of these changes occur, you may qualify for a child support modification.

If you have questions about how child support is calculated in Colorado or would like your calculation performed by a Colorado child support attorney, call Danielsen Westhoff, PC.

Child Support Guidelines in Colorado

Colorado’s child support calculation is determined by statutory guidelines. These guidelines may be found in C.R.S. § 14–10–115.

There are multiple rules governing child support calculations in Colorado divorces and many factors are considered in each support payment. These include the following:

  • The financial resources of the child
  • The financial resources of each parent
  • The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved
  • The physical and emotional condition of the child and his or her educational needs

Colorado’s child support is calculated using the Incomes Shares Model.

The Income Shares Model

There are three significant variables when calculating a monthly support amount in the Income Shares Model. These are:

  • Each of the parents’ Adjusted Gross Income
  • The number of overnights each parent has with the child (or children)
  • The amount of money each parent spends on the child (or children) for expenses associated with child-rearing like healthcare and daycare

The basic child support obligation is meant to cover housing, food, and clothing, but it does not include extraordinary medical expenses and extraordinary adjustments.

Extraordinary medical expenses are added to the basic child support obligation and divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes. The court may order extraordinary expenses related to education and transportation but is not required to do so.

Deviating from the Guidelines

The court can deviate from the statutory guidelines when a guideline calculation would produce an “inequitable, unjust, or inappropriate” amount of support. However, the party seeking a deviation from the guidelines is required to prove a deviation is both “reasonable and necessary.”

Reasons for a deviation from the guidelines may include a parent with an extraordinarily high income or a child with ongoing health or special education needs.

Modification and Termination of Child Support in Colorado

The court will consider a child support modification upon either:

  1. A continuing and substantial change in the financial circumstances of a parent that results in a change of 10% or more in the presumed amount of child support
  2. There are changes to the allocation of parenting time that affect the current order of support

A parent who is paying child support must continue to do so until their child reaches 19 or is emancipated. To find out if you qualify for a child support modification or to end your support obligation, call a Broomfield child support attorney.

Contact an Experienced Broomfield Child Support Attorney Today

Seeking a child support modification can be difficult. Do not leave your future support order to chance – reach out to a professional today.

For questions or concerns about Colorado child support issues, call Danielsen Westhoff, PC, at (720) 649-4876 or send us a message to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable attorney.