Source: https://www.frontrangelegalservices.com/resources/selected-statutes/%C2%A7-14-10-115/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 18:16:03+00:00

Document:
(2) Duty of support – factors to consider. (a) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, maintenance, or child support, the court may order either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child of the marriage to pay an amount reasonable or necessary for the child’s support and may order an amount determined to be reasonable under the circumstances for a time period that occurred after the date of the parties’ physical separation or the filing of the petition or service upon the respondent, whichever date is latest, and prior to the entry of the support order, without regard to marital misconduct.
(a) “Adjusted gross income” means gross income, as specified in subsection (5) of this section, less preexisting child support obligations and less alimony or maintenance actually paid by a parent.
(b) “Combined gross income” means the combined monthly adjusted gross incomes of both parents.
(c) “Income” means the actual gross income of a parent, if employed to full capacity, or potential income, if unemployed or underemployed. Gross income of each parent shall be determined according to subsection (5) of this section.
(d) “Number of children due support”, as used in the schedule of basic child support obligations specified in subsection (7) of this section, means children for whom the parents share joint legal responsibility and for whom support is being sought.
(e) “Other children” means children who are not the subject of the child support determination at issue.
(f) “Postsecondary education” includes college and vocational education programs.
(g) “Postsecondary education support” means support for the following expenses associated with attending a college, university, or vocational education program: Tuition, books, and fees.
(h) “Shared physical care”, for the purposes of the child support guidelines and schedule of basic child support obligations specified in this section, and as further specified in paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of this section, means that each parent keeps the children overnight for more than ninety-two overnights each year and that both parents contribute to the expenses of the children in addition to the payment of child support.
(i) “Split physical care”, for the purposes of the child support guidelines and schedule of basic child support obligations specified in this section, and as further specified in paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of this section, means that each parent has physical care of at least one of the children by means of that child or children residing with that parent the majority of the time.
(4) Forms – identifying information. (a) The child support guidelines shall be used with standardized child support guideline forms to be issued by the judicial department. The judicial department is responsible for promulgating and updating the Colorado child support guideline forms, schedules, worksheets, and instructions.
(b) All child support orders entered pursuant to this article shall provide the names and dates of birth of the parties and of the children who are the subject of the order and the parties’ residential and mailing addresses. The social security numbers of the parties and children shall be collected pursuant to section 14-14-113 and section 26-13-127, C.R.S.
(III) (A) For income from self-employment, rent, royalties, proprietorship of a business, or joint ownership of a partnership or closely held corporation, “gross income” equals gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses, as defined in sub-subparagraph (B) of this subparagraph (III), required to produce such income.
(B) “Ordinary and necessary expenses” does not include amounts allowable by the internal revenue service for the accelerated component of depreciation expenses or investment tax credits or any other business expenses determined by the court to be inappropriate for determining gross income for purposes of calculating child support.
(6) Adjustments to gross income. (a) The amount of child support actually paid by a parent with an order for support of other children shall be deducted from that parent’s gross income.
(b) (I) At the time of the initial establishment of a child support order, or in any proceeding to modify a support order, if a parent is also legally responsible for the support of other children for whom the parents do not share joint legal responsibility, an adjustment shall be made revising the parent’s income prior to calculating the basic child support obligation for the children who are the subject of the support order if the children are living in the home of the parent seeking the adjustment or if the children are living out of the home, and the parent seeking the adjustment provides documented proof of money payments of support of those children. The amount shall not exceed the schedule of basic support obligations listed in this section. For a parent with a gross income of one thousand eight hundred fifty dollars or less per month, the adjustment shall be seventy-five percent of the amount calculated using the low-income adjustment described in sub-subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subparagraph (II) of paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of this section based only upon the responsible parent’s income, without any other adjustments for the number of other children for whom the parent is responsible. For a parent with gross income of more than one thousand eight hundred fifty dollars per month, the adjustment shall be seventy-five percent of the amount listed under the schedule of basic support obligations in paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of this section that would represent a support obligation based only upon the responsible parent’s income, without any other adjustments for the number of other children for whom the parent is responsible. The amount calculated as set forth in this subparagraph (I) shall be subtracted from the amount of the parent’s gross income prior to calculating the basic support obligation based upon both parents’ gross income, as provided in subsection (7) of this section.
(II) (A) For combined gross income that falls between amounts shown in the schedule of basic child support obligations, basic child support amounts shall be interpolated. The category entitled “number of children due support” in the schedule of basic child support obligations shall have the meaning defined in subsection (3) of this section.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in sub-subparagraph (D) of this subparagraph (II), in circumstances in which the parents’ combined monthly adjusted gross income is less than eight hundred fifty dollars, a child support payment of fifty dollars per month shall be required of the obligor. The minimum order of fifty dollars shall not apply when each parent keeps the children more than ninety-two overnights each year as defined in paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of this section. In no case, however, shall the amount of child support ordered to be paid exceed the amount of child support that would otherwise be ordered to be paid if the parents did not share physical custody.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in sub-subparagraph (D) of this subparagraph (II), in circumstances in which the parents’ combined monthly adjusted gross income is eight hundred fifty dollars or more, but in which the parent with the least number of overnights per year with the child has a monthly adjusted gross income of less than one thousand eight hundred fifty dollars, the court or delegate child support enforcement unit, pursuant to section 26-13.5-105 (4), C.R.S., shall perform a low-income adjustment calculation of child support as follows: The court or delegate child support enforcement unit shall determine each parent’s monthly adjusted gross income, as that term is defined in subsection (3) of this section. Based upon the parents’ combined monthly adjusted gross incomes, the court or delegate child support enforcement unit shall determine the monthly basic child support obligation, using the schedule of basic child support obligations set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection (7) and shall determine each parent’s presumptive proportionate share of said obligation. The court or delegate child support enforcement unit shall then adjust the income of the parent with the fewest number of overnights per year with the child by subtracting nine hundred dollars from that parent’s monthly adjusted gross income. The court shall multiply the resulting amount by a factor of forty percent. The product of the multiplication shall be added to the following basic minimum child support amount as additional minimum support, unless the product of the multiplication amount is zero or a negative figure, in which case the court shall add zero to the following basic minimum child support amount: Seventy-five dollars for one child; one hundred fifty dollars for two children; two hundred twenty-five dollars for three children; two hundred seventy-five dollars for four children; three hundred twenty-five dollars for five children; and three hundred fifty dollars for six or more children. The court or delegate child support enforcement unit shall compare the product of this addition to the parent’s presumptive proportionate share of the monthly basic support obligation determined previously from the schedule of basic child support obligations. The lesser of the two amounts shall be the basic monthly support obligation to be paid by the low-income parent, as adjusted by the low-income parent’s proportionate share of the work-related and education-related child care costs, health insurance, extraordinary medical expenses, and other extraordinary adjustments as described in subsections (9) to (11) of this section. The low-income adjustment shall not apply when each parent keeps the children more than ninety-two overnights each year as defined in subsection (8) of this section. In no case, however, shall the amount of child support ordered to be paid exceed the amount of child support that would otherwise be ordered to be paid if the parents did not share physical custody.
(D) In any circumstance in which the obligor’s monthly adjusted gross income is less than eight hundred fifty dollars, regardless of the monthly adjusted gross income of the obligee, the obligor shall be ordered to pay fifty dollars per month in child support. The minimum order of fifty dollars shall not apply when each parent keeps the children more than ninety-two overnights each year as defined in subsection (8) of this section. In no case, however, shall the amount of child support ordered to be paid exceed the amount of child support that would otherwise be ordered to be paid if the parents did not share physical custody.
(8) Computation of basic child support – shared physical care – split physical care – stipulations – deviations – basis for periodic updates. (a) Except in cases of shared physical care or split physical care as defined in paragraphs (h) and (i) of subsection (3) of this section, a total child support obligation is determined by adding each parent’s respective basic child support obligation, as determined through the guidelines and schedule of basic child support obligations specified in subsection (7) of this section, work-related net child care costs, extraordinary medical expenses, and extraordinary adjustments to the schedule of basic child support obligations. The parent receiving a child support payment shall be presumed to spend his or her total child support obligation directly on the children. The parent paying child support to the other parent shall owe his or her total child support obligation as child support to the other parent minus any ordered payments included in the calculations made directly on behalf of the children for work-related net child care costs, extraordinary medical expenses, or extraordinary adjustments to the schedule of basic child support obligations.
(b) Because shared physical care presumes that certain basic expenses for the children will be duplicated, an adjustment for shared physical care is made by multiplying the basic child support obligation by one and fifty hundredths (1.50). In cases of shared physical care, each parent’s adjusted basic child support obligation obtained by application of paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of this section shall first be divided between the parents in proportion to their respective adjusted gross incomes. Each parent’s share of the adjusted basic child support obligation shall then be multiplied by the percentage of time the children spend with the other parent to determine the theoretical basic child support obligation owed to the other parent. To these amounts shall be added each parent’s proportionate share of work-related net child care costs, extraordinary medical expenses, and extraordinary adjustments to the schedule of basic child support obligations. The parent owing the greater amount of child support shall owe the difference between the two amounts as a child support order minus any ordered direct payments made on behalf of the children for work-related net child care costs, extraordinary medical expenses, or extraordinary adjustments to the schedule of basic child support obligations. In no case, however, shall the amount of child support ordered to be paid exceed the amount of child support that would otherwise be ordered to be paid if the parents did not share physical custody.
(10) Adjustments for health care expenditures for children. (a) In orders issued pursuant to this section, the court shall also provide for the child’s or children’s current and future medical needs by ordering either parent or both parents to initiate medical or medical and dental insurance coverage for the child or children through currently effective medical or medical and dental insurance policies held by the parent or parents, purchase medical or medical and dental insurance for the child or children, or provide the child or children with current and future medical needs through some other manner. If a parent has been directed to provide insurance pursuant to this section and that parent’s spouse provides the insurance for the benefit of the child or children either directly or through employment, a credit on the child support worksheet shall be given to the parent in the same manner as if the premium were paid by the parent. At the same time, the court shall order payment of medical insurance or medical and dental insurance deductibles and copayments.
(d) After the total child support obligation is calculated and divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes, the amount calculated in paragraph (c) of this subsection (10) shall be deducted from the obligor’s share of the total child support obligation if the obligor is actually paying the premium. If the obligee is actually paying the premium, no further adjustment is necessary.
(g) Where the application of the premium payment on the guidelines and schedule of basic child support obligations results in a child support order of fifty dollars or less or the premium payment is twenty percent or more of the parent’s gross income, the court or delegate child support enforcement unit may elect not to require the parent to include the child or children on an existing policy or to purchase insurance. The parent shall, however, be required to provide insurance when it does become available at a reasonable cost.
(c) In cases where the custodial parent receives periodic disability benefits granted by the federal “Old-age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act” on behalf of dependent children due to the disability of the noncustodial parent or receives employer-paid retirement benefits from the federal government on behalf of dependent children due to the retirement of the noncustodial parent, the noncustodial parent’s share of the total child support obligation as determined pursuant to subsection (8) of this section shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount of the benefits.
(c) If the court finds that it is appropriate for the parents to contribute to the costs of a program of postsecondary education, then the court shall terminate child support and enter an order requiring both parents to contribute a sum determined to be reasonable for the education expenses of the child, taking into account the resources of each parent and the child. In determining the amount of each parent’s contribution to the costs of a program of postsecondary education for a child, the court shall be limited to an amount not to exceed the amount listed under the schedule of basic child support obligations in paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of this section for the number of children receiving postsecondary education. If such an order is entered, the parents shall contribute to the total sum determined by the court in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes as defined in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section. The amount of contribution that each parent is ordered to pay pursuant to this subsection (15) shall be subtracted from the amount of each parent’s gross income, respectively, prior to calculating the basic child support obligation for any remaining children pursuant to subsection (7) of this section.
(e) Either parent or the child may move for an order at any time before the child attains the age of twenty-one years. The order for postsecondary education support may not extend beyond the earlier of the child’s twenty-first birthday or the completion of an undergraduate degree.
(i) If the court orders support pursuant to this subsection (15), the court or delegate child support enforcement unit may also order that the parents provide health insurance for the child or pay medical expenses of the child or both for the duration of the order. The order shall provide that these expenses be paid in proportion to their adjusted gross incomes as defined in subsection (3) of this section. The court or delegate child support enforcement unit shall order a parent to provide health insurance if the child is eligible for coverage as a dependent on that parent’s insurance policy or if health insurance coverage for the child is available at reasonable cost.
(j) An order for postsecondary education expenses entered between July 1, 1991, and July 1, 1997, may be modified pursuant to this subsection (15) to provide for postsecondary education expenses subject to the statutory provisions for determining the amount of a parent’s contribution to the costs of postsecondary education, the limitations on the amount of a parent’s contribution, and the changes to the definition of postsecondary education consistent with this section as it existed on July 1, 1994. An order for child support entered prior to July 1, 1997, that does not provide for postsecondary education expenses shall not be modified pursuant to this subsection (15).
(b) As part of its review, the commission must consider economic data on the cost of raising children and analyze case data on the application of, and deviations from, the guidelines and the schedule of basic child support obligations to be used in the commission’s review to ensure that deviations from the guidelines and schedule of basic child support obligations are limited. In addition, the commission shall review issues identified in the federal “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996”, Public Law 104-193, including out-of-wedlock births and the prevention of teen pregnancy.
(d.5) The terms of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate who are serving on March 22, 2007, shall be extended to and expire on or shall terminate on the convening date of the first regular session of the sixty-seventh general assembly. As soon as practicable after such convening date, the speaker and the president shall each appoint or reappoint one member in the same manner as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection (16). Thereafter, the terms of members appointed or reappointed by the speaker and the president shall expire on the convening date of the first regular session of each general assembly, and all subsequent appointments and reappointments by the speaker and the president shall be made as soon as practicable after such convening date. The person making the original appointment or reappointment shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term. Members appointed or reappointed by the speaker and the president shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall continue in office until the member’s successor is appointed.
History. Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 527, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 46-1-15. L. 85: (2) added, p. 592, § 10, effective July 1. L. 86: (3) to (16) added, p. 718, § 1, effective November 1. L. 87: (3)(b), (5), IP(7)(a), (10)(a), (11), and (12) amended, (7)(b)(II), (15), and (16) repealed, (7)(d), (7)(e), (10)(c), and (17) added, and (8), (9), (13), and (14) R&RE, pp. 587, 588, 600, 591, 589, §§ 5, 7, 38, 9. 6, 8 effective July 10. L. 89: (7)(d.5) added and (17) amended, p. 792, §§ 14, 15, effective July 1. L. 90: (18) added, p. 890, § 10, effective June 7; (7)(a)(I)(A), (7)(c), and (13)(a)(III) amended and (7)(b)(III) added, pp. 564, 890, 889, §§ 35, 10, 9, effective July 1. L. 91: (18)(a) amended, p. 359, § 21, effective April 9; (1.5) added and (7)(b), (13), (14)(b), and (18) amended, p. 234, § 1, effective July 1. L. 92: (17) amended, p. 2171, § 18, effective June 2; (1.5)(b)(I), (2), (3)(a), (3)(b), (7)(a), (7)(e), (8), (10)(a)(II), (10)(c), (14)(c)(I), (18), and (18)(a) amended, (1.5)(d), (13.5), (14.5), and (16.5) added, (7)(e) repealed, and (10)(b) R&RE, pp. 166, 203, 188, 169, 198, 193, §§ 1, 9, 2, 3, effective August 1. L. 93: (1.5)(b)(I) and (3)(b)(III) amended and (1.5)(e) added, pp. 1556, 577, §§ 1, 7, effective July 1; (1.5)(b)(I), (2), and (10)(c) amended and (3.5) and (18)(e) added, pp. 1559, 1560, §§ 7, 8, effective September 1. L. 94: (1.5)(b)(I), (1.5)(e), (7)(a)(I)(A), (7)(b)(III), (7)(d.5)(I), and (18)(e) amended, p. 1536, § 5, effective July 1; (18)(a) amended, p. 2645, § 107, effective July 1. L. 96: IP(1), (2), (3)(a), (3)(b)(II), (7)(a)(I)(A), (7)(a)(I)(C), (7)(b)(I), (10)(a)(II), (11)(a), (12), (13.5), and (16.5) amended, p. 594, § 7, effective July 1. L. 97: (1.5) amended and (1.6) and (1.7) added, p. 565, § 20, effective July 1; (1.5), (3.5), (7)(b), and (18)(a) amended and (1.6) and (1.7) added, pp. 1264, 1312, §§ 8, 49, effective July 1; (5) and (17) amended, p. 561, § 5, effective July 1; (7)(a)(I)(B) amended, p. 1240, § 37, effective July 1. L. 98: (3)(a), (7)(d.5)(I), and (13)(a)(II) amended, p. 768, § 21, effective July 1; (7)(a)(I)(A) amended, p. 921, § 7, effective July 1; (4)(c), (8), (9), (10)(c), and (14) amended, p. 1398, § 42, effective February 1, 1999. L. 99: (3.5) amended, p. 1085, § 2, effective July 1; (7)(a)(I)(A) amended, p. 621, § 15, effective August 4. L. 2000: (18) amended, p. 1709, § 6, effective July 1. L. 2001: (18)(a) amended and (19) added, p. 721, § 4, effective May 31. L. 2002: (10)(a)(II), (10)(b), and (13.5)(h)(II) amended, p. 286, § 1, effective January 1, 2003. L. 2003: (3)(b)(III) amended, p. 1011, § 15, effective July 1; (10)(a)(II)(B), (10)(a)(II)(C), and (10)(a)(II)(D) amended, p. 1264, § 51, effective July 1. L. 2004: (5), (10)(a)(II)(A), (13.5)(h)(II), and (19) amended, p. 385, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2005: (1.6) amended, p. 80, § 1, effective August 8. L. 2006: IP(1.6) amended, p. 516, § 1, effective August 7. L. 2007: Entire section amended with relocated provisions, p. 73, § 1, effective March 16; (16)(d.5) added, p. 178, § 7, effective March 22; (13)(a)(IV), (13)(a)(V), (15)(b)(IV), and (15)(b)(V) added and IP(15)(b) amended, p. 1649, §§ 5, 3, effective May 31; (6)(b)(I) and (10)(a) amended, p. 1651, § 7, effective January 1, 2008. L. 2008: (4)(b) and (5)(b)(I) amended, p. 1347, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2009: (5)(a)(I)(H) amended, (SB 09-282), ch. 288, p. 1397, § 59, effective January 1, 2010.

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