CO Code § 26-13-121 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 26 - Human Services Code|Article 13 - Child Support Enforcement Act|§ 26-13-121. Review and Modification of Child Support Orders

     The general assembly finds that review of child support orders is required in order for this state to comply with the federal “Family Support Act of 1988”, the federal “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996”, and the federal “Deficit Reduction Act of 2005”.    The delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide the obligor and obligee not less than once every thirty-six months notice of their right to request a review of a child support order. The notice may be included in the support order.    Either party to a case in which services are being provided pursuant to section 26-13-106 may submit a written request for review of the current child support order. The request shall include the financial information from the requesting party necessary to conduct a calculation pursuant to the Colorado child support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. The requesting party shall provide his or her financial information on the form required by the division of child support enforcement.    The delegate child support enforcement unit may initiate a review of a current child support order upon its own request.       The delegate child support enforcement unit shall review each request received from a party and:   If it has been thirty-six months or more since the last review of the current child support order, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall grant the request for review; or    If it has been fewer than thirty-six months since the last review of the current child support order, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall grant the request for review if the requesting party provides a reason for review that could result in a change to the monthly support obligation based upon the application of the Colorado child support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. If the reason for review arises from the circumstances of the requesting party, supporting documentation or a demonstration that there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances warranting a review of the child support amount shall be included with the request. The delegate child support enforcement unit shall assess and consider the information provided to determine whether a review is warranted and should be conducted. If a request is denied pursuant to this paragraph (b), the delegate child support enforcement unit shall notify the requesting party in writing that the denial does not limit the party's right to seek modification of a child support order pursuant to section 14-10-122, C.R.S. (2.5) If there is an active assignment of rights, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall review the child support order once every thirty-six months to determine if an adjustment of the child support order is appropriate.         If the delegate child support enforcement unit grants the request for review, it shall issue a notice of review to the parties. In the case of an automatic review in which there is an active assignment of rights, both parties shall be considered nonrequesters. The notice of review shall advise the parties that a review is to be conducted and allow the nonrequesters twenty days from the date of the notice to provide the financial information necessary to calculate the child support obligation pursuant to section 14-10-115, C.R.S. If the child support order is an administrative order established pursuant to article 13.5 of this title, the review shall be conducted pursuant to section 26-13.5-112.    The review of the child support order shall be conducted on or before the thirtieth day after notice of review is sent to the parties. The review may be conducted in person at the delegate child support enforcement office or via United States mail or via an electronic communication method. The delegate child support enforcement unit may grant a continuance of the review for good cause. The continuance shall be for a reasonable period of time to be determined by the delegate child support enforcement unit, not to exceed thirty days. During the review, the determination of the monthly support obligation shall be based on the child support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. To obtain information necessary to conduct the review, the delegate child support enforcement unit is authorized to serve, by first-class mail or by electronic means if mutually agreed upon, an administrative subpoena to any person, corporation, partnership, or other entity, public employee retirement benefit plan, financial institution, or labor union for an appearance or for the production of records and financial documents.    An adjustment to the order shall be appropriate only if the standard set forth in section 14-10-122 (1)(b), C.R.S., is met.    (Deleted by amendment,L. 2002, p. 25, § 5, effective January 1, 2003.)         After the review is completed, the child support enforcement unit shall provide a post-review notice advising the obligor and obligee of the review results. The review results shall include a child support guideline worksheet. If the review indicates that an adjustment to the current monthly support obligation should be made, a proposed order shall also be included. The delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide all supporting financial documentation used to calculate the monthly support obligation to both parties. The review results shall also contain an advisement to the parties of the right to challenge the proposed order, the time frame in which to assert the challenge, and the method for doing so.    The obligor and obligee shall be given fifteen days from the date of the post-review notice to challenge the review results. The grounds for the challenge shall be limited to the issue of mathematical or factual error in the calculation of the monthly support obligation. The delegate child support enforcement unit may grant an extension of up to fifteen days to challenge the review results based upon a showing of good cause.  (b.5) The delegate child support enforcement unit shall have fifteen days from the date of receipt of the challenge to respond to a challenge based upon a mathematical or factual error. If a challenge results in a change to the monthly support obligation, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide an amended notice of review to the obligor and obligee. The obligor and obligee shall be given fifteen days from the date of the amended notice of review to challenge the results of any subsequent review. The grounds for the challenge shall be limited to the issue of mathematical or factual error in calculation of the monthly support obligation.     (Deleted by amendment,L. 2007, p. 1654, § 15, effective July 1, 2008.)           If the review indicates that a change to the monthly support obligation is appropriate and the review is not challenged or all challenges have been addressed, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall file a motion to modify with the court. A copy of the motion shall be provided by the delegate child support enforcement unit to the obligor and obligee and shall contain an advisement that the obligor and obligee may file a written response with the court setting forth any objections to the motion to modify. (a) (I)If the review indicates that a change to the monthly support obligation is appropriate and the review is not challenged or all challenges have been addressed, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall file a motion to modify with the court. A copy of the motion shall be provided by the delegate child support enforcement unit to the obligor and obligee and shall contain an advisement that the obligor and obligee may file a written response with the court setting forth any objections to the motion to modify.    If a motion to modify is filed with the court, the court may enter an order granting the motion, issue a revised order, or set a hearing. Regardless of whether the order has been approved by the obligor and obligee, the court may grant the motion to modify.       If a hearing is necessary, the court shall hold a hearing within forty-five days after service of the motion to modify, and the court shall decide only the issues of child support and medical support. Any documentary evidence provided by the obligee or the obligor or by the delegate child support enforcement unit may be admitted into evidence by the court without the necessity of laying a foundation for its admissibility, and the court may determine the relative weight or credibility to give any such documentation.  (5.3) If income information is not available for the obligor, the delegate child support enforcement unit may file a motion to modify child support with the court.  (5.7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a delegate child support enforcement unit's right to file a motion to modify with the court pursuant to section 14-10-122 , C.R.S.       The state board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing standardized forms and procedures as necessary to implement the provisions of this article.    This article shall apply to all orders for support of a child for whom child support enforcement services are being provided.    Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any party's right to seek modification of a child support order pursuant to article 5 of title 14, section 14-10-122, section 19-4-119, or section 19-6-104 (4), C.R.S.     History. Source: L. 90: Entire section added, p. 893, § 18, effective July 1. L. 91: (5)(b) amended, p. 257, § 21, effective July 1. L. 92: (1), (3), and (9) amended, p. 212, § 16, effective August 1. L. 93: (8) amended, p. 1607, § 13, effective January 1, 1995. L. 97: Entire section R&RE, p. 1295, § 40, effective July 1. L. 2002: (2), (3)(a), (3)(c), (3)(d), and (4)(b) amended, p. 25, § 5, effective January 1, 2003. L. 2007: (2.5) added, p. 1654, § 14, effective October 1; (1), (2), (3)(a), (3)(b), (4), and (5)(a) amended and (5.3) and (5.7) added, p. 1654, § 15, effective July 1, 2008. L. 2021: (5.3) amended,(HB 21-1220), ch. 212, p. 1129, § 6, effective July 1.    Cross references:   For the legislative declaration contained in the 1997 act amending this section, see section 1 of chapter 236, Session Laws of Colorado 1997.