Colorado’s child support laws are undergoing a major update that will take effect on March 1, 2026. These changes affect how child support is calculated, how parenting time is credited, and whether the familiar Worksheet A and Worksheet B system will continue to apply. Parents who pay or receive child support should understand these changes now, especially if they anticipate a new order or a future modification.
Under the current law, Colorado courts use two separate worksheets. Worksheet A applies when one parent has 92 or fewer overnights per year. Worksheet B applies only when each parent has at least 93 overnights, which qualifies as shared physical care. This structure creates a sharp cutoff. A parent with 92 overnights receives no parenting-time credit, while a parent with 93 overnights suddenly qualifies for a different calculation that can substantially change the child support amount.
Beginning March 1, 2026, Colorado will move to a single, unified child support calculation. The distinction between Worksheet A and Worksheet B will no longer apply to new child support orders or modifications entered after that date. Instead of relying on a hard overnight threshold, the new law uses a graduated parenting-time credit that gives weight to every overnight a parent has with the child.
The elimination of the 93-overnight rule is one of the most significant changes. Under the new system, parenting-time credit increases gradually as overnights increase, rather than turning on or off at a specific number. This means child support calculations will more accurately reflect real parenting schedules and reduce disputes over hitting an arbitrary overnight target.
The updated law also modernizes the financial side of child support. Colorado has revised its low-income adjustments to better protect a parent’s ability to meet basic living expenses while still supporting their child. In addition, the child-support schedule has been expanded to apply to combined parental incomes of up to $40,000 per month, reducing the need for courts to extrapolate or rely heavily on discretion in higher-income cases.
These changes do not automatically affect existing child support orders. The new guidelines apply only to new orders or to modifications entered on or after March 1, 2026. Parents seeking a modification must still demonstrate a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, typically shown by at least a ten-percent difference between the current order and the recalculated amount.
For many families, the 2026 changes are intended to produce fairer and more predictable outcomes. However, the timing of a child support case can significantly affect the result. Parents considering a new order or modification should speak with a Colorado family law attorney to understand how the new law may apply to their situation and to plan accordingly.