⚡ What’s New for 2026? Colorado’s child support guidelines have undergone significant changes under House Bill 25-1159, effective March 1, 2026. This guide reflects the new law, including a restructured calculation process, a new parenting time credit table under § 14-10-115(8)(h), a three-tier low-income adjustment, and a raised guideline cap of $40,000 combined monthly income. Because this updated calculation applies to support obligations starting March 1, 2026, consult the prior guidelines for obligations applicable to months prior to March 2026 or speak with an attorney.
Table of Contents
- Child Support Overview
- The Single Worksheet Model
- Step 1: Determine Adjusted Gross Incomes
- Step 2: Determine Basic Support Obligation & Low-Income Adjustment
- Step 3: Apply Parenting Time Credit
- Step 4: Adjust for Extraordinary Expenses
- Step 5: Calculate the Recommended Support Order
- Low-Income Adjustments (3 Levels)
- Spousal Maintenance Adjustments
- Non-Joint Children Adjustments
- Extraordinary Expenses (8a–8f)
- Using Legal Thunder’s Calculator
- Exporting & Finalizing Your Worksheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Disclaimer
1. Child Support Overview
Child support in Colorado is calculated using a standardized worksheet that determines each parent’s financial obligation based on their incomes, the number of children, overnight parenting time, and various adjustments. The process has been redesigned under the 2026 guidelines into five main steps:
- Determine Adjusted Gross Incomes — Start with each parent’s gross monthly income, adjust for spousal maintenance (alimony) paid and received, and apply the appropriate credits for any non-joint children. Divide each parent’s income by their total combined incomes to determine each parent’s percentage share of income.
- Determine Basic Support Obligation — Look at the schedule set forth in section 14-10-115(7)(b) to find the parties’ combined monthly support obligation based on their combined adjusted gross incomes, as calculated in step 1, and the number of shared children under age 19. Multiply the shared basic support obligation by each party’s percentage share of income. Apply the low-income adjustment, if applicable.
- Apply Parenting Time Credit — Reduce each parent’s share based on overnights using the new § 14-10-115(8)(h) table.
- Adjust for Extraordinary Expenses — Factor in child care, health insurance, medical expenses, and other adjustments under subsections (9), (10), and (11) of the child support statute in section 115.
- Calculate the Recommended Support Order — The parent with the larger total support obligation pays the difference to the other parent.
This guide is intended for anyone calculating child support using Legal Thunder’s software — whether you are a family law attorney, paralegal, mediator, divorce coach, financial professional, or a parent representing yourself.
2. The Single Worksheet Model
Under the 2026 guidelines, Colorado has moved to a single worksheet model that applies to all parenting time arrangements. The old distinction between Worksheet A (sole physical care) and Worksheet B (shared physical care) has been eliminated.
Instead, all calculations use the same worksheet structure. The parenting time credit — based on the new § 14-10-115(8)(h) table — is applied as a percentage reduction to each parent’s share of the basic support obligation, proportional to the overnights each parent exercises.
Key 2026 Changes:
- No more Worksheet A vs. Worksheet B. Before March 1, 2026, if one of the parents had less than 93 overnights in a year, the Worksheet A calculation, which gave no credit for overnights, would apply; if neither parent had less than 93 overnights in a year, the Worksheet B calculation, which made adjustments for overnights, would apply. Now, under the updated guidelines, a single worksheet is used regardless of how many overnights each parent has.
- No more 1.5× multiplier. Before March 1, 2026, the Worksheet B calculation would multiply the parties’ support obligation by one and a half to reflect the increase in child costs for parents sharing the child more often. Now, under the updated guidelines, the increase in child expenses experienced with increased parenting time comes directly from the § 14-10-115(8)(h) table as a percentage credit.
- Parenting time credit applies to all cases. Before March 1, 2026, a parent had to have at least 25% parenting time to receive any credit for direct spending on the children. Now, under the updated guidelines, parents receive at least some credit for expenses paid directly on the children from the first overnight.
- The child support worksheet calculation (JDF format) can be downloaded from the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
3. Step 1: Determine Adjusted Gross Incomes
The first step in calculating child support is determining each party’s monthly gross income and adjusting the income for purposes of calculating support.
Gross Monthly Income (Line 1)
We start with calculating each parent’s gross income — that is, each parent’s income before taxes and deductions. This includes wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, tips, recurring gifts, investment income, and other sources of income listed in § 14-10-115(5)(a).
Converting Income to Monthly
Child support is based on monthly income. If a parent is not paid monthly, their pay must be converted to the monthly amount.
- Weekly Pay: Remember, some months have more than four weeks. Simply multiplying weekly pay by four will not produce an accurate monthly income. Multiply weekly pay by 52 weeks, then divide by 12 months.
- Biweekly (every 2 weeks): Remember, biweekly pay is different than bimonthly pay. If a parent is payed the same weekday every two weeks (e.g., every other Friday), that parent is likely paid biweekly. Some months, a parent can receive three paychecks. Multiply biweekly pay by 26 pay periods, then divide by 12 months.
- Bimonthly (twice per month): If a parent is paid on certain dates each month (e.g., the 8th and 22nd of each month), that parent is likely paid bimonthly — only twice each month, every month. Multiply bimonthly pay by 2.
Adjustments to Gross Income (Lines 1a–1e)
Once gross income is entered, the following adjustments are applied to arrive at each parent’s Adjusted Gross Income (Line 2):
Line 1a — Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Received
Before 2019, Spousal maintenance (alimony) awards were taxable to the recipient and tax deductible by the payor. Spousal maintenance awards initiated since January 1, 2019, are no longer taxable/tax deductible. If one of the parents has to claim the spousal maintenance they receive as income on their tax return (because they started receiving it before 2019), enter the actual amount of spousal maintenance received by that parent in Line 1a, without adjusting it. If the spousal maintenance received by that parent started on or after January 1, 2019, the spousal maintenance they receive is not taxable income to that parent; the spousal maintenance used as income in the child support calculation is adjusted as follows:
- If the spousal maintenance is from a person not of this relationship/case: multiply the amount received in spousal maintenance by 1.25.
- If the spousal maintenance is received from the other parent in this case:
- If both parties’ combined adjusted gross income (after lines 1, 1c, 1d, 1e) is $10,000 or less: multiply by 1.25.
- If both parties’ combined adjusted gross income is more than $10,000: multiply by 1.33.
See C.R.S. § 14-10-115(5)(a)(I.5). The default assumption is that maintenance is not taxable/deductible.
Line 1b — Maintenance Paid
The tax adjustment explained above for Line 1a, applies to the payor of the spousal maintenance (alimony). Before 2019, Spousal maintenance (alimony) awards were taxable to the recipient and tax deductible by the payor. Spousal maintenance awards initiated since January 1, 2019, are no longer taxable/tax deductible.
If one of the parents is able to deduct the spousal maintenance they pay from their income on their tax return (because they were ordered to pay it before 2019), enter the actual amount of spousal maintenance paid by that parent in Line 1b, without adjusting it.
If the spousal maintenance paid by that parent started on or after January 1, 2019, the spousal maintenance they pay is not tax deducible from their income; the amount of spousal maintenance deducted from that party’s income for the child support calculation is adjusted as follows:
- If the spousal maintenance is paid to a person not of this relationship/case: multiply the amount received in spousal maintenance by 1.25.
- If the spousal maintenance is received from the other parent in this case:
- If both parties’ combined adjusted gross income (after lines 1, 1c, 1d, 1e) is $10,000 or less: multiply by 1.25.
- If both parties’ combined adjusted gross income is more than $10,000: multiply by 1.33..
Line 1c — Court-Ordered Child Support for Non-Joint Children
If a party pays child support for another child on a different case and such child support is court ordered, enter the court-ordered amount actually paid per month for children from a different relationship. See § 14-10-115(6)(a)(I).
Line 1d — Non-Joint Children Living with the Party
If one of the parties has one or more children (younger than 19 years old) from a different relationship living with them, enter the number of children (1–6) from a different relationship who live primarily with this parent. Note that the parent receives credit only if they have a legal responsibility to support that child (e.g., step-children do not count unless they were legally adopted by the party to the case).The credit is 75% of the guideline support amount from § 115(7)(b), based on that parent’s income alone (adjusted for maintenance but not for non-joint children). See § 14-10-115(6)(a)(II) & (6)(b).
Line 1e — Documented Payments for Non-Joint Children (No Court Order)
If there is no court order to pay support, but a party pays child support for a child from another relationship and has documentary evidence of such payments, enter the amount of documented money payments made for non-joint children not living with the party, capped at 75% of the guideline amount for that parent’s income. See § 14-10-115(6)(a)(III).
Line 2 — Adjusted Gross Income
For each party: Line 1 − Line 1b + Line 1a − Line 1c − Line 1d (value) − Line 1e
Line 3 — Percentage Share of Income
Each parent’s percentage of the combined adjusted gross income:
- Party 1’s share: Party 1’s Line 2 ÷ (Party 1’s Line 2 + Party 2’s Line 2)
- Party 2’s share: Party 2’s Line 2 ÷ (Party 1’s Line 2 + Party 2’s Line 2)
4. Step 2: Determine Basic Support Obligation & Low-Income Adjustment
Line 4 — Basic Combined Support Obligation
Using the § 14-10-115(7)(b) guideline schedule, find the basic combined support obligation based on the parties’ combined adjusted gross income (Line 2 combined) and the number of children (capped at 6).
Note: If combined adjusted gross income falls between amounts listed in the schedule, the basic combined child support obligation must be interpolated. See § 14-10-115(7)(a)(II)(A).
⚠ 2026 Change — Guideline Cap Raised to $40,000: The guideline schedule now extends to a combined monthly adjusted gross income cap of $40,000 (up from $30,000). See C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(a)(VII).
When the parties’ combined income exceeds $40,000, the highest guideline amount for the number of children subject to the case is the minimum order. The judge may use discretion to determine support above that amount. Legal Thunder’s calculator includes an option to extrapolate beyond the cap to show what the calculation would be if the cap were not applied.
Line 5 — Each Parent’s Proportional Share
Each parent’s share of the basic support obligation:
Line 5 = Line 4 × that parent's Line 3 (Percentage Share)
The payor/obligor’s Line 5 is displayed as the initial “Recommended Support Order,” subject to adjustments in subsequent steps.
5. Step 3: Apply Parenting Time Credit
Line 5a — Overnights with Each Parent
Enter the number of overnights each child spends with each parent per year in Line 5a. If the children have different overnight schedules, average the overnights: add up the overnights each parent has for all children and divide by the number of children.
Line 5b — Parenting Time Credit Percentage (New 8(h) Table)
Under the 2026 guidelines, the parenting time credit is determined by the new § 14-10-115(8)(h) table. Look in this table for the percentage credit corresponding to the number of overnights for each parent, and enter the percentage credit based on this table.
Line 5c — Shared Parenting Time Adjustment
Line 5c = Line 4 (Basic Combined Support Obligation) × that parent's Line 5b (%)
Line 6 — Each Parent’s Obligation Before Expense Adjustment
Line 6 = Line 5 − Line 5c (if negative, set to $0)
6. Low-Income Adjustments (3 Levels)
Colorado’s 2026 guidelines introduce a three-tier low-income adjustment system that replaces the previous approach. The adjustment applies to the obligor (the parent with the higher support obligation).
Self-Support Reserve (2026)
The self-support reserve is calculated as: Colorado minimum wage × 29 × 50 ÷ 12
For 2026, with a state minimum wage of $15.16/hour:$15.16 × 29 × 50 ÷ 12 = $1,832.17 (rounded to nearest cent)
💡 Pro Tip: Legal Thunder’s calculator automatically uses the current calendar year’s minimum wage by default. The minimum wage setting will update to keep up with any changes to the Colorado state minimum wage. You can also manually select any year as needed — prior years and future years, if available — since the law and minimum wage may change over time.
Level 1 — Income ≤ $650/month
If the obligor’s adjusted gross income (Line 2) is $650 or less, the monthly child support payment cannot be higher than $10 — regardless of the number of children. See § 14-10-115(7)(a)(III)(A). If the child support on Line 6 is below $10, the adjustment does not apply, but if the child support on Line 6 is higher than $10, the low income adjustment does apply, and Line 6 is capped at $10.
The total obligation, including adjustments for child care, medical expenses, and other line 8 items, plus the low-income basic support amount, must not exceed $10.
Notation on worksheet: “Adjusted pursuant to C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(a)(III)(A).”
Level 2 — Income > $650 and ≤ Self-Support Reserve
If the obligor’s adjusted income is more than $650 but equal to or less than the self-support reserve ($1,832.17 in 2026), the monthly payment follows a tiered schedule:
| Number of Children | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $50 |
| 2 | $70 |
| 3 | $90 |
| 4 | $110 |
| 5 | $130 |
| 6+ | $150 |
Important: The Level 2 reduced adjustment does not apply if, as a result of shared parenting time (even 1 overnight), the adjustment is greater than the obligor’s presumptive total monthly child support obligation calculated under the guidelines.
The total obligation (basic support + adjustments) must not exceed 10% of the obligor’s adjusted gross income. See § 14-10-115(7)(a)(III)(C).
Notation: “Adjusted pursuant to C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(a)(III)(C).”
Level 3 — Income > Self-Support Reserve
If the obligor’s adjusted income exceeds the self-support reserve, subtract the self-support reserve from the obligor’s adjusted income and multiply by:
| Children | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1 | 80% |
| 2 | 85% |
| 3 | 89% |
| 4 | 92% |
| 5 | 94% |
| 6+ | 95% |
Rules of application:
- If the percentage result is less than what the obligor would pay at Level 2, the Level 2 amount applies.
- If the percentage result is greater than Level 2 but less than the standard calculation (Line 6), the percentage result is the basic support obligation.
- If the obligor’s income is above the self-support reserve but at or below $1,500 (or the 20% threshold applies), the total obligation including adjustments must not exceed 20% of the obligor’s adjusted gross income. See § 14-10-115(7)(a)(IV).
Notation: “Adjusted pursuant to C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(a)(IV).”
7. Step 4: Adjust for Extraordinary Expenses
The following adjustments are allocated between the parties in proportion to their percentage shares of income (Line 3). Each adjustment category tracks which party pays the expense, and the final obligation is adjusted so both parties contribute proportionally.
Line 8a — Work-Related Child Care Costs
Child care costs necessary for a parent to work, find work, or receive education. See § 14-10-115(9).
Federal tax credit adjustment: The statute requires subtraction of federal income tax credits for child care before adding the expense to the worksheet. The applicable credit rate depends on the party’s income and the number of children:
For 1 child (IRS limit: $3,000/year = $250/month):
- If Line 1 is ≤ $1,250: first $250 × 0.65, plus any excess
- Rates increase incrementally from 0.65 to 0.80 as income rises
- If Line 1 ≥ $3,585: first $250 × 0.80, plus any excess
For 2+ children (IRS limit: $6,000/year = $500/month):
- Same rate tiers (0.65 to 0.80), applied to first $500 instead of $250
Line 8b — Education-Related Child Care Costs
Child care costs related to a party’s education or job search. The full amount entered is applied (no federal tax credit subtraction).
Line 8c — Health Insurance Premiums
The children’s portion of health, dental, and vision insurance premiums. See § 14-10-115(10)(c).
If the exact children’s portion is known (e.g., difference between employee-only and employee-plus-dependents cost), enter that amount. Otherwise, use the formula:
Children's portion = (Total monthly premium ÷ Total persons covered) × Number of children subject to the order
You can enter premium costs on a monthly, bimonthly, biweekly, or weekly basis.
Line 8d — Extraordinary Medical Expenses
Consistent and ongoing out-of-pocket medical costs including copayments, deductibles, prescriptions, orthodontia, dental, vision, physical therapy, and mental health treatment. See § 14-10-115(10)(h)(II).
Only predictable, recurring expenses should be included here. One-time expenses should be handled outside the worksheet.
Line 8e — Extraordinary Expenses (Other)
Other consistent, court-ordered or agreed-upon expenses such as private school tuition, activity fees, and similar items. See § 14-10-115(11)(a).
Line 8f — Extraordinary Adjustments / Reduction of Need
Funds received on behalf of a child that reduce the child’s need for support (e.g., child’s income, trust distributions, derivative benefits). See § 14-10-115(11)(b). This is subtracted from the total adjustments.
Line 9 — Total Adjustments
Line 9 = (8a + 8b + 8c + 8d + 8e) − 8f
Line 10 — Each Parent’s Fair Share of Adjustments
Line 10 = (Party 1's Line 9 + Party 2's Line 9) × that parent's Line 3 (%)
Line 11 — Adjustments Paid in Excess of Fair Share
Line 11 = that parent's Line 9 − that parent's Line 10 (if negative, enter $0)
Line 12 — Each Parent’s Adjusted Support Obligation
Line 12 = Line 6 (or Line 7 if low-income adjustment applies) − Line 11
8. Step 5: Calculate the Recommended Support Order
Line 13 — Recommended Child Support Order
The parent with the higher Line 12 (the obligor) owes the difference between the two parties’ Line 12 amounts to the parent with the lower Line 12.
Recommended Order = Higher Line 12 − Lower Line 12
This amount is subject to the applicable low-income caps described in the previous section.
9. Spousal Maintenance Adjustments
Spousal maintenance (alimony) affects the child support calculation because it adjusts each party’s gross income. Legal Thunder’s calculator handles this in the Spousal Maintenance Adjustments section.
Maintenance for This Relationship
- Apply calculated value: Uses the statutory spousal maintenance formula based on the parties’ income information.
- Apply value entered directly: Allows entry of a specific amount — useful for existing orders or scenario testing.
Maintenance for a Different Relationship
If either party pays or receives spousal maintenance for a relationship outside this case, enter the actual amount and indicate whether it is taxable/deductible.
Taxability Default
For orders initiated on or after January 1, 2019, maintenance is not deductible by the payor and not taxable to the recipient. Legal Thunder’s calculators default to this assumption. If the maintenance is taxable/deductible (pre-2019 orders), check the applicable box in the Support Obligation Adjustments section.
Extrapolation Beyond Guidelines
The spousal maintenance guidelines apply to combined incomes up to $20,000/month ($240,000/year). For higher incomes, the statutory formula does not apply, but Legal Thunder offers an option to extrapolate for informational purposes. See C.R.S. § 14-10-114(3.5).
10. Non-Joint Children Adjustments
These adjustments account for a party’s legal obligation to support children from a different relationship. Three categories under § 14-10-115(6)(a):
- Court-ordered child support (Line 1c): Amount actually paid per court order.
- Non-joint children living with the party (Line 1d): Enter the number of children. Credit = 75% of the guideline amount for that parent’s income.
- Documented money payments (Line 1e): For children not covered by a court order. Capped at the guideline amount for that parent’s income.
⚠ Important: You cannot claim both a court-ordered child support deduction (Line 1c) and a documented payments deduction (Line 1e) for the same child. And if a party both has court-ordered support to pay and has the child living with them, only one type of credit applies.
11. Extraordinary Expenses (Lines 8a–8f) — In Detail
Work-Related Child Care (8a) — Tax Credit Formula
The federal child care tax credit is subtracted from the entered amount before it is entered on the worksheet. Legal Thunder’s calculator handles this automatically.
Examples for 1 child (credit limit: $250/month):
- Party income ≤ $1,250: Credit = first $250 × 65% = up to $162.50 credit
- Party income $3,585+: Credit = first $250 × 80% = up to $200 credit
Examples for 2+ children (credit limit: $500/month):
- Party income ≤ $1,250: Credit = first $500 × 65% = up to $325 credit
- Party income $3,585+: Credit = first $500 × 80% = up to $400 credit
Health Insurance Premiums (8c) — Cost Calculation Example
Scenario: A party pays $450/month total for health insurance covering themselves and 4 others (5 total). Three children are subject to the support order.
$450 ÷ 5 people = $90 per person × 3 children = $270 children's portion
Extraordinary Medical Expenses (8d) — Examples
- Recurring: $3,600 orthodontia paid at $100/month for 36 months → appropriate to include.
- One-time: $400 one-time dental treatment → reimbursed outside the worksheet.
- Ongoing: Monthly psychiatric appointment with consistent copay → appropriate to include.
12. Using Legal Thunder’s Calculator
Legal Thunder’s child support calculator streamlines the entire 2026 calculation process. Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Register and Select a Plan
Visit my.legalthunderapps.com/register to create an account. Choose Premium (for individuals representing themselves) or Pro (for legal professionals).
Step 2: Create a Case (Pro Subscribers)
Navigate to your Dashboard, click + New Case, enter a case name, and submit. Premium subscribers can skip this step.
Step 3: Create a Child Support Document
From the Case Dashboard, click + New Document → + Child Support.
Step 4: Enter Your Data
Work through each section in order:
- Children — Number of children subject to the order (capped at 6). An alert will appear if you enter more than 6.
- Overnights — Enter overnights per year. Use the “different schedules” checkbox if children have different overnight counts.
- Monthly Gross Income — Enter each party’s gross monthly income.
- Spousal Maintenance Adjustments — If applicable.
- Non-Joint Children Adjustments — If applicable.
- Support Obligation Adjustments — Enter child care, insurance, medical expenses, and other adjustments.
- Comments — Optional notes for the worksheet.
- Export Settings — Configure case caption, party names, and children’s details.
- Calculation Settings — Document title, extrapolation options.
Step 5: Review and Export
Click SAVE to preserve your work. Click EXPORT to generate a PDF of the completed child support worksheet. If spousal maintenance was calculated, you can also export the spousal support worksheet.
Key Features
- Auto-calculated results update in real-time as you enter data
- Low-income adjustments applied automatically based on 2026 rules
- Interpolation between guideline schedule amounts
- Extrapolation option for incomes above the $40,000 cap
- Federal tax credit automatically subtracted from child care costs
- Statute references displayed for each adjustment category
- Year-selectable minimum wage for self-support reserve calculation
13. Exporting & Finalizing Your Worksheet
Export Settings
Before exporting, configure:
- Party labels — Choose how you want the parties to be labeled on your exported worksheet (Petitioner/Respondent, first names, or custom labels).
- Children’s details — Add each child’s first name, last name, and date of birth.
- Case caption — Ensure your case profile is complete for accurate court information.
Calculation Settings
- Document Title — Helps differentiate multiple calculations in your dashboard.
- Extrapolate child support — Check to apply the guideline formula beyond the $40,000 cap (for informational purposes).
Exporting the PDF
- Click EXPORT to open the export modal.
- Review all details for accuracy.
- Click EXPORT CHILD SUPPORT — the PDF opens in a new tab.
- Download and complete the Prepared By section: sign, print your name, and date.
- If spousal maintenance was calculated, also click EXPORT SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE.
14. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the combined income cap for 2026?
The guideline schedule now extends to $40,000 per month combined adjusted gross income (up from $30,000). When combined income exceeds $40,000, the highest guideline amount is the minimum order, and the judge may exercise discretion. See C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(a)(VII).
How is the self-support reserve calculated?
For 2026: Colorado minimum wage ($15.16) × 29 × 50 ÷ 12 = $1,832.17/month. This is updated annually based on the minimum wage.
What if we have more than 6 children?
Colorado’s guidelines cap at 6 children. If you enter more than 6, the calculator will calculate for up to 6 children only. See C.R.S. § 14-10-115(7)(b).
What happens if combined adjusted gross incomes exceed the guideline cap?
A notification will appear: “Combined adjusted gross incomes exceed the guideline cap.” The word “Minimum” will display next to the guideline cap amount as the Recommended Support Order. You can optionally check “Extrapolate beyond the guideline cap” in Settings to see the uncapped calculation.
How do I handle children with different overnight schedules?
Average the overnights: add the overnights for each child across the year, then divide by the number of children. Legal Thunder’s calculator has a “Children have different overnights” option for this scenario.
Is spousal maintenance taxable or not?
For orders initiated on or after January 1, 2019: maintenance is not taxable to the recipient and not deductible by the payor. For pre-2019 orders, it likely is taxable/deductible. If unsure, consult an attorney or tax professional.
How do I handle split custody?
Split custody situations arose when each parent has at least one child with 273+ overnights and were addressed differently prior to March 1, 2026. For child support obligations starting March 1, 2026, and forward, split custody situations are determined by averaging the total overnights each parent has with the children. For child support obligations prior to March 1, 2026, you’ll need separate calculations for each parenting arrangement, and then you would offset the obligations. See the guide for calculating child support under the prior guidelines for more instructions, and be sure that you are using the guidelines for the correct law. Legal Thunder’s dashboard allows you to create and save multiple calculations within the same case.
Can I change the minimum wage year for the self-support reserve?
Yes. Legal Thunder’s calculator defaults to the current calendar year’s minimum wage and will automatically update to keep up with any changes to the Colorado state minimum wage. You can also manually select any year as needed — including prior years and future years, once the future minimum wage is set by the state — since the law and minimum wage may change over time.
15. Disclaimer
This guide is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice. The information provided in this guide is generalized, and every case is different. If you are not sure whether a particular part of this guide should apply to you as described or not, please check with an attorney or limited license paralegal.
Legal Thunder is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice. The information, instructions, and applications Legal Thunder offers are for informational purposes only and function only at your self-direction. These services are not a substitute for an attorney and do not constitute legal advice about your case. Legal Thunder’s services work best if used in collaboration with an attorney licensed in your state.
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