How Child Support is Determined in Colorado
If you and your spouse have W-2 earnings only, then child support payments are should be easy to calculate in Colorado. Simply plug in your income, number of children, overnights, and the cost of day care and health care, and the child support formula will give you a number. However, for many people, the process of determining child support is more complex.
At the law firm of Buchholz, McDowell & Norman, our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience of helping families in the Denver-Boulder area reach a fair determination of child support after divorce.
Will You Need a Lawyer's Help?
Whether you will be paying child supports or receiving it, there are several issues that could trigger the need for an attorney's help:
- Gross income: Child support is based on the gross income of each parent. However, determining income can be complex for parents who are self employed or unemployed. People who work on commission or receive bonuses can see their incomes go up and down. It often takes an experienced attorney to sort out the income that is used to determine child support payments.
- Additional expenses: Child support provides a basic amount of support for things like food and shelter. However, there are many types of expenses that are not covered by child support, such as music lessons, extracurricular activities and special needs. A lawyer can help you deal with these other expenses.
- Your taxes: You will not receive a tax deduction for paying child support, nor is it considered income to the recipient. However, your lawyer may be able to help you with obtaining head of household status, which would result in fewer taxes.
- Modifications: Child support is modifiable after divorce if your financial circumstances change.
Schedule a Free Attorney Consultation
To discuss child support with a lawyer at Buchholz, McDowell & Norman, call 303-449-1202 or fill out the contact form on this site. We serve clients in the Denver-Boulder area.
