Regardless of whether you’re in Denver, CO, or New York City, the law requires that all legal parents support their children.
This law still applies even if one of the parents has no legal or physical custody of the child. By law, the parent is still obligated to provide financial support to ensure that the child’s needs are met.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Colorado
Child support obligations are calculated differently in Colorado than in some of the other states. Colorado uses an Income Shares Model to calculate monthly payments. The way it’s calculated is to add up all the money that would be spent on raising the child if the marriage continued.
The total amount is split in a way that corresponds to each parent’s income. Then the amount is assigned to each parent as a duty to pay. To promote fairness, especially if one parent has more tax write-offs, the income that’s used is the adjusted gross income, not the taxable adjusted gross income.
Comprehensive Legal Advice from an Experienced Denver Child Support Attorney
An experienced attorney will know every detail about how the adjusted gross income gets determined. If one parent is concerned that the higher-income parent will underreport income, the Law Offices of Brian S. Popp can help ensure fairness and accuracy.
We believe that every child should receive ample support, both emotionally and financially. We also recognize that the amount paid by each parent should be fair and equitable. If one parent is overpaying, that can cause financial strain, which is unfair to both that parent and the child.
A Child Support Agreement that Provides Financial Stability
As housing costs in Denver continue to rise at a rate that outpaces the rest of the country, a divorce requiring two homes can be incredibly expensive. We understand this struggle, and we approach each child support case with compassion and a goal to find an agreement that all parties can live with.
In most cases, the child support amounts are determined during the divorce proceedings. However, to stay current with your child’s financial needs, your arrangements may need to be re-examined and adjusted from time to time.
Collecting Child Support Arrears
In some cases, one parent may fail to meet their child support obligations. Back-owed child support, also known as child support arrears, can be collected once a judgment has been made about the amount owed. The parent who is owed the child support can demand payment for this amount as a debtor, meaning they can have a lien on property issued, or the debtor’s bank account can be garnished.
Though the process is never pleasant, it is relatively straightforward. We can work with you to file a verified entry of support judgment motion so that you can legally collect the money that is owed to you.
If you need to collect child support arrears or you’re seeking to receive child support for the first time, our dedicated team of attorneys can help. As the custodial parent, we’ll help you understand your rights and work with you to ensure that they’re protected.
To discuss your child support payments or to work with an attorney on your plan, contact the Law Offices of Brian S. Popp for a consultation.