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Colorado Child Support Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I got divorced in Colorado and I currently pay child support until they are 19 years of age. They live in Arizona now.

I was told by Arizona CPS that Arizona law takes precedence of Colorado law, if they lived there for 6 months. Arizona law for child support is 18. this this true?

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 23, 2017

You can explore this approach with an AZ lawyer. Be aware that court orders when transferred usually carry with them the existing laws from the original jurisdiction (meaning the support until 19 likely continues even if in AZ it ends at 18). I do not know why you would be contacting CPS. You can... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: My daughter wants to move to Florida with 2 younger children, can she?

She is not married to children's father and he has a rap sheet 3-4 pages long. He is in and out of jail and also drinks a lot. She is struggling to pay her bills, which I have been paying half of them. I live in Florida and she and kids can live with me and she can get another job here. I am... View More

Gregory P. Farrar
Gregory P. Farrar
answered on Feb 22, 2017

I cannot give advise regarding this as it would be dependent upon the laws in the state of Colorado. I suggest you consult with an attorney who practices es family law in that state.

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Support for Colorado on
Q: How is the dollar figure decided for child support ?

What would be taken into consideration to increase child support? I have one child that suffers from mental illness.This was not figured out until a few years after divorce was final. Is this something that would increase child support?

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 22, 2017

Support is calculated by statute. If you look at the child support JDF 1822 form on the Colorado Judiciary webpage you can do your own calculation. The calculation is primarily based on the ability of one or both of the parents to pay support and the number of children. Additional financial needs... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Colorado on
Q: My daughter will be off to college this Sept. As the non-custodial parent, do I have to pay for her tuition and what not

There is nothing in the divorce decree/permanent orders that states anywhere about me paying for any part of her college tuition/room-board. My wife and I have seen online that in the state of Colorado if a divorce happened after July 2007 that the courts can not force a parent(s) to pay for their... View More

Stephen J. Plog
Stephen J. Plog pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Feb 21, 2017

You do not have to pay for college. Your only obligation would be to continue to pay for child support until she turns 19. If your ex-wife files a motion to modify child support based on changed income or parenting time, then you would have to deal with that, but nothing more. Statute actually... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I had a court order starting 2/7/17 When is my first payment? I got a letter saying it's due 2/16/17? I'm freaking out

Someone told me March 7. Someone else told me before the end of February. My case technician won't answer or return my phone calls. and I just received a letter saying the payment was due on the 17th of February. So they only gave me one week to come up with 400 dollars... help.me please

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 19, 2017

Follow the date listed on letter the you received from the court. This should mean 2/17/17. The best advice is to pay the amount as soon as you are able. If you have to wait until the end of the month, one late payment is not catastrophic, but do not make a habit of paying late.

2 Answers | Asked in Child Support for Colorado on
Q: If I feel I have over paid my support order last year, how do i go about getting back the overages?
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 16, 2017

First try contacting your ex about the overpayment. If your ex refuses, you will need to seek a court order to either credit the overpayment for future payments to receive a refund.

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: Am I by law required to respond to my exs lawyers emails?

The parenting time and decision making has been ruled on in my favor. The child support and tax returns are what we have left to work out. His lawyer is rude, nasty and just an awful person (to the point the Magistrate had to intervene and stop her screaming vicious attack while I was on the... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 10, 2017

Yes and no. You are required to maintain a minimum amount of contact as a condition of all court filings (all court motions require notification via VOICE prior to filing). However, you are not required to negotiate with the lawyer beyond mandatory mediation.

Some, less than professional,...
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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I have court orders that I am allowed to file taxes using my daughter as a dependent on even years.

I am in arrears for child support. The mother filed her taxes using our child. She told me I couldn't file because of the past due support. Is that true? What can I do?

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 9, 2017

The issue of claiming a dependent is defined by federal tax law and not state family law directly. This causes a lot of confusion. One area that is clear is that your deadbeat dad status is NOT a factor in claiming a dependent. However, the court order granting you the right to claim a dependent is... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Colorado on
Q: My wife and I recently got APR of her half sister, can we collect child support from the sisters father?
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 8, 2017

It depends on the nature of the case. If your parental responsibility also includes significant periods of the year in which you provide support to the minor and the minor resides at your residence, there is a realistic possibility for support. Situations can be harder to define if either or both... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: If DNA shows I'm not the father , can $10,000 in owes support possible be suspended?

Can I, or is it possibly to get reimbursement from real father. For paid support? If proven to be biological father?

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 3, 2017

If you have been deemed to be the father (even if not biological) by a court, you cannot post-judgment repudiate your parental status. Generally speaking you cannot collect previously paid funds from the real biological father. There are some exceptions, but all require that the non-biological... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Colorado on
Q: Can I file a parenting plan in Colorado without a divorce or separation?

My husband & I are at a crossroads & the counselor suggested I come up with some kind of legally binding agreement regarding the children & household & divorce becomes what happens when its broken. How can I do that? Where would I look?

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 3, 2017

You can have a private agreements, but without a court order there is no means of enforcement. That said, if you both agree on all terms you can file for divorce/legal separation in a non-contested manner (this means significantly lower costs and usually no court appearances).

I assume...
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2 Answers | Asked in Child Support for Colorado on
Q: Can my attorney not issue me a refund if the other party was court ordered to have to pay all legal fees attorney fees.

The judge ordered my ex to have to pay attorney fees and court costs because of illegal doings. However, the original bill was over 18,000 and the judge reduced the bill Because the judge found the fees were inflated. My ex paid the amount with interest in full by the deadline. My attorney will... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 3, 2017

I know it may seem like the last thing that you should be doing, but you really should contact another lawyer. I am not aware of a specific rule for this type of situation, so here are the two basic arguments. For the lawyer, assuming that you agreed to the lawyer's engagement letter, you have... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I stopped seeing my mom when i was 10 on my own accord, but now that im 16 i want to see her again. Can my dad stop me?
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 2, 2017

It really depends on the nature of the custody agreement. If the mother is allowed some parenting time then, she has a right to see you. If she has not parenting time (visitation) either by loss of parental rights or sole custody being awarded to your father, then the answer gets complicated.... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I have been paying child support but it has not been used and sits in the state account. Do I have any options?

Currently live in Texas.

No visitation.

State nor I know where the Mother is.

Payed to state CS registry but has not been touched.

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Feb 2, 2017

You have some choices, but you do not have the option to stop paying support to the state account until you are relieved of the obligation by a court order. Since the state is collecting the money, they will know instantly that you are behind in payments and even if the money is never touched by... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: My 16 year old son has been talking about wanting to be with me full time instead of his mothers.

Current parenting plan is roughly 50/50. If he decides it is healthier mentally to be with his father what legal action must be taken care of other then filing court paperwork for a change in child support

Scott D. Goldman
PREMIUM
Scott D. Goldman
answered on Jan 26, 2017

Unfortunately, while your son is 16, it is not entirely up to him. The Colorado statute on point allows the court to consider his wishes if he is sufficiently mature enough to express an opinion about the parent he wants to live with, but the statute does not state an exact age for a child to be... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I have been on probation for a DV charge since July 2016, classified as battery because I broke my ex's phone.

We are now going through a divorce and custody battle over our 3 children. They were not home at the time I was arrested. Will I lose my kids because of this charge? I have been doing all my classes, paying fines and passed all my UA' s and possibly completing my DV classes early. My kids... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Jan 23, 2017

DV against a spouse charges are not considered in custody determination beyond the following situations:

(1) restraining orders (PO) may require the use of neutral 3rd party locations for child exchanges;

(2) the DV is related to one or all the children (or there is alleged sexual...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Colorado on
Q: I've been paying child support. With a recalc at my x's request it shows she now owes me money, do I have to take it?

I have been paying child support since my separation/divorce several years ago. We have had it revised/reviewed once since then. My x recently requested another review and requested "backpay" for any additional amount it were to go up from what I am currently paying back to when my... View More

Stephen J. Plog
Stephen J. Plog pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jan 19, 2017

In a general sense you do not have to take the child support. However, as most courts feel it is their duty to go by the guidelines, absent a good reason, you will need to come up with a good reason to convince the court to deviate from those guidelines. More information would be helpful to full... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody, Child Support and International Law for Colorado on
Q: What are my options

What can I do?

My husband is in the UAE. We have a house in Florida. Me and our 2 kids have been living in Colorado for almost 2 years. He refuses to pay child support and our kids and I have gone through a major life style adjustment. He said in an email that if agree to his terms, which... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Jan 18, 2017

Family law is exclusively state law. There is limited international enforcement of custody, kidnapping, and other matters, but these are very rarely utilized. You can seek a court order in Colorado which can establish support if you ex ever re-enters the US or is a US citizen/resident. However, if... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Colorado on
Q: I have full custody of my daughter. The father has not seen her for 3 years I have a protection order against him.

If I want to move out of state what do I have to do. I want to change my child's last name to only mine since he has a huge criminal background and my child only knows my last name and has lived with me her whole life 5 years. I do not want my child embarrassed or harrased due to the... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Jan 8, 2017

There are several issues here, so I will discuss them individually.

(1) Leaving the state. All state require that you receive court approval to leave the state (or county) on a permanent basis with the child. While this may result in delays, the Colorado Supreme Court has made it very clear...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Colorado on
Q: What are my rights as primary caregiver of 2 infants during an impending "divorce" (common-law-marriage) from the dad?

The father has been in school & working P/T (he just graduated, so working more hours now) while I've been a stay-at-home mom for our boys, ages 6 mos & 32 mos.

Both names are on the lease for our condo, although he "moves out" for long periods at a time, then just... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Jan 3, 2017

There are many issues here, so I will break these up into sections.

(1) Common law marriage. Colorado does recognize common law marriage, but this a judicial determination. This means that before a divorce (i.e. property division) can occur, the existence of a marriage must be shown. There...
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