Child custody and support in Colorado
Custody and child support in a Colorado divorce: the legal term for custody, the parenting class, the official support calculator, custody mediation and the child support agency.
Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026
Quick answer
In Colorado, custody is called “allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)”. Parenting class: The court may order parents of children under 18 to attend a parenting education program (C.R.S. 14-10-123.7). Colorado publishes an official child support calculator or guidelines.
- Custody term
- Allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)
- Parenting class
- Depends on the court
- Child support calculator
- Official child support calculator or guidelines
- Child support agency
- Colorado Division of Child Support Services
Custody terms in Colorado
Allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)
Mediation
If parents can't agree on a parenting plan, the court may order mediation; many districts require mediation before a contested hearing. Ask your family court facilitator: coloradojudicial.gov: Family court facilitator contacts
Parenting class in Colorado
- The court may order parents of children under 18 to attend a parenting education program (C.R.S. 14-10-123.7).
- Many judicial districts require it; check your district's rules or ask the family court facilitator.
Child support in Colorado
Child support follows Colorado's guidelines. Estimate it with the official calculator, and contact the state's child support agency for help setting up or collecting it.
Good to know
Colorado uses the term 'allocation of parental responsibilities' instead of custody.
Children in a Colorado divorce: what the process includes
Custody
The court's orders use Colorado's term for custody: allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time).
Parenting class
Take the parenting class described above if Colorado requires it in your case.
Mediation
If the court sends you to mediation, go to every session; the rule is above.
Child support
Estimate it first: the official calculator
The child support agency
For help setting up or collecting support, contact the state's child support agency.
Questions about custody and child support in Colorado
What is child custody called in Colorado?
Colorado uses the term “allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)”.
Do parents have to take a class in a Colorado divorce?
The court may order parents of children under 18 to attend a parenting education program (C.R.S. 14-10-123.7). Many judicial districts require it; check your district's rules or ask the family court facilitator.
Is there an official child support calculator for Colorado?
Yes. Colorado's official calculator or guidelines: the official calculator
Which agency handles child support in Colorado?
Is mediation required for custody in Colorado?
If parents can't agree on a parenting plan, the court may order mediation; many districts require mediation before a contested hearing. Ask your family court facilitator: coloradojudicial.gov: Family court facilitator contacts
More about divorce in Colorado
- All Colorado divorce laws
- Uncontested divorce in Colorado
- Colorado divorce forms and filing fees
- Alimony in Colorado
- Serving divorce papers in Colorado
- Divorce timeline estimator for Colorado
- Divorce checklist for Colorado
- How to file for divorce without a lawyer
- Served with divorce papers: what to do
Custody and support in nearby states
Sources
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.