When Does Child Support End In Colorado?

Understanding when child support ends in Colorado is important for both paying and receiving parents. While the general rule is that support continues until age 19, there are several exceptions and circumstances that can affect when your obligation terminates.

The General Rule: Age 19

In Colorado, child support typically continues until the child turns 19 years old. This is different from many other states that end support at age 18. The reasoning is that many children are still completing high school or beginning their transition to adulthood at 18.

Important: Child support does not automatically stop when your child turns 19. You must take action to formally terminate the support order, or you may continue to owe (or receive) support payments.

Child Support May End Earlier If:

Colorado law allows child support to end before age 19 under certain circumstances:

• Emancipation: If the child becomes legally emancipated before age 19
• Marriage: If the child gets married
• Military Service: If the child enters active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Death: If the child or the paying parent dies
• High School Graduation Before Age 19: Support may end when a child graduates from high school, even if under 19, unless otherwise specified in your court order

Child Support May Continue Past Age 19 If:

In some situations, child support can extend beyond the child's 19th birthday:

• Still in High School: If the child is still completing high school at age 19, support continues until graduation or age 21, whichever comes first
• Mental or Physical Disability: If a child has a disability that prevents them from supporting themselves, support may continue indefinitely
• Agreement Between Parents: Parents can agree in writing to extend support beyond age 19, such as to help pay for college

Does Colorado Require Support for College?

No. Unlike some states, Colorado courts cannot order parents to pay for college expenses. However, parents can voluntarily agree to contribute to higher education costs, and such agreements can be included in a separation agreement and made enforceable by the court.

How to Terminate Child Support

Child support doesn't end automatically. To stop payments, you generally need to:

• Check Your Court Order: Review your separation agreement or court order to see if it specifies when support ends
• File a Motion: If your order doesn't specify a termination date, you may need to file a Motion to Terminate Child Support with the court
• Contact Child Support Services: If support is being collected through Colorado Child Support Services, notify them when your child reaches the termination age
• Continue Paying Until Officially Terminated: Don't stop payments on your own--this can result in arrears and enforcement actions

What About Back Child Support (Arrears)?

Even after child support ends, any unpaid support (arrears) is still owed. Back child support doesn't go away when the child turns 19. The receiving parent can continue to pursue collection of arrears, and the debt can affect credit, tax refunds, and professional licenses.

Multiple Children

If you have multiple children, support doesn't automatically decrease when one child ages out. You'll need to file a motion to modify your child support order to recalculate the support amount for the remaining children.