How Parenting Time Changes Affect Child Support in Colorado

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How Parenting Time and Child Support Are Connected

In Colorado, the parenting schedule and the child support calculation are mechanically linked. Under the child support guidelines at C.R.S. § 14-10-115, each parent’s number of overnights per year is entered into the Parenting Time Table at subsection (8)(h). The table assigns each parent a graduated credit percentage — more overnights produce a higher credit, which reduces that parent’s net support obligation.

This means that when the parenting schedule changes, the overnight count changes, and the child support number changes with it. A parent who goes from 85 overnights to 121 overnights receives a higher Parenting Time Table credit. The difference can be substantial — not because of any single threshold, but because the credit is graduated across the full range of overnights.

For existing orders entered before March 1, 2026, the connection was even sharper. Under the old law, the 93-overnight mark was a binary threshold: below 93, the non-primary parent received zero overnight credit; at 93 or above, the calculation switched to a completely different formula with a 1.5x multiplier. That cliff is gone under HB 25-1159, but the general principle remains — changing overnights changes support.

The connection runs in both directions. A parent who gains overnights sees their credit increase (reducing their obligation or increasing what the other parent owes). A parent who loses overnights sees their credit decrease. And because the recalculation uses both parents’ current incomes — not the incomes from the original order — the financial picture can shift in ways that aren’t obvious from the overnight change alone.

The JDF 1406 Cross-Modification Checkbox

JDF 1406 (Motion to Modify Parenting Time) includes a checkbox near the bottom of the form: “Check only if applicable. Due to this request to modify parenting time, I request that child support also be modified.”

This checkbox is the procedural bridge between a parenting time modification and a child support recalculation. Checking it tells the court that you are requesting both modifications in the same proceeding. Leaving it unchecked means the filing addresses parenting time only — the existing child support order stays in place regardless of the new schedule.

The JDF 1406i instruction sheet mentions this checkbox but does not explain what happens procedurally when it’s checked or what additional forms are required. The instruction sheet says: “Consider if your request to change will modify child support. See JDF 1403i for more info.”

Whether to check the box is a decision for the filing party. The form does not advise one way or the other, and neither does this post.

What Requesting Recalculation Adds to the Filing

If the cross-modification checkbox is checked, the parenting time filing expands to include a full child support modification. The additional requirements are:

Both parents must complete JDF 1111 (Sworn Financial Statement), which requires disclosure of all income, expenses, assets, and debts. JDF 1111 must be notarized. Both parties must also file JDF 1104 (Certificate of Compliance), and a completed JDF 1821 (the unified child support worksheet) must be prepared using both parents’ current incomes and the proposed overnight count.

Without the checkbox, none of these financial forms are required. A parenting-time-only filing involves JDF 1406, JDF 1113 (Parenting Plan), and JDF 1424 (Order). Checking the box adds the financial disclosure layer.

The filing fee does not change — it’s still $105 for the modification motion plus $12 for e-filing through Colorado Courts E-Filing (CCE). But the preparation time, the amount of financial documentation, and the scope of the hearing all increase.

For a walkthrough of how the child support modification process works, see the step-by-step child support modification guide.

Considerations When Deciding Whether to Request Recalculation

This decision depends on the specific financial and scheduling facts involved. Here are the factors that are relevant to the decision, presented without recommendation:

Requesting recalculation alongside the parenting time change:

• Ensures the support order reflects the actual parenting arrangement going forward
• Addresses both modifications in one proceeding, which may consolidate court appearances
• Uses both parents’ current incomes — if incomes have changed since the original order, the recalculation reflects that
• May result in a higher or lower child support amount than the current order, depending on the specific numbers

Not requesting recalculation:

• The current child support order remains unchanged
• The filing involves fewer forms and no financial disclosure
• The other parent cannot request recalculation through the same proceeding (though they can file a separate motion)
• If the parenting schedule changes significantly, the support order may not reflect the actual arrangement

What the other parent can do regardless:

• Either parent can file a separate motion to modify child support at any time if the recalculated amount would differ from the current order by at least 10% under C.R.S. § 14-10-122
• The court may, in some circumstances, address child support on its own when parenting time changes are before it — even if the checkbox was not checked

The interaction between overnights, incomes, and the Parenting Time Table credit means the financial outcome of a recalculation is not always intuitive. A parent who gains overnights may expect their support obligation to decrease — but if their income has also increased substantially since the original order, the recalculation could produce a different result. The only way to know is to run the calculation with current numbers.

FAQ — Parenting Time and Child Support

Does changing the parenting schedule automatically change child support?

No. Child support does not adjust automatically when the parenting schedule changes. A separate modification must be filed — either through the cross-modification checkbox on JDF 1406 or through a standalone motion (JDF 1403). The existing support order remains in effect until the court enters a new one.

What is the Parenting Time Table?

Under C.R.S. § 14-10-115(8)(h), the Parenting Time Table converts each parent’s annual overnight count into a graduated credit percentage. The credit is applied to each parent’s allocated share of the basic child support obligation. More overnights produce a larger credit. There is no minimum threshold to qualify — the credit begins from the first overnight.

Can the other parent request child support recalculation if I don’t check the box?

Yes. Either parent can file a separate motion to modify child support under C.R.S. § 14-10-122 at any time, as long as the recalculated amount differs from the current order by at least 10%.

Does the new schedule or the proposed schedule go on the worksheet?

The child support worksheet uses the court-ordered parenting schedule, not a proposed one. If the court grants the modification, the new schedule’s overnight count is used for the recalculation.

Are both parents’ current incomes used?

Yes. Any child support recalculation uses both parents’ current incomes as of the date of the filing — not the incomes from the original order. If either parent’s income has changed, that change is reflected in the new calculation.

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Parenting time and child support are connected through the overnight count and the Parenting Time Table — changing one can change the other. For the full picture of how parenting time modifications work, see How to Modify Parenting Time in Colorado. The Colorado Judicial Branch’s self-help page for changing court orders is at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/change-court-orders.