The Parenting Time Credit in Colorado Child Support
Since March 1, 2026, Colorado credits every overnight a parent has, using a Parenting Time Table from 0% to 100%, instead of the old 92-overnight threshold and 1.5 multiplier. The credit is the basic obligation times the percentage and is deducted from that parent’s share.
Every overnight now counts
House Bill 25-1159, effective March 1, 2026, defines shared physical care as each parent keeping the children for at least one overnight a year, where it used to require more than 92. The old rule multiplied the basic obligation by 1.5 and then offset each parent’s share; the new rule uses a Parenting Time Table that gives each parent a credit percentage for his or her overnights, from 0% for none to 100% for 365 (C.R.S. 14-10-115(8)(b) and (8)(h)).
How the credit works
The parenting time credit is the total basic obligation multiplied by the parent’s credit percentage, and it is deducted from that parent’s share of the basic obligation. The credit table is symmetrical: 182 overnights earn 49.75%, 183 earn 50.25% and 182.5 earn exactly 50%, and the credits for a parent’s overnights and the other parent’s overnights add to 100%.
What changes as overnights rise
Parent A earns $5,500 a month and Parent B $3,000, with two children and no add-on costs. The table shows the guideline payment at different numbers of overnights with Parent A:
| Overnights with Parent A | Parent A’s credit | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0.00% | You pay $1,213 |
| 40 | 3.66% | You pay $1,144 |
| 91 | 12.94% | You pay $970 |
| 92 | 13.19% | You pay $965 |
| 93 | 13.45% | You pay $961 |
| 120 | 21.81% | You pay $804 |
| 146 | 32.32% | You pay $607 |
| 182 | 49.75% | You pay $280 |
| 183 | 50.25% | You pay $271 |
| 220 | 68.12% | Other parent pays $64 |
| 300 | 92.64% | Other parent pays $523 |
| 365 | 100.00% | Other parent pays $661 |
There is no cliff at 92 or 93 overnights: support changes smoothly. When the credit exceeds a parent’s share of the basic obligation, that parent owes nothing before expenses, and the other parent pays.
The cap at no overnights
The amount of child support ordered must not exceed the amount owed by that same parent if the parent had no overnights (C.R.S. 14-10-115(8)(b)). The worksheet applies that cap after the credit and the add-ons.
Different overnights for different children
When two or more children are in the calculation and the parents have a different number of overnights with each, the number of overnights used is the total across the children divided by the number of children.
Questions to bring to an attorney
Ask how the overnights in your parenting plan will be counted, whether your actual schedule differs from the written one, what happens to support if the schedule changes, and whether the cap at no overnights or any low-income rule could apply to your income.
Existing orders
The March 2026 changes do not automatically change an existing order. A modification requires a substantial and continuing change of circumstances, and a change of less than 10% in the amount the guidelines produce is deemed not to be one (C.R.S. 14-10-122(1)(b)). Run the Colorado child support calculator with your overnights to see where you would fall.
Frequently asked questions
How does Colorado count overnights for child support?
Each parent’s overnights must total 365 and are matched to a credit percentage in the Parenting Time Table. When children have different overnight counts, the total is divided by the number of children.
Is the 92-overnight threshold gone in Colorado?
Yes. Since March 1, 2026, shared physical care means at least one overnight a year, and the credit applies from the first overnight.
How much credit does 50/50 parenting time earn in Colorado?
182.5 overnights earns exactly 50%; 182 earns 49.75% and 183 earns 50.25%.
Can the parent with more overnights still receive support in Colorado?
Yes. If the other parent has less income, the credit may exceed that parent’s share, and the higher-income parent pays the difference.
Is there a cap on shared parenting support in Colorado?
Yes. A parent’s obligation cannot exceed what that parent would owe with no overnights.
Official sources
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Colorado statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Colorado attorney.