Child Support in Colorado vs. Minnesota: What’s Different and Why It Matters
If you’re a parent going through divorce or separation, one of the most pressing questions is how child support will be determined. Each state uses its own formula to calculate what’s fair, and understanding those differences can make a real difference in planning your finances and negotiating an agreement.
At Rogers Family Law Collective, we help parents in both Colorado and Minnesota understand their obligations and rights under each state’s system. While both states aim to prioritize children’s best interests, the way they calculate support, and the flexibility judges have, can look surprisingly different.
Child Support in Colorado
Colorado uses what’s known as the Income Shares Model. The idea is simple: children should receive the same proportion of parental income that they would have enjoyed if their parents were still together.
Under this model, both parents’ monthly gross incomes are combined to determine a total child support amount. That total is then divided between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes. Parenting time (the number of overnights each parent has) also affects the final number. The more shared parenting time, the lower the payments from one parent to the other usually are.
Key Points About Child Support in Colorado
Financial disclosures are mandatory. Both parents must exchange detailed financial information, including income documentation, early in the process.
Parenting time matters. Even modest changes in overnights can affect calculations, so parenting-time schedules and support numbers often go together.
Deviations are possible. While the guidelines are presumptive, courts can deviate where their application would be “inequitable, unjust, or inappropriate.”
The result is designed to balance fairness and predictability, but it’s not uncommon for disputes to arise about what counts as income or whether one parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.
Child Support in Minnesota
Minnesota also uses an income-based formula, but it’s called the Parental Income for Determining Child Support (PICS) system. Like Colorado, it combines both parents’ incomes, but it then divides them into three distinct categories of support:
1. Basic support (day-to-day living expenses)
2. Medical support (health insurance and uninsured medical costs)
3. Childcare support (work- or school-related childcare)
The percentage of parenting time significantly influences the basic support amount. Parents with equal or near-equal time share costs differently than those with a majority-parent arrangement.
Key Points About Child Support in Minnesota
Gross income includes more than just wages. Minnesota counts bonuses, commissions, overtime, and self-employment income when determining a parent’s income for support purposes.
Parenting time directly affects support. Once a parent has at least 10% of annual overnights, the amount owed adjusts according to a graduated scale.
Cost-of-living adjustments are automatic. Most Minnesota child-support orders include built-in increases every two years unless the court decides otherwise.
While the formula itself is rigid, courts retain discretion to deviate when strict application would be unfair or unreasonable.
Major Differences Between the Two States
Even though both states use income-based models, a few key distinctions stand out:
Terminology and structure. Colorado uses “basic child support” tied directly to income, while Minnesota separates support into three categories.
Adjustments over time. Minnesota automatically assumes cost-of-living adjustments; Colorado doesn’t.
Parenting time thresholds. Colorado’s adjustment kicks in once a parent reaches roughly 93 overnights (25% of the year). Minnesota’s starts at a lower threshold of 10%.
Deviation standards. Colorado explicitly lists factors for deviation in its statute; Minnesota courts use broader discretion to ensure fairness.
For families who have connections to both states, e.g., one parent lives in Colorado and the other in Minnesota, it’s especially important to understand which state has jurisdiction, because outcomes can vary significantly.
Final Thoughts
Child support can feel technical, but its purpose is simple: to ensure that children’s needs are met and that both parents share that responsibility fairly. Understanding how your state approaches the calculation helps you make informed decisions and avoid surprises.
If you’re navigating child support in Colorado or Minnesota, we can provide the clarity, guidance, and steady support you need to move forward with confidence.