The Colorado Child Support Services (CSS) Program oversees the state’s child support system. Individual child support orders are managed by Colorado’s county child support offices. Boulder County Child Support Services provides supports for custodial and non-custodial parents, with an emphasis on working with paying parents so they can support their children rather than focusing on punitive approaches.
Parentage identifies a person who is a legal parent to a child.
Before establishing a child support order, parentage must be determined. If a child is not born as a result of a legal marriage, it may be necessary to establish parentage in a legal proceeding.
Additional information on parentage establishment is available on the State of Colorado’s Child Support Parentage website.
Child support orders can be reviewed for a potential change at any time. You many request an review and adjustment of your Support Order (also known as a “modification”), where the income and expenses of both parties and the children are reviewed. This request must be submitted to Child Support Services. A hearing can be set with the court if necessary.
If your order was created in another state, the Child Support Services office will request that the other state modify your order. Colorado cannot modify another state’s order.
You can request modification materials from your technician at the Child Support Services office.
Additional information on changing an order is available on the State of Colorado’s Changing an Order website.
Answer: Parentage identifies a person who is a legal parent to a child. Before establishing a child support order, parentage must be determined. If a child is not born as a result of a legal marriage, it may be necessary to establish parentage in a legal proceeding.
Additional information on Parentage establishment is available on the State of Colorado’s Child Support Parentage website.
Answer: If you need help enforcing your child support order but don’t know where the non-custodial party lives, we can try to help locate them. Our office uses a number of tools and resources in attempting to locate a non-custodial parent. For suggestions on locating non-custodial parties go to the State of Colorado’s Child Support Website.
Answer: Completing the application will take approximately 30 minutes. You will also need to gather additional documentation such as birth certificates and Social Security cards for your child or children, copies of court orders, and proof of your income to submit with your application. Once we receive a complete application, we open the case within 20 business days.
Legal processes, such as establishing parentage and/or establishing an order can take several months. If you already have a Support Order we will begin enforcing more quickly.
Please provide complete information both with your application and when requested by your technician so we can help you most effectively.
Answer: An order can be completed by our office in one of two ways:
Administrative Process Action (APA): This is a legal procedure. A worker in our office may host a meeting to complete an order. An agreement made between the parents has the same effect as one ordered in court. It is legally binding on the parties concerned.
Orders obtained by Judicial Action: A judge or magistrate conducts the hearing in court and will decide whether to issue a support order. Both parties will be required to appear before the court and provide proof of their income and expenses.
Colorado Child Support Guidelines are used to determine the amount ordered. The State of Colorado’s Child Support website has detailed information on the guidelines as well as links to the actual worksheets and instructions for using them.
Answer: Yes, child support orders can be reviewed for a potential change at any time. Please see the “How and When to Change a Support Order” tab for additional information.
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Actions we use to enforce payment of a child support obligation include:
Payment collection options include:
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If the non-custodial parent lives in another state and the custodial parent lives in Colorado:
If the non-custodial parent lives in Colorado and the custodial parent lives in another state:
Time frames for an interstate case can be longer because there are two different states involved, not just one. More information regarding interstate child support enforcement can be found at the State of Colorado’s Child Support Interstate Cases website.
Answer: If you have received a payment coupon, checks or money orders should be made out to “Family Support Registry” and mailed to:
Family Support Registry
P.O. Box 2171
Denver, Colorado 80201-2171
If you do not have a payment coupon, put your Family Support Registry (FSR) account number on your check or money order for the payment to be credited correctly. You can find your FSR account number by calling 1-800-374-6558.
Automatic payments can be set-up by requesting a recurring automatic withdrawal by calling 1-800-374-6558.
Your child support payment can also be deducted from your paycheck. To provide your employer information for voluntary wage withholding, call your technician or contact Boulder County Child Support Services at 303-441-1000.
You may also pay your Colorado child support at the kiosk in the West lobby entrance at the Boulder County Longmont HUB (515 Coffman St.) using cash, card, or e-check. At this time, there is no charge to pay with cash or check.
More detailed information about the Family Support Registry and available payment distribution options may be found on the State of Colorado’s Child Support Services Make a Payment website.
Answer: All payments are processed by the Family Support Registry (FSR), a state agency that tracks payments and distributes them to custodial parties.
Payments are sent by direct deposit or placed on an FSR debit card.
More detailed information about the Family Support Registry and available payment distribution options may be found on the State of Colorado’s Child Support Services Receiving Payments website.
