{"id":371914,"date":"2019-07-31T12:14:57","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T17:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/child-support-enforcement-in-colorado.html"},"modified":"2025-05-19T10:11:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T15:11:47","slug":"child-support-enforcement-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/child-support-enforcement-in-colorado.html","title":{"rendered":"Child Support Enforcement in Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Child Support Enforcement in Colorado<\/h1>\n
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\n By Olivia Wathne, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In legal terms, enforcement does not mean that police will forcibly intervene, but it is still a matter to be taken seriously. If you are seeking enforcement of a legal order, or are served with an enforcement notice, it\u2019s essential to understand the child support enforcement process, which can include actions like wage garnishment or bank account seizures through CSS to ensure compliance with the support order.<\/blockquote>\r\n

Colorado judges take child support obligations<\/a>\u2014payments made by one parent to help cover the costs of raising a child\u2014very seriously. <\/p>\r\n

The Colorado Child Support Services (CSS) program provides resources to assist with enforcement when one parent is not paying the full amount of child support or has stopped making payments altogether. <\/p>\r\n

The child support services program can help if a parent, despite good intentions, falls behind or has arrears.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado\u2019s Child Support Enforcement Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Colorado law clearly outlines the penalties and actions that may be taken if one or both parties fail to follow a child support order. For more details on these laws and what to expect in a child support enforcement case, visit the CSS website<\/a>. The table below outlines the relevant laws and what you can expect in a child support enforcement<\/a> case:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

The Enforcement Process<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Not paying child support will start a legal enforcement process that Child Support Services of Colorado will follow. They can act with or without court involvement. Actions may include:<\/p>\r\n

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  1. Child Support Services will make a judgment on the case to determine how you pay back the money;<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  2. Contempt of court charges may be filed if you resist the process (Section 14-14-110<\/a>);<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  3. The courts can claim up to 65 percent of your paycheck, tax returns, unemployment, workers\u2019 compensation, or lottery winnings to cover your child support debt;<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  4. A lien, or legal hold, can be placed on your home, car, or personal property;<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  5. Local debt collectors and credit bureaus will be notified of your debt; and<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  6. You can be arrested in any state and brought to Colorado court.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Penalties for Contempt of Court Charges<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

The court decides your penalties for not paying child support. Penalties can vary depending on the judge’s view of the amount unpaid, how overdue the payment is, and other factors. You could be facing:<\/p>\r\n