Child Support Attorney in Pueblo

Support For Parents Facing Colorado Child Support

If you are dealing with a child support case in Pueblo, your decisions now can affect your children and your finances for years. Colorado’s guidelines, forms, and court procedures can feel confusing, especially when you are already stressed and trying to protect your family.

At Aviso Law, we help parents understand what child support really means under Colorado law and what options they have. Our family law attorneys have handled more than a thousand cases across Colorado since 2015, and we bring over 50 years of combined legal experience to every matter.

We offer a free initial phone consultation so you can talk through your situation with a member of our team before you decide on your next step. Our goal is to provide clear information, realistic guidance, and a plan that fits your life here in this part of Colorado.

At Aviso Law LLC, we provide the strategic edge you need through our proven success and commitment to breaking the mold of standard legal representation. Call (719) 356-5552 or reach out online now for a free consultation with our Pueblo child support lawyer.

Understanding Child Support Laws in Colorado

Colorado follows the "Income Shares Model," which operates on the philosophy that a child should receive the same proportion of parental income that they would have received if the parents still lived together. However, as of March 2026, the "93-overnight cliff" has been abolished. 

Previously, a parent needed to reach 93 overnights to see a significant reduction in their support obligation. Under the new law, Colorado now uses a graduated parenting-time credit system that acknowledges the costs of raising a child starting from the very first overnight. Additionally, the state has significantly expanded the basic child support schedule. 

Typical items that affect child support include: 

• Work-related childcare costs
• Health insurance premiums for the children
• Certain extraordinary expenses, such as ongoing medical needs

The court that generally hears child support cases from Pueblo County is the district court that serves this area, and that court applies the same Colorado rules used throughout the state.

The guideline calculation is only as accurate as the information that goes into it. That means it is important to identify all sources of income, including wages, self-employment income, bonuses, commissions, and, for service members, military pay and allowances. It also means presenting a clear picture of parenting time, including overnights, regular schedules, and any special arrangements that affect costs.

Key Elements the Petitioner Must Establish

In a child support case, the court doesn't just look at a paycheck. To establish a fair and enforceable order, several critical elements must be accurately presented to a Pueblo County judge:

• Gross Income of Both Parties: This includes wages, tips, bonuses, commissions, and even certain types of government benefits. Determining "actual" income can be contentious, especially for self-employed parents or those with fluctuating commissions.
• Parenting Time Verification: Since every overnight now counts toward a credit in the 2026 formula, accurately documenting the parenting schedule is vital.
• Adjustments for Expenses: The law allows for adjustments based on the cost of health insurance premiums for the child, work-related childcare expenses, and extraordinary medical or educational costs.
• Self-Support Reserve (SSR): For low-income earners, the 2026 law reinforces the "Self-Support Reserve." This ensures that the parent paying support retains enough income to meet their own basic needs based on the current Colorado minimum wage.

A Pueblo child support lawyer from our team will scrutinize the financial disclosures of the other party. We often find that "hidden" income or over-reported expenses can skew the guidelines, and we work to ensure the court sees the true financial picture.

The Colorado Child Support Process in Pueblo County

Navigating the court system in Pueblo requires following specific procedural steps to ensure your order is legally binding.

• Initial Filing: The process begins with a Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities or a Motion for Child Support.
• Financial Disclosures: Both parents are required to file a Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111) and provide supporting documents like tax returns and pay stubs. This is where most cases are won or lost.
• Initial Status Conference (ISC): Shortly after filing, you will likely attend an ISC with a family court facilitator to discuss the issues and set a timeline for the case.
• Mediation: Colorado courts almost always require parents to attempt mediation. This is an opportunity to reach an agreement on the numbers without a judge's intervention.
• Permanent Orders Hearing: If mediation fails, a judge will hear evidence and testimony. Under the 2026 guidelines, the judge will apply the new graduated credits and the expanded income table to issue a final decree.

Penalties for Avoiding Child Support Payments

Failure to adhere to a child support order in Colorado carries severe legal and personal consequences. Because these orders are backed by the full power of the court, the state has numerous tools to ensure compliance:

• Contempt of Court: If a parent willfully fails to pay, they can be found in remedial or punitive contempt. This can lead to fines and, in some cases, jail time.
• Income Assignment: The court can order an immediate wage garnishment, where support is taken directly from a parent’s paycheck before they ever see it.
• License Suspension: The Colorado Division of Child Support Services can trigger the suspension of driver’s licenses, professional licenses (like nursing or law), and even hunting or fishing licenses for those with significant arrears.
• Credit Reporting and Liens: Unpaid child support is reported to credit bureaus, damaging your ability to buy a home or car. The state can also place liens on personal property or seize state and federal tax refunds.

By hiring a child support attorney in Pueblo, you can address issues of non-payment or "ability to pay" before they escalate into these life-disrupting penalties.

Why Pueblo Parents Choose Our Child Support Team

Parents who contact us are usually worried about whether a child support order will be fair and whether the process will make an already tense situation even harder. We take those concerns seriously. Our attorneys focus significantly on Colorado family law, including establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders, so we are familiar with the issues that come up again and again in Pueblo and surrounding communities.

Several of our attorneys have served in the military. For parents connected to Fort Carson, the Colorado Air National Guard, or other branches, child support often involves questions about basic allowance for housing, deployments, promotions, and frequent moves. Because members of our team have lived that reality, we understand how military pay and benefits can affect support calculations and long-term planning.

Since 2015, we have handled more than 1000 cases across our practice areas, and our overall success rate exceeds 90 percent. These numbers reflect a commitment to careful preparation, negotiation, and litigation when necessary, not a promise about any particular outcome. Families choose us because we combine that track record with empathy, realistic advice, attention to detail, and options like virtual consultations and affordable rates.

How A Child Support Lawyer in Pueblo Helps

Many parents wonder whether hiring an attorney is necessary in a child support case, but having a child support lawyer in Pueblo can significantly improve how confidently and clearly your position is presented. From the initial filing through future modifications, we help parents understand Colorado guidelines, review financial documents, and organize income details, including self-employment or fluctuating wages.

When hearings take place in Pueblo County district court, we guide clients through each stage, including status conferences, temporary orders, and final hearings. We focus on presenting evidence and arguments in a clear, respectful manner, addressing concerns about support amounts, parenting time, or alleged nonpayment while ensuring the court fully understands your financial situation.

Because child support orders often change over time, we assist with modifications when income, parenting time, or children’s needs shift. We also handle enforcement actions and defenses against enforcement when circumstances prevent payment. Military families and parents with complex or seasonal income benefit from our experience anticipating deployment issues, business income questions, and other financial complications.

Situations where our attorneys are especially helpful include:

• High conflict cases where parents strongly disagree about income or parenting time
• Matters involving self-employment, commissions, or other variable income sources
• Cases with military pay, allowances, or frequent relocations affecting the family
• Requests to modify an order after a job loss, promotion, or change in schedule
• Enforcement actions for unpaid support or disputes over alleged arrears

In each of these situations, our goal is to reduce uncertainty, protect your relationship with your children, and work toward a support arrangement that is grounded in accurate information.

Talk With Our Child Support Lawyers in Colorado About Your Next Step

Child support issues can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to work through them alone. When you speak with our attorneys, you get straightforward information about Colorado law, insight into how the court that serves Pueblo County usually handles similar cases, and a chance to ask questions specific to your family.

Call (719) 356-5552 or reach out online to schedule your free child support consultation.