COLORADO
NPO AFFILIATE | CO
STATE CHAIR: Carolyn MacCloud
LEGISLATIVE CHAIR: Ashley Borges
MEDIA DIRECTOR: Michael Hering
WEBSITE: CO Facebook Page
Highlights:
In instances of divorce or separation:
94% of those in Colorado believe it is in the child’s best interest to have as much time as possible with each parent.
94% in Colorado expressed a commitment to vote their beliefs in being “more likely to vote for a candidate who supports children spending equal or nearly equal time with each parent following separation or divorce when both parents are fit and willing to be parents.
80% of those in Colorado indicated they would support a change in Colorado law that awards children as much time as possible with each parent.
80% believe that when there is conflict between parents, awarding sole custody to one parent increases conflict.
90% believe that both parents should have equal rights and responsibilities following divorce or separation.
80% believe that North Carolina should promote shared parenting for all children with separated parents.
2022 Child Support and Shared Parenting Report Card
WHY DID COLORADO RECEIVE A B?
POSITIVES:
Colorado's PTA has an appropriate adjustment to reflect the fixed, duplicated costs involved in shared parenting.
Colorado's PTA appropriately takes into account the effect of the PTA on both parents' households.
Colorado's PTA appropriately results in no presumptive child support transfer payment when parental income and parenting time are both equal.
NEGATIVES:
Colorado's PTA has an unjustifiably high threshold of 93 days.
Colorado's PTA has a significant discontinuity (or discontinuities), creating a significant cliff effect or multiple cliff effects.
Under certain circumstances, Colorado's PTA calculation can inappropriately result in a higher child support award than under sole custody.
2019 NPO Shared Parenting Report Card
WHY DID COLORADO RECEIVE A C?
POSITIVES:
Colorado has a legislative declaration which states “in most circumstances, it is in the best interest of all parties to encourage frequent and continuing contact between each parent and the minor children of the marriage after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage. In order to effectuate this goal when appropriate, the general assembly urges parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child-rearing and to encourage the love, affection, and contact between the children and the parents.” COLO. REV. STAT. § 14-10-124
Colorado requires courts to consider a “friendly parent” factor when allocating parental rights and responsibilities. Courts are to con- sider “[t]he ability of the parties to encourage the sharing of love, affection, and contact between the child and the other party.” COLO. REV. STAT. § 14-10-124
NEGATIVES:
Colorado has no statutory preference for, or presumption of, shared parenting (joint legal custody and shared physical custody) for temporary or final orders.
Colorado statutes do not explicitly provide for shared parenting during temporary orders.
