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When Child Support Ends in Colorado

In Colorado, child support for orders entered on or after July 1, 1997 ends when the last child turns 19, but continues while the child is in high school until the end of the month after graduation; college support is only available by written agreement.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Colorado at a glance

Support ends at
19
Applies to orders entered on or after July 1, 1997. Support for a disabled child can continue past 19.
High school extension
Yes, to the end of the month after graduation
A child who drops out and later reenrolls is entitled to support again until the end of the month after graduation, but not beyond 21.
Court can order college support
No, only by written agreement
For orders from July 1, 1997 on, parents may agree in writing to pay postsecondary expenses. Court-ordered postsecondary support applies only to older orders.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Colorado

At what age does child support end in Colorado?

Support ends at in Colorado: 19. Applies to orders entered on or after July 1, 1997. Support for a disabled child can continue past 19.

Does child support continue in Colorado while a child is still in high school?

High school extension in Colorado: Yes, to the end of the month after graduation. A child who drops out and later reenrolls is entitled to support again until the end of the month after graduation, but not beyond 21.

Can a court in Colorado order a parent to pay support for college?

No, only by written agreement. Court can order college support in Colorado: no, only by written agreement. For orders from July 1, 1997 on, parents may agree in writing to pay postsecondary expenses. Court-ordered postsecondary support applies only to older orders.

Where do the Colorado child support end age laws come from?

The rules above come from Colo. Rev. Stat. 14-10-115(13) and Colo. Rev. Stat. 14-10-115(15). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Support does not always stop on its own. Depending on the state and the order, the paying parent may need to ask the court or the child support agency to end or adjust the order, and past-due support remains owed after the end date.

When there is more than one child on an order, the amount may not drop automatically when the oldest child reaches the end age. Reviewing how the order is written, and whether it lists a separate amount per child, helps show what happens next.

Parents can often agree in a divorce or separation agreement to pay for things the law does not require, such as college costs. A written agreement approved by the court can be enforced like an order, so its wording matters and a local family law attorney can review it.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.