(1) The
judgment or order of the court determining the existence or nonexistence of the
parent and child relationship is determinative for all purposes.
(2) If the judgment or order of the court is at variance with the child's birth
certificate or if the court enters a judgment or order determining the existence of a
parent and child relationship during the course of a proceeding held pursuant to
article 3 of this title, the court shall order that a new birth certificate be issued
under section 19-4-124.
(3) (a) The judgment or order may contain any other provision directed
against the appropriate party to the proceeding concerning the duty of support, the
recovery of child support debt pursuant to section 14-14-104, C.R.S., the allocation
of parental responsibilities with respect to the child and guardianship of the child,
parenting time privileges with the child, the furnishing of bond or other security for
the payment of the judgment, or any other matter in the best interest of the child.
The judgment or order may direct the father to pay for genetic testing and to pay
the reasonable expenses of the mother's pregnancy and confinement.
(b) Repealed.
(c) Bills for pregnancy, childbirth expenses, and genetic testing are
admissible as evidence without the necessity of third-party foundation testimony
and shall constitute prima facie evidence of the amounts incurred for such services
or for expenses incurred on behalf of the child.
(4) Support judgments or orders ordinarily must be for periodic payments,
which may vary in amount. In the best interest of the child, a lump-sum payment or
the purchase of an annuity may be ordered in lieu of periodic payments of support.
The court or delegate child support enforcement unit may enter an order directing
the obligor to pay for support of the child, in an amount as may be determined by
the court or delegate child support enforcement unit to be reasonable under the
circumstances, for a time period that occurred prior to the month the child support
obligation begins. The court may limit the obligor's liability for past support of the
child to the proportion of the expenses already incurred that the court deems just.
(5) The judgment or order may include a provision requiring that the
respondent initiate inclusion of the child under a medical insurance policy currently
in effect for the benefit of the respondent, purchase medical insurance for the
child, or in some other manner provide for the current or future medical needs of
the child. At the same time, the court may make a determination of whose
responsibility it shall be to pay required medical insurance deductibles and
copayments. If the judgment or order does not contain a provision regarding
medical support, such as insurance coverage, payment for medical insurance
deductibles and copayments, or unreimbursed medical expenses, that fact may be
grounds for a modification of the order under section 14-10-122, C.R.S.
(6) [ Editor's note: This version of the introductory portion to subsection (6) is
effective until February 1, 2026. ] In determining the amount to be paid by a parent
for support of the child and the period during which the duty of support is owed, a
court enforcing the obligation of support shall consider all relevant facts, including:
(6) [ Editor's note: This version of the introductory portion to subsection (6) is
effective February 1, 2026. ] The court or delegate child support enforcement unit
has the discretion to enter an order directing the obligor to pay a reasonable
amount of retroactive child support for a time period that occurred prior to the
month the child support obligation begins. In determining the amount of retroactive
child support, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:
(a) The needs of the child;
(b) The standard of living and circumstances of the parents;
(c) The relative financial means of the parents;
(d) The earning ability of the parents;
(e) (I) The need and capacity of the child for education, including higher
education;
(II) This subsection (6)(e) is repealed, effective February 1, 2026.
(f) The age of the child;
(g) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (6)(g) is effective until February
1, 2026. ] The financial resources and the earning ability of the child;
(g) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (6)(g) is effective February 1,
2026. ] The financial resources of the child;
(h) The responsibility of the parents for the support of others;
(i) The value of services contributed by the parent with whom the child
resides the majority of the time;
(j) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (6)(j) is effective until February 1,
2026. ] The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents been
married; and
(j) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (6)(j) is effective February 1,
2026. ] The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents been an
intact family;
(k) The child support guidelines, as set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S;
(l) [ Editor's note: Subsection (6)(l) is effective February 1, 2026. ] The ability
of the obligor to pay court-ordered current child support in addition to a potential
judgment for retroactive child support;
(m) [ Editor's note: Subsection (6)(m) is effective February 1, 2026. ] Efforts
the parents have made to contact each other and communicate the needs of the
child, including requests for financial support;
(n) [ Editor's note: Subsection (6)(n) is effective February 1, 2026. ] Any
evidence regarding a parent's attempt to avoid service;
(o) [ Editor's note: Subsection (6)(o) is effective February 1, 2026. ] Support
provided by the obligor, including, but not limited to, money, supplies, food,
clothing, and gifts;
(p) [ Editor's note: Subsection (6)(p) is effective February 1, 2026. ] Evidence
of efforts to restrict access to the child from the other parent; and
(q) [ Editor's note: Subsection (6)(q) is effective February 1, 2026. ] Evidence
that the parents had a financial agreement during the retroactive time period.
(7) Any order of support made pursuant to subsections (4) to (6) of this
section shall continue until the child is nineteen years of age, unless the support
order is terminated sooner by court order.
(8) The court may order support to be continued after the child is nineteen
years of age if the child is unable to care for himself or herself by reason of mental
or physical disability or other reason justifiable in the opinion of the court.
(9) All child support orders entered pursuant to this article shall include the
names and dates of birth of the parties and of the children who are the subject of
the order and the parties' residential and mailing addresses. The social security
numbers of the parties and children shall be collected pursuant to sections 14-14-113 and 26-13-127, C.R.S.