Colorado lawmakers have a great deal to ponder over this legislative session, including several measures which may impact child support and related child custody or family law proceedings.
As a family law firm committed to providing insight-driven representation, The Harris Law Firm outlines some of these bills below.
House Bill 1215 (HB19-1215) is one of the hottest and most debated bills before the Colorado legislature right now. The measure stems from recommendations made by the State of Colorado Child Support Commission, which issues a report every four years about its review of state child support guidelines and its recommended changes.
Some of these changes include:
Though there are a number of recommended revisions, the biggest concern for many family law attorneys and parents is the proposed creation of a percentage reduction in child support based on overnights – or the 192 / 193 (Worksheet A vs. Worksheet B) jump.
Our legislatures will be deciding what to do about this huge discrepancy in support from one worksheet to the other. The main issue is that it is forcing parents to fight for more overnights, even when it isn’t in a child’s best interest or isn’t what that parent actually wants, as opposed to the idea that the primary parent needs financial support. As noted by Founding Attorney Rich Harris:
“We at The Harris Law Firm are following this proposed legislation closely. We are concerned about any change in Colorado law which, however, well-intentioned, could cause more, and not less, child custody litigation.”
HB18-1363 concerns the implementation of proposed changes to matters of child support enforcement and child support services, including:
HB19-1125 focuses on eliminating the use of monetary bail for low-level criminal offenders, with exceptions in some rare cases.
It addresses the many issues low-level, and lower income individuals may face when bail in petty or unclassified offense cases is set so low that many bondsmen won’t offer their services. This often leaves an offender on the hook for paying the full amount of bail, or spending days or a week behind bars until their scheduled court date.
Though the measure concerns criminal law, it could have an impact on parents of limited means – for whom spending even just a few days in jail can have life-altering and far-reaching consequences, including an impact on employment and any child custody or child support issues to which they may be a party.
The Harris Law Firm provides value-drive, experienced representation to a diverse clientele in family law cases across the state of Colorado. Our attorneys are intent on staying apprised of the latest legal trends and pending legislative acts, and on ensuring our clients receive the comprehensive and compassionate support they need to navigate their legal journeys effectively.
Have questions about a child support, divorce, or any other family law matter in Colorado? Call (303) 622-5502 or contact us online to speak with an attorney from The Harris Law Firm.