Boulder County Child Support Enforcement Unit

Establishing a Child Support Order

If a person does not already receive support, the custodial party can have the CSEU establish a child support order in one of two ways.

• Administrative Process Action (APA) - - The County can sometimes establish support orders without going to court. Boulder County has arrangements for establishing the support order by an administrative process, which is an expedited legal procedure. An administrative hearings officer in our agency may conduct the order establishment. An agreement made between the parents, based on the appropriate child support guidelines and approved by our child support office, has the same effect as one established in court. It is legally binding on the parties concerned. 

• Orders obtained by Judicial Action - - A child support hearing occurs when a party disputes a proposed action by the county or directly petitions the court for a hearing.  A judge or magistrate conducts the hearing in court and will decide whether to issue a support order.  Both parties will be required to appear before the court and provide proof of their income and expenses.

To determine the amount of support a parent is required to pay, the CSEU or the court will follow the Colorado Child Support Guidelines. Both parents must provide verification of their incomes for the past six months or provide their most recent income tax returns.  The State Child Support website has detailed information on the Colorado Child Support Guidelines as well as links to the actual worksheets and instructions for using them.

(Child Support Home)