File Motion to End Child Support in Colorado – Court Steps
Is your child support obligation in Colorado ending soon? You must file a motion to terminate it with the court.
This article shows you the steps, forms, and deadlines you need. You will learn how to stop payments legally and avoid owed arrears.
Colorado Child Support Ending Triggers
Child support in Colorado does not last forever. The law sets clear rules for when payments must stop. Knowing these ending triggers helps you file a motion to terminate child support at the right time.
Most support ends when a child turns 19, joins the military, or gets married. If your case fits one of these, you can ask the court to stop the order. Below are the main triggers you should check before filing.
Common Ways Support Stops in Colorado
The state lists exact events that end a support duty. Use this table to see if your situation matches:
| Trigger | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Child turns 19 | Support ends by law unless still in high school |
| Child marries | Payments stop right away |
| Child in military | Support ends on active duty start |
| Emancipation | Court says child is adult-like and self-supporting |
If your child is 19 but still in high school, support continues until graduation or age 21, whichever comes first. Keep school papers ready to show the court.
Colorado law says child support ends at 19 unless the child is finishing high school.
To stop payments, fill out the motion form from the court. Attach proof like a birth date or marriage license. Then the judge signs an order to end the support.
- Get the correct form from the Colorado Judicial Branch site
- Write your case number on every page
- Send a copy to the other parent
Always check your order because some agreements say support goes past 19 for college costs. Read it before you file so you do not miss extra steps.
Forms Needed for Termination Motion
If you want to stop child support in Colorado, you need the right papers from the start. The main form is the JDF 1402, called “Motion to Terminate Child Support.” You also need a filled-in JDF 1403, which is the “Order to Terminate Child Support” for the judge to sign.
Most counties ask for a case information sheet and a sworn statement that shows why support should end. Common reasons are the child turned 19, joined the military, or got adopted. Bring copies of any birth records or school papers that prove your case.
Checklist of Papers to File
Keep your filing simple by using this list before you go to the court clerk:
- JDF 1402 – Motion to Terminate Child Support
- JDF 1403 – Order to Terminate Child Support
- Case information sheet (local form)
- Sworn statement with proof like age or adoption papers
- Envelope for mailing to the other parent
File the packet at the courthouse where your order was made. The clerk stamps your copies, and you must mail one set to the other parent. If you skip a form, the judge can reject your request and you will wait longer.
File all forms together so the judge sees the full picture in one look.
In Denver County, about 3 out of 10 termination filings get sent back because a form is missing. A parent named Chris said he used the list above and finished his filing in 20 minutes. Always check the Colorado Judicial Branch site for the newest version, since forms change often.
Filing Steps at Colorado Court
If you want to stop child support in Colorado, you need to file a motion with the court that made the original order. The first step is to get the right form, fill it out, and explain why support should end, like when a child turns 19 or graduates high school.
Next, you file your papers at the Colorado district court clerk’s office and pay the filing fee, or ask for a fee waiver if you have low income. The judge will look at your request and may set a hearing where both parents can speak.
What You Need to Do
Follow these simple steps to file your motion the right way:
- Find your case number on old court papers.
- Fill out the “Motion to Terminate Child Support” form from the Colorado Judicial Branch website.
- Make copies for the other parent and the court.
- Take the forms to the clerk and file them in person or online.
- Send a copy to the other parent by mail or hand delivery.
Most Colorado courts use the table below for common end dates of support:
| Reason to Stop | When Support Ends |
|---|---|
| Child turns 19 | On 19th birthday |
| High school graduation | Day after diploma |
| Child joins military | Date of enlistment |
Keep your proof of filing and mailing safe. If the other parent agrees, the judge may end support without a long meeting.
Colorado law ends child support at 19 unless the child is still in high school.
If you skip a step, the court can reject your motion and you will have to start over. A clean, complete form helps the judge say yes faster.
Serving the Other Parent
When you file a motion to terminate child support in Colorado, you must let the other parent know about it. This step is called serving the other parent. If you skip it, the court will not hear your case and your request will be thrown out.
Serving means giving the other parent a copy of your filed motion and a notice of hearing. You cannot do this yourself. A third person over 18 who is not part of the case must hand over the papers or mail them the right way.
Ways to Serve Papers in Colorado
Colorado lets you serve the other parent in a few simple ways. Pick the method that fits your situation so the court accepts your proof of service.
- Personal service: A sheriff or private process server hands the papers to the other parent.
- Mail with acknowledgment: You send the papers by mail and the other parent signs a form saying they got them.
- Publication: Used only if you cannot find the other parent after real searching.
Keep your receipt or signed form. You need to file it with the court to show the other parent was served.
The court will not end child support until the other parent is properly served.
Most parents use personal service because it is fast and clear. For example, if you hire a county sheriff, they charge a small fee and file the proof for you. This cuts down on mistakes and helps your case move without delay.
Hearing and Judge’s Decision
After you file a motion to terminate child support in Colorado, the court will set a hearing date. At the hearing, both parents can speak and show papers that prove why support should stop or keep going. The judge listens to the facts and then makes a decision based on Colorado law and the child’s needs.
The judge may end child support if the child turned 19, joined the military, or got legally emancipated. If the parent paying support missed a step, the judge can deny the motion and order payments to continue. Bring clear proof like school records or a marriage certificate to show the change.
What Happens at the Hearing
The hearing is short and simple. You stand before the judge, say your reason, and hand over your forms. The other parent gets a turn too. The judge may ask easy questions to check the facts.
The judge signs an order only after the proof shows the child no longer needs support.
Here is a quick list of common reasons the judge will end support:
- Child reached age 19 and finished high school
- Child married before turning 19
- Child joined the armed forces
- Court declared the child emancipated
If the judge says no, you can fix the missing papers and file again. Always keep a copy of the judge’s order. That paper is your proof that payments must stop or continue.
Post-Order Compliance Tips
After the court issues an order terminating child support in Colorado, both parties should retain a certified copy of the order and confirm that the Colorado Child Support Services (CSS) agency has updated its records to stop withholding.
Monitor your paychecks and bank accounts for several months to ensure no further deductions occur, and notify the court or CSS immediately if payments continue in error.
Helpful Resources
Review the following authoritative sources for ongoing compliance and enforcement guidance:
- Colorado Judicial Branch – courts.state.co.us
- Colorado Child Support Services – colorado.gov/cs
- Colorado Revised Statutes – leg.colorado.gov