If you handle family law in Colorado, you know that calculating child support for wealthy clients has often involved more uncertainty once a case moves above the guideline table. The 2026 implementation of HB 25-1159 updated Colorado’s child support framework, and one of the most important changes for high-income cases is the increase to the top of the schedule of basic child support obligations.
The schedule now runs up to $40,000 per month in combined adjusted gross income. That update matters in high-net-worth divorce work because it brings more cases within the statutory schedule before the court has to rely on discretion above the top of the table. For many families, that means a more structured starting point than before.
The Problem with the Discretionary Zone
Before this change, once a couple’s combined adjusted gross income exceeded the top of the guideline schedule, the judge had discretion to determine child support, as long as the amount was not set below what it would be at the highest level of the schedule. That created more room for interpretation in higher-income cases.
When the likely outcome is less defined, settlement can get harder. One side may expect a much higher number based on the children’s lifestyle, while the other may expect the court to stay closer to the guideline baseline. That uncertainty can increase litigation costs and expand the scope of financial discovery.
The update does not eliminate that dynamic, but it pushes it further up the income range. More families now fall within the guideline schedule before reaching that discretionary threshold.
The Power of Predictability
The 2026 update changes the conversation for many higher-income families because the child support schedule now reaches $40,000 per month in combined adjusted gross income, or about $480,000 annually. That means more professionals, executives, and business owners fall within the guideline structure itself.
This does not remove judicial interpretation entirely. Courts still evaluate income sources, apply parenting-time calculations, and account for additional expenses. And once income exceeds the top of the schedule, discretion still applies. But within the expanded range, there is a clearer statutory baseline to work from.
Predictability is one of the strongest tools you have in negotiation. When you can show a client a number grounded in the current framework, it becomes easier to anchor expectations and reduce speculation about a dramatic courtroom swing.
How the Financial Neutral Uses the Updated Schedule
This update makes the Financial Neutral even more valuable in a high-asset collaborative case. Instead of each side framing the numbers in an adversarial way, the neutral can gather income data, apply the current guidelines, and present a clear baseline support figure.
Because the neutral does not represent either side, that number tends to carry more credibility with both clients. It shifts the conversation from argument to analysis.
From there, the collaborative team can move into the next layer of discussion. The baseline support number becomes the starting point, and the team can address additional expenses such as education, extracurricular activities, or other agreed-upon costs.
This is where the collaborative process is especially effective. The updated law provides a stronger foundation in more high-income cases, and the team can build from that foundation instead of debating the starting point.
Pitching Privacy to Premium Clients
Wealthy clients typically care about two things during a divorce. They want to keep their finances private, and they want a clearer picture of their future obligations.
The collaborative model has always supported privacy. Now, with the expanded child support schedule, it also allows more high-income clients to begin the conversation from a defined baseline before moving into more discretionary territory.
That makes it easier to explain the value of the process. You can offer a private setting, a team-based structure, and a more predictable starting point for support discussions.
The updated framework allows more high-income cases to begin within the guideline schedule, while still allowing flexibility when income exceeds the top of the table.