2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 26 - Human Services Code
Article 13.5 - Administrative Procedure for Child Support Establishment and Enforcement
§ 26-13.5-112. Modification of an order

(1) At any time after the entry of an order of financial responsibility or an order of default under this article, in order to add, alter, or delete any provisions to such an order, the delegate child support enforcement unit may issue a notice of financial responsibility to the obligor and obligee advising the obligor and obligee of the possible modification of the existing administrative order issued pursuant to this article. The delegate child support enforcement unit shall serve the obligor and the obligee with a notice of financial responsibility by first-class mail or by electronic means if mutually agreed upon. The obligor or the obligee may file a written request for modification of an administrative order issued under this article with the delegate child support enforcement unit. If the delegate child support enforcement unit denies the request for modification based upon the failure to demonstrate a showing of changed circumstances required pursuant to section 14-10-122, C.R.S., the delegate child support enforcement unit shall advise the requesting party of the party's right to seek a modification pursuant to section 14-10-122, C.R.S.

(1.2) At any time after entry of an administrative order issued pursuant to this article, an obligor or obligee may file a written request for review of the order with the delegate child support enforcement unit. The written request for review shall include financial information of the requesting party necessary to conduct a calculation pursuant to the Colorado child support guidelines described in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. The requesting party shall provide his or her financial information on the form required by the division of child support enforcement. The delegate child support enforcement unit shall review each request received and grant or deny the request using the standards described in section 26-13-121 (2) (a) or (2) (b).

(1.3) If there is an active assignment of rights, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall, once every thirty-six months, review the administrative order to determine if an adjustment of the administrative order is appropriate.

(1.4) If the request for review is granted or in case of an automatic review where there is an active assignment of rights, a notice of review shall be issued to the requesting and nonrequesting parties. In the case of a review in which there is an active assignment of rights, the obligor and obligee shall be considered nonrequesters. The notice of review shall advise the obligor and obligee that a review is to be conducted and provide the nonrequesters twenty days within which to provide the financial information necessary to calculate the child support obligation pursuant to the Colorado child support guidelines described in section 14-10-115, C.R.S.

(1.5) (a) The review of the administrative order shall be conducted on or before the thirtieth day after notice of review is sent to the parties. During the review, the determination of the monthly support obligation shall be based on the child support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. The delegate child support enforcement unit may grant a continuance of the review for good cause. The continuance shall be for a reasonable period of time to be determined by the delegate child support enforcement unit, not to exceed thirty days.

(b) In order to obtain information necessary to conduct the review, the delegate child support enforcement unit is authorized, pursuant to sections 26-13.5-103 (1) and 26-13-121 (3) (d), to serve, by first-class mail or by electronic means if mutually agreed upon, an administrative subpoena to any person, corporation, partnership, public employee retirement benefit plan, financial institution, labor union, or other entity to appear or for the production of records and financial documents.

(c) An adjustment to the administrative order shall be appropriate only if the standard set forth in section 14-10-122 (1) (b), C.R.S., is met.

(1.7) (a) After the review is completed, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide a post-review notice and child support guideline worksheet advising the obligor and obligee of the review results. If a review indicates that an adjustment should be made, a notice of financial responsibility and a proposed order of financial responsibility shall be included. The delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide all supporting financial documentation used to calculate the monthly support obligation to both parties. The notice of financial responsibility shall advise the parties of the right to challenge the post-review notice of the review results, the time frame for challenging the review results, and the method for asserting the challenge.

(b) The obligor and obligee shall be given fifteen days from the date of the post-review notice to challenge the review results. The grounds for the challenge shall be limited to the issue of mathematical or factual error in the calculation of the monthly support obligation. The delegate child support enforcement unit may grant an extension of up to fifteen days to challenge the review results based upon a showing of good cause. Any challenge may be presented at the negotiation conference scheduled pursuant to section 26-13.5-103 via first-class mail or via an electronic communication method.

(c) The delegate child support enforcement unit shall have fifteen days from the date of receipt of the challenge to respond to a challenge based upon a mathematical or factual error. If a challenge results in a change to the monthly support obligation, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide an amended notice of review to the obligor and obligee. The parties shall be given fifteen days from the date of the amended notice of review to challenge the results of any subsequent review. The grounds for the challenge shall be limited to the issue of mathematical or factual error in the calculation of the monthly support obligation.

(1.9) (a) If the review indicates that a change to the monthly support obligation is appropriate and the review is not challenged or all challenges have been addressed, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall file the notice of financial responsibility, the order of financial responsibility accompanied by the guideline worksheet, and the supporting financial documentation with the court. When the order of financial responsibility is filed with the court, it shall be provided to the parties and shall contain an advisement that the parties have fifteen days from the date of filing to file a written objection to the order of financial responsibility with the court.

(b) If the delegate child support enforcement unit has filed an order of financial responsibility modifying the monthly support obligation and an objection has not been received by the court within fifteen days after the order is filed with the court, the order of financial responsibility shall become final. If an objection is received within the fifteen-day period, the court may affirm the order of financial responsibility as submitted, issue an order revising the monthly support obligation, or set the matter for a hearing. If a hearing is necessary, the court shall hold a hearing within forty-five days after the filing of the order of financial responsibility, and the court shall decide only the issues of child support and medical support. Any documentary evidence provided by the obligee or the obligor or by the delegate child support enforcement unit may be admitted into evidence by the court without the necessity of laying a foundation for its admissibility, and the court may determine the relative weight or credibility to give any such documentation.

(2) A request for modification made pursuant to this section shall not stay the delegate child support enforcement unit from enforcing and collecting upon the existing order pending the modification proceeding.

(3) Only payments accruing subsequent to the request for modification may be modified. Modification shall be based upon the standard set forth in section 14-10-122, C.R.S.