Children Live In Alabama And Colorado Calculates Child Support

by Dennis Fair
(Denver, CO)

I'm a non-custodial parent with joint legal custody of my 17 year old daughter. Our divorce (and initial child support payments) was finalized in California in 1997. Since that time, my ex has moved to Alabama with my daughter and I currently live in Colorado. I pay transportation costs to see my daughter each summer and every other Christmas (~80 days p/year and 2 round trip air fares). My ex recently filed for a child support modification, but the proposed new child support level was determined using Colorado laws and schedules. Is this correct? Alabama has a much lower cost of living than Denver. Is this a proper and correct procedure? It seems appropriate to use Alabama schedules in this case. Thanks.