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Colorado Child Support - Customer Support

 

Most frequently asked questions:
  • Current Version:  The current version of the program is 2008.  The most recent Version change was made in December, 2007, to reflect the provisions of 2007 Legislative changes which change the calculation for the income deduction allowed for other (non-joint) children. Prior to that the program was changed (April, 2007) to make the program compatible with Windows Vista.  Through this web site, existing licensed customers or earlier versions can update to the most recent version of the program -- at a seriously discounted price.  Existing customers who have purchased the software since July 1, 2007, will be entitled to an even more seriously discounted price. 

  • Note: Existing licensed customers of Version 2008 should download and reinstall the most recent (February 2, 2008) "build" of Version 2008.  This most recent build fixes several problems recently discovered with the first release of the program.  The most significant problem was the failure of the "Print One" feature to honor changes made in the Data Entry screen in between consecutives uses of the "Print One" feature.  This problem has been resolved.  You can click here to start the download process.

  • Tax Bracket Info for Tax Year 2008:  The Child Support program has several features that rely on federal tax rate and bracket information.  Tax brackets change from year to year and tax rates change from time to time.  The Child Support program has a screen under the Settings menu to allow you to update the tax information as may be required to keep up with the political climate in Washington.  Click here to be to see the latest tax bracket and rate information needed to keep your program current.

  • Electronic Filing:  Click here for a short discussion of of how a Child Support Worksheet can be electronically filed.  {not yet active}


Other frequently asked questions:

  • Is there a charge for installing the program on more than one computer? Yes.  There is a $40 charge for a license to allow you to use this program on all of the computers used in your professional practice.  [The licensing terms for Legal Math are not the same.  Please see the Legal Math customer support pages to read about those different terms.]

    If you wish to install the Colorado Child Support program on more than one computer, you will need to purchase a multi-computer license for the copy of the program you already own.

  • Are there any written instructions for the program? [Answer]

  • How can I change the name that prints on program generated reports?   [Answer]

  • How can I get a copy of my Activation Code / Password?  [Answer]

  • Everything needed to know about Activation Codes: [Answer]

  • Why isn't the child care credit calculated when the child care expense is paid by the parent with the fewest overnight visits? [Answer]

  • How can the program be used to calculate child support when the parties share time 50/50?  Answer: The program always needs to know which parent has the most overnights.  The closest it can come to 50/50 is 50.14/49.86.  The child support statute is structured in such a way that "most overnights" is the trigger for who pays whom.  Also, 365 divided by two is not an even number.  The difference is almost always just a few dollars.

  • How can the program be used to calculate Split Custody (where one parent has at least one child most of the time and the other parent has at least one child most of the time)  [Answer]  {not yet active}

  • Why is the program telling me that it "Can't find a necessary file ..."?  [Answer]
      
     


 

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Where are the Instructions?

An Instruction file has been copied to your computer to a “sub folder” in the same folder to which the program has been installed.  This folder will be c:\program files\child support\instruction files if you installed the program to the folder suggested to you by the Setup process.  

The Instruction file is saved as a PDF file.  It can be opened with Adobe Acrobat.  This Instruction PDF file is easily available from the Child Support folder that will be on the Programs menu.  This will be available after clicking Start on the Desktop.

Some of the instructions can also be read by clicking on the little "Info" buttons which are topically and tastefully placed throughout the program. They look like this:   


 

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Activation Code Explained

When does one need an Activation Code [a.k.a. "password"]?   An Activation Code is needed when the program is first installed. The Activation Code is a unique set of numbers that will only work when matched to your name.

What is the Activation Code for? The Activation Code requirement keeps the program from being used by too many unlicensed, unauthorized program "borrowers".

Is the Activation Code needed when a program is updated? If the program being installed is not a "substantial" update to a program previously licensed, there is no need to enter the Activation Code if the program update is installed to the same folder on the same computer where the original program is to be found.  A substantial update (one for which you need to pay) will require a new Activation Code.  

Where can a program Activation Code be found or obtained?  

Existing users: If you already have a license to use the program, you can run an existing occurrence of the program and find the activation code  by clicking Registered Owner / Change Name of Registered Owner on the top line menu of the first screen (photo screen).  The number is also available by clicking About on the top line menu.

Alternatively, look for your Activation Code either: (1.) On the paper sent to you when you first purchased a license; (2.) In an email sent to you when you first purchased a license or (3.) On a print out of the web page that was furnished to you when you first purchased a license.  (Good luck!)  [If all else fails you can get a copy of your Activation Code on line through this web site.]
  
New users:
If you are a new user, an new Activation Code can be obtained by making payment arrangements, either by phone or through this web site.  See:
www.legalmath.com/coloradochildsupport

Why doesn’t my Activation Code work?  Be sure you have typed your name exactly as the name appears on the document sent to you when you first purchased the program.   The Code is "matched" to your licensed name.  If your name changes, you need to obtain a new Code. You can obtain a new Code for a changed name, on line through this web site

Endings and Introductory Phrases: In most cases, your Activation Code will work with your name or your law firm name even if you add a phrase to the beginning such as "Law Office of …" or "The Law office of …" or if you add a phrase to the end such as "P.C.", "LLC",  "& Associates" , "Attorney at Law", "Jr."  These few examples are just a few of the possibilities. Try adding whatever you want to see if it works. If not, call or write for assistance.

Law firm name changes: If the name of your firm changes, you can obtain a new Activation Code to match the new firm name on line through this web site.

Warnings and Provisos: If a law firm dissolves and a former associate, partner or shareholder calls to get a new Activation Code, the person getting the new Activation Code should be the one who is entitled to continuing ownership of the license to use the software. Separate financial arrangements will need to be made with other former associates, partners or shareholders before they can begin using the program.


 

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Child Care Credit Explained

The Credit is calculated only for the parent having the child “most of the time.”   Only the parent having “custody” of a child for a longer time than the other parent is entitled to the credit under the tax code. (Not my rule. No whining, please!)

If you insist on calculating the credit for the "non-custodial" parent, then: (1) tell the program that custody will be with the "non-custodial" parent, (2) make a note of the net child care expense for that parent, (3) shift custody back to the correct parent, (4) make a note of the net child care expense for that parent, too,  (5) click the red "Child Care Credit Options" button and set the program so it does not calculate the credit for this case, (6) enter the net child care expenses for each parent.

To confirm the accuracy of the program's credit calculations, see IRS Form 2441 and its related Instructions.  Here you will see that the tax credit is only available to the parent having the child most of the time.
Click here to see IRS Form 2441.
Click here to see IRS Instructions for IRS Form 2441.

Having your client's child care expense reduced by the federal tax credit is a penalty in terms of determining child support.  Don't be so anxious to see your client "get the credit" when calculating child support.


 

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Run Time Error - "Can't find necessary file ..." (or similar)

There are occasions when, after the program is up and running, it will suddenly start getting an error message (Probably "Error Number 75") telling you that it can't find a necessary file. Chances are that this error relates to the recent installation of some other software program that has overwritten and replaced a Windows system file that is needed by the Child Support program. In the process of installing itself, the "other software" has probably copied an older file to your computer. Because the Child Support program is expecting the original "newer" file, it sends the error message, "Cannot find necessary file ..." The file in question is usually "RICHTX32.OCX" This is the file used by the Child Support program to display most of its help messages and informational screens.

A good installation process will not copy over or replace a newer file. Some software programs are using a version of "RICHTX32.OCX" that seems to be newer (based on date) than the file of the same name used by the Child Support program. Normally, that would be okay. The problem is that some newer "by date" files are really older because they have an earlier (or lower value) Version number. The installation process of the other software program will then copy over and replace the necessary newer version of "RICHTX32.OCX" with an older version of the same file.

The true test of age is usually version number, not date. Files with a higher version number are likely to be "backwardly" compatible. But not so the other way around. After RICHTX32.OCX has been replaced with a more recently dated - but older version - file, that file will not be "backwardly" compatible, and parts of the Child Support program will not work.

The other possible cause of this problem is that some "other" software program installed a copy of "RICHTX32.OCX" into its own application folder and then registered that copy of the file with the Windows File Registry. Windows may now be looking for "RICHTX32.OCX" in the "other" program's folder, but the "other" program folder may no longer exist.

Solution: The only solution I know of is to re-install the Child Support program. The re-installation process will register and put the correct version of RICHTX32.OCX" back in place in the Windows/System32 folder where it needs to be. (Windows/System on Windows 98).

The bottom line is to have a properly registered copy of RICHTX32.OCX present in the windows\system32 folder.  The file needed is Version 6.0.88.4 or newer, with a "modified" date of May 22, 2000 or later. (The file needs to be in windows\system for Windows 98 users.)


 

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I don't want to update my program to the new Version 2008 but I can't find my licensed copy of the prior Version (2004 or 2007) Setup file. I think I received it on CD -- or I may have downloaded from the web site -- but I didn't take good care of it, and now it is lost, lost, lost. Where can I get a replacement copy of the prior version of the program?

Answer: The new law, effective January 1, 2008, has made prior versions obsolete.  As a result, we are not inclined to make prior versions available for replacement purposes.  The new Version 2008 has an option to do an "old law" calculation if that is that you are looking for.  


 

I need to down load the current version (Version 2008) of the Colorado Child Support program.
Click here to download Version 2008 of the Colorado Child Support program. 
It won't do you any good to download the program unless you have already purchased or intend to purchase the program. The program requires a unique activation code to become operable.  This code is available only after payment arrangements have been made.

 

February 28, 2008

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