November 10, 2026

Alimony arguments often start with a number someone heard from a friend. Colorado offers a better starting point: an advisory formula, with a court worksheet that runs it. The math will not tell you what a judge will order. It shows where the conversation is likely to begin.   For couples in Douglas County and the wider Denver metro area, PalmerFamilyLaw is a Parker firm that handles only family law cases, including spousal maintenance. The firm offers a free 30-minute consultation, which is a sensible time to test the numbers below against your own facts. This article is general information, not legal advice, and it cannot predict the result in any case. When Does Colorado’s Maintenance Formula Apply? Colorado calls alimony “maintenance.” The Douglas County court’s maintenance advisement form sets out when the advisory guidelines may apply. The spouses must have been married at least three years. Their combined gross annual income must be $240,000 or less. The same form says marriages shorter than 36 months do not require the worksheet. For marriages of 36 months or more, the advisement is required even if both spouses want to waive maintenance. Before any maintenance is granted, the court must still consider a list of factors. The form names 13 of them, including: Financial resources of the parties, including need and ability to pay Distribution of marital property Income, employment and employability of each party Duration of the marriage Age and health status of each party Need and duration of education for the lower-earning party Significant economic or non-economic contributions to the marriage The final factor is “any and all other relevant factors.” Two couples with the same incomes can end up with different results. How Is the Monthly Guideline Amount Calculated? The advisement form breaks the formula into lettered lines: Take […]