Colorado Alimony Estimator

How Colorado alimony works

For marriages of at least 3 years but not more than 20 years, and combined annual adjusted gross income not exceeding $240,000: The advisory amount is 40% of the parties' combined monthly adjusted gross income minus the lower income party's monthly adjusted gross income. If this results in a negative number, maintenance is zero. If maintenance is not deductible for federal income tax purposes (post-2019), the calculated amount is reduced: by 20% (80% multiplier) if combined monthly AGI is $10,000 or less, or by 25% (75% multiplier) if combined monthly AGI is between $10,001 and $20,000. For combined incomes over $240,000 or marriages over 20 years, the formula does not apply, and courts use judicial discretion based on statutory factors. Key factors: Amount of each party's gross income, marital property apportioned to each party, financial resources of each party (actual or potential income from separate or marital property), reasonable financial need as established during the marriage, tax implications of maintenance, lifestyle during the marriage, distribution of marital property, both parties' income/employment/employability, historical earning patterns, duration of the marriage, amount of temporary maintenance paid, age and health of the parties, significant economic or non-economic contributions to the marriage or to the economic/educational/occupational advancement of a party, whether a nominal amount of maintenance is needed to preserve a future claim. Duration: For marriages between 3 and 20 years, an advisory term is calculated by applying a percentage to the number of months of marriage, starting at 31% for a 3-year marriage and increasing up to 50% for a 15-year marriage and beyond (e.g., 3-year marriage = 11 months, 10-year marriage = 54 months, 15-year marriage = 90 months, 20-year marriage = 120 months). For marriages exceeding 20 years, the court may award maintenance for a specified term or an indefinite term, but not less than the guideline term for a 20-year marriage unless specific findings support a reduced term. Courts may consider indefinite maintenance for longer marriages.