Statutory Factors for Final Award
How to Use the Calculator
Our tool simplifies Colorado's maintenance guidelines into an intuitive process, providing a data-driven estimate in three steps.
Enter Monthly Incomes
Input the gross (pre-tax) monthly income for both the higher-earning and lower-earning parties.
Provide Annual & Duration Data
Enter the combined annual gross income and the total length of the marriage in months.
Analyze Your Estimate
Review the calculated guideline amount and duration, which form a baseline for legal discussions.
A Tool Built for Colorado
This isn't a generic calculator. It's engineered to precisely follow the Colorado Revised Statutes for spousal maintenance.
Guideline Formula
Applies the initial formula: 40% of the higher earner's income minus 50% of the lower earner's income.
40% Income Cap
Includes the crucial income cap, ensuring the recipient's total income with maintenance doesn't exceed 40% of the combined total.
Tiered Duration
Calculates the advisory term using Colorado's specific percentage-based tiers, from 31% for a 3-year marriage up to 50% for longer ones.
Income Threshold Logic
Highlights when the formula becomes advisory (not presumptive) for combined annual incomes over $240,000, as per state law.
From Numbers to Negotiations
The results from this calculator are more than just figures; they are a powerful starting point for financial planning and legal discussions, helping you move forward with confidence.
Set Realistic Expectations
Understand the potential financial landscape post-divorce to plan your budget.
Facilitate Negotiations
Use a neutral, data-driven estimate as a basis for mediation or settlement talks.
What a Colorado Judge Considers
The guideline formula is the starting point. A court has the final say and can deviate from the guideline after weighing the specific factors laid out in state law.
Colorado Maintenance FAQ
Get clear answers to the most common questions about spousal maintenance in Colorado.
For divorce or separation agreements executed after December 31, 2018, spousal maintenance is not tax-deductible for the person paying it, and it is not considered taxable income for the person receiving it, for both federal and Colorado state taxes.
Under Colorado law, the obligation to pay spousal maintenance automatically terminates upon the remarriage of the recipient spouse, unless the parties have a written agreement stating otherwise.
Yes, unless the parties agreed in their divorce decree that it is "non-modifiable." To change it, a party must show a "substantial and continuing" change in circumstances that makes the original order unfair. This could be a major change in income, disability, or other life events.
No. Colorado is a "no-fault" divorce state. This means that marital misconduct (like adultery) is not considered by the court when determining whether to award maintenance or how much to award.