Fort Collins Alimony and Spousal Support Attorneys
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Spousal maintenance, commonly referred to as alimony or spousal support, can be one of the most important financial issues in a Colorado divorce. Whether you are seeking financial support from a former spouse or have been asked to pay maintenance, understanding how Colorado’s spousal maintenance laws apply to your circumstances can help you make informed decisions.
Divorce Matters helps clients in Fort Collins and throughout Larimer County address alimony and spousal maintenance issues. Our attorneys can help you understand your options, evaluate the financial circumstances of both spouses, negotiate an agreement, or present your position to the court when an agreement cannot be reached.
How Is Alimony Determined in Colorado?
Depending on the circumstances, Colorado’s maintenance guidelines may provide a framework for determining the amount and duration of support. The court may consider factors such as:
- Each spouse’s income and financial resources
- Financial needs and expenses
- Length of the marriage
- Age and health of each spouse
- Employment and earning capacity
- Property and assets received by each spouse
- Other relevant financial circumstances
Every case is different, and the applicable rules depend on the specific facts of the marriage.
Can Alimony Be Modified?
An existing maintenance order may be modifiable in certain circumstances. A significant change in income, employment, financial needs, or other circumstances may affect an existing obligation.
Before changing or stopping payments, review the existing order and understand your legal options.
Alimony, Child Support & Property Division
Spousal maintenance is only one part of the financial issues that may arise during divorce. Child support, real estate, retirement accounts, businesses, debts, and other marital property can affect the overall financial picture.
Considering these issues together can help ensure that a proposed settlement addresses your financial circumstances as a whole.
Why Divorce Matters®?
To determine the duration and amount of spousal maintenance that you might be entitled to, it is incredibly important to have the expertise of a lawyer. The attorneys at Divorce Matters® have all of the expertise to help you determine how much you might be entitled to and how to argue for what you deserve in court. Without an attorney, the court process for alimony in Fort Collins can be overwhelming.
An attorney’s assistance is also important because once spousal maintenance has been officially awarded by the court, it can be modified. This means that if either party has had a change in circumstances, one of them can request the court to modify the maintenance that had been awarded.
Divorce Matters in Fort Collins has a Colorado Spousal Maintenance and Child Support Calculator App, which can be used to calculate expected child support or maintenance. You can input your information into the calculator, which will then use a formula similar to what the Colorado court system uses. To download the app, search Divorce Matters Spousal Maintenance and Child Support in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
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Need a Fort Collins Alimony or Spousal Maintenance Attorney?
Negotiating Alimony Through Mediation
Spouses may be able to reach an agreement regarding the amount and duration of maintenance through negotiation or mediation. Resolving these issues by agreement can provide greater control over the outcome and potentially reduce the time and expense of litigation.
Fort Collins Alimony Attorneys Serving Larimer County
Divorce Matters assists clients with alimony and spousal maintenance matters in Fort Collins and surrounding Larimer County communities.
Whether you are seeking maintenance, responding to an alimony request, negotiating an agreement, or considering modification of an existing order, our attorneys can help you understand your options.
FAQ
Can my wages be garnished to pay spousal maintenance?
If the court has ordered you to pay spousal maintenance and you have not been paying, then your ex-spouse can file paperwork that will allow the court to garnish your wages. Once this paperwork is approved, money would be taken directly out of your paycheck to pay the required spousal maintenance. However, there is a limit as to how much money can be taken directly from your paycheck. To find out this exact amount, you should consult an attorney.
Can I get alimony while my divorce is pending?
While a divorce case is pending, the court can impose temporary orders regarding spousal maintenance and child support. This means that spousal maintenance can be ordered to be paid before the divorce is final.
Can the maintenance/alimony I pay reduce the amount of child support I pay?
Under Colorado law, the spousal maintenance you pay reduces your overall income and increases your ex’s overall income. This means that, for child support calculations, you will have lower income and therefore, lower child support payments.
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