CO STATE GUIDE · INITIAL RESEARCH
Colorado Alimony and Spousal Support: State Guide
Colorado uses the term “spousal maintenance.” Colorado calls alimony spousal maintenance. The statute provides advisory guidelines for eligible cases and also sets out the court’s authority and factors. Guideline calculations are advisory and do not replace judicial consideration of the case.
Quick orientation. Courts consider statutory factors such as each party’s financial resources and needs, the marital standard of living, duration of the marriage, income and earning capacity, and other relevant circumstances. The current statute has been amended; use the applicable edition and effective date.
LOCAL NEXT STEPS · COLORADO
Prepare for a local conversation.
Organize financial records with the preparation checklist. For legal help near you, use the ABA referral directory or search the LSC legal-aid locator by city or address. Providers set their own service areas, eligibility, and availability.
Terminology: People may say “alimony,” while state statutes and courts may use terms such as “maintenance” or “spousal support.” This guide uses the terminology found in the cited source; court documents and local practice should be checked directly.
How Colorado law approaches support
Colorado calls alimony spousal maintenance. The statute provides advisory guidelines for eligible cases and also sets out the court’s authority and factors. Guideline calculations are advisory and do not replace judicial consideration of the case.
Courts consider statutory factors such as each party’s financial resources and needs, the marital standard of living, duration of the marriage, income and earning capacity, and other relevant circumstances. The current statute has been amended; use the applicable edition and effective date.
Duration, modification, and termination
Guidelines may inform amount and term in cases within their scope, while the court may tailor an order to the evidence. Modification and termination depend on the statute, the written order, and later circumstances.
Do not stop, change, or withhold court-ordered payments based on a general website summary. A court order, approved agreement, or required court process may control.
Questions to take to a Colorado attorney
- Which current statute and court rules apply to my Colorado case?
- Is the issue temporary support, final support, a private agreement, or modification of an existing order?
- What financial records and evidence are most important under the factors described above?
- How do the property division, child-related responsibilities, and each person’s earning capacity affect the analysis?
- What event or legal standard could change or end the specific order?
Official sources and research scope
The following sources are starting points for reviewing the current legal text. Read the full provision, connected rules, amendments, and effective dates that apply to the case.
- Colorado General Assembly: Colorado Revised Statutes (see § 14-10-114) ↗
- Colorado General Assembly: 2025 enrolled bill amending § 14-10-114 ↗
This page summarizes selected law for general education. It is not a complete explanation of Colorado law and does not predict a court result.
Content status: Initial education-only research summary, not reviewed by a Colorado-licensed attorney. Sources checked October 17, 2026. Verify current statutes, court rules, and effective dates before relying on this page.
Sources checked October 17, 2026 · Read the disclaimer