Divorce is never a happy occasion, and most people prefer to think they will never find themselves standing in a court room asking that their marriage be dissolved. However, it does happen, and if you are contemplating a divorce or already pursuing one, you should contact a divorce attorney in Greeley, CO as soon as possible to learn everything you can about what can and will happen as the process moves forward.
One aspect of divorce that is widely misunderstood is spousal maintenance, often referred to informally as alimony. Here are the facts about spousal maintenance in Colorado that a qualified divorce attorney in Greeley, CO will be able to explain to you.
Nothing Automatic
There is no “automatic” spousal maintenance in a divorce under Colorado law. The judge in the proceeding can choose to order temporary maintenance during the divorce, and may choose to order long-term maintenance afterwards.
By Formula
Colorado courts are bound by very specific formulas when it comes to calculating maintenance amounts and terms. For temporary maintenance, 50% of the higher income is subtracted from 40% of the lower income, and the term is usually only the course of the divorce proceedings. For long-term divorce, the term is either one-third or one-half of the length of the marriage (and only marriages that lasted at least three years can result in long-term maintenance), and the amount formula is the same.
When preparing a divorce case, a qualified divorce attorney in Greeley, CO can help you predict whether you will qualify for maintenance, and if so how much to expect. As it is not automatic, it is possible the judge will not award maintenance even if you sincerely believe you require it; do consult your attorney.