Colorado Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under C.R.S. § 14-10-114. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Colorado Alimony Calculator
This state publishes a guideline equation that takes a share of the payor’s income and subtracts a share of the payee’s.
Based on C.R.S. § 14-10-114 · Verified June 1, 2026
Enter income details to see your estimate
Factors Colorado Courts Weigh
- •The financial resources of each party, including the marital property apportioned
- •The lifestyle established during the marriage
- •The distribution of marital property
- •Each party's income, employment, and employability
- •Whether one party historically earned higher or lower wages
- •The duration of the marriage
- •The amount of temporary maintenance already paid
- •The age and health of the parties
How Colorado Alimony Works
- •Colorado's maintenance formula is explicitly advisory: it gives judges a common starting point, but the court can deviate after weighing the statutory factors.
- •The guideline amount is 40% of the parties' combined adjusted gross income minus the lower earner's income, which never lets the recipient end up with more than 40% of the couple's combined income.
- •The formula applies only to marriages of 3 to 20 years with combined adjusted gross income of $240,000 or less; outside that range the court sets maintenance on the factors alone.
- •Both the amount and the duration are advisory guidelines, not mandatory schedules.
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Colorado judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Colorado family-law attorney about your situation.
How Colorado Calculates Alimony
Colorado addresses spousal support under C.R.S. § 14-10-114. It uses a guideline equation that takes a percentage of the payor's gross income and subtracts a percentage of the payee's gross income, with statutory caps. The calculator above applies that equation to your figures and shows each step.
Unlike child support, alimony is one of the most discretionary areas of family law. Even in states with a guideline equation, the figure is a starting point a judge can adjust after weighing the statutory factors, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's needs and ability to pay. Treat any number here as an informed estimate, not a guaranteed award.
Key Rules in Colorado
- Colorado's maintenance formula is explicitly advisory: it gives judges a common starting point, but the court can deviate after weighing the statutory factors.
- The guideline amount is 40% of the parties' combined adjusted gross income minus the lower earner's income, which never lets the recipient end up with more than 40% of the couple's combined income.
- The formula applies only to marriages of 3 to 20 years with combined adjusted gross income of $240,000 or less; outside that range the court sets maintenance on the factors alone.
- Both the amount and the duration are advisory guidelines, not mandatory schedules.
How Long Alimony Lasts in Colorado
Colorado's advisory duration is a month-by-month statutory table: 31% of the marriage length at 3 years, rising steadily to 50% at 12.5 years, then holding at 50% through 20 years. For marriages over 20 years the court may order a set term or indefinite maintenance.
What Counts as Income
Colorado's calculation uses each spouse’s gross income — earnings before taxes, including wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and many recurring sources. Courts can also impute income to a spouse who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, meaning support can be based on what a spouse could earn rather than what they currently do. Use your most recent pay stubs and tax return for the most accurate estimate.
Eligibility & Modifying an Order
Not every divorce results in alimony. Colorado courts award it when one spouse has a genuine financial need and the other has the ability to pay, judged against the factors above.
Alimony orders can usually be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — for example, a significant change in either spouse's income, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, retirement, or the payor's loss of employment. The specific rules and any non-modifiable agreements depend on your court order and Colorado law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Colorado alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Colorado guideline from C.R.S. § 14-10-114 to the numbers you enter, so it gives a close estimate of a typical guideline award. It is not an official court calculation — a judge can order a different amount after weighing the statutory factors.
Is alimony taxable in Colorado?
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is not deductible by the payor and is not taxable income to the recipient under federal law. Most states follow the federal treatment, but check Colorado's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Colorado?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review C.R.S. § 14-10-114 and speak with a Colorado attorney about how fault is treated where you live.
Can alimony be changed later?
Usually yes. Alimony can often be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — such as a large change in income, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, or the payor's retirement — unless your order or agreement makes it non-modifiable.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Alimony is highly fact-specific and discretionary; the amount and duration a Colorado court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Colorado family-law attorney.
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