Facing divorce in Colorado Springs, many people are less worried about who gets the house and more worried about one question: will I be paying or receiving alimony, and for how long. That question sits behind every conversation about work, housing, and the kids’ activities. The stakes feel high because the answer will shape your monthly budget for years after the court signs your divorce decree.
Divorcing spouses in Southern Colorado often hear very different stories from friends, relatives, and the internet. One person is sure alimony is automatic if there is an income gap. Someone else insists no one gets alimony anymore. Online calculators spit out numbers with no explanation of how they tie to Colorado Springs courts. You might already feel overwhelmed and unsure whom to believe, especially if you are also juggling a move, kids, or military obligations.
Colorado law uses the term “spousal maintenance” instead of alimony, and El Paso County judges apply advisory guidelines plus a long list of specific factors when deciding whether to award it, how much, and for how long. The Gasper Law Group works with clients across Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado in exactly these situations, including many military families stationed near local bases. In this guide, we share how maintenance really works in local courts and what that means for your financial future.
What Alimony Means in Colorado Springs Courts
In Colorado, the law and the courts use the term “spousal maintenance” instead of alimony. The idea is the same. One spouse may be required to help the other with living expenses during and after a divorce or legal separation. Maintenance is usually paid monthly, but it can be structured in different ways depending on the case.
Maintenance is not automatic in Colorado Springs. A judge first looks at whether the spouse who might receive maintenance can meet their reasonable monthly needs with their own income and property. The court then looks at whether the other spouse can pay support after covering their own reasonable needs. If the lower earning spouse can cover expenses on their own, or the higher earning spouse cannot realistically pay, the court may deny maintenance even if there is a large income difference.
For many income ranges, Colorado provides advisory guideline ranges for maintenance amount and duration. Judges in El Paso County and surrounding courts often start with those guidelines, but they are not required to follow them exactly. Courts can go higher, go lower, or decline maintenance if the specific facts justify it. This flexibility is where preparation and strategy matter, because how income, expenses, and needs are presented can shift what judges see as reasonable.
Maintenance can also be “temporary” while the case is pending or “post decree” after the divorce is finalized. Temporary maintenance helps keep bills paid while everything is in limbo, and it can look different from the final order that appears in your decree. At The Gasper Law Group, we work with clients in Colorado Springs to understand both stages, so they are not surprised when a temporary order does not match the final result.
How Colorado Judges Decide Whether to Award Alimony
When we walk into a Colorado Springs courtroom on a maintenance issue, judges are not just looking at two pay stubs and splitting the difference. The threshold questions are whether one spouse needs help to meet reasonable monthly expenses and whether the other spouse has enough income, after covering their own needs, to contribute. From there, the court works through a series of statutory factors to decide if maintenance is appropriate at all.
Those factors include the length of the marriage, each spouse’s gross income, and each person’s overall financial resources. Judges look closely at whether one spouse sacrificed career opportunities or schooling to support the other’s career or to raise children. Age and health matter, because a 30 year old with up to date skills is in a different position than a 58 year old who left the workforce for two decades. The standard of living during the marriage also plays a role, although courts recognize that two households usually cannot live exactly like one did.
Local judges in El Paso County also examine debt loads, separate property, and child related responsibilities. If one parent has most of the day to day care for young children, that can limit their ability to work full time or accept certain jobs, which may support a stronger claim for maintenance. Conversely, if a spouse is intentionally working far below their capacity without a good reason, courts may treat them as if they earn more, a concept called imputing income. This often surprises people who reduced hours or changed jobs right before or during the divorce.
Many clients start out believing that maintenance is guaranteed if there is any income gap, or impossible if the marriage lasted less than ten years. In practice, Colorado Springs courts take a more nuanced view. A short marriage can still lead to temporary, rehabilitative maintenance, for example if one spouse moved to Colorado, left a job, and needs time to get back on their feet. A longer marriage does not always mean lifetime support. At The Gasper Law Group, we review tax returns, pay information, and detailed budgets with our clients so that the judge sees a clear, grounded picture that supports the outcome we are asking for.
How Much Alimony You Might Pay or Receive
Once a court decides maintenance is appropriate, the next question is how much. For couples under a certain combined income level, Colorado has an advisory guideline formula that many judges in Colorado Springs use as a starting point. The calculation begins with a percentage of the difference between the spouses’ monthly gross incomes, then typically adjusts for child support and sometimes for health insurance or other obligations.
That guideline produces a suggested monthly amount, not a guaranteed order. Judges can go outside the range if the facts support a different number. For example, if the paying spouse has high medical expenses, heavy debt payments, or is supporting children from a previous relationship, the court might reduce maintenance below the guideline. On the other hand, if the recipient has unusual expenses, such as ongoing medical care or schooling required to rebuild a career, the court might lean toward the higher end of the range.
To make this more concrete, imagine a Colorado Springs couple where one spouse earns $60,000 per year and the other earns $30,000. After converting to monthly gross income and applying the advisory approach, the guideline might suggest a certain slice of that $30,000 gap as maintenance. If they also have child support obligations or the paying spouse covers health insurance for the whole family, the net amount that realistically fits both budgets can change a lot. The court will look at the actual numbers in each spouse’s sworn financial statement, including housing, transportation, and day to day costs.
Taxes also matter more than people expect. Maintenance can change each person’s tax situation, and that affects what each can truly afford. While we do not provide tax advice, we do pay attention to how before tax income translates into after tax cash flow. At The Gasper Law Group, we use technology and practical budgeting tools to help clients in Colorado Springs see realistic ranges before they negotiate or walk into a hearing. This preparation often changes how people think about what they can offer or accept.
How Long Alimony Can Last in Colorado Springs
For many divorcing spouses, the length of time they might pay or receive maintenance is just as critical as the monthly figure. Colorado links typical maintenance duration to the length of the marriage, and the advisory guidelines include suggested ranges. Shorter marriages often result in shorter maintenance periods, sometimes meant to give the lower earning spouse time to retrain or reenter the workforce. Longer marriages can support longer awards, but that does not automatically mean maintenance continues for life.
As a broad pattern, a marriage of only a few years might lead to maintenance lasting a year or two, if it is awarded at all. A mid length marriage might result in maintenance for a significant portion of the marriage length, for example a 10 year marriage with 3 to 5 years of maintenance. Very long marriages, especially where one spouse has been out of the workforce for decades, can sometimes lead to longer or open ended maintenance. However, even in those cases, Colorado Springs judges usually focus on what is fair and sustainable rather than defaulting to lifetime payments.
Maintenance can end for several reasons. Most commonly, it ends when the term in the court order expires. It also typically ends if either spouse dies. Many orders specify that maintenance terminates if the recipient remarries. Cohabitation with a new partner can be more complicated. Some orders state that maintenance ends or can be revisited if the recipient lives with someone in a marriage like relationship, while others are silent. This is why the language in your decree matters just as much as the numbers.
Colorado law also allows for modifiable and contractual, nonmodifiable maintenance. Modifiable maintenance can be changed later if circumstances shift enough, which we discuss in more detail below. Contractual, nonmodifiable maintenance is locked in, both in amount and duration, except in very limited situations. Many people in Colorado Springs do not realize they are agreeing to nonmodifiable terms in exchange for something else, such as more property, until years later. At The Gasper Law Group, we talk through these tradeoffs before clients sign any agreement, so they understand the long term impact.
Special Considerations for Military Families & Alimony
Colorado Springs is home to a large number of servicemembers and their families, and military income adds layers of complexity to maintenance decisions. Unlike a straightforward civilian paycheck, a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) may include base pay, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), and various special or incentive pays. In many cases, courts treat these components as part of income for maintenance analysis, but how they are presented and understood can make a real difference.
For example, deployment pay or certain bonuses can temporarily boost income on paper. If a divorce is filed right after a deployment, the LES may not reflect the servicemember’s regular, long term earnings. Colorado Springs judges generally focus on sustainable income rather than one time spikes, but that has to be explained clearly with documentation and, sometimes, testimony. Similarly, changes in housing, such as moving on or off base or a new duty station, can alter both spouses’ housing costs and should be reflected in budgets the court sees.
Military families also face unique logistical challenges. Deployments, TDY assignments, and training can disrupt work schedules, childcare, and income patterns. For the nonmilitary spouse, frequent moves may have interrupted careers or schooling, which affects earning capacity and supports arguments for rehabilitative maintenance. For the servicemember, being overseas or on a demanding duty schedule can make it harder to gather documents or appear in person in El Paso County court.
The Gasper Law Group is located near major military posts in Southern Colorado, and we regularly work with both servicemembers and their spouses. We understand how to read LES statements, how local courts view military pay, and how to schedule hearings and meetings around deployment or training when possible. We also use flexible communication methods, such as secure online portals and video meetings, so military clients can stay engaged with their case even when they are not in Colorado Springs.
Modifying or Ending an Alimony Order in Colorado
Many people assume that once a maintenance order is entered, it can never change. That is true for some orders but not all. Under Colorado law, a court can modify maintenance if the original order is labeled as modifiable and if there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that makes the original amount unfair. Understanding whether your order is modifiable and whether your situation meets that standard is critical before you invest time and money in a modification request.
Common examples of potential qualifying changes include a significant, involuntary drop in income, such as a layoff or serious health issue, or a large, lasting increase in the paying spouse’s income. A serious health condition that permanently limits a recipient’s ability to work can also justify revisiting maintenance. Short term ups and downs, like a brief period of unemployment or a small raise, usually will not be enough. The change has to be both substantial and ongoing, and the person asking for the change has the burden of proving it.
Contractual, nonmodifiable maintenance is different. If your decree clearly labels maintenance as nonmodifiable, courts in Colorado Springs are usually bound by that language, even if circumstances later change. Some people agree to nonmodifiable maintenance in exchange for other benefits, such as receiving a larger share of retirement accounts or other valuable property. Others agree without fully understanding that they are trading away future flexibility. Reading and understanding those terms at the time of divorce is essential.
Cohabitation, remarriage, and retirement can also affect maintenance, but the impact depends heavily on the specific order. Many decrees state that maintenance ends on remarriage of the recipient. Some address cohabitation directly, while others do not. Retirement may or may not support a reduction, depending on age, health, and how planned and reasonable the retirement is. At The Gasper Law Group, we review existing orders for clients throughout Southern Colorado and give realistic feedback on whether a modification request is likely to get traction in local courts.
What to Expect From the Alimony Process in Colorado Springs
Knowing the legal rules is only half the battle. Understanding the actual process you will go through in Colorado Springs can make maintenance questions feel much more manageable. Most cases start with an initial consultation with a family law attorney, where we gather basic facts about your income, your spouse’s income, the length of the marriage, and any children. We also talk about your immediate concerns, such as paying the mortgage or rent and covering basic expenses while the case is pending.
When a divorce or legal separation is filed in El Paso County, Colorado rules require both spouses to complete financial disclosures. This usually includes several years of tax returns, recent pay stubs or LES statements, bank statements, and a sworn financial statement that lists your income, expenses, assets, and debts. The court and the other side rely heavily on these documents. Incomplete or unrealistic budgets can hurt your position on maintenance, even if your general story is sympathetic.
Temporary orders are often the first major step in addressing maintenance. Either spouse can ask the court to set temporary maintenance while the case is pending. At this stage, the judge generally wants to make sure both households can function during the case. The numbers might be rougher than at the final hearing, but they set a tone. In many Colorado Springs cases, early temporary orders influence negotiations and expectations all the way through the decree.
After disclosures, many cases move into negotiation or mediation. This is where the advisory guidelines, statutory factors, and realistic budgets come together. We work with clients to frame offers that make sense on paper and in real life, sometimes trading slightly higher or lower maintenance for different property or debt arrangements. If the case does not settle, the court will hold a permanent orders hearing, where each side presents testimony and evidence about income, needs, and the factors described earlier.
The Gasper Law Group uses secure technology to help clients in Southern Colorado gather and share their financial information efficiently. That reduces the stress of hunting for old records and keeps the case moving. Because our attorneys appear frequently in Colorado Springs family courts, we can also give practical insight into how local judges tend to handle temporary orders, continuances, and scheduling, which helps clients plan around work, childcare, and, for servicemembers, duty requirements.
How The Gasper Law Group Helps You Protect Your Financial Future
Alimony Colorado Springs cases are rarely simple, and the decisions you make early in the process can affect your finances for years. Understanding how judges look at income, budgets, and the story of your marriage gives you leverage, but applying that knowledge to your specific facts is where experienced legal representation matters. Whether you are the higher earner worried about overcommitting or the lower earner worried about staying afloat, you need a plan that fits Colorado law and your real life.
The Gasper Law Group represents both paying and receiving spouses in divorce and maintenance cases throughout Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado. Our goal is not to squeeze the other side at all costs, but to help you reach a fair, sustainable arrangement that you can live with. We work closely with you to gather the right financial documents, prepare accurate sworn financial statements, and present your situation in a way local judges understand and respect. For many clients, we also help evaluate whether to accept guideline numbers, pursue a different structure, or consider nonmodifiable terms in exchange for other benefits.
We know that hiring an attorney is a major financial decision at a time when money already feels tight. Our firm offers low retainers and interest free payment plans, and we tailor our approach to the realities of each family, including those with demanding work or deployment schedules. With flexible communication options and a focus on reducing financial stress, we make it possible for more people in our community to get solid legal guidance on maintenance issues instead of guessing from online calculators and secondhand stories.
If you are facing questions about alimony in Colorado Springs, you do not have to navigate them alone or in the dark. A focused review of your income, your spouse’s income, your marriage history, and your goals can give you a clear picture of the range of outcomes and the steps you can take to protect your financial future.
To talk with our family law team about your situation,contact us online or call us today.