At Jones Law Firm, PC, we represent Aurora spouses in spousal maintenance matters in Arapahoe County and Adams County courts, and we have been doing this work since 2000.
Our team brings 3,500+ cases, 250+ years of combined experience, and Super Lawyers recognition since 2024.
Spousal maintenance is court-ordered financial support paid by the higher-earning spouse to the lower-earning spouse during or after a divorce.
Under Colorado Revised Statutes Section 14-10-114, the advisory formula calculates support as 40% of the higher earner’s adjusted gross income minus 50% of the lower earner’s, with guideline durations scaling from 11 months for a 3-year marriage to 50% of the marriage length for unions lasting 20 years or more.
Aurora sits across county lines, so your case may land in Arapahoe County court or Adams County court depending on where you live. We know both courthouses, both sets of procedural timelines, and how to build a maintenance position that holds up when the other side pushes back.
What Clients Say About Jones Law Firm
“She is sharp, quick and strong and we won my case decisively.”- M.K.
Decisive courtroom results matter most when the other side already has counsel and is pushing to minimize your award.
“April is well prepared and understands the law and court processes well beyond anything I have experienced, ensuring success.”- J.M.
Procedural command in Colorado family courts keeps a maintenance claim from being weakened by missed steps or incomplete financial disclosure.
“Not a day went by when I did not receive a document, a question, or an answer from them.”- A.A.
The Communication Guarantee and Client Portal mean you are never guessing what is happening with your case.
“You get the power of a firm behind the attorney.”- A.A.
The Round Table Brain Trust puts multiple attorneys on your financial picture.
“It made a difficult time of life softer while maintaining my dignity.”- B.H.
Direct advocacy and respect are not opposites, and every client gets both.
Our Spousal Maintenance Services in Aurora
- Spousal Maintenance Eligibility
- Temporary Spousal Support
- Post-Divorce Maintenance
- Modification of Spousal Maintenance
- Enforcement of Maintenance Orders
- Termination of Spousal Maintenance
- High-Income Spousal Support
- Negotiated Maintenance Agreements
- Divorce
- Child Custody
- Visitation / Parenting Time
- Child Support
Speak With a Trusted Family Law Attorney
For clear guidance through divorce, custody, and family law matters in Colorado, contact Jones Law Firm. Call 303-799-8155 to schedule your confidential consultation.
Why Choose Jones Law Firm in Aurora for Spousal Maintenance
- Multiple attorneys and staff review your maintenance claim together. That means several sets of eyes on your income history, your career gap, whether the other side will argue imputed income, and how duration should be calculated.
- With 3,500+ cases and 250+ years of combined experience, the team has seen your situation before.
- You get proactive updates at every court date, mediation session, and negotiation milestone, so you are never guessing what your spouse’s attorney just filed.
- Jones Law Firm holds Super Lawyers recognition for April Jones , Rising Stars for Jimena Mohedas, and AV Preeminent status. Consultations are available in English and Spanish, and the first 45 minutes are free.
How Does Colorado Calculate Spousal Maintenance When Both Spouses Work But One Earns Significantly More?
Colorado does not automatically deny spousal maintenance just because both spouses are employed. If one spouse earns substantially more, the court can still award maintenance when the lower-earning spouse cannot reasonably meet their needs based on the marital standard of living and other financial circumstances.
Under C.R.S. § 14-10-114, Colorado uses an advisory formula in qualifying cases. The starting calculation generally takes 40% of the higher earner’s monthly adjusted gross income and subtracts 50% of the lower earner’s monthly adjusted gross income.
For couples with combined adjusted gross income within the statutory guideline range, that figure gives the court a starting point, not a guaranteed award. The judge can also consider factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, property received in the divorce, age and health, and financial needs.
So, even when both spouses work, a significant income gap can still support a maintenance award. The final amount and duration depend on the full financial picture, not the formula alone.
Our Spousal Maintenance Process for Aurora Clients
1. Free 45-minute consultation
You meet with a Client Relationship Specialist to walk through marriage length, both incomes, your employment history, and the years you scaled back. That conversation gives us the raw material your maintenance claim is built on.
2. Round Table case strategy session
Multiple attorneys and staff review your financial picture together and assess maintenance exposure, evidence gaps, and whether your claim is stronger in negotiation or in front of a judge.
3. Financial disclosure and document collection
We gather and file your Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111) along with tax returns, pay stubs, retirement statements, and any business records. Accuracy here drives the entire maintenance number.
4. Demand or response
We draft your maintenance proposal or build the rebuttal to your spouse’s position, applying Colorado’s advisory formula under C.R.S. Section 14-10-114 and documenting the earning disparity your career gap created.
5. Negotiation or mediation
We push for resolution before a contested hearing when the terms are right. If the other side lowballs the amount or the duration, we prepare to litigate.
6. Court hearing or trial
If no agreement holds, we present evidence, testimony, and legal argument in Arapahoe County District Court, part of the 18th Judicial District.
7. Post-decree monitoring
Maintenance can be modified when circumstances change, including cohabitation, job loss, or a material income shift. We advise on your modification and enforcement rights after the orders enter.
Can Spousal Maintenance Be Modified After the Divorce Is Final in Colorado?
Yes. In many Colorado divorces, spousal maintenance can be modified after the final order if either spouse experiences a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. However, modification may not be available if the parties specifically agreed that maintenance would be contractual and non-modifiable.
The spouse requesting the change must generally show that the existing maintenance terms have become unfair because circumstances have materially changed. Examples may include:
- Significant job loss or reduction in income
- A substantial increase in either spouse’s earnings
- A serious illness or disability affecting the ability to work
- Major changes in the receiving spouse’s financial needs
- Other lasting changes affecting either spouse’s ability to pay or need for support
Because the wording of the original divorce decree matters, a spousal maintenance lawyer can first determine whether the existing order is modifiable and then evaluate whether the change in circumstances is substantial enough to justify returning to court.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spousal Maintenance
How long does spousal maintenance last in Colorado if we were married about 15 years?
Colorado’s advisory duration schedule ties the maintenance term to the length of the marriage. A 15-year marriage typically produces a guideline term of roughly 6.4 years, or about 43% of the marriage length.
Will years I spent out of the workforce or working reduced hours actually count in my favor?
Yes. C.R.S. Section 14-10-114 directs the court to consider each spouse’s employment history, earning capacity, and the time needed to become self-supporting. A documented career gap taken for family reasons is something the judge weighs, not something you have to apologize for.
Does my ex remarrying or moving in with a partner end my maintenance payments?
Remarriage of the person receiving maintenance terminates the obligation automatically under Colorado law, as does the death of either party.
What is the difference between temporary maintenance and maintenance ordered at the end of the case?
Temporary maintenance covers the months between filing and final orders, keeping both households stable while the divorce is pending. Maintenance ordered in the final decree is a separate decision, made with full financial disclosure and all statutory considerations in front of the judge.
Can a prenuptial agreement waive spousal maintenance in Colorado?
It can, but Colorado courts will refuse to enforce a maintenance waiver found to be unconscionable at the time of enforcement. Full financial disclosure at signing and voluntary agreement are both required under the Colorado Uniform Premarital and Marital Agreements Act.
Is spousal maintenance taxable income in Colorado?
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, maintenance is not deductible by the payer and not taxable income to the recipient under federal law. Colorado follows the federal treatment.
What happens if my spouse just stops paying court-ordered maintenance?
A maintenance order is enforceable through contempt proceedings, income assignment directly from wages, and judgments for arrears plus statutory interest. You file a motion in the same court that issued the order, which for most Aurora cases means Arapahoe County court in the 18th Judicial District or Adams County court in the 17th.
If the formula is only advisory, how does an Aurora judge decide what is actually appropriate?
The judge runs the guideline calculation, then weighs the statutory considerations: each spouse’s income and earning capacity, the marital property each receives, the standard of living during the marriage, age and health, and the length of the marriage. Judges in Arapahoe County and Adams County regularly depart from the guideline when the evidence supports it.
Local Resources in Aurora for Alimony
- Arapahoe County District Court
The state trial court handling divorce and family law filings for residents in Arapahoe County.
- Adams County District Court
Handles family law matters, including dissolution of marriage cases, for the portion of the city within Adams County.
- Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder
Maintains official marriage and divorce records that are often needed during support proceedings.
- Adams County Clerk and Recorder
Issues and maintains vital records, including marriage certificates, for Adams County residents.
- Arapahoe County Human Services
Provides financial assistance, job training, and social services that clients may access during or after separation.
- Colorado Legal Services, Denver/Aurora Office
A nonprofit offering free civil legal aid to low-income individuals who cannot afford private representation.
- Aurora Municipal Court
City-level court that handles certain domestic-related violations and protective order enforcement within city limits.
- Arapahoe County Self-Help Center
Court-based resource center assisting unrepresented litigants with forms and procedural guidance in family cases.
- Aurora Community Resource Center
Connects residents with local social services, housing assistance, and financial counseling during life transitions.
- Colorado Judicial Branch, Online Case Search
Statewide portal allowing parties to look up filed court cases and track hearing schedules.
- Arapahoe County Assessor
Provides property valuation records used to establish marital asset values during support negotiations.
Talk to an Aurora Spousal Maintenance Lawyer at Jones Law Firm Today
Jones Law Firm, PC has represented Aurora families for more than 25 years.
If you are seeking maintenance after years of reduced earnings or contesting an award you believe is unreasonable, our team knows Arapahoe County and Adams County court procedure and builds cases that hold up in front of a judge.
Call us to schedule. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.
