At Jones Law Firm, PC, we represent spouses seeking fair spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, in Greenwood Village and across the Denver Metro area.
Since 2000, our team has helped clients protect their financial stability during divorce, especially when one spouse stepped back from a career, managed the household, raised children, or supported the other spouse’s professional growth.
Spousal maintenance is the money one spouse may pay the other during or after a divorce to help balance an income gap. In Colorado, it is governed by C.R.S. § 14-10-114 and is separate from child support, which is meant to cover the children’s needs.
With 25-plus years in practice, Super Lawyers recognition for April Jones from 2024 to 2026, a secure Client Portal, and our Communication Guarantee, we help you understand your options, protect your financial future, and pursue a fair result.
Understanding How Colorado Calculates Spousal Maintenance
According to Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-114, the advisory formula calculates maintenance as 40% of the higher earner’s monthly adjusted gross income minus 50% of the lower earner’s monthly adjusted gross income, and it applies when combined gross income does not exceed $240,000 a year.
For higher-earning households, the formula becomes advisory only. Above that threshold, the judge uses discretion, guided by statutory factors including the marital standard of living, the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, age, health, and contributions made as a homemaker.
Two more things matter here:
- Temporary maintenance covers you during the case, long-term maintenance is decided at the decree.
- Bonuses, RSUs, and self-employment income common in the DTC corridor are income the court can count, if they are proven.
If a divorce offer ignores your career gap, that is a fight worth having.
Our Spousal Maintenance Legal Services at Jones Law Firm
- Negotiating initial spousal maintenance awards that reflect the real marital standard of living
- Litigating contested maintenance at hearing when the other side lowballs
- Seeking or defending temporary maintenance orders while your divorce is pending
- Post-decree modification of maintenance amount or duration when circumstances change
- Terminating maintenance upon a former spouse’s cohabitation or remarriage
- Enforcement and contempt actions for unpaid maintenance
- High-asset and complex-income disputes involving RSUs, bonuses, and business income
- Maintenance clauses in separation agreements and marital settlement agreements
- Maintenance considerations in collaborative divorce
- Maintenance in military divorce, including issues under the USFSPA
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements addressing maintenance waivers
- Related child support matters that affect your overall financial picture
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 for Your Spousal Maintenance Case in Greenwood Village
A team on every case, not one busy lawyer
Our Round Table Brain Trust means multiple attorneys and staff strategize together on your case, so obscure income streams like RSUs, bonuses, and deferred compensation get caught, not overlooked.
A Communication Guarantee that keeps you informed
You are never left in the dark. Expect proactive updates through our secure Client Portal so you always know exactly where your case stands.
Courtroom-dominant advocacy in the 18th Judicial District
According to the Colorado Judicial Branch Trial Court Statistical Summary for FY 2022-2023, Arapahoe County recorded 2,728 dissolution filings, and we are ready to fight contested maintenance hearings here with confidence.
Peer-recognized experience you can verify
April Jones is a Super Lawyers honoree, and the firm holds an Avvo 10.0 rating and AV Preeminent status, backed by 3,500+ cases and 250+ years of combined experience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in a Colorado Spousal Maintenance Case
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Agreeing to numbers before you understand Colorado’s advisory maintenance formula and how a judge might apply it to your marriage.
- Failing to document your marital standard of living with real financial records, so the true lifestyle is never proven.
- Accepting underreported income, especially when RSUs, bonuses, deferred compensation, or self-employment earnings common in the DTC business community are minimized.
- Skipping temporary maintenance while the divorce is pending, leaving you financially exposed during litigation.
- Ignoring tax rules: for agreements after December 31, 2018, maintenance is not deductible for the payor and not income for the recipient.
- Leaving out cohabitation termination clauses or review and step-down provisions in long-term orders.
- Waiting too long to file a modification when circumstances change, or representing yourself in a contested Arapahoe County hearing.
About Jones Law Firm, PC
Since 2000, we have served families across Greenwood Village and the Denver Metro area, with our primary office right here in Greenwood Village and additional reach across Colorado and California. Over 25 years, our team has handled more than 3,500 cases and brings 250-plus years of combined experience to the table.
What makes us different is our round-table model. Instead of one busy attorney working alone, multiple attorneys and staff review every case together, so nothing gets overlooked, including hard-to-trace stock compensation and bonuses.
We are known for being aggressive yet compassionate, with real strength representing the person who was served rather than the one who filed. We have 6 offices in Colorado, including Aurora, Greenwood Village, Denver, Parker, Westminster, and Lakewood.
Our reputation is backed by Super Lawyers recognition, an Avvo 10.0, a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, a BBB A+, and strong Google reviews at 4.6 stars at our Greenwood Village office.
We Choose Sides. Yours.
How Jones Law Firm Handles Your Spousal Maintenance Case in Greenwood Village
1. Free 45-Minute Consultation
You start with a no-cost conversation with a Client Relationship Specialist to review your situation and map an initial strategy, with no financial commitment while you gather information.
2. Case Intake and Document Gathering
We collect the proof that matters, like tax returns, income records, RSUs and bonus statements, and evidence of the marital standard of living your household actually enjoyed.
3. Round Table Brain Trust Strategy Session
Multiple attorneys and staff review your full financial picture together, so nothing gets missed, including hard-to-trace stock compensation or business income.
4. Negotiation and Court Positioning
We pursue negotiation or mediation when it serves you, and prepare for temporary orders if you need support during the divorce.
5. Contested Hearing Preparation
If your spouse lowballs you, we build the case with forensic financial analysis and courtroom strategy.
6. Post-Decree Monitoring
We defend your award if circumstances later change, plus ongoing updates through your secure Client Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spousal Maintenance in Greenwood Village
How long does spousal maintenance last in Colorado, and how does the length of our marriage affect the award?
In Colorado, the length of maintenance is tied closely to how long you were married. The state uses a guideline schedule that generally increases the payment period as the marriage lengthens, and marriages of many years can support significantly longer awards. For marriages of 20 years or more, a court may order maintenance without a set end date.
How is spousal maintenance calculated in Colorado if my spouse’s income exceeds the statutory cap?
Colorado’s guideline formula is designed for combined incomes up to a statutory limit. When the higher earner’s income runs above that cap, the guideline number stops being an automatic answer, and the court shifts to its own discretion based on the full financial picture. This is exactly where high earners try to minimize the number, so proving the true income and the real marital standard of living becomes essential.
My spouse’s pay includes RSUs, bonuses, and deferred compensation. Will those count toward maintenance?
Yes, and they matter a great deal. Colorado courts look at gross income from many sources, not just base salary, which means stock compensation, bonuses, and deferred pay can all factor into a maintenance calculation. The challenge is that these income streams are easy to understate at the negotiating table.
I was a stay-at-home spouse. Will the judge think my career gap means I have to accept a low number?
No. A career interruption is a reason for support, not a reason to reduce it. Colorado courts weigh both spouses’ earning capacity, the marital standard of living, and the sacrifices made during the marriage. If you left a professional role years ago to support relocations or raise children, that gap is a factor the court can use to justify a higher and longer award, sometimes above the basic formula.
Will the judge deviate from the statutory formula, and what factors justify that?
The formula is a starting guideline, not a ceiling. Colorado law lets a court adjust the amount or duration based on factors like the marital standard of living, each spouse’s earning capacity, financial resources, and the contributions one spouse made to the other’s career. A long marriage with a large earning gap is a classic case for deviation.
Can spousal maintenance be modified after the divorce is final?
Usually, yes. In Colorado, maintenance can be modified when there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, unless your agreement makes it non-modifiable. An ex-spouse may later claim a job change or business restructuring as a reason to pay less.
What happens if my ex stops paying the maintenance the court ordered?
A maintenance order is enforceable. If your ex stops paying, you can return to court and ask a judge to enforce the order, which can include collecting past-due amounts, wage garnishment, and other remedies.
Does cohabitation automatically end maintenance in Colorado?
Not automatically. Unlike remarriage, which typically ends maintenance, cohabitation does not end it on its own in Colorado. However, if your agreement includes a cohabitation clause, or if your circumstances change substantially, an ex may ask the court to modify or terminate the award.
What Greenwood Village Families Say About Jones Law Firm
“She is sharp, quick and strong and we won my case decisively.”- M.K.
When someone else controls the money and the momentum, this is the firepower you need. This client saw the firm take charge and deliver a decisive result.
“It made a difficult time of life softer while maintaining my dignity.”- B.H.
You can be fought for and still feel respected. This is what compassion plus advocacy looks like in practice.
“April is well prepared and understands the law and court processes well beyond anything I have experienced.”- J.M.
Deep preparation is how obscure income streams get exposed and a fair maintenance figure gets defended.
“Not a day went by when I did not receive a document, a question, or an answer from them.”- A.A.
This is the Communication Guarantee in action. You will never be left wondering what is happening with your case.
Local Resources for Spousal Maintenance and Divorce in Greenwood Village
- Arapahoe County District Court
Handles divorce, legal separation, spousal maintenance, child support, parenting time, and other domestic relations cases for Greenwood Village residents.
- Colorado Judicial Branch Divorce and Separation Resources
Offers official Colorado court forms and instructions for divorce, legal separation, and related family law matters.
- Arapahoe County Self-Help Resources
Includes family law links, legal help resources, mediation information, child support resources, and evidence guidance for domestic relations cases.
- Office of Dispute Resolution Mediation Services
Provides court-connected mediation resources that may help parties resolve disputes involving spousal maintenance, property division, and parenting issues..
- Arapahoe County Human Services
Provides family support services, economic assistance, child support resources, and related county-level support for families going through divorce.
- Metro Volunteer Lawyers
Provides free and low-cost legal help for qualifying residents in the Denver Metro area, including family law and divorce matters.
- Arapahoe County Divorce Records Information
Explains where divorce records and case files are maintained and how older Arapahoe County divorce records may be requested.
Talk to a Greenwood Village Spousal Maintenance Lawyer Today
Jones Law Firm, PC fights for the person who was served, and we know how to press for spousal maintenance (alimony) that reflects your real marital standard of living, including income tied to RSUs, bonuses, and business draws.
Your first step is a private, no-obligation conversation. That means 45 minutes with our Client Relationship Specialist to understand your options, at no cost to you. Everything you share stays protected and discreet.
Call us to schedule your free consultation, or send a short message and choose how much you want to share on first contact.
We Choose Sides. Yours.
