Colorado Maintenance — Advisory Calculator
Colorado's guideline is advisory (C.R.S. §14-10-114). The court can award more, less, or nothing on the statutory factors, with a written explanation — without regard to marital misconduct.
Formula and limits
The formula applies only if the marriage lasted at least 3 years and combined annual adjusted gross income is $240,000 or less. Above $240,000 the amount formula does not apply (the court sets the amount on the factors); the guideline term may still be used. Base (pre-2019 deductible treatment): 40% of combined monthly AGI − lower earner's monthly AGI (or $0 if negative). Post-31 December 2018 (non-deductible/non-taxable — virtually all current cases): base × 80% if combined monthly AGI is $10,000 or less, or base × 75% if combined monthly AGI is $10,001–$20,000. An older higher threshold found in some guides is outdated and is not used here.
Duration
Statutory table in whole months for 3–20-year marriages, rising from 31% at 36 months (11-month term) through 35% at 60 months (21 months), 40% at 90 months (36 months), 45% at 120 months (54 months), 50% at 150 months (75 months), to a 120-month term at 240 months (20 years). Over 20 years the court may award a specified term or an indefinite term, but not less than the 20-year guideline term without specific findings. In summary: roughly one-third to one-half of marriage length for 3–20-year marriages. The calculator interpolates between the table's listed points and labels the result as an advisory estimate.
Worked example (advisory, post-2018 tax treatment)
Higher earner $8,000/month, lower earner $4,000/month (combined $12,000/month = $144,000/year, under the cap), 10-year marriage. Base: 40% × $12,000 − $4,000 = $800. Combined $12,000 is in the $10,001–$20,000 band, so $800 × 75% = $600/month advisory. Duration: 120 months of marriage → 45% → 54 months.
Sources: C.R.S. §14-10-114. §14-10-114 text
How to use this calculator
Enter monthly adjusted gross incomes and marriage length in months. First check the gate: the advisory formula applies only if the marriage lasted at least 3 years and combined annual adjusted gross income is $240,000 or less. Above $240,000, the amount formula does not apply (the court sets the amount on the factors), although the guideline term may still be used. The base is 40% of combined monthly AGI minus the lower earner's monthly AGI (or $0 if negative). For cases after 31 December 2018 — virtually all current cases, where maintenance is non-deductible and non-taxable — multiply the base by 80% if combined monthly AGI is $10,000 or less, or by 75% if it is $10,001–$20,000. Do not use the older $360,000 threshold found in some guides; it is outdated.
Additional worked examples
| Higher / lower monthly AGI | Marriage | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6,000 / $2,000 | 120 months (10 years) | Combined $8,000/month; base 40% × $8,000 − $2,000 = $1,200; × 80% (combined ≤ $10,000) | $960/month, guideline term 54 months in the tested case |
Duration follows a statutory table in whole months for 3–20-year marriages, rising from 31% at 36 months (an 11-month term) to higher percentages for longer marriages. Over 20 years, the term may be indefinite. The calculator applies the table; the amount remains advisory.
Common mistakes
- Treating the advisory formula as binding. Colorado's guideline is advisory. The court can award more, less or nothing on the statutory factors, with a written explanation, without regard to marital misconduct.
- Using the $360,000 threshold. The current combined-AGI limit for the amount formula is $240,000 per year. The higher figure in older guides is outdated.
- Forgetting the 80%/75% tax adjustment. Post-2018 cases use the adjusted base. Using the unadjusted base overstates maintenance.
- Applying the formula under 3 years of marriage. The formula does not apply below 3 years; the court decides on the factors.
How courts deviate from the guideline
A guideline figure is a presumption, not a guarantee. Courts commonly depart where the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate on the facts: a child's proven needs or special expenses, a parent's other obligations, hardship, high or very low income, shared-care arrangements that change real costs, and tax or benefit effects the formula does not capture. Where a court deviates, it generally must explain why and state the guideline figure it departed from. That is why every calculator on this site shows its formula and its cap: you can see what the court starts from, even if the final order differs.
Because the formula is advisory, “deviation” is the norm rather than the exception: the court weighs the statutory factors and explains its award. The guideline figure is a starting point for negotiation and for the court's reasoning, not an entitlement.
When to hire a lawyer
An estimate is a starting point, not a strategy. Talk to a licensed attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before you rely on a figure if any of these apply: custody is disputed; there is a business, professional practice or complex property to value; retirement accounts, stock or deferred compensation are involved; either parent's income is disputed, imputed or largely non-cash; a child has special needs or disability; support is above a statutory cap; or the other party already has a lawyer. A lawyer can also advise on deviation factors, add-ons and enforcement in that jurisdiction — none of which a guideline calculator can decide. This site cannot recommend a specific lawyer and does not take referral fees.
Frequently asked questions
These questions are shown on the page in full. They are not marked up as FAQ structured data.
Is Colorado maintenance mandatory?
No — it is advisory. The court may award more, less, or nothing on the statutory factors.
When does the Colorado formula not apply?
If the marriage lasted under 3 years, or combined annual adjusted gross income exceeds $240,000.
What is the Colorado worked example?
Higher $8,000 and lower $4,000 a month, 10-year marriage: $600 a month advisory, 54 months duration.
Is Colorado maintenance mandatory at the guideline amount?
No. The guideline is advisory and the court may depart from it with a written explanation.
What happens above $240,000 combined AGI?
The amount formula does not apply. The court sets the amount on the factors; the guideline term may still be used.
Change log
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | Initial build: formula, cap and worked examples from official sources, dated October 2026. |
| October 2026 | Remediation pass: FAQPage structured data removed and replaced with BreadcrumbList plus WebApplication/Article schema; visible FAQ added; navigation replaced with three hub pages and same-jurisdiction Related links; author byline and author box added; clean folder URLs. No calculator formula, cap or worked-example figure was changed in this pass. |
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