When a couple divorces, the financial burden of adapting to a newly altered lifestyle can be overwhelming, often raising questions about how to manage these new expenses. This is especially true in cases where significant income discrepancies exist between the divorcing parties. In such situations, alimony and spousal maintenance play a crucial role in helping the lower-earning spouse shoulder the new financial weight. At Littman Family Law, our experienced Denver alimony attorneys and spousal maintenance professionals are dedicated to assisting clients in negotiating fair spousal support, ensuring that financial stability is maintained during this challenging transition.

Alimony is designed to provide a stipend from one party to the other, helping cover the cost of living after a divorce, and it’s often seen in cases where there are substantial differences in individual incomes. Whether through mediation or court proceedings, having a skilled attorney by your side can be instrumental in successfully securing the alimony you deserve. At Littman Family Law, we have over 25 years of experience handling alimony negotiations and spousal maintenance, and we strive to reach settlements that reflect the financial realities of each client’s situation. We are also adept at utilizing mediation as a way to reach fair agreements, often reducing the stress and cost of prolonged legal battles.

In addition to handling alimony matters, our team is well-versed in related issues such as child support and prenuptial agreements. These agreements often play a significant role in determining financial arrangements during a divorce, particularly when they outline terms for spousal support or asset division. By working with Littman Family Law, you can feel confident that every aspect of your financial situation, from alimony and child support to the enforcement of prenuptial agreements, will be addressed with expertise and dedication, helping you secure a fair and just outcome.

Our team of alimony attorneys has the experience and skill to help secure spousal maintenance when your divorce leaves you with nothing. Following Colorado’s maintenance guidelines, we can determine what to expect in the way of spousal support and protect you so you either receive fair reimbursement as a recipient or avoid exploitation via required payments. When you need a Denver alimony attorney, we will work to meet your divorce needs no matter how long the process lasts.

Reviewing and Determining Spousal Maintenance

There are specific guidelines to be eligible for spousal maintenance payments in Colorado, although it isn’t a requirement for the courts to follow them. Parties must have been married for three or more years, and their combined annual gross income must not be above $240,000. Our law firm can help create financial stability for both parties and prevent further suffering.

Preparation is vital in a successful divorce. When it comes to spousal maintenance in Denver, knowing the details from the beginning helps us determine the best strategy for negotiation. From there, we will work persistently on your case to aid in speeding up the divorce process while protecting you and your assets.

Our spousal maintenance attorneys assess your chances of receiving maintenance payments by analyzing various factors, including the following:

• You and your spouse’s incomes and ability to pay alimony: If a judge rules that you must pay maintenance, you cannot do so without the actual ability to pay it. If your earnings are insubstantial, often, spousal maintenance can be minimal.
• Length of the marriage: Being awarded alimony heavily relies on the length of your marriage. Those in marriages longer than three years are more likely to win maintenance, with marriages of 20 or more years potentially being eligible for permanent spousal support.
• Educational background: As your educational background can directly impact your financial means, those with notable educational experiences and higher employability are more likely to be the ones to pay alimony.
• Financial need and current expenses: Without a legitimate financial need, you cannot receive spousal maintenance. The spouse requesting alimony must be unable to meet their cost of living and be able to prove such claims.
• Lifestyle and standard of living: Past lifestyle choices and the standard of living both spouses had play a part in the responsible receiving of alimony and may determine whether a party can pay maintenance.
• Age and health status: As some health conditions develop with age while others have an early onset, spousal support eligibility also depends on the health of each party so that those who have poor health can receive the necessary help.
• Contributions to the marriage: Whether they are related to finances or not, a history of positive contributions during a marriage can also help secure maintenance.
• Awarded and existing property: Receiving alimony also relies on the amount of property you are receiving as a result of the divorce and the amount of property you already have.

Before signing a divorce decree, these factors also help a judge determine the amount of alimony, the length of time the spouse pays maintenance, and how frequently the receiving party can collect it. While not the same as child support, alimony is similar as both concepts help support a family’s needs. Parties must negotiate a reasonable amount of support but can also waive maintenance to receive a different benefit if they choose to.

Understanding Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance varies in several aspects, including:

• The amount of alimony
• Frequency of payment
• Duration of payment
• Limitations on maintenance

When these factors change, so do the terms of maintenance, resulting in these different types of spousal maintenance. Our lawyers at Littman Family Law are knowledgeable about each of the types of maintenance and can help you secure payment for maintenance purposes if you are eligible. We can work to determine possible outcomes for eligibility, so you know what to expect in court and understand what each maintenance plan entails.

Judges determine how much alimony a spouse will receive based on a calculation. If you are the lesser earner in your household, 40% of the higher-earning spouse’s monthly gross income minus 50% of your income determines how much you will receive as far as spousal maintenance is concerned. However, it can change depending on other reimbursements such as awarded property and child support.

For those who are exceedingly wealthy, the court may allow a lump sum of cash and include property instead of monthly reimbursements. Our team can work to negotiate a suitable form of payment for you, whether it be in a lump sum or otherwise. We will also work hard to prevent non-payment and protect those responsible for paying spousal maintenance compensation.

Temporary Maintenance

As many couples share income, when a divorce arises, this income may be cut off from one of the parties if they do not work. Temporary spousal maintenance gives the party with lesser earnings financial aid while going through the divorce to cover costs of living. During this time, the terms of alimony may change, and you may receive additional maintenance after the case ends if the judge rules it appropriate.

Permanent Maintenance

While not especially common in Colorado, permanent spousal maintenance covers the most extended amount of time for alimony and is often a large sum as it could potentially continue until death, although that is rare. For those who have been married for 20 years or more, permanent maintenance is an option that does not go unnoticed, considering the potentially detrimental effects that ending a long marriage can bring.

Age, physical disability, and intellectual problems, among other things, can prevent you from reaching financial stability and providing for yourself and your family permanently. You may be eligible for permanent maintenance if one of these factors prevents you from working. At Littman Family Law, our spousal maintenance attorneys can help you determine whether there is a chance for permanent or any other kind of alimony to help offset divorce expenses and make up for lost funds.

Rehabilitative Maintenance

While it’s common for one spouse to raise children or stay at home while the other party works, this can cause problems during a divorce if one of the spouses is significantly lacking in education necessary for supporting themself and their loved ones. Rehabilitative alimony gives a party the financial means to stay afloat while exploring secondary education. This rehabilitation effort is widespread in Colorado and is permanent only for a limited time until the spouse is sufficiently independent.

Reimbursement Maintenance

When a spouse provides the financial means for the other spouse to advance their education during their marriage, the providing spouse may be eligible for reimbursement during a divorce as they no longer have access to the benefits of the ex-spouse’s advanced education. Your ex-spouse will pay you maintenance to recompense the funds for their educational training while you were married.

Adequate Alimony with a Littman Family Law Alimony Attorney

With Littman Family Law, you are a part of our team. We understand that divorces are already tough to endure, so we strive to prevent further stress through our services, even with spousal maintenance. Alimony requests need factual information behind them to be successful, and we work diligently to prove your case and come to a fruitful negotiation with our thorough, detailed service. If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement, we can guide the process to aid in facilitating effective communication.

Seeking spousal maintenance is viable for men and women alike, and both can be successful depending on the circumstances of the case. We strive to facilitate easy divorce processes to prevent unnecessary mental distress for everyone involved, including children. Our professionals have the necessary skills to negotiate across both sides while protecting your interests to help you reach an agreement on distributing assets, receiving adequate compensation, and working out the specifics of child custody.

When you need a comprehensive, caring Denver alimony attorney and spousal maintenance services, the team at Littman Family Law in Denver, CO, is ready to represent you in your divorce process. Call our office for a consultation at 303-832-4200 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with an alimony attorney today.

Related: Can You Modify Alimony Payments in Colorado?