Navigating Financial Support During a Colorado Divorce
Many of my clients never imagined what their financial life would look like after divorce. Often it feels like there simply is not enough money to go around. Receiving too little support, or paying too much support, can mean that your rainy-day fund is now dry, or that stability during retirement is no longer guaranteed. Many of my clients are caught off guard when they take a closer look at their spouse’s spending habits. It is not uncommon to feel resentful, angry, confused, scared, or even betrayed. At The Law Office of Andi Grace Davis, I help clients throughout Boulder County and the Colorado Front Range understand and protect their financial rights during divorce.
Money is about more than just numbers; it’s the story of two lives and the future of your family. This is your security, your kids’ stability, your ability to breathe again. I’m here to help you realize your value and ensure your kids get exactly what they need to prosper.
How We Determine Child Support Together
The process of calculating support is designed to protect your children’s standard of living. It’s about ensuring that the shift doesn’t rob them of the childhood they deserve. While Colorado courts use specific income-based formulas, every family has a different rhythm. Your unique life dictates the final numbers.
The Foundation
Child support is a formula. We begin by looking at the gross income of both parents. This isn’t just a number on a page; it’s the combined resource pool available to support your children’s future. If one parent is able to work, but is currently not working, the Court takes that into consideration as well.
Factored in Expenses
The child support formula takes into account health insurance costs for your children, work-related childcare costs, and unreimbursed medical expenses. I will work with you to determine what expenses should be added to the formula. If you or the other parent has children from a different relationship, that is also figured in.
Overnight Calculation
Child support can change based on each parent’s time with the children.
Other Costs
Often the expenses for our children go way beyond basic necessities like food or clothing. If your child plays travel sports, or has an expensive extracurricular activity like dance or horseback riding, then Courts want to find a way for a child to continue in these activities.
Transparency is Strength
I know it can feel invasive to lay your finances bare, but full transparency regarding earnings is not only the most effective way to keep the process moving forward, but hiding financial resources can have dire consequences with the judge.
Understanding Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
Moving forward takes time, and the shift to a single-income household can feel heavy. Unlike child support, there isn’t a rigid, set formula for spousal maintenance that the Court follows in every case. Instead, spousal maintenance is based on a balance of need and the ability to pay. This means that a Court case involving spousal maintenance needs thorough preparation ahead of time, making clear for the judge the financial resources and expenses of both parties.
|
Factor |
What it Means for Your Future |
| Length of Marriage | Life together was a long journey. Longer marriages usually result in longer periods of support payments. |
| Standard of Living | The court looks at the lifestyle you established during the marriage to help maintain a sense of continuity. |
| Earning Capacity | Sometimes health gets in the way, or time away from the workforce limits your options. We look at your actual ability to self-support. |
| Path to Independence | The goal is often to help you become independent. This might mean the court sets a specific date for support to end, or links it to the completion of training or education. |
Where Support Types Meet
It’s important to understand that child support and spousal maintenance aren’t isolated from each other; they are closely linked. If the court awards alimony, that amount is typically factored into the income of the person receiving it. This means one form of support directly impacts the calculation of the other.
It’s all connected. If financial resources are limited, the system is designed to prioritize the children first to ensure their basic needs are met. However, with the right legal guidance, we can strike a balance that provides stability for the entire household.
I also help my clients find financial planners to help them understand tax consequences, and how to plan for their future financial wellbeing. While I can flag areas that may have tax consequences for my clients, there is no substitute to working closely with a certified financial planner to understand the ever changing tax rules, and how to best meet your personal financial goals.
If Your Life Changes, the Order Can Too
One of the biggest fears I hear is the feeling of being “stuck” with an unfair order forever. But life is unpredictable. Under Colorado law, you can typically request a change or a modification if there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Courts usually want to see a change in income that is significant enough to cause a 10% increase or decrease in support. Spousal maintenance ordered by the Court can also be modified. However, if you settled out of court, then the language in your written agreement controls whether or not you can modify it. That’s why it’s important to have the right representation every step of the way.
A job loss, a significant medical issue, or an increase in a child’s specific needs can all justify a new look at the numbers. While the paperwork can be a hassle, it matters. I encourage you to keep detailed records of your expenses now. If you need to show a judge that the current order is no longer fair, that proof will be our strongest tool.
Your Next Steps for Stability
Navigating these financial rules is complex, and it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. You’ve spent a long time being the strong one, and it is okay to ask for a hand now.
At The Law Office of Andi Grace Davis, I don’t just “run the numbers” or hand you a worksheet. I spend real time with you so that you feel prepared, heard, and confident in the roadmap we are building for your road ahead. We will explore all options and connect you with the support you need. We will clear the fog, get a certain picture of your rights, and start building that stable future you deserve.