Alimony, spousal support, spousal maintenance, or domestic partner support (collectively, spousal support) is generally financial support in the form of periodic payments (usually monthly) paid by one spouse or domestic partner to the other spouse or domestic partner upon divorce.

The person paying spousal support or the person receiving spousal support may seek to modify the court’s order for support—usually by increasing it or decreasing it—due to a material change in circumstances of the person paying support or the person receiving support.

Spousal support laws vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the family or domestic code.

In Colorado, spousal maintenance, commonly referred to as alimony, is financial support that one spouse may be required to pay to the other following a divorce. The purpose of spousal maintenance is to provide financial assistance to the lower-earning or non-earning spouse to help them maintain a standard of living similar to that enjoyed during the marriage. Colorado law provides guidelines for determining the amount and duration of maintenance, which are based on factors such as the length of the marriage, the financial resources of each spouse, and their respective needs. Either party can request a modification of the spousal maintenance order if there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income or employment status. The statutes governing spousal maintenance in Colorado can be found in the Colorado Revised Statutes, specifically under Title 14 (Domestic Matters), Article 10 (Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act).