If someone doesn't specify the state, in a question about alimony, they deserve to be warned in case they are in Colorado. People will give advice based on the experiences in their more reasonable states, and if the person happens to be in CO, they are blindsided.
I have looked at and experienced the Colorado law. There are absolutely *no* concrete guidelines for amount or duration of alimony, and absolutely *no* limits. It is left entirely up to the judge.
The only limiting factor for permanent alimony mentioned *anywhere* in Colorado divorce statutes is mentioned under the guidelines for modifications, where it states that a modification is only considered when CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES make the original award "unfair." BTW, this statute was changed a few years ago because originally instead of "unfair" it said "unconscionable." Unfortunately, the judges still cling to unconscionable, which is why modifications are almost *never* made.
Because there is *nothing* in the statutes defining amount or duration, there are absolutely *no* grounds for appeal of an alimony award in Colorado. There is case law covering literally any award a judge can conjure up. Any appeal can be denied based on existing case law showing a similar award.
People who don't live hear can't imagine the reality. Here is a great example: There was a story on the AP wires that went nationwide about a woman who died in childbirth, and whose baby was born without a heartbeat. Both miraculously survived.
In the story it says the father lost his job because he had to stay home to tend to the mother, the baby, and their two other children.
Now, get this, it also says that during the ordeal, HE WAS JAILED for failing to pay alimony to his ex-wife. What judicial system would remove the caretaker and father from a family during a time of dire need, to put him in jail for failure to pay alimony to an ex-wife, when the reason he couldn't pay was that he was tending to his sick wife and newborn? What SOCIETAL purpose was there to do this? Taxpayers had to pay to have him processed and incarcerated, while his family sat at home and suffered? WTF? Someone please tell me how this could happen? Given the financial situation, was the guy supposed to sell one of his kids to get money for the alimony or what?
Oh, of course, this situation took place in COLORADO, the most forked up state for alimony anywhere.
Now, here is an absolutely fascinating element to this story: the original AP story mentions that Mr. Hermanstorfer was jailed for non-payment of alimony during this ordeal. Some of the news outlets reporting this story REMOVED that sentence from the story when they published it. Why do you think this was done?
[censored]://[censored].boston.com/community/stories_to_inspire/articles/2010/12/22/colo_family_still_in_awe_of_mom_babys_recovery/
[censored]://[censored].foxnews.com/health/2010/12/22/colo-family-awe-mom-babys-miracle-recovery/
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