Fort Collins Alimony Lawyers — Maintenance Arguments Built Around Northern Colorado’s Financial Reality
Spousal maintenance decisions in Fort Collins carry long-term financial consequences — sometimes a decade or more of payments, or years of financial uncertainty after a long marriage. Colorado’s maintenance guidelines provide a formula, but Fort Collins’ economic landscape — academic employment structures, technology sector income variability, clean energy startup equity, and a cost of living that has risen significantly — creates situations where the formula doesn’t fully tell the story. Burnham Law’s Fort Collins alimony attorneys know where the guidelines leave room and how to make the arguments that move outcomes in your direction.
Our Fort Collins maintenance attorneys represent both payors and recipients with equal financial preparation and direct advocacy. Browse our team below.
She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice before earning her law degree with high honors from Drake University Law School. During her time in law school, she was actively involved in several organizations, including the Children’s Rights Clinic, where she represented children in Dependency and Neglect cases, as well as the Student Bar Association and Law Review. She also gained experience as a Legal Writing Fellow and was a member of the Client Counseling Team. Before joining the Colorado bar, Ali was admitted to practice in Iowa. She worked at a general practice firm, where she gained extensive experience in family law, juvenile law, real estate, and business and estate planning. Ali is dedicated to being a compassionate and zealous advocate for her clients, recognizing the emotional and often high-conflict nature of family law, civil demand letters and probate matters. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys running, skiing, and traveling...
Allison brings a unique blend of business and legal expertise to her practice. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Georgia, she worked full-time while attending Georgia State University College of Law in the evenings, where she earned her JD. Although born in Texas, Allison’s upbringing included time in Colorado and Georgia. After completing her education in Georgia, she decided to return to Colorado to begin her legal career. She started as a Deputy District Attorney in the 4th Judicial District, prosecuting a variety of cases from misdemeanors to sex offenses. Allison then transitioned to a role as a Senior Contracts Representative at Honeywell, where she worked closely with the United States Air Force. Since 2015, Allison has exclusively practiced family law, a field she discovered to be her true passion. She brings compassion and empathy to her work, ensuring clients understand the legal process every step of the way. While she always strives...
Annie is dedicated to helping clients navigate some of life’s most challenging transitions with clarity and compassion. Her practice focuses primarily on family law, where she represents clients in divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities, post-decree disputes, guardianships, DHS finding appeals and child-related matters. Before joining Burnham Law, Annie gained extensive experience representing clients in district court on guardianship, conservatorship, and expungement cases. From that experience, she learned to approach every case with a balance of empathy and assertiveness, understanding that family law matters are deeply personal and often contentious. Outside the office, Annie enjoys exploring Colorado’s hiking trails and discovering local thrift stores.
Barry has over 35 years of experience handling divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, maintenance, high asset property division, and post decree modification cases. Barry successfully handled the landmark case (Spahmer v. Gullette), which changed child relocation law in Colorado. The case serves as the current governing law for relocation cases in Colorado that arise as part of a divorce proceeding. Barry takes great pride in not only delivering the highest quality legal services, but also developing strong and reliable relationships with his clients. He understands how stressful it is to be involved in a divorce or family law proceeding and considers it his responsibility to take care of his clients and be their trusted advisor when resolving their legal issues.
Brooke Shafranek is an experienced family law attorney with a client-focused approach to her practice. She was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and attended North Carolina State University, where she received her bachelor’s in English and graduated as valedictorian of her graduating class. Brooke attended law school at the University of Florida, where she received several awards, honors and scholarships. Brooke has been recognized as a SuperLawyers Rising Star since 2023, and brings her passion and expertise to every family law matter. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys traveling and watching live music.
Christopher Sutton is an experienced litigator, focusing his current practice on a mix of Criminal Defense and Family Law. He brings over a decade of high-stakes courtroom experience to his practice, having spent nearly ten years as a District Attorney for El Paso County. During this time, he served for three years as a Special Victim's Attorney, handling complex cases including sex crimes, felony child abuse, and multiple homicides. This experience instilled in him a deep commitment to finding justice for clients and giving back to the community. Mr. Sutton's path to law began with a strong interest in the environment. After earning his B.A. in Biology from Washington and Lee University, he worked as an environmental scientist, identifying liabilities in properties. A key experience working on a Superfund site solidified his decision to pursue law. He earned his J.D. from the University of Denver (DU), where he concentrated on environmental and criminal law. Originally from Pottstown, PA, Christopher developed...
Cindy graduated cum laude from The Pennsylvania State University before earning her law degree from Penn State Law. During her time in law school, she gained invaluable practical experience as a student attorney for the Penn State Family Law Clinic, where she successfully represented clients on a variety of complex family law issues. Throughout her legal career, Cindy has distinguished herself as a highly skilled Family Law strategist and a zealous litigator. Her extensive experience has given her a unique ability to navigate the complexities of family law and provide powerful advocacy for her clients. Cindy understands the profound emotional and financial strain that contentious family disputes inflict on families. She is deeply committed to being a steady, supportive force during these tumultuous times. Cindy is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of her clients; she provides individualized representation, developing unique and thoughtful strategies to help clients achieve their specific case objectives and find stability. Committed to...
Daniel is an experienced litigator who has solely focused on family law since 2012 and has significant experience handling complex and high-conflict cases. Daniel started practicing law at a large family law firm in Florida, where he represented hundreds of clients over the years, before moving to Colorado. He has extensive experience in virtually all areas of family law, ranging from original dissolution actions, allocation of parental responsibilities actions, relocation actions, modifications of parenting time, child support and maintenance. Daniel is a proud alum of Florida State University, where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the state with his wife and daughter.
Jennifer brings two decades of family law paralegal experience to her role as a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional. She began her legal career as a legal assistant at a well-established New York firm specializing in foster care and adoption, where her passion for supporting families and children in vulnerable circumstances took root. After dedicating time to raise a family and complete her Bachelor of Social Work, she returned to the legal environment in 2011, working with a seasoned Colorado family law attorney and further honing her skills in domestic litigation. Jennifer is proud to be part of Colorado’s inaugural class of Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs), a groundbreaking initiative expanding access to legal services in family law. She believes in a cooperative, client-centered approach, emphasizing clear communication, practical solutions, and compassionate advocacy. Her social work background reinforces her ability to guide clients through emotionally charged legal matters with both tenacity and empathy. Outside the office, Jennifer enjoys exploring Colorado’s backcountry trails with...
Jennifer is a Partner at Burnham Law. She is an accomplished litigator with expertise in domestic relations law and is often called upon to handle complex dissolutions and post-decree matters. She received the Super Lawyers Rising Star award, a distinction that fewer than 2.5% of lawyers in the state meet. Jennifer got her start practicing criminal law as an Associate Criminal Defense Attorney and she represented clients in court throughout the state of Colorado on a daily basis. Jennifer joined Willoughby and Associates, a premier family law firm in downtown Denver, and has specialized in family law ever since. She is experienced in cases of domestic violence, restrictions and modifications of parenting time, child support, decision making, high conflict APR/dissolution cases, and both pre-decree and post-decree relocation cases. Jennifer enjoys being a source of comfort and guidance to families going through difficult times. She is sensitive to client’s needs while firmly managing their expectations. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending...
Jeremy Wooten, is a seasoned trial attorney who specializes in criminal defense and family law, leveraging a wealth of experience honed over five years at the Colorado State Public Defenders’ Office. Rising to Senior Deputy Public Defender, he successfully managed a diverse caseload, including serious charges like first-degree homicide, drug distribution, and economic crimes, always maintaining an unwavering commitment to client advocacy. Licensed in both Texas and Colorado, Jeremy's legal expertise is defined by strategic planning—meticulously crafting and executing well-thought-out trial strategies—and remarkable resourcefulness in finding innovative solutions to complex legal challenges in both the criminal and family law arenas. His practice is characterized by agile, client-centered advocacy, which relies on adaptability, active listening, and quick thinking essential for effective trial work. Jeremy prioritizes thoroughly understanding his clients' objectives and adapting his strategies dynamically to the evolving nature of trials. His resilience and strategic agility allow him to confidently navigate unexpected developments in the courtroom, ensuring each case is expertly...
Julian Rosielle has been licensed to practice law in Colorado since 2006. Julian is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List and an associate editor of the University of Colorado Law Review. Julian practiced exclusively in the area of criminal law for the first thirteen years of his career and has several notable case outcomes to include not guilty verdicts on charges of homicide and assault. Julian has extensive trial experience, ranging from Death Penalty cases to misdemeanor domestic violence to driving under the influence. Beginning in 2019, Julian’s practice has expanded to include domestic relations litigation and civil protection orders. Julian has lived in Colorado since 2004 and when not in Court enjoys hiking with his family and dogs.
Kaliegh is a dedicated family law attorney who understands that every family is unique. Whether she is helping clients reach an amicable solution or advocating in the courtroom, Kaliegh ensures that her clients understand the legal process and can make the best decisions for their families. Both a compassionate advisor and a zealous litigator, Kaliegh knows there is no “one size fits all” approach to representation. Kaliegh began her legal career as a staff attorney for the El Paso and Teller County Child Support Services Office. Kaliegh worked in private practice for several years before joining Burnham Law, navigating clients through divorces, child custody determinations, and post-decree modifications. Kaliegh brings a well-rounded approach centered on each client’s individual needs. In her free time, Kaliegh enjoys traveling, photography, reading, and spending time with her family.
Miguel C. Mondragon is a tenacious and dedicated attorney who is fiercely committed to his clients and their legal outcomes. Recognizing that clients facing divorce or criminal charges are often in their most vulnerable state, Miguel acts as a passionate advocate, ensuring they have a voice within the legal system. Growing up in southern Colorado, Miguel developed a strong work ethic by working in construction, lumber, and brickyards while attending college. Before becoming an attorney, his interest in law was sparked by his work within the Larimer County Corrections system. While attending the University of South Dakota School of Law, he gained valuable experience working with East River Legal Services, the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, and Samuelson Law. Upon graduation, Miguel honed his skills first as a solo practitioner, then at Weaver & Associates, P.C., before founding Mondragon Law, where he specialized in criminal defense and family law. He brings this deep experience and tenacity to his current role...
Mikayla assists clients on a variety of family law matters, such as dissolution of marriage, allocation of parental responsibilities, and child support enforcement. Mikayla began her legal career as a child support attorney for El Paso County where she helped parents obtain financial support for their children. While Mikayla has worked in private practice for a number of years, she draws on her experiences as a public child support attorney to help her current clients achieve the best possible results. Clients can expect an honest and tenacious legal advocate in Mikayla’s representation. She understands the sensitive and stressful nature of family law cases, and Mikayla will be there to guide her clients through the legal process. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and camping with her family.
Patrick has experience in the areas of family law, dependency and neglect, and juvenile delinquency. His practice currently focuses on domestic relations, dependency and neglect, and family law matters. Patrick received his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School where he earned a Juvenile and Family Law Certificate for demonstrated dedication to these fields of law. While attending CU, he also clerked for the 20th Judicial District as a judicial intern and was a student attorney with the Juvenile and Family Law Clinic, assisting low-income clients with a variety of legal issues, including adoptions, divorces, and custody disputes.
Theresa graduated from the University of South Florida with a BA in political science and minor in communications in 2014. She went on to graduate third in her class at Western Michigan University Law School in 2018. While in law school she clerked for a judge in the second district court of appeals in Florida. After moving to Colorado she worked for a cannabis law firm assisting cannabis business owners with licensing and compliance/regulations. She then found her passion working in domestic relations and has practiced family law exclusively ever since. Theresa handles all issues related to custody including dependency and neglect, custody disputes, allocation of parental responsibilities, guardianship, and adoptions. Theresa also has experience with high asset cases and division of complex assets. Both in and out of the courtroom, Theresa has a reputation as a strong advocate for those she represents. She is skilled at seeing the big picture, and effectively navigates clients to their best possible outcome....
Alimony (Spousal Maintenance) in Fort Collins, Colorado
Colorado’s spousal maintenance framework uses a statutory guideline formula that produces a suggested monthly amount and duration based on the length of the marriage and the gross incomes of both spouses. The guidelines apply when combined adjusted gross income is $240,000 or less annually. The formula is advisory, not mandatory — Larimer County District Court has discretion to deviate from it when the circumstances justify, and experienced attorneys argue those deviations regularly.
Fort Collins creates specific maintenance situations that the standard formula may not adequately capture. Academic employment income — which includes base salary, supplemental research income, summer salary, and potentially royalties or startup distributions — doesn’t always map cleanly onto the formula’s income inputs. Technology sector compensation with significant equity components creates income volatility that affects both the baseline calculation and the modification risk. And Fort Collins’ rising cost of living means that the financial gap between what the formula produces and what a lower-earning spouse actually needs to maintain reasonable housing and living costs can be substantial.
Larimer County District Court applies the statutory guidelines as a baseline and hears deviation arguments when they’re supported by the financial facts. Understanding which circumstances support deviation, how to build the record to make those arguments, and how to present them effectively in front of Larimer County judges is where experienced local representation produces meaningfully better outcomes.
What Our Fort Collins Alimony Attorneys Handle
Maintenance negotiation in divorce — building the financial record, verifying income for both parties, and arguing for maintenance terms that reflect the actual post-divorce financial picture rather than just what the formula produces.
Deviation arguments when the statutory formula produces an outcome that doesn’t reflect the financial reality of the specific marriage. Career interruptions made in service of a partner’s academic or business career, significant earning capacity disparities not captured by current income, and Fort Collins’ actual cost of living are common deviation grounds.
Academic income analysis for CSU faculty divorces — establishing accurate income figures from base salary, summer salary, research grants, consulting income, and any startup or royalty distributions. Academic income structures require more than reviewing pay stubs.
Temporary maintenance during the divorce proceeding when a significant income disparity exists between spouses. Fort Collins’ growing cost of living makes temporary maintenance particularly significant — the gap between what a lower-earning spouse receives and what they need during a contested proceeding can be real.
Maintenance modification after the final decree when a substantial and continuing change in circumstances has occurred — income change, job loss, disability, or other financial shift affecting either party.
Termination proceedings upon remarriage of the recipient, expiration of the ordered duration, or changed circumstances that make continuation inequitable.
How Fort Collins Alimony Cases Work
Maintenance is determined as part of the overall divorce or legal separation proceeding in Larimer County District Court. Both parties exchange sworn financial disclosures — income documentation, tax returns, expense records — which form the factual basis for any maintenance determination. In Fort Collins cases involving academic employment or business ownership, establishing accurate income figures from the available documentation is itself a significant undertaking.
Maintenance is typically one of the last issues resolved at mediation because it’s financially intertwined with property division. How assets are divided affects what each spouse needs in ongoing support. A spouse retaining significant equity in Fort Collins real estate may need less ongoing support; one who receives a smaller property share may need more. Our attorneys approach maintenance as part of the overall financial picture — not as a standalone calculation.
Final maintenance orders specify both amount and duration and can be structured as modifiable or non-modifiable. The right structure depends on the income stability of both parties, the modification risk profile of the specific situation, and the financial trade-offs involved. We help clients understand those trade-offs before agreeing to any final structure.
Why Burnham Law for Alimony in Fort Collins
Academic income expertise. CSU faculty divorce involves income structures that general practitioners often handle inadequately. We know how to establish accurate income from academic employment records and how academic income-specific factors affect maintenance arguments.
Fort Collins cost of living as a factual argument. Housing costs, utility costs, and general living expenses in Fort Collins have risen significantly. We incorporate Fort Collins’ actual economic reality into maintenance arguments — not as background, but as specific factual support for deviation when the formula produces an inadequate outcome.
Equal advocacy for both sides. We represent payors and recipients with the same financial preparation and direct advocacy. The approach is the same regardless of which side of the maintenance equation you’re on — thorough analysis and honest legal strategy.
Long-term financial thinking. Maintenance decisions have tax implications, modification risks, and trade-offs with other settlement terms. We help clients think through the full picture before agreeing to anything final.
Frequently Asked Questions — Fort Collins Alimony
How is academic income treated in Fort Collins maintenance calculations?
Academic income from CSU employment includes base salary, supplemental summer salary, research and grant income, consulting fees, royalty distributions, and startup equity distributions. All of these are generally included as income for maintenance purposes. The challenge is establishing accurate, complete income figures from academic employment records, which often requires reviewing more than a standard W-2. Tax returns, grant documentation, and supplemental employment records are typically necessary.
What if my spouse’s income is highly variable because of equity compensation?
Variable income — from RSUs vesting, equity distributions, or startup dividends — creates challenges for both initial maintenance calculation and long-term modification risk. Colorado courts can average variable income over recent years, use current income with a modification provision for significant changes, or structure maintenance as a percentage of income rather than a fixed amount. The right approach depends on the income pattern and both parties’ risk tolerance.
Can maintenance be awarded when both spouses have professional careers?
Yes, if there is a significant income disparity between them. Having two professional careers doesn’t preclude maintenance — what matters is whether the disparity between incomes, combined with the length of the marriage and the relevant statutory factors, supports a maintenance award. Fort Collins couples where both spouses have professional employment but with materially different income levels are a common maintenance scenario.
How does Fort Collins’ cost of living affect maintenance deviation arguments?
Larimer County District Court considers the cost of maintaining a reasonable standard of living in Fort Collins when evaluating maintenance. Fort Collins’ rising housing costs — where median home prices have increased substantially over the past decade — are directly relevant to how much a lower-earning spouse needs to maintain reasonable housing post-divorce. This is one of the deviation arguments most commonly raised in Fort Collins maintenance cases where one spouse earns significantly more.
What if my ex moves to a lower cost-of-living area — does maintenance change?
A recipient spouse’s decision to relocate to a lower cost-of-living area could be grounds for a maintenance modification petition if the court finds it constitutes a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that affects the financial need underlying the maintenance award. This is a fact-intensive analysis — whether the relocation actually reduces the recipient’s financial need depends on the specific circumstances. Consult an attorney before seeking modification on this basis.
Schedule a Consultation with a Fort Collins Alimony Lawyer
Maintenance decisions made in Larimer County District Court follow you financially for years. Whether you’re negotiating initial terms or dealing with an order that no longer reflects your situation, getting experienced Fort Collins-specific legal advice is the foundation of a good outcome.
Call (303) 990-5308 or schedule a confidential consultation online. Our Fort Collins alimony attorneys will assess your specific situation and give you an honest picture of what the law and the facts can produce.
