Some couples stay married because the cost of divorce, and especially the cost of running two households, feels out of reach. Understanding where the money actually goes, and the lower-conflict and lower-cost paths Colorado offers, can turn that fear into a decision you make on purpose.
Here is how cost shapes the decision and what options exist.
Why Cost Keeps Couples Together
For many families, the legal fees are only part of the worry. The larger concern is ongoing affordability: a second home, duplicate household expenses, and stretched retirement savings after a Colorado divorce.
- Housing: One income may not cover the current home or a second rental.
- Shared expenses: Insurance, vehicles, and child-related costs split across two homes.
- Retirement: Dividing savings can delay retirement for both spouses.
What Drives Legal Costs
Legal costs usually rise with conflict and the number of disputed issues. What a divorce costs in Colorado depends far more on how much the spouses agree than on any single fee.
Lower-Cost Paths to Consider
Spouses who agree on all terms may be able to use an affidavit for decree without appearance. Parties who file it with all required documents before the initial status conference are excused from that conference.1
Legal separation is another option. If one spouse requests legal separation instead of divorce, the court grants it in that form unless the other spouse objects.2
A legal separation can later be converted to a divorce on motion, no earlier than 182 days after the decree.3
A clear budget and a realistic plan can make separation possible on terms you can afford. Johnson Law Group offers a no-pressure consultation to map your options, so schedule a consultation before you decide.
Staying Married for Financial Reasons
Some couples choose to stay married while living separately, or delay a decision until finances change. Whatever you choose, document your finances and understand how the pros and cons of divorce apply to your situation.
Talk With a Colorado Divorce Attorney
Cost should inform your decision, not make it for you. Johnson Law Group is here to help.
The attorneys at Johnson Law Group help clients plan affordable paths through separation and divorce and will give you a clear read on your options. Schedule a free consultation through our Colorado offices, and we will serve as your North Star from here.
Sources
[2] C.R.S. § 14-10-106(2) – Legal separation decree granted in that form unless the other party objects | https://www.womenslaw.org/laws/co/statutes/ss-14-10-106-dissolution-marriage-legal-separation
[3] C.R.S. § 14-10-120(2) – Conversion of legal separation to dissolution no earlier than 182 days after the decree | https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_14-10-120