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"terminated by emancipation of the child but not by the death of
a parent obligated to support the child" unless otherwise agreed
in writing or expressly provided in the decree. Colo. Rev. Stat.
sec. 14-10-122(3); see also Abrams v. Connolly, 781 P.2d 651,
656-657 (Colo. 1989) (the obligation to pay child support
continues beyond the death of the custodial parent, at least when
the noncustodial parent does not assume custody of the children
following the death of the custodial parent).
We have found no specific statutory authority authorizing
unallocated family support payments other than scattered
references in the UDMA to "maintenance when combined with child
support". See, e.g., Colo. Rev. Stat. secs. 14-14-105
(Continuing Garnishment), 14-10-122(1)(c) (Modification and
Termination of Provisions for Maintenance, Support, and Property
Disposition--Automatic Lien). Similarly, we have found no
statute which addresses whether an obligation to pay unallocated
family support terminates upon the death of the payee spouse.
Mr. Lovejoy argues that, because the Temporary Orders (and
that part of the Permanent Orders dealing with the unallocated
payments) did not "fix" any amounts as child support, his duty to
make the unallocated family support payments would end upon Ms.
Miller's death. Ms. Miller argues that, because at least some
portion of each unallocated family support payment is child
support, under Abrams v. Connolly, supra, some portion of each
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