Inputs you need for Structured Settlement in Colorado
4 min read
Published April 15, 2026 • By DocketMath Team
Inputs you will need
To run DocketMath’s Structured Settlement (US-CO) flow, gather a small set of factual inputs that directly determine the calculation and the resulting payment schedule. Structured settlements are contractual arrangements, and the “right” numbers depend on the claim’s settlement terms—not just the injury facts. Before you start, make sure you have settlement paperwork (or a draft) that states the proposed payment structure.
Use this checklist to collect the inputs DocketMath will ask for:
Note: Many structured settlement proposals use similar wording (“annuity,” “future payments,” “guaranteed income”). The calculator output can still change depending on whether the schedule is fixed, stepped, or conditioned (for example, survivorship). Gather the schedule terms, not just the total.
A quick guidance rule: if your offer letter says “$X paid monthly for Y years,” you can translate that into frequency + count/end date + start date. If it instead says “guaranteed for life,” you’ll need the tool’s survivorship/term handling inputs to match what the agreement intends.
Where to find each input
Below is a practical “source map” of where each number typically appears. You don’t need perfect documentation, but you do need consistency with the settlement draft you’re modeling. (This is not legal advice—treat your settlement document as the authority, and use DocketMath to model the numbers from that text.)
| Input | Common location in settlement documents | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Total settlement amount | Settlement term sheet, settlement agreement summary | Usually a single “settlement value” number |
| Lump sum portion | Same documents; sometimes called “immediate payment” | Clarify whether it’s paid on signing or at a later closing date |
| Structured portion | Sometimes stated explicitly; otherwise computed as remainder | Avoid double-counting lump sum + structured amounts |
| Payment frequency | “Paid monthly/quarterly…” language | Match the schedule frequency exactly |
| Number of payments / end date | “For Y years” or “until [date]” | If both appear, use the term that controls the obligation |
| Start date | “First payment due on…” | Watch for “annuity date” vs “payment date” wording |
| Interest/discounting assumption | Often embedded in the structured settlement provider’s proposal | If not provided, DocketMath may request or model an assumption—follow the tool prompt |
| Payment type (fixed/stepped) | Payment schedule exhibit or provider exhibit | Look for “level” vs “increases” over time |
| Beneficiary/payee details | Settlement agreement sections on parties and payees | Only the fields requested by DocketMath matter for the calculation |
| Survivorship terms | Clauses describing what happens at death | “Continuing to beneficiary” vs “terminating upon death” |
| Tax allocation preferences | Sections allocating settlement components | Use the labels from your settlement paperwork so modeling aligns with the agreement’s intent |
| Jurisdiction marker | Tool selection / settings | Confirm Colorado (US-CO) structured settlement modeling |
Before you run the calculator, confirm you have a coherent timeline:
If your draft includes multiple phases (e.g., higher payments early, then lower later), collect the step schedule or the staged terms exactly as written.
Run it
With your inputs collected, open DocketMath and start the Structured Settlement (US-CO) workflow using the primary CTA:
- Start here: /tools/structured-settlement
Enter the inputs in DocketMath and run the Structured Settlement calculation to generate a clean breakdown: Run the calculator.
What you should do in the tool
Follow the order of prompts. DocketMath will translate your provided structure into outputs like:
How outputs change when you adjust inputs
Use these “cause-and-effect” checks while entering values:
- Change the start date
- You’ll shift every payment date forward/backward by the offset implied in your schedule.
- Change payment frequency
- Monthly vs quarterly can materially increase the number of payments and alter the “shape” of the schedule.
- Switch from fixed to stepped payments
- Total payments may stay similar, but cash flow timing changes—affecting how the schedule presents affordability and timeline.
- Add or remove survivorship continuation
- The schedule assumptions can change depending on whether payments continue to a beneficiary after the payee’s death (often a term-level difference, not just a numeric tweak).
Warning: Don’t mix “annuity contract date” and “first payment due date.” If your document mentions both, match DocketMath’s “start date” prompt to the date that governs when payments begin under the agreement.
Quick validation checklist before you finalize
Once you’ve entered everything, run the calculation and review the generated schedule for timing and totals.