FAQs

A family lawyer helps you with legal matters related to family relationships, including divorce, custody disputes, child support, and adoption. They provide expert guidance, represent your interests in court, and work to minimize stress and conflict throughout the legal process.

We take a personalized approach to each divorce case, ensuring that your goals and interests are prioritized while minimizing conflict. Whether your divorce is amicable or contested, we work to achieve a fair and positive outcome, focusing on asset division, spousal support, and any other important issues.

Family law matters are often emotionally charged, and litigation can be expensive and time-consuming. That's why we apply a rigorous cost-benefit analysis to every major decision. We will weigh all options together, ensuring you understand the financial and emotional implications of each path before we move forward.

In child custody cases, we focus on creating solutions that are in the best interests of the child while protecting your parental rights. We help negotiate custody agreements, represent you in court if necessary, and assist in modifying existing orders when life circumstances change.

We handle dissolution of marriage (divorce) and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, post-decree modifications, collaborative law, contempt/enforcement, and protection orders.

Custody is determined based on the best interests of the child, considering factors like the wishes of the parents, child’s adjustment to their home, and past pattern of involvement.

Legal custody refers to decision making rights between the parties. Joint custody means both parents share decision-making authority while sole custody gives one parent the ability to have the final decision making authority for major decisions

Yes. Courts may approve modifications if there’s been a significant change in circumstances, such as relocation or employment changes.

Not always. If you and your spouse agree on all terms, court involvement can be minimal and we can often waive the final hearing. Contested divorces require court hearings.

A parenting plan outlines custody, child support, and decision-making responsibilities. It is the end result of all custody cases and divorce cases with children.

Colorado uses equitable distribution, meaning all marital assets and debts are divided fairly based on the totality of the circumstances.

Maintenance is financial assistance the higher earning spouse may pay the lower earning spouse. Courts consider marriage length, earning capacity, and needs.

Collaborative law allows spouses to work with their attorneys outside of court to resolve disputes amicably and cost-effectively.

You can file a contempt or enforcement action to compel compliance with any court order, which includes orders arising from divorce, custody, visitation, or support orders.

The minimum waiting period is 91 days, but contested or complex divorces almost always take longer. The 91 day timeframe is a good aspirational goal, if the parties agree on all issues.

Colorado is a no-fault state, which means that no grounds are necessary other than one party believing the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Child support is calculated using both parents’ incomes, overnights with each parents, healthcare costs, and childcare expenses. Those figures are input into a child support calculator which generates the presumptive amount.

Yes. Unmarried parents can establish custody and support orders by filing an allocation of parental responsibilities case (APR or custody case, for short).

Yes. Mediation helps resolve disputes efficiently with a neutral mediator guiding the process. Most courts will require the parties to attend mediation at least once but the court cannot require you to reach an agreement at mediation.

Protection orders may be granted in cases involving domestic violence, threats, or harassment. The moving party must prove that prohibited acts have occurred, such as harassment, stalking, assault, threatening, etc., and that those actions will continue unless the other party is restrained.

Child support is set by the court (or agreement of the parties) based on all the relevant financial factors. Enforcement options include wage garnishment, moving for judgment orders, and contempt actions if payments aren’t made.

Retirement assets may be divided as marital property, often through a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which allows for a penalty/tax free transfer.

A divorce ends a valid marriage, while an annulment declares the marriage legally void from the start. The effect of an annulment is that it voids the marriage as if it never occurred.

Yes, if the statutory framework is followed they are routinely upheld. They may be invalidated if the legal requirements are not met. In addition, attorney fee and maintenance provisions may not be enforced if they are unconscionable.

You can still proceed. Courts may issue a default judgment if your spouse fails to respond. The Court will likely give them multiple opportunities to participate but if you can prove proper service was effectuated, then the court will likely enter a default judgement in your favor.