Grounds for a Divorce in Colorado
May 20, 2022 Divorce
Grounds for divorce are legal justifications party lists when petitioning a court to grant a decree of dissolution...
Read full postIf you are heading toward divorce – or even considering the possibility of divorce – you are facing a significant transition that will significantly affect you and your children’s futures for many years to come. Working closely with an experienced Aurora divorce lawyer near you will help ensure that you obtain divorce terms that protect your rights under Colorado family law and that work for you and your children.
If your divorce involves children, your children’s ongoing health, happiness, and well-being are likely your primary concern. Divorce is hard on everyone, but because children don’t have the maturity to effectively process this drastic change in their lives, it is often hardest on them. Your custody arrangements are obviously critical, and while these arrangements can vary, the basics typically include:
If you and your divorcing spouse can’t agree on child custody arrangements that you can both agree to, the court will do so on your behalf. While the children’s best interests are always the court’s focus, the judge involved naturally doesn’t know your children and their specific needs the way you, as their parents, do. Your respective divorce attorneys will help you explore all your options and attempt to find a middle ground (mediation is an option) if child custody becomes a sticking point.
Both parents are charged with sharing the responsibility of financially supporting their children, and child support is the legal mechanism for leveling the financial playing field in this respect. The parent who has primary physical custody is generally considered to be in fulfillment of his or her financial responsibility – by providing for the children on a daily basis. As such, the parent with the visitation schedule typically pays child support to the other parent. The amount of child support paid is based on state child support calculation guidelines.
After child custody arrangements, the division of marital property is typically the next most hotly contested component of divorce. Your marital property is that property that you and your spouse acquired together as a married couple. If the asset was purchased – or the debt was acquired – during the course of your marriage, it usually qualifies as marital property. This is regardless of who made the purchase or signed the lease in the first place. There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. If the property was an inheritance or gift in your name alone, for example, that property remains your separate property. In Colorado, marital property is divided in a manner that is deemed equitable, which means in a manner that is fair under the circumstances involved – rather than being divided straight down the middle.
Spousal support refers to what you may think of as alimony, and while it isn’t a component of most divorces, it does play an important financial role in some. If one of you has financial needs as you move forward into your post-divorce life and the other of you has the financial means to assuage that need, the court may deem spousal support appropriate. A wide range of factors is considered in the allocation of spousal support, including:
If you’re going through a divorce, you and your family are going through a difficult time, but the Aurora divorce lawyers at CNL Law Firm, PLLC, are dedicated with the experience, resources, and compassion to help you move forward with greater confidence. You are looking for the best divorce attorney on your side, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (720) 370-2171 for more information today.
CNL Law Firm, PLLC focuses on helping families regain peace of mind during legal circumstances.
May 20, 2022 Divorce
Grounds for divorce are legal justifications party lists when petitioning a court to grant a decree of dissolution...
Read full postApril 18, 2022 Divorce
If you are facing a divorce, you are facing a difficult legal procedure that is wrapped up in emotional upheaval. ...
Read full postApril 7, 2022 Annulment Divorce
There are two ways to legally end a marriage in Colorado - divorce or annulment. Annulment is a rare legal process...
Read full post