During a divorce, you may face a wide range of emotions, paperwork, and overwhelming details, making it harder to finalize the process quickly. If you and your spouse disagree about child support, custody, and property division, it can make a difficult time even more frustrating. When you work with our divorce lawyers in Ken Caryl, CO, you can put these burdens in our hands.
The Colorado family lawyers at Griffiths Law are highly skilled in managing divorce cases, no matter how simple or complex. Instead of taking risks that may cost you in the end, put us to work so you get what you deserve and are able to protect your best interests. We are dedicated to the most satisfactory outcome for every client.
Why Choose Griffiths Law for Your Colorado Divorce Case
At Griffiths Law, we focus primarily on managing family law cases and civil litigation. Our divorce lawyers in Ken Caryl help you build parenting plans, create or modify child custody arrangements, and divide assets under Colorado law. Our civil litigation experience can help during your divorce if you also need to dissolve or divide a family business or manage real estate concerns.
Our co-founders, Sheila Gutterman and Suzanne Griffiths, believe in providing superior legal representation for all clients, no matter how complicated the case is. We can guide you through traditional divorce methods, but also offer mediation and collaborative divorce assistance. Our goal is to settle your case as quickly as possible without sacrificing your best interests and those of your children.
We take the time to explain the factors that could affect all aspects of your divorce, including whether one spouse was unfaithful or abusive. While Colorado does not require fault grounds for divorce, various circumstances may impact child custody and visitation, asset division, and other concerns. We ensure you know what to expect and tailor a resolution for you.
Colorado Law Allows You to File for Divorce or Legal Separation
Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-106, Colorado recognizes divorce on the grounds that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” and requests for legal separation. Both spouses in a divorce must have lived in the state for a minimum of 91 days prior to filing their petition. By contacting our divorce lawyers serving Ken Caryl, you can determine whether you want to pursue divorce or legal separation.
Which one is right for you? That depends on whether you feel the marriage could be repaired, perhaps with counseling or other intervention. If you legally separate, you retain the benefits of married couples, such as joint tax filing status. A divorce fully dissolves your marriage contract, and you become separate individuals again, no longer bound to or responsible for one another.
By arranging a consultation with our Ken Caryl divorce attorneys, you can discuss your concerns and ask questions. We are deeply familiar with the waiting periods, laws, requirements, and other matters that may affect your case. We can also push back against unfair requests your spouse may make in an attempt to take advantage of you. You can rest easy because our attorneys will be at your side every step of the way.
Child Custody and Support Focus on the Children’s Best Interests
When children are involved in a divorce, family court judges will always rule in favor of protecting a child’s best interests and stability. When you work with a divorce attorney in Ken Caryl, CO, you need someone who will help you create custody arrangements with that in mind. Otherwise, you could be putting these critical decisions in the hands of a judge who does not know your family’s needs.
With our deep experience in the Colorado courts, we are well-prepared to help you create a parenting plan describing who has custody and visitation, for how long, who will pay expenses, and other matters. If you both agree, things can proceed quickly, but we can negotiate firmly to reach an acceptable compromise. Through mediation or collaborative methods, we aim to help parents focus on beneficial outcomes instead of emotions that may cloud their judgment.
The Division of Child Support Services, part of the Colorado Office of Economic Security, oversees and manages child support payments. They provide a calculator to help you estimate the amount, although specific details in your divorce case may change this. Some parents think this money goes to the other parent, but it is vital to remember that child support is meant to ensure adequate food, shelter, and clothing for the children.
Colorado Property Division During Divorce is “Fair and Equitable”
In some states, everything is split down the middle, but this is not how Colorado does things during a divorce. While you may end up with a 50/50 division, current law states assets and debts must undergo “fair and equitable” division between the parties. The court will consider many factors, including:
- How long the marriage lasted
- How each person contributed to the marriage, financially and non-financially
- Each spouse’s current and expected financial needs
- Each spouse’s ability to earn income
- Each spouse’s health and age
The court will also determine whether an asset is separate property or marital property. Most everything a couple acquires during marriage will be marital property and divided equitably. If one spouse owned something prior to the union, they can generally claim it as separate with appropriate documentation, so they receive it in full after the divorce.
The Court Also Divides Debt and Other Liabilities
Along with what you and your spouse own, you will need to address what you owe. Family court will divide debts such as tax obligations, credit card debt, and other liabilities under the fair and equitable mandate. This can become burdensome if your spouse was responsible for a heavy share of the marital debt. They may attempt to push some of that responsibility on your shoulders unfairly, seeing divorce as a way out of their financial problems.
Our Ken Caryl divorce lawyers can work with forensic accountants to verify who is responsible for debts as well as locate any hidden assets your spouse may have. While you may still have to accept some liabilities, we always work to achieve the best solution for your circumstances. We work to protect you from your ex’s creditors in the event your ex does not pay the debt.
Complex Divorces Require Special Handling in Colorado
If you and your spouse own a business, or either of you owns one separately, things can be more complicated when a divorce happens. As with other assets, the named owner or board member determines whether the company is separate or marital property. In most instances, a business will fall into marital property and require an appropriate division.
Your attorney can explain how divorce impacts business ownership, tax obligations, and dividend distribution in Colorado. You may need to sell the company and divide the proceeds, buy out your spouse’s share, or even pay them for the sweat equity they invested to make the business successful. If there are multiple partners or it is a publicly traded company, it may take extensive negotiations to reach a solution.
Even if a business is not part of the problem, your finances, artwork, vehicles, and other overlooked assets can make a divorce complex. You likely still need experienced legal guidance when you and your spouse are friendly and have no children, if there are significant assets involved, to ensure each party receives what they are due.
Colorado Does Not Guarantee Spousal Support (Alimony)
Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-114, you are able to seek spousal support, formerly called alimony, in certain circumstances. The court considers how long you were married, your contributions to the family, and your earning capacity after divorce. In many instances, one spouse stayed home to manage childcare or worked while the other spouse pursued higher education.
If one spouse is less capable of earning a living, especially while caring for young children after the divorce, the court may order spousal support in a lump sum or for a period of time. This support allows the recipient to maintain financial stability, preserve their standard of living, and transition into returning to the workforce. Our spousal support attorneys can assess your contributions to the marriage and develop your request as part of your divorce proceedings.
If circumstances change for either you or your ex, we can help you with modifications to your spousal maintenance order. If one of you experiences a substantial change in income or remarries, the other may request a change or end to the order. As with every part of your divorce, our attorneys serving Ken Caryl will work diligently to ensure your ex does not take unfair advantage of you.
What Is the Basic Outline of a Divorce in Colorado?
If this is your first divorce or you were not in Colorado for a previous divorce, you may be unfamiliar with how the process works here. While each case is always unique, there is a basic outline that most divorce cases follow, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch:
- Verify That You Are Eligible to Seek Divorce: You or your spouse must have lived here for at least 91 days, and any children in the family must have lived in Colorado for at least 182 days since their birth.
- File the Necessary Documents: You can file together (which is less costly) or separately, either online or in person at your local District Court.
- Notify Your Spouse: If you file together, you do not have to tell them, but if you are petitioning for a divorce on your own, you must arrange for them to be served the papers.
- Allow Your Spouse to Respond: Separate filings require the defendant (your spouse) to file a Response to the Petition.
- Attend an Initial Status Conference: By meeting with a court official, you verify that you still want to divorce and meet the requirements. They will inform you of the next steps for your specific case, including additional paperwork you must complete.
Completing all the forms and meeting deadlines can be overwhelming and frustrating. When you work with our divorce attorneys, you can put those worries on our shoulders, knowing we will be with you during every meeting and court appearance. We can provide the legal and emotional support you need to deal with the complications and get to the end.
Colorado Divorce Timelines Vary Depending on the Details of Your Case
In many cases, couples want to end things as soon as possible so they can move on with their lives. Under Colorado law, the quickest you can receive your final divorce decree is 91 days after filing your initial divorce petition. Usually, divorce cases take much longer as the parties negotiate custody arrangements, property division, and other details.
If you choose mediation or collaborative divorce, your case may end within a few months. When couples cannot see eye to eye, they may end up going to trial for a final ruling. This can result in added expense and stress, as well as making your private life part of the court’s public record. Our divorce lawyers serving Ken Caryl, CO educate you about your choices so you can make the right decisions for you and your children.
Other factors, such as reviewing premarital agreements, child custody arrangements, and arranging for asset liquidation, can delay a final decree. Arranging for health insurance or other concerns can also affect how long your divorce takes.
Contact Our Divorce Attorneys Serving Ken Caryl, CO
You do not need to face your soon-to-be ex-spouse alone when you turn to the compassionate and forceful team at Griffiths Law. We walk you through the process so you know what to expect and how we will tackle any difficulties that may arise. Our divorce lawyers serving Ken Caryl, CO are dedicated to your overall well-being and reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
Use our online form to contact us and arrange a consultation with our team today. We are confident we can set your mind at ease and be by your side through this journey. No matter where you are in the divorce process, we should be your first choice.