Colorado Divorce Attorneys
Divorce is never easy. We can help you through this difficult time
Griffiths Law is a boutique law firm that excels where it matters most. Our divorce attorneys are client-focused, experienced, and compassionate. We can guide you through your case without unnecessary emotion, cost, and hassle. We put a focus on communication and will ensure that we promptly answer your questions.
If you are considering whether to divorce, you likely have questions about how the process works. Because every divorce is different, the approach that we take with each client is too. Our attorneys handle some of the most complex divorce cases in Colorado but also routinely handle simple matters too.
How To Choose a Divorce Lawyer
Who you choose as your divorce attorney may be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. On the one hand, an attorney who is unnecessarily aggressive may create conflict in your family that takes years to recover from. Those same attorneys may charge you hundreds of thousands of dollars to accomplish very little. On the other hand, you also don’t want an attorney that is so collaborative that they negotiate away all of your rights.
An outstanding attorney must understand which legal strategies will work in your case. In fact, there may be a time and place to act more aggressively in a case and act more collaboratively later on. You need a divorce attorney that has the experience and skill to custom-tailor an approach for your unique case. No two cases are the same, just as no two marriages are the same.
We can only deliver a client a custom-tailored solution when we communicate clearly, often, and well. Our attorneys will ensure that you know what is happening in your case and have the information and legal advice to make educated decisions about how to move forward.
Types of Divorce Cases
There are several ways to get divorced in Colorado. However, whichever option you choose, a court will eventually have to approve your agreements and issue a “Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.”
Consider the following options and see if they make sense to you.
Litigated Divorce
This is the most common type of case, and it is what most people think of when they think about a divorce case. A “litigated divorce” is a divorce where the parties file a case with the court, and the case goes before a judge to decide what will happen. For some clients, having a judge decide what will happen is the only option. However, many clients will settle a “litigated divorce” in mediation.
Mediated Divorce
Most divorces will be resolved in mediation. Mediation is a non-binding resolution process where you and your spouse will use a third party to try to resolve the dispute. If you have an attorney, you will attend mediation with your attorney. During the process, each side will exchange settlement positions until you can agree on how to settle.
Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested divorce is a divorce where the court grants the parties a divorce, but the spouses have agreed on how to divide every asset before they get to court. Although these sorts of divorces are common, they rarely involve attorneys. If there is nothing in dispute then you likely do not need an attorney.
Collaborative Divorce
Collaborative divorce is a special divorce strategy that involves divorce attorneys trained in “collaborative divorce.” In this process, the parties agree not to go to court and instead focus on resolving their disputes by themselves. Our Guide to Divorce has an entire chapter about Collaborative Divorce.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Griffiths Law has a comprehensive Guide to Divorce that goes over all the most common questions, from property division to maintenance and child support. We recommend you look at the guide because it will answer almost all your concerns. We also have blogs that guide you through common issues such as (1) common law marriage, (2) parenting experts such as CFIs and PREs, (3) domestic violence, (4) parental alienation, (5) mother’s rights to custody, (6) father’s rights to custody and much more.
Here are some quick answers to the most common questions we get asked:
How Does a Divorce Case Begin?
A case begins by filing a document with the Court in your county called a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.” You will then “serve” that petition on your spouse and the case then begins. Before you file though, check out our article on the Top 10 Things to Do Before You File For a Divorce.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost?
Most Colorado divorces cost about $10,000 to $30,000. However, the cost of your case depends on your unique circumstances. One of the primary drivers of cost in a case is conflict. If you and your spouse argue less, the cost of the case will be lower. Another driver of cost is complexity. If you have many assets or a complex asset such as a business, the case can often take longer and cost more.
How Long Does a Divorce Take?
In Colorado, you cannot get divorced in less than 90 days. However, most cases take longer to resolve. A fair estimate for how long it will take is about 6-9 months. However, all cases are unique and cases involving complex parenting or financial issues may take longer.
How is Property Divided?
Colorado divides property using the “equitable distribution” method. This means that the property is divided “fairly” rather than equally. Many states use a very similar method to divide property, although Colorado is not a “community property” state.
Will I Receive (or Pay) Maintenance/Alimony?
Whether you will receive (or pay) alimony/maintenance depends on how much you and your spouse currently earn or have earned in the past. It also depends on the length of the marriage. Our Guide to Divorce has a comprehensive discussion about whether, and when, alimony/maintenance must be paid. Maintenance generally lasts for about half the length of the marriage, although it could be less for shorter marriages and more for longer marriages.
Why Choose Griffiths Law for your Divorce?
Griffiths Law’s history of results, awards, and positive reviews sets the firm apart. The firm has the best divorce attorneys in Colorado. Just a few of the law firm’s awards include: (1) a 2020 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firm designation, (2) the 2020 CoBizMag “Best Law Firm” in Colorado, and (3) ranking as one of Colorado’s top 100 Woman-Owned Companies. The shareholders and attorneys at the firm have also received numerous awards for their dedication to the practice and excellence, including being voted into Barrister’s Best, 5280 Top Lawyers, and Super Lawyers.
Awards aside, the firm and its attorneys have also received countless positive reviews on Yelp, Google, Avvo, and other rating platforms. Across these platforms, the firm was given a 5-star rating in over 98% of reviews. Schedule a consultation with Griffiths Law below to learn more about why our firm has been so successful in representing Colorado families like yours.
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Consult Time:
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Case Review:
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