Lakewood Divorce Lawyer

Lakewood Divorce Attorney Practice Areas

When you think of a divorce attorney, you probably picture a legal team that only handles divorce cases. While it’s true that we can help you separate from your spouse, there are many other areas of the law in which we can assist you.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help with any of the following:

Divorce

Nobody goes into a marriage anticipating that it will end in divorce. But when it does, navigating the legal separation becomes a challenging task, often needing the guidance of a dedicated lawyer. This process can be confusing, frustrating, and painful, especially when children are involved. Our focus is on family law, with experienced lawyers who assist you in reaching a satisfactory resolution of all crucial issues. Keeping what is best for the children remains our top priority. As your preferred Lakewood divorce lawyer, we invite you to schedule a consultation with us today.

Child Custody and Visitation

We help our clients work within the parameters provided by Colorado parental responsibility law, with an eye to making sure that your needs are met and your children’s sense of each parent’s place within the family remains intact. Colorado child custody can be a complicated matter, and a person should reach out to an experienced lawyer.
We take a common-sense approach to all issues involving children, including those concerning parenting time and child support. Our dedicated lawyers work hard to negotiate mutually agreeable terms that address these matters, emphasizing collaboration over competition between two adults who both care profoundly about their children’s well-being. Family law is our focus, and with the expertise of our team, we ensure that the children remain our top priority.

Prenuptial, Postnuptial, and Separation Agreements

The thought of proactively preparing for the end of your marriage makes many people uncomfortable, but it’s a wise move, much like purchasing life insurance or investing time in estate planning. Just as no one wants to consider the unsettling prospect of an untimely death, facing the potential end of a marriage is equally daunting. However, being prepared is crucial. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the nuances and ensure you’re protected. Schedule a consultation with our dedicated family law attorneys today.

Mediation

Mediation can significantly decrease the amount of stress involved in your separation. You have the option of retaining a lawyer to represent you during the mediation process, and we are here to assist. Our excellent reputation in the Colorado legal community often leads clients to seek us out not just as their legal counsel but also as the mediating party. In such situations, we act as a neutral third party. Our primary goal is resolving the conflict between parties rather than representing one client.

Too often, divorcing parents attempt to limit, sabotage, or prevent the other parent from seeing or being with their children. Our lawyers firmly believe and advocate for children’s rights:

• The right to be safe
• The right to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents – unless a parent fails to protect or care for the children properly
• The right to adjust and thrive in their new everyday life with divorced parents

If you find yourself in a situation where you are trying to protect your child from an unfit parent and are unsure about the next steps, our team can help. Our experienced lawyers will explain the legal process and the involvement of potential experts as we guide you on the best way to support your children during these trying times. Schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer today.

We work with families throughout Colorado, and quite often, one parent finds it challenging to remain in town after a divorce. Our lawyers understand the complexities of such situations:

• Are you getting divorced and considering relocating?
• Have you tried to live in the same place post-divorce but now have new opportunities elsewhere?
• Do you or your spouse need family support with the family residing in a different state?

Such scenarios may require you to either negotiate a new parenting plan considering parents in different states or modify an existing one after deciding to relocate. Our lawyers can assist you in determining and negotiating a parenting plan that aligns with the best interests of your children and supports your desire to live in a place that suits your needs.

Modifications

If changes to court orders are needed after divorce, our team of lawyers is here to assist.
Did you enter into court orders that aren’t functioning well for your family? Perhaps you attempted to manage your divorce on your own, filling out paperwork, only to realize later the importance of consulting a lawyer.

You might need to address or revise the following:

• Child Custody
• Maintenance
• Parenting Time
• Property Distribution
• Overlooked aspects or detailed clauses of your agreement
• Allocation of Tax Credits
• Property distributions that don’t seem fair and equitable

For experienced guidance on these matters, contact a qualified Lakewood divorce lawyer today to schedule a consultation.

What is the Process for Divorce in Colorado?

Before starting the divorce process, it’s essential to understand the requirements and deadlines you’ll need to meet. All divorce cases are slightly different, and yours could vary depending on the length of your marriage and if there are children involved.
To begin the divorce process, you or your spouse must have lived in Colorado for at least 91 days. If you have children, they must have lived in the state for at least 181 days.

The steps to finalize a divorce are as follows:

• Submit a petition to your local courthouse. You can file together with your spouse or file separately
• Serve papers to your spouse. If you’re filing separately, you must serve your spouse with divorce papers in a reasonable time frame
• Wait for the mandatory 90-day waiting period. In Colorado, all couples must wait 90 days after filing before the divorce can be finalized.
• Provide financial disclosures to each other. Both spouses must submit a detailed statement of their assets, income, and debts
• Attend the Initial Status Conference. If you’re working with our team, one of our attorneys can attend for you
• Go to a temporary order hearing if necessary. Some couples may need to request temporary orders for child custody arrangements and spousal support payments
• Negotiate your divorce terms. You and your spouse must agree on all divorce terms before the papers can be finalized
• Attend a court hearing if necessary. If you and your spouse can’t agree on the divorce terms, your case will likely go to trial

What is a Contested Divorce?

A contested divorce is a divorce where parties have trouble reaching an agreement and coming to a resolution. Most contested divorces take longer to finalize and cost more money than uncontested divorces. If you are going through a contested divorce, it is essential to have an experienced divorce lawyer on your side who can advocate for your needs.

Signs you may be going through a contested divorce include:

• Your spouse won’t sign the divorce papers
• You and your spouse can’t agree on child custody arrangements or child support
• You and your spouse can’t agree on spousal support payments
• You and your spouse disagree about the division of property
• Your spouse behaves aggressively toward you

An uncontested divorce, on the other hand, is a divorce where both parties generally agree on the terms of divorce. Uncontested divorces are typically faster and cheaper since they don’t require as many negotiations. Even if you are going through an uncontested divorce, it’s important to have a team of divorce attorneys in your corner. You may accidentally agree to divorce terms that are unfair to you or don’t suit your needs.

What Are the Most Common Terms of Divorce?

Before your divorce can be resolved, you and your spouse must agree on all major terms. The terms you discuss together can vary depending on your financial needs, your children, and the length of your marriage. However, there are some general items that you’ll need to discuss, no matter what.
Most couples talk about the following:

Division of Assets

All of your marital property, meaning the property you obtained together during the marriage, must be split equitably between spouses. Marital property can include real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, and more. Marital property does not include property you entered into the marriage with or any inheritance received by one spouse.

Child Custody

If you have children together, child custody arrangements are an essential part of your divorce agreement. You can work together to create a parenting plan, dividing time between your households for the children. Physical custody and legal custody must both be discussed.

Child Support

In most cases, the non-primary parent will pay the primary parent monthly for the children’s needs. These payments are based on your parenting time, your financial situation, and the children’s needs.

Spousal Support

If one couple earns much more than the other, the lower-earning spouse could be entitled to financial support. Spousal support payments are made on a temporary or permanent basis from one spouse to the other. Factors that can affect spousal support include the length of the marriage, the income of both spouses and the quality of life during the marriage.

Will My Divorce Go to Court?

Taking your divorce to trial can be an overwhelming prospect for many people. The good news is that most couples don’t have to go to court to settle their divorce. The main reason why you’d need to stand before a judge is if you and your spouse can’t reach an agreement about any of the major terms.
You may also be required to go to court if you have children together and one or both of you are not represented by an attorney. The best way to avoid the courtroom and protect your best interests is by working with a Colorado divorce attorney on our team. We can help you advocate for your rights and protect your marital assets so you get the outcome you deserve.

Divorce Lawyer Lakewood, Colorado

When it comes to divorce, it’s hard to overstate just how challenging of an experience it can be. Of course, no one expects their marriage to end in divorce, and when it does, many of us suffer from a prolonged kind of shock. As difficult as it is, it’s important to move forward and begin pursuing a resolution. Particularly if children are involved, bringing the conflict of legal separation to a close as soon as possible is generally in the best interest of all parties. Finding the right Lakewood divorce lawyer can be challenging, but we believe we are the right fit.
However, arriving at an agreeable resolution in a timely manner is far from easy. To make it happen, you’ll need an experienced family law attorney who has the knowledge to steer you on the right course. Most importantly, you want to retain an attorney who will prioritize your children before anything else. If you’re in the Lakewood, CO, area, then we are the right firm for you.
Call Divorce In Colorado for a complimentary consultation at 720-966-2412.