Divorce and co-parenting with an ex-spouse is often challenging, but when you believe your children may not be safe with the other parent or are in an unsafe situation when in the custody of your ex-spouse, it’s particularly distressing and requires immediate action. Colorado courts place the best interests of a child as their highest priority in any ruling, including in matters of child custody. If you believe your children are in immediate danger, call the police to report the…

Colorado family courts work on the principle that all decisions made are in the best interests of the child, including child support orders. Typically, the courts decide and enforce matters of child support within the state, but what happens when a parent with a child support order moves out of the jurisdiction and into another state, muddying the court’s ability to enforce payments? Whether the parent moves due to a legitimate work opportunity, to fulfill family obligations, or they move…

In today’s world of blended families, there are more and more step-parents who have developed strong bonds with the stepchildren they’ve helped to raise. But what happens when a blended family ends up in a divorce? What rights does a step-parent have when they wish to maintain a close, loving relationship with a stepchild? Sadly, Colorado family courts operate under the presumption that step-parents do not hold the same parental rights as biological parents. Instead, a stepparent seeking visitation rights…

Life following divorce has many challenges for families, including the difficulty of becoming accustomed to living according to the terms of a parenting agreement or court-ordered schedule. While once a family enjoyed the holidays and a family vacation together every year, after a divorce, summer vacation, school holidays, and family travel often become contentious issues. How do you plan for vacations after a divorce without breaking the terms of a parenting-time agreement in Colorado? Splitting Parenting Time After a Divorce…

Many of today’s couples put off marriage or determine not to make their union legal for a variety of economic and social reasons. Approximately 23.2 percent of Colorado births occur to unmarried mothers. When unwed couples have children and then decide to separate, or when two people conceive a child outside of a committed relationship, questions arise about the way Colorado custody law works for unmarried parents. While like most states, Colorado acknowledges automatic rights for an unmarried mother, determining…