In Colorado, spouses who choose to go their separate ways have two paths. They can file for divorce or choose a legal separation as a temporary solution while deciding the future of their marriage. A legal separation in Colorado provides the same rights and protections as a divorce, with legal terms for child custody, child support under the state’s guidelines, the division of assets, and spousal maintenance (alimony) when appropriate. During a legal separation in Denver, the spouses live apart…

Like all states in the U.S., Colorado has laws upholding a parent’s legal right to physical and legal decision-making custody. They also have an obligation to support their child financially. Despite these inherent parental rights, the court can terminate a parent’s rights under specific circumstances, including when the parent themselves voluntarily requests a termination of their rights, such as to allow the adoption of an infant. In other cases, the termination of parental rights occurs in response to a petition…

The term parental rights refers to a parent’s legal rights and responsibilities to their child. Parents have a legal responsibility to financially support their children and the right to physical and decision-making custody. Parental rights are upheld by the Colorado court, which makes all family court decisions with the child’s best interests as its highest priority; however, there are some circumstances under which the Colorado court will terminate a parent’s rights. The termination of parental rights can occur either voluntarily…

There are many types of adoption in Colorado, including foster care adoption, private domestic adoption, international adoption, and stepparent adoption. In all types of adoption, both living biological parents must agree to the adoption and terminate their parental rights. The only exception to this is when a parent is deceased or their parental rights were terminated due to court intervention in cases of abuse, neglect, addiction, or incarceration for violent crimes. When one parent objects to another party’s adoption of…

Today’s families often include blended family members, such as stepparents and stepchildren. According to statistics, around 50% of U.S. marriages are re-marriages, resulting in 1,300 new stepfamilies established each day. In most remarriages, a child remains the legal child of both biological parents, with the divorced parents sharing custody; however, in some circumstances, a child’s stepparent seeks adoption to formalize their parental relationship with their spouse’s child. Reach out to our adoption attorneys in Denver to discuss your case today…