price family law
Making the decision to file for divorce is one of the toughest situations many people will ever face, especially when there are children involved. People typically do not enter into a marriage without careful consideration, and the decision to end the marriage requires a similar level of consideration. It doesn’t matter who initiated the idea of divorce. You now must figure out how to live with the changes this will entail for your life and for the lives of your children. In addition to the emotional turmoil involved, you need to make decisions about child custody and visitation, child support, asset and debt division, and spousal maintenance, that affect your life and your future. This is not easy to do without professional assistance, such as consulting with lawyers for visitation rights.
Colorado laws regarding divorce are complicated, and making mistakes can be costly. Even if you and your spouse think you can agree on major issues, problems often pop up unexpectedly that create conflict and need to be resolved. Since your divorce settlement can affect you and your family well into the future, it can help to have an experienced divorce lawyer on your side to deal with all legal issues and guide you toward the conclusion you are hoping to receive.
The divorce lawyers from Price Family Law can provide the guidance, information, and sense of comfort that comes with knowing all your issues will be addressed and all legal requirements are taken care of properly. We provide a free consultation to discuss the individual circumstance of your case, listen to your specific concerns, and begin strategizing to find the best way to handle your case. Call us today at 720-615-1750 to get started.
Request Free ConsultationThere are many attorneys in Denver, and when going through the stress of divorce, you should find one who can provide the emotional support you need as well as handle the legal challenges that arise. Here are some reasons why we believe you should choose Price Family Law:
At Price Family Law, we know how important it is to get things right from the beginning. When retain our divorce lawyers, we start working for you immediately. We will:
We understand that going through a divorce can be an emotionally charged situation, especially if the divorce is contested, and that it can still be hard on you even if the divorce is uncontested.
If you and your spouse had difficulty agreeing on decisions and on behaving in a civil manner around each other during the marriage, these issues can continue during the divorce proceedings. Sitting across the table from your ex-spouse and trying to negotiate about child custody, spousal maintenance payments, and division of property can bring all those feelings back to the forefront.
Part of the compassionate service we provide involves helping to keep the emotions of the situation under control. Becoming argumentative during the divorce negotiations only ramps up the emotions, leaving both parties unable to reach a consensus. Having our team stand by your side during negotiations can tamp down the emotions, allowing everyone to focus on the facts in the case.
Colorado has numerous laws that govern divorce, and it’s important for you to understand them and what they mean for you and your family. The following are among the most important divorce-related laws and requirements you need to be aware of:
Grounds for Divorce
Colorado is strictly a “no-fault” divorce state, so no consideration will be made based on either spouse’s misconduct or fault in deciding whether to grant the divorce, how to divide property, or whether to award spousal maintenance (alimony). According to Colorado law, (Colo. Rev. Stat. §14-10-110(1) (2022).) the only legal ground for divorce is that the marriage is “irretrievably broken.”
Residency Requirements
You or your spouse must have had your permanent home in Colorado for at least 91 days immediately before you file your initial divorce papers in order to get a Colorado divorce.
Property Division Requirements
Property in Colorado will be classified as either marital property (property acquired during the marriage, with some exceptions) or separate property. According to Colorado law, (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-113(1) (2022)) courts will divide marital property based on “equitable distribution,” but this doesn’t always mean it will be evenly split. The judge will look at all relevant factors in the divorce case, such as the contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of a spouse as a homemaker, how long the marriage lasted, whether there were prenuptial agreements in place, the ages, and economic circumstances of each spouse at the time the division of property is made, and each spouse’s earning. For example, courts may award a larger portion of marital assets, including stocks and bank accounts, to the lower-earning spouse.
Child Custody
Divorcing parents must come up with a parenting plan that determines parenting time (physical custody – the time children spend with each parent) and decision-making (legal custody – decisions on major issues such as health, education, and religion). If parents cannot agree, the courts will make these decisions based on what would be in the best interests of the child. To determine this, the wishes of the child and parents will be considered, as well as other factors such as the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community and the proximity of the parents’ homes.
In addition to child custody, Colorado has guidelines that include detailed rules for deciding who must pay child support and how much those payments should be. Consulting a child support lawyer can help clarify these guidelines and ensure that all parties understand their responsibilities.
Spousal Maintenance
Spousal maintenance (alimony) is a payment that a higher-earning spouse makes to the other to ensure the lower-earning spouse can continue to meet their basic needs during or after divorce. In Colorado, neither spouse is automatically entitled to support, and, unless this is agreed upon by both spouses, the court will calculate the amount and term of spousal maintenance based on statutory guidelines and the facts of each case.
Sitting across the table from your ex-spouse and trying to negotiate about child custody, spousal maintenance payments, and the division of property can bring negative emotions to the forefront, leaving both parties unable to reach a consensus. This is why part of the compassionate service our child custody attorney provide involves handling these issues and keeping the emotions of the situation under control. When you have our team stand by your side during negotiations, we can tamp down the emotions, allowing everyone to focus on the facts in the case and come up with the best resolution possible.
Our clients greatly appreciate the level of personalized service we provide. Once they choose to hire our divorce attorney, they will have access to our team for asking questions or introducing concerns at any time. To get started, here are some answers to questions we hear most frequently:
Do I need to hire a divorce lawyer?
No, nothing in Colorado state law regarding divorce requires a person to hire their own divorce lawyer, however, hiring a divorce attorney can prevent costly mistakes and make the process run far smoother for you. You don’t have to worry about missing documents or trying to juggle work, family time, and defending your interests in the divorce. Let us help to guide you through this challenging process.
Won’t my ex-spouse’s attorney make sure everything goes smoothly?
No, if you don’t have your own divorce lawyer, your spouse’s divorce lawyer will only look out for his or her interests. Occasionally, your interests may align with your ex-spouse’s interests, but to truly be on a level playing field, you need to have your own representative on your side.
Will I have to pay both spousal maintenance and child support?
State law in Colorado treats these two types of payments separately, so some people must make both payments. Trust that our team will work as hard as we can to help you receive the most favorable financial judgments in cases like this without jeopardizing the future of your children.
Can you help me obtain an annulment?
Yes, our divorce lawyer can help those seeking an annulment. We will need to prove that your situation matches the requirements found in Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-10-111. This may involve examples such as entering the marriage under false pretenses by your spouse. Annulment is not always an easy judgment to receive, but we are ready to fight for your right to receive one.
Can Price Family Law help with my alimony judgment?
Yes, our Colorado divorce law firm specializes in all aspects of divorce, including alimony. When it comes to alimony, (spousal maintenance) we have experience helping clients understand what they must reveal through Colorado’s mandatory financial disclosure forms. We can provide help for a high-wage husband worried about spousal maintenance payments, a spouse who stayed home with the children and now needs to work, and all situations between those extremes.
At Price Family Law, our divorce attorneys are available to answer our clients’ questions as they arise and provide detailed legal advice at all times. We take pride in our responsiveness to our clients. Because you probably are going through divorce proceedings for the first time, we understand you may have a lot of questions. By listening to your questions and finding the answers for you, we also will receive valuable information about what exactly is important to you during this process.
price family law
When you hire Price Family Law, rest assured that our divorce attorney’s attention to detail will extend to every aspect of your case. We spend the time needed to learn what you want for your life after the divorce. For us to represent you properly, we need to fully understand what is important to you and what kind of future you would like to see for yourself and for your children. Without this information, we cannot represent you to the best of our ability, so we believe strongly in spending time with our clients.
When you have Price Family Law working for you, we are able to provide an objective viewpoint and calming presence during what is often an emotional and stressful time in your life. Our attorneys will manage the administrative and legal process on your behalf, explaining – in easy-to-understand language – exactly what is happening. We keep you apprised throughout the legal process. When we represent you, your goals become ours and we work tirelessly to achieve an outcome that is best for you and your family.
Delaying can only make your divorce situation more difficult, so contact Price Family Law today at 720-615-1750 to get the help and guidance you need.