Colorado Divorce Laws and Resources
The following information is a resource on divorce and family law in the State of Colorado. You can find divorce professionals, forms, support, and state laws. In addition to the resources listed below, you can find more help and information in our divorce article section.
ProfessionalsDivorce LawyersMediators Private Investigators Background Checks Divorce SupportSupport GroupsDomestic AbuseShelters and Hotlines |
Divorce PapersDivorce & Separation FormsOnline Divorce Divorce Form Preparation Family Law ResourcesDivorce LawsChild Support Guidelines Child Support Calculator XLS Support Calculation Child Support Enforcement |
* Listings in the Resource and Professional Directory does not imply an endorsement by this website. WomansDivorce.com makes no warranty and assumes no legal liability for any service or provider listed below. If you provide a divorce related service and are interested in being listed in this directory, click here.
DIVORCE LAWYERS AND FIRMS
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MEDIATORS
Colorado Center for Divorce Mediation™Lawrence F. King, J.D.,
Christopher L. Griffith, J.D., M.S.
8704 Yates Drive, Suite 220
Westminster, CO 80031-3682
Telephone: 303-650-1750
Counties: All, especially Denver metro (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson) & other Front Range counties
Colorado divorce mediation, family and law information - a comprehensive guide to Colorado divorce, by experienced Colorado attorney-mediators. Free Colorado divorce forms, tools and latest Colorado divorce law news. Family resources including parenting helps, child support and web-exclusive, "best of the net" child custody parenting plans.
DIVORCE FORM PREPARATION
Have All of Your Documents Completed For You! This easy to use, accurate, and up-to-date on-line divorce service is a perfect "do it yourself (without a lawyer)" solution for any uncontested divorce (with or without children) that will be filed in CO. You can get "Real Person" customer support by phone & e-mail, plus access to 40 downloadable books (valued at over $750). Start your divorce form preparation today.
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
Advanced Private Investigations, LLC
P. O. Box 654
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Telephone: 720-933-9301
Fax: 303-663-8021
Counties: Jefferson, Arapahoe, Douglas, Denver, Adams, Weld, El
Paso, Larimer, Eagle, Pitkin, Summit, Pueblo, Elbert,San Miguel, La Plata,
Archuleta, Mesa, Boulder & Broomfield County
Website: AdvancedPrivateEye.com
Email:
API is female and minority owned. We are a full service investigations company that specializes in surveillance catered to your domestic and custody needs. We will ensure your privacy while handling these delicate matters. We can work hand in hand with attorneys or client direct. Female and Spanish speaking investigators on staff. We offer victim and domestic violence protection and education with our executive protection associate. Our services also include dating background checks, criminal records checks, process serving, asset searches and employment verification for child support.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Advanced Private Investigations, LLCP. O. Box 654
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Telephone: 720-933-9301
Fax: 303-663-8021
Counties: Jefferson, Arapahoe, Douglas, Denver, Adams, Weld, El Paso, Larimer, Eagle, Pitkin, Summit, Pueblo, Elbert,San Miguel, La Plata, Archuleta, Mesa, Boulder & Broomfield County
Website: AdvancedPrivateEye.com
Email:
API is female and minority owned. We are a full service investigations company that specializes in surveillance catered to your domestic and custody needs. We will ensure your privacy while handling these delicate matters. We can work hand in hand with attorneys or client direct. Female and Spanish speaking investigators on staff. We offer victim and domestic violence protection and education with our executive protection associate. Our services also include dating background checks, criminal records checks, process serving, asset searches and employment verification for child support.
Conduct Background Checks and Investigations - Obtain vital statistics, marriage and divorce records, credit record checks, criminal and court records, sex offender searches, driving and vehicle records, property records, general public records, business registration and property resources. Find out the truth about anyone!
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUPS
Divorce Care can help you locate a divorce support group in your area. There are thousands of DivorceCare support groups throughout the USA and Canada, and many groups meeting internationally as well.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
Shelters and Crisis NumbersDomestic Violence Crisis and Support Services
Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Safety Planning
Partners in Prevention
13918 E. Mississippi Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 720-222-1058
Partners in Prevention provides consulting and psychological services to domestic abuse survivors before, during and post divorce. Additionally, we serve as consulting experts in both civil and criminal domestic violence cases. We also offer continuing medical and nursing education in domestic abuse assessment and clinical management to healthcare professionals.
DIVORCE LAW
Colorado Online Divorce LawsRESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: To file for a dissolution of marriage in Colorado, one party must be a resident of the state for at least 90 days before filing. The petition for dissolution of marriage may be filed in the where either party resides. [Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-106]
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: The only grounds for dissolution of
marriage is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. [Based on Colorado
Revised Statutes 14-10-106]
LEGAL SEPARATION: If a party requests a legal separation instead of a
dissolution of marriage, and the other party doesn't object, the court will
grant a legal separation. A separation agreement can contain provisions for
the maintenance of either spouse, the division of any property, and provisions
for parental responsibilities, support, and parenting time of their children.
[Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-106 and 14-10-112]
SPECIAL DIVORCE PROCEDURES: The court may appoint an attorney to represent the best interests of the child at the request of either parent or upon its own motion, with respect to the child's custody, allocation of parental responsibilities and rights, and any other issues related to the child. [Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-116]
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: A court may order a parent whose child is under eighteen years of age to attend a special program designed to provide education concerning the impact of separation and divorce on children. [Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-123.7]
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION: Colorado is an equitable distribution state, meaning that if the parties can't agree, the property will be distributed in an equitable fashion, not necessarily equally. When dividing the marital estate, the court will base it's decisions on the following factors: 1) The contribution of each spouse to the marital estate, including the contributions as a homemaker; 2) The value of property set apart to each spouse; 3) The desirability of awarding the family home to the custodial parent, as well as the economic circumstances of each spouse; 4) Any depletion of separate property for marital purposes, or any increases in the value of separate property of the spouse during the marriage.
Separate property not subject to division includes inheritances, property owned prior to the marriage, gifts, property acquired after a legal separation, property excluded by a valid agreement. [Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-113]
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ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT: Spousal maintenance may be
awarded on a temporary or permanent basis to either spouse. When the
parties' combined annual gross income is less than seventy-five thousand
dollars, and temporary support is requested during a legal separation or during
the dissolution of marriage, the court may apply a presumptive formula to
determine the level of maintenance. The monthly amount of temporary maintenance
shall be equal to forty percent of the higher income party's monthly adjusted
gross income less fifty percent of the lower income party's monthly adjusted
gross income. In determining the level of support to be paid after the
dissolution of marriage, the court will take the following factors into
consideration when determining the level of support:
- The duration of the marriage;
- The standard of living established during the marriage;
- The financial resources of the spouse seeking support, including marital property received in the divorce settlement, and the party's ability to meet his or her needs independently;
- The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment and that party's future earning capacity;
- The age and the physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance; and
- The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his or her needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance.
[Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-114]
SPOUSE'S NAME: Even though CO doesn't specifically address the matter of changing your name during proceedings for the dissolution of marriage, there is a section on the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage where you can request that your name be restored to a prior name. To change your name to something other than a previous name, you must petition to that effect, verified by affidavit, to the district or county court in the county where you reside, including your full name, the desired name, and a concise statement of the reason for the name change. The petitioner is required to submit a fingerprint-based criminal history record check within ninety days prior to the date of the filing of the petition. [Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 13-15-101]
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CHILD CUSTODY: Custody may be awarded to either parent based on the
best interest of the child, and shall consider all relevant factors, including:
- The wishes of the parents concerning parenting time;
- The wishes of the child, if sufficiently mature to express reasoned preferences concerning the parenting arrangement;
- The relationship of the child with his or her parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests;
- The child's adjustment to his or her home, school, and community;
- The mental and physical health of all individuals involved;
- The ability of the parents to encourage the sharing of love, affection, and contact between the child and the other parent;
- Whether the past pattern of involvement of the parents with the child reflects a system of values, time commitment, and mutual support;
- The physical distance of the parties to each other as this relates to the practical considerations of parenting time;
- Evidence of spousal abuse, child abuse, or neglect by either parent;
- The ability of each parent to place the needs of the child ahead of his or her own needs.
[Based on Colorado Revised Statutes 14-10-124]
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CHILD SUPPORT: Colorado uses the "Income Shares" model to
determine child support. This method bases the level of support on the
combined income of both parents. You can use the worksheets available at
the Colorado Judicial Branch Child Support Guidelines
to determine the level of support. Child support may continue until a
child becomes emancipated, graduates from high school, or it may continue beyond
the age of nineteen if the child is mentally or physically disabled.
Support for post-secondary education of the child may be order on both the
parents. [Based on Colorado Revised
Statutes 14-10-115]
