Key Takeaways An unmarried mother in Colorado automatically holds parental rights from birth, before any paternity action is filed. An unmarried father in Colorado must establish paternity. That can be as simple as being listed on the birth certificate or as difficult as a contested court proceeding. Once parentage is established, courts apply the…
Key Takeaways Commingling happens when separate property mixes with marital funds until it can no longer be traced. Colorado presumes property acquired during marriage is marital property regardless of how the title is held. Depositing an inheritance into a joint account is a common way for separate property to become commingled. Adding a spouse…
Key Takeaways Colorado law sets no specific age at which a child can legally refuse court-ordered parenting time. Courts consider a child’s maturity, actual preference, and how much weight it deserves before making decisions. A child’s preference is one factor among many and never automatically dictates a parenting time outcome. A parent’s non-compliance can…
Key Takeaways Neither “sole custody” nor “full custody” exists under Colorado law. Courts allocate decision-making responsibility and parenting time separately, not as one arrangement. Decision-making responsibility covers major issues such as education, medical care, and religious upbringing. Primary parenting time goes to the parent who has the majority of overnights. Strong cases require organized…
Key Takeaways Filing does not give either spouse an advantage in property, maintenance, or parenting time decisions. Colorado requires 91 days of residency before a decree can be entered. Respondents generally have 21 days to reply after in-state service, or 35 days after out-of-state service. The automatic injunction protects marital property and children but…
Key Takeaways Colorado ties parenting time to the best interests of the child standard, not to a fixed-age formula. For infants and toddlers, parenting plans may include shorter but more frequent contact depending on developmental needs and routines. Families with multiple residences or significant travel demands may need more detailed parenting-plan provisions, not a…
Key Takeaways Ask specific questions to confirm an attorney’s high-asset case experience early rather than assume they have such experience. Questions about business valuation, equity awards, and retirement classification reveal real experience with high-value assets. Questions about maintenance, property settlement, and parenting plans show if an attorney’s approach matches Colorado legal requirements. Asking about…
Key Takeaways A signed divorce decree is a binding court order, but several practical steps still follow before the case is truly finalized. Property division is generally final in Colorado, while spousal maintenance and parenting time may later be modified. If such accounts exist, a QDRO is required to divide many types of retirement…
Key Takeaways Colorado law treats grandparent visitation and grandparent custody as separate legal paths, each carrying a distinct standard. Common grounds include parental unfitness, abandonment, incarceration, a parent’s death, or established physical care of 182 days. A grandparent with 182 days of physical care of a grandchild may file within 182 days after that…
Key Takeaways Colorado courts are required to address children’s medical coverage in every divorce proceeding. Coverage is assigned based on the availability of employer-sponsored plans and whether premiums are reasonable. Child health insurance obligations are incorporated directly into child support orders. Both parents typically share uninsured medical expenses in proportion to their respective incomes….
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Equity Partner Kathleen Ann Hogan, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a Family Law Attorney in Colorado.