I have been a practicing attorney for thirty three years. I have limited my practice to Family Law and Mediation for the last twenty five years. I provide mediation at my office for the hourly rate of $200.00 per hour. Considering the amount of Family Law experience I have this is a very reasonable rate. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to obtain the services of seasoned mediator without spending a fortune.

I have handled hundreds of adoptions; step parent adoptions, private adoptions, and adoptions via placement by the Department of Human Services. Adoptions always bring a smile to my face and to this day I still receive Holiday Cards from families I have assisted.

This is a new area of Family Law.  It was long time coming.  Again, choosing a divorce attorney  is the most first and foremost important decision that you must make.  Choosing your representative to present your side of the story (attorney) is so important.  Make sure you have confidence and a rapport with your attorney as he/she is your spokesperson.

Colorado’s Maintenance Statute and the Internal Revenue Service made significant changes to Maintenance.  Maintenance is no longer a tax deduction to the person who is paying the money and is no longer income for the person receiving the money.  Maintenance is still a discretionary award.  Your attorney is responsible for presenting the facts to the court and make a convincing argument regarding your position on maintenance.  

Colorado rarely uses the word “custody”in regards to the parenting of children. The Court uses the term “parenting time”.  The Court presumes that you and your spouse or significant other will be able to set aside your individual differences and be able to co-parent your child(ren).  It is of the utmost importance that you and your significant other put your child or children first and foremost in the divorce process (or the allocation of parental responsibilities if you are not married).  The children did not ask for the divorce, did not want their family split in two and do not have the maturity and ability to understand the process of a divorce.  Children should be allowed to grieve the loss of their family unit before they are exposed to new significant others. Parents need to put the needs of their children first and foremost in their divorce.

Colorado is an equitable division state. This does not mean that everything is added together and divided equally.  What “equitable” means is that debts and assets are divided based upon the factual situation of each case. Therefore, talking to your neighbor or friends about what happened in their case is not indicative of what will occur in your case. 

In a Petition for Legal Separation you jump through the exact same hoops as you do for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (or Divorce).  The only difference is that at the end of the day when a Decree for Legal Separation is entered you are still married!  Why do people do a Legal Separation versus a Divorce?  Sometimes it is to keep a person on health insurance, sometimes it is for religious purposes.  What needs to be known is that six months after a Decree of Legal Separation is entered either party, with written notice, can file a motion with the court converting the Legal Separation to a Divorce.  So, the moral of this story is that you really need to think if a Legal Separation meets your needs or if it is best to go the Divorce route.

These are drafted to protect assets owned by the marrying couple before the date of marriage.  There are many different provisions regarding Prenuptial Agreements depending on the assets being protected.  I have a questionnaire that will asset you as you embark on this path.