Family Law in Colorado
Can anyone file for Divorce in Colorado?
Answer: No. In order to file for divorce in the state of Colorado, one of the parties must have been domiciled in Colorado for at least 91 days. That means more than just living here, it means having the intent to stay here. People in the military are the ones most affected by this requirement. It is important that you talk to an attorney prior to filing anything to determine if you meet this requirement.
How quickly can I get divorced?
Answer: That depends on you and your spouse. If all matters are agreed upon and an agreement is completed and signed, it is possible to get a divorce in about 4 months. There is a 91-day mandatory waiting period from the time service is completed on a divorce before you can finalize a divorce. Once the 91 days have gone by, you can complete a divorce fairly quickly if everything is agreed to and both parties are cooperating. If there are issues that are not agreed to, a divorce can take anywhere from 6 months to a year, and even longer to finalize if the case becomes very complex.
Can I get a divorce if I do not know where my spouse is?
Answer: Yes. As long as you meet the domicile requirement, you can get a divorce even if you do not know the whereabouts of your spouse. You do, however, need to make reasonable efforts to find him or her before you can move forward with a divorce.
Do I have to pay child support if the children are living half time with me?
Answer: That depends upon the incomes of the parties. Colorado has a guideline it uses to determine child support. The amount of child support depends on both parties’ incomes, the number of overnights each party has with the children, day care costs and health insurance costs among other things. If one party has a higher income then the other party, it is possible there will still be child support ordered even if the parties have the same number of overnights with the children.
What if the other party does not want any child support?
Answer: If the guideline shows an amount for child support, the Courts will order that amount of support unless there is a good reason to deviate. The reasons for deviation vary and depend upon all the circumstances. This is an issue that you should discuss with an attorney.
Do I have to have an attorney to get a divorce?
Answer: No. You can file for divorce on your own. However it is not advisable to do so if there are children involved, if you have been married over 5 years, or if there is property and debt to divide. Even if you believe you and your spouse have a full agreement on all issues, you should talk to an attorney to make sure the agreement is fair.
How much does it cost to retain:
Answer: The hourly rate for the attorney is $350.00 per hour with the initial retainers usually starting between $4350.00 and $7150.00, depending on the complexities of your case.
If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact us for a Free Initial Consultation.
Can anyone file for Divorce in Colorado?
Answer: No. In order to file for divorce in the state of Colorado, one of the parties must have been domiciled in Colorado for at least 91 days. That means more than just living here, it means having the intent to stay here. People in the military are the ones most affected by this requirement. It is important that you talk to an attorney prior to filing anything to determine if you meet this requirement.
How quickly can I get divorced?
Answer: That depends on you and your spouse. If all matters are agreed upon and an agreement is completed and signed, it is possible to get a divorce in about 4 months. There is a 91-day mandatory waiting period from the time service is completed on a divorce before you can finalize a divorce. Once the 91 days have gone by, you can complete a divorce fairly quickly if everything is agreed to and both parties are cooperating. If there are issues that are not agreed to, a divorce can take anywhere from 6 months to a year, and even longer to finalize if the case becomes very complex.
Can I get a divorce if I do not know where my spouse is?
Answer: Yes. As long as you meet the domicile requirement, you can get a divorce even if you do not know the whereabouts of your spouse. You do, however, need to make reasonable efforts to find him or her before you can move forward with a divorce.
Do I have to pay child support if the children are living half time with me?
Answer: That depends upon the incomes of the parties. Colorado has a guideline it uses to determine child support. The amount of child support depends on both parties’ incomes, the number of overnights each party has with the children, day care costs and health insurance costs among other things. If one party has a higher income then the other party, it is possible there will still be child support ordered even if the parties have the same number of overnights with the children.
What if the other party does not want any child support?
Answer: If the guideline shows an amount for child support, the Courts will order that amount of support unless there is a good reason to deviate. The reasons for deviation vary and depend upon all the circumstances. This is an issue that you should discuss with an attorney.
Do I have to have an attorney to get a divorce?
Answer: No. You can file for divorce on your own. However it is not advisable to do so if there are children involved, if you have been married over 5 years, or if there is property and debt to divide. Even if you believe you and your spouse have a full agreement on all issues, you should talk to an attorney to make sure the agreement is fair.
How much does it cost to retain:
Answer: The hourly rate for the attorney is $350.00 per hour with the initial retainers usually starting between $4350.00 and $7150.00, depending on the complexities of your case.
If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact us for a Free Initial Consultation.
