You can file for divorce on your own or jointly with your spouse. Colorado requires that at least one party must have resided in the state for at least 90 days before filing. Make sure you fill out all your documents fully and accurately.

If only one spouse files, they must legally serve the notice to the other spouse and provide proof of adequate procedure to the court.

Documents you must submit to the court can include:

• Divorce petition
• Supporting documents
• Any applicable parenting documents

Upon reception of your documents, the court typically schedules an Initial Status Conference Date.

Both parties then must fully disclose their financial situations including income, assets, debts, and any other relevant information. The court may request additional details depending on whether your divorce is uncontested or contested.

During your Initial Status Conference, both parties must present their needs before the court. This helps the judge assigned to your case to get a more detailed understanding of your situation and allows you to gain a more precise timeline of how the rest of your divorce may unfold.

The court may order both spouses to go through mediation to negotiate any existing issues and reach a mutually beneficial agreement to present to the judge. Each party has the right to request their lawyer’s presence during those meetings.

If any issue remains contested after the mediation process, the judge reviews and resolves them before issuing a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage and any support orders necessary such as custody orders if you share minor children.

Dissolution of Marriage vs. Legal Separation

A dissolution of marriage permanently terminates your marriage. Both parties are then free to remarry. However, legal separation means you and your spouse remain legally married and cannot marry someone else.

This may be a helpful solution for couples whose faith does not permit divorce or if you wish to maintain certain benefits possible due to your marital status.

It follows that separation and divorce share many of the same elements, such as:

• Property division
• Child custody
• Child support
• Trying Separation Before Divorce

Particular couples decide to first file for separation before deciding whether to petition for divorce. However, the law does not state that separation is a prerequisite. You may directly file.

The duration of the divorce or separation process generally depends on your unique situation. The legal proceedings may take from a few months to more than a year. As we get a clear picture of your specific circumstances, we can discuss a potential timeline.

Choose Solutions Based Family Law to Protect Your Interests and Future in Colorado

Hiring a reputable lawyer can make a positive difference in the legal proceedings, even for straightforward, uncontested divorces. Solutions Based Family Law’s team combines a thorough understanding of Colorado family law and extensive professional experience to help protect your rights and future.

We can help you outside of the courtroom or during hearings. Our attorneys have extensive experience with many types of divorces, and we can assist you during negotiations or trials. Our firm believes in compassionate and personalized representation to help you find a solution that meets your needs and goals.

From reviewing your initial petition to your proposed agreements, we can evaluate all documents, confirming they are in your interests. Suppose you share minor children with your spouse. In that case, our lawyers agree that negotiations and court orders respect parental rights.

Our firm serves families in Douglas, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams, Denver, Boulder, El Paso Counties, and their surrounding areas. Even after finalizing your divorce, our family attorneys remain available if you want to request court order modifications.

Call Solutions Based Family Law today at (720) 420-3610 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.

About Solutions Based Family Law

Highly Personalized Solutions from Highly Experienced Lawyers

After many years of practicing family law and building valuable relationships throughout Colorado’s legal and justice systems, we founded Solutions Based Family Law to offer a higher quality of personalized service and tailored solutions to our clients. We handle the following family law matters:

• Divorce
• Legal Separation
• Mediation
• Collaborative Law
• Child Custody
• Child Support

• Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
• Spousal Support
• Property Division
• Estate Planning
• Protection Orders
• Adoption

• Non-traditional Family Law
• Post Decree
• Appellate Law
• Criminal Defense
• Civil Litigation
• Arbitration

We are attorneys, but we are also humans who not only understand the legal challenges in family law, but the emotional ones as well. At Solutions Based Family Law, we have a team of experienced legal professionals who see you, hear you, and are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you. Whether you need guidance for an amicable family law case, or an advocate to fight for your legal rights in the courtroom, our seasoned team is here to help you.