An Overview of Our Denver Family Law Practice
For more information about a family law topic, click on the heading:
Divorce
There are three stages to marriage dissolution in Colorado: temporary orders, a status conference, and permanent orders. If you have children, you will also need to attend Parenting After Divorce (PAD) classes and mediation to create a parenting plan.
Child Custody and Support
It's not usual for a father or a mother to come into our Denver law office and tell us they want sole custody of their children following their divorce. While sole custody is appropriate in some cases, Colorado judges generally prefer to have joint child custody and decision-making arrangements if it is in the best interests of the child.
Spousal Support
Spousal support is a complicated issue in divorce. Unlike child support, there is no worksheet that is used to calculate the terms. Instead, judges will consider a number of factors in determining how much support one party will pay to the other and how long those payments will continue.
Domestic Violence
To file for a temporary protection order, you must show the judge that you face an immediate threat of physical harm from domestic violence. If the judge believes this danger exists now and is serious, he or she will issue a 90-day temporary protection order.
Division of Marital Property
Equitable division — not equal division — is the rule for marital property in a Colorado divorce.
Post-Decree Matters
Child custody and support agreements are not written in stone. Both are subject to modification if there is a change in circumstances after divorce.
Prenuptial and Post Nuptial Agreements
Prenuptial or premarital agreements are often used in second marriages to protect the property rights of children from a first marriage. These agreements are honored by Colorado courts as long as the agreements are properly drafted, there is full disclosure of assets and the agreement was not signed under duress.
Adoption
Adoption is one of the few family law cases where everyone involved can leave the courthouse happy. At the Waters Law Firm in Denver, we will guide you through all the legal steps to ensure that your adoption goes smoothly.
Free Lawyer Consultation
During difficult times, it is helpful to talk to a lawyer you can trust. For a free initial consultation with attorney John Waters, call 303.731.6327 or fill out the contact form on this Web site.
