Greeley Divorce Attorneys & Family Law Attorneys
Working with families in Greeley, Fort Collins and across Colorado
A divorce or a parenting dispute takes time and emotional energy, and the decisions you make now shape years of your life. We listen to your side, explain how Colorado law applies to it, and build a plan around what matters most to you: your children, your home and your finances.
We represent you, not the couple, from our Greeley office, along the entire Front Range and across Colorado. You can represent yourself in a Colorado family case, but when emotions run high, an attorney is the buffer that keeps the decisions sound.
Family law cases we handle
- Divorce and legal separation, including high-asset divorce
- Parenting time and decision-making (what used to be called custody), and changes to an existing order
- Child support, and enforcing and collecting it
- Spousal maintenance (alimony)
- Dividing the house, retirement accounts, a business and debts (see will my spouse get part of my inheritance?)
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Grandparent visitation rights
Mediation for family law disputes
When both sides are willing to work it out, mediation is often the better path. A mediator does not decide anything: they help the two of you reach an agreement you can both sign, privately and usually for less than a court fight would cost.
Our attorneys can represent you in mediation, or serve as the neutral mediator for both of you. When we mediate, we represent neither side. And if mediation is not right for your case, we will tell you when going to court is the better choice.
How a Colorado divorce works
Every case is different, but most follow these steps.
Filing
One spouse files a petition for dissolution of marriage. At least one of you must have lived in Colorado for the 91 days before filing.
The waiting period
The court cannot finalize a divorce until 91 days after the other spouse is served or joins the case (C.R.S. 14-10-106). Temporary orders can cover the children, support and the house in the meantime.
Financial disclosure
Both spouses exchange sworn financial statements and the documents behind them, so every decision is made on the full picture.
Agreement or mediation
Most couples settle some or all of the issues by agreement, often with a mediator's help, which is usually faster and less expensive than a hearing.
Hearing, if needed
Whatever you cannot agree on, a judge decides after hearing both sides. We prepare you for it and present your case.
The decree
The court enters the decree and the orders on parenting, support and property. If life changes later, some of those orders can be modified.
Family law questions
Does Colorado still use the word custody?
Not in the law. Colorado courts make an "allocation of parental responsibilities," split into parenting time (when the children are with each parent) and decision-making (who decides on school, health care and religion). Everyone still says custody, and we know what you mean.
How is property divided in a Colorado divorce?
The court divides marital property in the proportions it finds just, which is not always 50/50, and without regard to who was at fault for the divorce (C.R.S. 14-10-113). Property you owned before the marriage, and gifts and inheritances you received, are generally yours, but any increase in their value during the marriage is marital.
Will my spouse get part of my inheritance?
The inheritance itself is usually separate property. Its growth during the marriage, and an inheritance mixed into joint accounts, can become marital. Keeping it separate, and keeping the records, matters.
How long does a divorce take?
At least 91 days from service, the legal waiting period. An uncontested divorce often finishes soon after that; a contested one with children or a business can take a year or more.
Call An Experienced Attorney
Our lawyers will review your case details and give you a clear plan for how we can help. Based in Northern Colorado, we represent clients along the entire Front Range and across Colorado. Call our law firm or send an email to talk to a professional and understanding attorney.