Denver, Colorado Divorce Laws & Attorneys

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Colorado lawyer to get divorced?

Believe it or not, you may NOT need a family lawyer in Denver to get divorced. But that really depends on the facts and legal issues in your case. Sometimes, simple uncontested cases can be done by obtaining pro-se paperwork from the courthouse or possibly using an online forms service. If you can do this without making mistakes, it can obviously save you some money. There is always the risk, however, of unanticipated problems that the parties do not understand, creating big problems in even the simplest cases.

Here are a few real-world examples of how we have seen cases done without lawyers go off the rails:

Example #1 The parties agree to divide their credit card debt 50/50. All of their credit card debt is on two cards, both in wife’s name, so husband agrees to pay one of the cards and the wife agrees to pay the other. Unbeknownst to wife, husband never makes any payments and by the time wife realizes this, her credit score has been ruined.
Example #2 The parties have a small business that really doesn’t have any value but did support the family over the years. Husband keeps the business as part of the divorce, but the parties do not address what should happen if back taxes were ever assessed against the business. A year later the IRS says the business still owes significant taxes. Husband gets stuck paying the taxes when really both parties should have shared in this debt.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Colorado?

Most divorce cases are charged on an hourly basis with the client posting an upfront, refundable retainer in his or her case. The amount of the retainer really depends on the facts, circumstances and legal issues in the case. Our firm is always happy to discuss what retainer may be required after we learn more about your case.

How do I get a divorce?

To start; take control by educating yourself about all of your options, understanding which of them are going to be the best fit for your situation, and then – and only then – hiring a Denver divorce lawyer. Some of your options include uncontested divorce, mediated divorce, collaborative divorce, and litigation. Once you understand which might be the best type of divorce for you, you can then begin discussing the process with your potential lawyer. It is important to find an attorney who understands and has experience with all of these options.

If you’re looking to get through your contested divorce as quickly as possible, consider our Colorado divorce mediation services.

How do alimony (maintenance) payments work?

Alimony, also called spousal support, is an amount of money awarded by the court from one spouse to the other as continuing support after the marriage has ended. These payments are usually made on a monthly basis from one party to the other.

How long do maintenance payments last?

Under the family laws of Colorado, maintenance or spousal support may be temporary, permanent, or transitional. Maintenance may also be modifiable or non-modifiable as determined by the court or by agreement of the parties.The duration of maintenance depends on a number of factors, including the length of the marriage. It is not possible to give a definitive answer to this question, but we can give clients an idea of the range of their payments based on the facts of their cases. There are also potential tax consequences and effects on property division that will need to be addressed as they relate to maintenance; our attorneys can help you understand this in more depth.

Is maintenance the same as child support?

Spousal and parental payments both support the needs of a family, but are based on two different legal constructs. Although these can be intertwined, each payment is individual of the other.