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Knowledgeable Greenwood Village Divorce Lawyers Providing Guidance

Get help from our Colorado legal team

The dissolution of a marriage might involve crucial decisions about the welfare of your children and the equitable division of your assets. At the Law Offices of Leonard R. Higdon in Greenwood Village, we are experienced Colorado divorce attorneys. We consider all aspects of your divorce case to identify the best possible solutions regarding child custody, visitation rights, property distribution, child support and alimony. The best path forward depends on your circumstances. Our firm can resolve your case through negotiation, mediation or litigation. Much depends on the attitude and behavior of your spouse, your specific concerns and the complexity of the marital estate.

Dedicated legal advisers assist with contested and uncontested marriage dissolution

If you and your spouse generally agree on marriage dissolution terms, you can try to obtain an uncontested divorce, which can save you time, money and stress. Uncontested means you settle your primary issues — alimony, child custody, child support, and division of property — by agreement rather than through a trial. If you have an enforceable prenuptial agreement, its terms could simplify some issues. When you cannot reach a comprehensive agreement, you must litigate the remaining issues, which results in a contested divorce. Colorado recognizes legal separation. So, if you’re not ready to commit to a final divorce, or have religious objections, you can protect your rights and your children’s welfare with a legal separation.

Filing for divorce in Colorado

To file for divorce in Colorado, at least one of the spouses must have been a state resident for 90 days or more. Colorado is a no-fault state for divorce, so a petitioner does not assert marital misconduct as a basis for the dissolution. The petitioner only has to state that the marital relationship is irretrievably broken. Proceedings are initiated when the petitioner files a Complaint in the court of the county where one of the spouses resides and pays the filing fee.

After the petitioner files the Complaint, he or she must arrange to have the respondent spouse served with a copy and a court summons. The respondent can file an Answer in the court, or simply allow the court to grant the divorce on the terms requested in the Complaint. If a respondent spouse answers, the case goes on the court calendar.

At this point, many couples try to reach a negotiated solution to avoid a trial. If they are unable to reach a complete marital settlement agreement, outstanding issues must be decided in court.

Effective family law mediators seek to resolve divorce terms through consensus

Mediation gives you and your spouse the opportunity to negotiate a divorce settlement in a structured setting with the assistance of a trained facilitator. The mediation process fosters cooperation between partners and removes the unpredictability and uncertainty associated with litigation. Mediation often reduces the time and costs of divorce, and puts key decisions in your hands. Our experienced family law attorneys use this method of alternative dispute resolution to reach mutually agreeable arrangements relating to custody, child support and financial terms.

Skilled family law litigators assert your parental and property rights

Sometimes litigation is necessary to reach a fair resolution to your divorce. Through tactical trial strategies and professional courtroom presence, our skilled litigators effectively represent clients throughout the adversarial litigation process. We are prepared to handle the complex aspects of your divorce methodically in pursuit of a favorable trial outcome.

Contact a Greenwood Village divorce lawyer today for a free consultation

The Law Offices of Leonard R. Higdon in Greenwood Village, advocates for Colorado clients during divorce proceedings. Call 303-740-1966 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our office is conveniently located at 6565 S. Dayton Street, just off I-25.