Divorce Lawyer in Colorado
If you want to file for divorce, it’s important to speak to a divorce lawyer in Colorado promptly. A divorce is a complicated ordeal, and you don’t want to go through it all alone. A lawyer can guide you through the entire process and help you avoid making costly mistakes.
Divorce is not uncommon in the United States. Family lawyers are often well-versed in this area of law. No matter what the circumstances surrounding the divorce are, it is imperative to always have your own lawyer who will look out for your best interest. Even if the divorce is amicable and you feel like your soon-to-be ex spouse is a reasonable person, you need to have someone on your side who will make sure the divorce process is fair. You want to feel like you can trust the person who is giving you advice and that they will have your best interest at heart. This is why you absolutely need your own divorce lawyer, rather than sharing one with your ex.
How to Get Ready for Divorce Mediation
Divorce doesn’t always have to involve drawn out court battles. More and more divorcing couples are opting for mediation. During mediation, a neutral third-party will help you and your spouse come to a fair agreement in your divorce. Here are a few tips on preparing for divorce mediation:
- Gather the necessary documents. A divorce mediation session will be more productive if you bring the appropriate documents. Some of the documents you may want to take with you include bank statements, a list of real estate owned by you and your spouse, life insurance policies and retirement accounts.
- Have an open mind. The point of mediation is for divorcing couples to come to a mutual agreement. As such, it is critical to go into each mediation session with an open mind. Even if your spouse says something that you don’t initially agree with, take the time to listen to his or her point of view. If you yell or interrupt, you’ll get nowhere.
- Determine what you want to achieve. Before you head off to your first mediation session, sit down and figure out what you want out of your divorce. Perhaps you would like to stay in the family home. Or maybe you would like to have your kids during holidays. Have a good idea about what matters you’re willing to compromise on and what matters you are not willing to compromise on.
- Hire a lawyer. Although mediation is more low-key than going to court, it is still in your best interest to work with a divorce lawyer in Colorado. He or she should sit in during these sessions and make sure that you understand everything.
- Leave your emotions at home. As difficult as it may be, try to put aside your emotions. While you might feel anger, hurt or resentment towards your spouse, it’s important to think rationally during mediation sessions and think about the future. If you allow your emotions to cloud your judgment, mediation may not be successful.
Getting Divorced with Children Involved
The divorce process does become more difficult when there are children involved. Not only are you fighting for your own rights, but you also want to protect your children as well. There is child custody to figure out as well as child support issues. If one parent makes much more than the other, they will likely be ordered to pay some sort of child support. A judge will always look for what the best interest of the child is, so it is crucial to have an experienced divorce lawyer on your side to help you share your case. Your lawyer will know how to best communicate with the judge and be able to tell the story of how you will be a good parent to keep custody of your children. You may share custody or, if one parent is completely unfit, get sole custody of your children. If your ex is a good parent and you want to share custody, you should still hire a lawyer to look over the paperwork involved and make sure that your interests are always protected.
Splitting Assets in a Divorce
It can sometimes be difficult figuring out how to split up the assets that you and your ex spouse share. Every state has different rules on this, which is why it is important to hire a divorce lawyer near you to help work through everything together. It will also depend if you or your ex signed a prenuptial agreement before getting married. Sometimes this document can be void – like in the instance of infidelity – but other times it really does dictate who gets what in the divorce.
Common Myths About Divorce
If you plan on getting a divorce, it is important to know the facts. There are a lot of myths about divorce that you may have heard. Here are a few common misconceptions that you shouldn’t believe.
- Marital assets are divided in half. Too many people assume that everything will be divided in half in a divorce. This just is not true. Colorado is an equitable distribution state, so assets will be divided fairly, not necessarily evenly. A judge may consider multiple factors when deciding how to divide assets, such as each spouse’s financial situation and what each spouse contributed to the asset.
- You can tackle your divorce on your own. It is true that you’re not required to hire a lawyer to proceed with a divorce. Some people may even avoid hiring legal assistance to save on expenses. However, neglecting to hire an experienced divorce lawyer in Colorado is truly a disservice to yourself. A divorce is a complex process and you’re more likely to get taken advantage of by the other side without the help of a lawyer. Hiring a skilled divorce lawyer is completely worth the cost. He or she will guide you through the entire process and improve your chances of obtaining a fair settlement.
- The judge always grants custody to the mother. While this may have been true many years ago, it is not the case today. A judge will not automatically award the mother custody in a divorce. He or she will keep the child’s best interests in mind when determining custody. For example, if the mother has a history of mental illness, the judge may decide to award custody to the father.
- Parents who don’t pay child support can’t see their kids. While there are consequences to skipping child support payments, not seeing your kids is not one of them. If you have missed child support payments, your ex-spouse still does not have the legal right to withhold visitation from you.
- Divorce always involves heated court battles. It’s true that some divorces can be heated and drawn out. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you and your ex-spouse can compromise on major issues in your divorce, such as property division and child custody, you may be able to settle your divorce faster and experience less stress.
Contact a Divorce Lawyer Today
Schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer in Colorado as soon as you and your ex decide that you want to split up. Call Zweig Law, PC Attorneys today. We can go over the details of your case and help determine the best way of moving forward. It is always important to have representation in your case so that you do not get taken advantage of. Even if you and your ex are on good terms, it is wise to have a knowledgeable lawyer on your team to look over your documents. Contact us today to learn more.