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If you and your spouse agree
to obtain a divorce and agree about all relevant Issues (for example parenting schedules, parenting responsibilities, maintenance/spousal support if any, and how you will divide your assets debts) then you may choose to obtain a divorce by yourselves. Where both spouses agree to all issues, it is called an “uncontested” divorce.
Even if there are issues you and your spouse disagree on, you may still be a good candidate to conduct your own divorce especially if you have few or simple assets/debts, have no children, and/or you and your spouse agree on the majority of issues. |
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Other Alternatives
Divorce matters can be handled through alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation and arbitration. Additionally, you can hire attorneys who will work with you and your spouse in a non-adversarial manner called “Collaborative Law”.
Mediation: A process where a neutral and impartial third party trained in mediation skills helps disputing parties lay out the issue, discuss and arrive at a resolution that is agreeable to them. Any and all agreements reached by the parties are put into writing at the end of the Mediation. The parties file the agreement with the court.
Arbitration: A formal method where a third person is hired to decide your case, similar to how a judge in court would decide your case.
Collaborative Law: A team of attorneys and professionals work with you and your spouse to make decisions in all matters to help you dissolve your marriage. If, at some point, you and your spouse cannot reach a final agreement, then the Collaborative Team is terminated and each party will need to retain new attorneys and experts. |
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With All of Those Options, Why Hire an Attorney?
Every situation is filled with distinctive issues unique to that particular family. It is impossible for the State of Colorado Judicial Branch to inform you of each and every law that applies to you, each and every benefit that is your right for you to ask for and to receive.
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It’s important that you are informed of every benefit and right available to you before making decisions that will have years of impact on you and your family.
Questions such as how much can you expect to either pay or receive in maintenance, formally known as alimony (spousal support), what are the elements you will need to prove to either not pay or to receive maintenance, what elements do you need to prove to modify the parenting agreement, relocate your child to another state, or to change from joint decision-making (custody) to sole-decision making all need to be answered by reading and understanding the statutes and how the courts interpret them. |
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At our firm, we help you understand the choices the law gives you with our experience and legal expertise in understanding the statutes and case law given your unique circumstances. We help you decide what is best for you and your family and help you evaluate the many choices you will need to make along the way.
If your spouse has retained an attorney, many of things he/she does may feel accusatory and confusing. |
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We help you understand what the opposing attorney is attempting to do, help you understand the legal system, how it works and why, and we help you with an effective way of maneuvering within it.
You may choose to represent yourself
in any situation. Colorado provides forms and basic
instructions on what you will need to represent yourself and which documents to file.
Colorado provides forms and basic directions for free online at:
http://www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/SubCategory.cfm/Category/Dome |
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