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A child custody lawyer in Colorado Springs at Modern Family Law helps parents set up, change or enforce parenting orders under Colorado law. Custody cases for El Paso County families are heard at the El Paso Combined Court downtown, and your first consultation is free. Custody cases are some of the hardest to go through, and you don't have to handle them alone.
Custody orders are made when parents divorce, legally separate or have a child together without being married. Colorado doesn't actually use the word "custody" in its statutes. The legal term is allocation of parental responsibilities (C.R.S. § 14-10-124), and it has two parts: parenting time and decision-making. Many factors go into deciding which arrangement is best for your child, and for military families, deployments and PCS moves add another layer.
We know custody cases are hard on everyone involved, including the other parent and especially your kids. Our Colorado Springs family law attorneys help you through the uncertainty and give you the information you need to keep your children's best interests at the center of your case. We believe informed parents make better decisions.
Schedule a Free ConsultationParents can agree on an arrangement, or a judge can decide it. Either way, Colorado divides parental responsibilities into two parts:
Decision-making is the right to make major choices about your child's education, health care, religion and activities, like which school they attend or whether they get braces. It can be joint, where parents decide together, or sole, where one parent decides. Courts can also split it, for example giving one parent final say on medical issues. Clear terms mean fewer disagreements later.
Parenting time is the schedule for when your child is with each parent. Some families share time closely, such as a 2-2-5-5 or week-on, week-off schedule. Others have the child live mainly with one parent and spend weekends, holidays and summers with the other. Military families often need long-distance plans with longer summer blocks and regular video calls.
Decision-making and parenting time aren't an either-or choice. Every parenting plan covers both. Colorado has no automatic 50/50 rule and doesn't favor mothers or fathers. The judge looks at what's best for your child, including the distance between homes, each parent's work or duty schedule, and any special needs that call for more hands-on care.
Our Attorneys Are Ready to Listen. Our Colorado Springs custody attorneys have the knowledge, resources and dedication to prepare your case, protect your interests and work toward a good outcome for your family.
Schedule a ConsultationWe're not fans of surprises, and we suspect you aren't either. We built these calculators so you know what to expect every step of the way.
In Colorado Springs, custody cases are handled by the El Paso Combined Court at 270 S. Tejon St., part of the 4th Judicial District. You can ask for parenting orders as part of a divorce or legal separation, or file a separate allocation of parental responsibilities case if you aren't married to the other parent. Your child generally must have lived in Colorado for 182 days before a Colorado court can make custody orders. If you and the other parent can't agree, the court may order mediation before a judge decides, and El Paso County commonly requires a parenting class in cases with children.
Court forms and guides can help if you decide to handle your custody case yourself. Every case is unique, though, and these forms may not meet the needs of yours. We recommend talking with one of our Colorado Springs custody lawyers before you complete or file them.
The right arrangement depends on your child's age, each parent's work or duty schedule, the home environment and more. It may seem simple at first, but a lot goes into deciding what's best for your family. Talk it through with your attorney so you can make an informed decision. Our Colorado Springs child custody attorneys understand these complexities and can help you make the right choices for your situation.
If you and the other parent agree on a parenting plan, the court will usually approve it. If you can't agree, a judge decides based on your child's best interests. That includes your child's needs, their relationship with each parent, how settled they are at home and school, each parent's willingness to support the other relationship, and any history of domestic violence or abuse.
Having a child custody lawyer help you negotiate matters. You can't just walk into court and ask for a schedule without explaining why it's best for your child. The judge will want to understand your family first. An experienced custody attorney who knows how Colorado custody law works in El Paso County can walk you through each step.
For Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and Air Force Academy families, a parenting plan should account for deployments, training and PCS moves. Colorado has specific rules for deployed parents (C.R.S. § 14-13.7-101 and following). Parents can make a written, temporary agreement for parenting time during a deployment, and in some cases a deploying parent's time can go to a close relative, such as a grandparent. A deployment alone isn't supposed to decide the case.
Our Colorado Springs custody attorneys understand how overwhelming the custody process can be. We'll listen to the details of your case, pay close attention to your concerns and goals, and give you clear, practical guidance to help you through this difficult time and make the best decisions for your family.
At Modern Family Law, we go to great lengths to help our clients understand the legal process. Better understanding leads to smarter choices, and smarter choices lead to greater satisfaction with the outcome. We see every case as a partnership between lawyer and client.
Our Colorado Springs child custody attorneys know how difficult these matters are, and many of our clients are military parents or co-parenting with someone in the service. We'll guide you toward a good outcome for you and your children. We also understand the financial burden family law matters can bring. Our SimpleStart™ program gives qualified clients a way to reduce the money needed to start their case, and we explain our transparent fees up front.
Custody is an important decision that deserves careful thought. An experienced Colorado Springs child custody lawyer can help you through the legal system and toward an agreement that's best for you and your child. Contact Modern Family Law to talk with one of our child custody lawyers today.
Christine A. Salamon
Managing Attorney Colorado Springs, CO Meet Christine
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Jackie Collins
Senior Attorney Colorado Springs, CO Meet Jackie
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Senior Attorney Colorado Springs, CO Meet Johanna
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Lauren Steiger
Associate Attorney Colorado Springs, CO Meet Lauren
Marissa Huntsman
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Kris Freeman
Licensed Legal Paraprofessional Colorado Springs, CO Meet Kris
Jennifer Wurtz
Licensed Legal Paraprofessional Colorado Springs, CO Meet Jennifer
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Licensed Legal Paraprofessional Colorado Springs, CO Meet Ashlyn
Caitlin Carey
Licensed Legal Paraprofessional Colorado Springs, CO Meet Caitlin
Sharon Nagata
Licensed Legal Paraprofessional Colorado Springs, CO Meet SharonCustody has many parts, and no two cases are the same. You don't need to understand every detail, but the more you know, the easier the process will be.
Frequently asked questions
The biggest factor is the level of conflict, and it's often hard to predict at the start. Cases that settle through negotiation or mediation cost much less than those needing a child and family investigator, an evaluation or a contested hearing. We can't quote a final total up front, but we'll explain how each factor affects cost, and SimpleStart may lower your starting retainer.
No age lets a child decide. A Colorado judge can consider your child's wishes, but only as one factor, and the weight depends on your child's maturity and reasons. A thoughtful teenager's views may matter more than a young child's. Judges try to keep kids out of the conflict, so they often hear from them through a professional.
The judge decides based on your child's best interests. Colorado law doesn't favor either parent because of gender, and there's no automatic 50/50 rule. The court looks at your child's needs, their relationship with each parent, stability at home and school, each parent's support for the other relationship, and any history of domestic violence or abuse.
Often, yes. If you and the other parent can't agree on parenting time or decision-making, the El Paso County court may order mediation before scheduling a hearing. Many parents settle some or all of their disagreements there. Mediation may not be required when there's a history of domestic violence, so tell your attorney about any safety concerns.
Yes. You can ask the court to change parenting time or decision-making when circumstances have changed and the new plan serves your child's best interests. PCS orders, a new work schedule or a child's changing needs are common reasons. Parents can also agree on changes and ask the court to approve them.
Not without following Colorado's relocation rules. If the move would substantially change the other parent's time, you must give written notice and get either their agreement or the court's approval. A judge looks at the reasons for the move and how it would affect your child's relationship with both parents.
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