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Can I Get an Annulment in Colorado?

Annulment is a legal concept that makes a determination about marital status. Unlike divorce, which dissolves a legally valid marriage, an annulment in Colorado ends a marriage by declaring that it was never valid in the first place. After an annulment, the existence of the marriage is not recognized in the eyes of the law. … Continued

What is Common Law Marriage?

Common law marriage is an informal type of marriage involving couples who hold themselves out to be married, but who do not have a marriage license and have never actually gone through with a formal ceremony. Criteria for a Common Law Marriage Simply living together is not enough to constitute a common law marriage. Generally,…

6 Questions to Ask Before You Get Divorced

According to statistics, roughly half of marriages end in divorce. If you’re married, this statistic has probably crossed your mind. If you’re considering a divorce, take a step back and think about the following factors before finalizing your decision. Like marriage, divorce will change every facet of your life – for better or for worse…

What is Retroactive Child Support?

Parents have a duty to care for their children, even if they're not actively raising them. The non-custodial parent typically pays child support to care for their children until they reach the age of 19. Parents who are no longer together may get a court order specifying which parent pays child support and how much he/she … Continued

Why the Ashley Madison Leak Won’t Affect Your Divorce

Beginning in 2000, our culture experienced phenomenal waves of technological innovation. The Internet has transformed the way we shop, exercise, look for doctors, keep in touch, and fall in love. From Match.com to Tinder, the Internet makes finding love seem as simple as filling out a survey. As our society is jettisoned into the wave…

Why I’d Prefer My Clients Settle Out of Court

As a family law attorney, it’s my job to help people start over from some of the toughest times in their lives. It also means that I do so use the legal system. I’m a big fan of our legal system, it’s not perfect, but it does a pretty good job of resolving disputes between two…

Should I Get a Prenuptial Agreement?

Getting married is a big decision. If you’re considering marriage, you may have heard the term “prenuptial agreement” (“prenup” for short). In short, a prenup is a legal agreement designed to protect the financial assets of one or both parties in the marriage. If for example, you’ve invested considerable money in real estate, you may…

Avoiding Bankruptcy After Divorce

According to research, one in ten bankruptcy petitions involve bankruptcy. Divorce is a financial challenge, but it doesn’t have to lead to bankruptcy. With the help of a skilled lawyer, you can create the right legal and financial plan to prevent bankruptcy and protect your financial security and your future. The Link Between Divorce and…

How to Cope with Divorce

For most people, the emotional aftermath of a divorce is foreign territory. Even amicable divorces lead to sadness, loneliness, and guilt. Terminating your marriage may be one of the biggest challenges of your life, but remember this: you are not alone. Like any trial, learning how to cope with divorce can be done, especially with…

My Predictions on the Supreme Court’s Gay Marriage Ruling

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark gay marriage case which should answer the question of whether the Constitution requires states to a) allow same-sex couples to marry and b) if not, whether it requires the states to recognize those marriages legally performed in states that do…

The 50-50 Parenting Time Presumption: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

A proposed bill involving Colorado family law recently progressed to the House Committee at the State Capitol after unanimous approval by the State Senate. Entitled SB-15-129, the proposed bill would require Colorado family law judges to make specific findings in their orders if they decided not to award “substantially equal parenting time.” Parts of the … Continued

How Our “Paperless Office” Benefits Your Family Law Case

Happy Earth Day! At Modern Family Law, we are not only leaders in the legal community, but strong advocates of eco-friendly practices and efforts throughout Colorado and California. In fact, our firm was the first in the region to use iPads exclusively for evidence during a trial. Today, we spearhead the efforts to expand this…

Serving Divorce Papers Via Facebook?

One Court in New York recently allowed serving divorce papers to your spouse through Facebook. It’s a huge leap forward in the arena of using social media in divorce cases, but it is a leap that, as the Court takes great pains to point out, is simply a logical extension of our ever growing connectedness…

The Power of Art and Reading in Coping with Divorce

Many courts either order or suggest therapy for parents and children involved in family law litigation. Particularly with regard to child therapy, I am a big advocate of art therapy in helping children cope with divorce. Children are both extremely expressive and extremely creative. They learn by interacting with their environments and processing their experiences … Continued

Popular Divorce Myths

The term “divorce” evokes a variety of stereotypes and assumptions. Every divorce is unique, and these presuppositions can cause unnecessary confusion. If you’re considering a divorce, it is important to figure out which of these expectations apply to your unique situation and which ones are simply myths. Below, our team of Colorado divorce attorneys compiled…

The Question You Should Ask Before Every Family Law Dispute

Family law disputes are some of the most emotionally charged legal cases out there. Not only are you dealing with your life savings, investments, and children’s futures, you are also fighting with someone who you at one point loved very much. All of the passion that comes with an intimate relationship can easily be converted…

Top 5 Co-Parenting “Dont’s”

Last time I wrote I talked about the ten things that co-parents should do to be successful at co-parenting. Today I want to talk about the flip side of that coin, the things that you should never, ever, do as a co-parent. I spend a lot of my time counseling my clients on how to…

Opinion: A New Senate Bill Would Harm Colorado’s Children

There is currently pending before the Colorado State Senate a bill that purports to “preserve the parent-child relationship in domestic actions.” As is often the case in politics, the title of the bill is incredibly misleading. It would, in fact, have entirely the opposite effect of what it claims. The bill claims to “protect” the…