Family issues like divorce, legal separation, parenting time, and child support can change your life in ways you didn’t expect. You might worry about your rights, your relationship with your children, or your financial future as you move forward. When these concerns arise, you need a lawyer who listens and helps you make the right decisions for yourself and your family.
At Colorado Lawyer Team, you’ll work with Fort Collins family lawyers who listen, explain your options in plain terms, and act quickly to protect your rights. No matter what the situation may be, we explain your legal options, protect your interests, and stay responsive. Whether you’re preparing for divorce, modifying a parenting plan, or addressing child or spousal support issues, you’ll have a team that understands what’s at stake and advises you accordingly. Reach out today to learn how we can help you build a more secure future.
Why Choose Our Fort Collins Family Lawyers?
When family relationships change, it’s highly stressful. During those moments, it helps to have a lawyer who listens to you and takes your concerns seriously. At Colorado Lawyer Team, you’ll work with Fort Collins family lawyers who combine compassion with legal knowledge and skill. We keep you informed, encourage you when you’re anxious or down, and guide you toward practical results that protect what matters to you.
Here’s why so many clients have chosen us as their Fort Collins family lawyers:
- Personalized Case Strategy: We take time to understand your goals before offering legal advice. Are you concerned about alimony? Worried that your spouse might try to leave the area with the kids? You receive guidance that fits your family’s situation and reflects your priorities.
- Compassionate Advocacy: We know these cases can be emotional. For example, divorce has been cited as the second most stressful life event, and it’s easy to see why. You’ll have a lawyer who approaches your concerns with patience, empathy, and respect.
- Responsive Communication: We return calls and messages promptly because you deserve answers. We’re also proactive with updates and next steps. You’ll always know what’s happening with your family law case AND we give you our team’s direct calendaring links when you retain us so you KNOW you’ll be able to reach us.
- Strong Negotiation and Litigation Skills: We pursue fair outcomes through open discussion methods like negotiation, but stand ready to represent you in court when needed. Our attorneys are also experienced litigators in family law matters.
- Team-Based Support: When you hire one of our family law attorneys, you have more than one person in your corner. Our team collaborates on each case so you benefit from shared insight and preparation.
When you choose Colorado Lawyer Team, you’re supported by people who care about your future. Our Fort Collins family lawyers work to help you regain stability and peace after this difficult time in your life.
Our Fort Collins Family Law Practice Areas
Family law touches many parts of your life, from your finances to your time with your children. At Colorado Lawyer Team, our Fort Collins family lawyers handle a full range of family law issues with care and attention to your goals.
Divorce and Legal Separation
No matter how difficult a marriage is, ending it can bring emotional and financial challenges. You may need to divide marital property, decide who keeps the house, or sort out shared accounts. Our divorce lawyers walk you through each stage, help you make fair financial disclosures, and represent you in negotiations or court.
If you’ve stayed home to raise children, our family law attorneys help you declare your financial needs and contributions to the marriage. If you’ve built a business, we work with professionals to evaluate its value fairly. Our goal is to help you close one chapter without losing the security you’ve worked hard to build.
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
Few things matter more than your time with your children. When parents can’t agree on a schedule, it can cause tension and uncertainty for everyone involved. We help you build parenting plans that fit your family’s routine and protect your relationship with your child.
Many parents struggle with questions about holidays, travel, or school decisions. We address those concerns early so your parenting plan answers them clearly. If your case goes before a judge, we present clear, fact-based arguments that reflect what’s best for your child’s stability and growth.
Child Support and Spousal Maintenance
Money questions can create stress during or after a separation. Our family law attorneys calculate child support using Colorado’s formula and make sure both parents’ incomes are represented accurately. For spousal maintenance, we review each household’s financial situation to find fair terms that work for both sides. Our legal team at Colorado Lawyer Team includes folks who have undergraduate degrees in Accounting as well as Economics. We understand complex financial situations and know how to read a P&L and Balance Sheet. We work closely with forensic accountants when needed, too.
If one parent owns a small business or earns irregular income, we help gather the right documentation so the court sees the full picture. Our team also helps parents request adjustments when income changes, ensuring support orders stay realistic over time.
Modification of Parenting Time
Life changes, and parenting arrangements sometimes need to change with it. You might have a new job schedule, a child with different needs, or a move that affects visitation. We help you file for a modification and explain what evidence the court will need to review.
Parents often come to us unsure if their change is “enough” for the court to consider. We help you understand what qualifies and prepare your motion so the judge has the information needed to make a fair decision.
Protection Orders and Domestic Violence
Safety should always be your first priority. If you need a protection order, or if someone has filed one against you, we respond quickly to protect your legal rights. We help you gather records, prepare for hearings, and present your case clearly. For years, we have helped people in Domestic Violence relationships on both sides. We have extensive experience with emergency temporary protection orders and have had to both defend and obtain such orders many times for our clients. Children and a divorce only complicate those cases, but rest assured that the Colorado Lawyer Team folks can help.
These cases move fast, and emotions can run high. We take time to help you understand what each hearing means and what evidence the judge will consider. You’ll never walk into court unsure of what’s ahead.
Mediation
Many families prefer to resolve disputes through conversation rather than going to trial. Our role is to prepare and support you throughout the mediation process. We help you clarify your expectations, gather evidence and identify practical solutions for the outstanding issues.
While mediation can help you reach lasting agreements, the outcome needs to be properly documented. We assist you in reviewing and finalizing the terms before submitting them to the court.
Post-Decree Modifications of APR
Parenting arrangements set early in a child’s life may no longer reflect current needs as their school schedules change, medical issues arise, or interests and abilities develop. When an Allocation of Parental Responsibilities order no longer fits day-to-day reality, a parent may seek an updated plan through the court.
We help you evaluate the changes and determine which parts of the existing order should be reconsidered. We then prepare the filings, organize supporting material, and present your request in a way that clearly shows why an updated order is appropriate. Our aim is to help the court see how the requested changes serve your child’s daily life and long-term stability.
Petitions to Relocate
When one parent seeks to relocate with a child, they must approach the court for permission. If you’re requesting a move, we can help you outline the reasons behind the relocation, the expected impact on schooling and family routines, and the plan for continued involvement by the other parent. If you’re opposing a move, we help you gather information that shows how the relocation may disrupt existing arrangements or create strain on the child’s relationships.
During hearings, our Fort Collins family lawyers answer the court’s questions and respond to statements presented by the other side. We also help you evaluate potential adjustments to parenting time and make sure your concerns are heard.
Common Family Law Questions in Fort Collins
You probably have questions about how family law works in Colorado and what to expect once your case begins. Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from clients in Fort Collins and nearby communities.
How Long Does A Divorce Take In Colorado?
Most dissolutions take a few months, but the Colorado divorce timeline depends on how much you and your spouse agree on. The state requires at least 91 days between filing and finalization, even when both sides cooperate. If disagreements about property or parenting arise, the legal process can take longer while the court reviews evidence and holds hearings. We help you stay organized and respond to court deadlines so your case keeps moving forward.
Can I Move Out Of State With My Child?
If you share parenting time, you must either get the other parent’s consent or the court’s approval before relocating out of Colorado. Judges look at why you’re moving, how the move affects your child’s relationship with both parents, and what new arrangements could work. We prepare your motion, help you gather evidence, and represent you at the hearing to show why the change supports your child’s best interests.
Do I Have To Go To Court For A Parenting Plan?
Not always. Many parents reach their own allocation of parental responsibilities through negotiation or mediation. If you and the other parent agree on a child custody plan, the judge usually signs off without requiring a full hearing. When agreement isn’t possible, we present your position clearly to the court so the final order protects your parental rights and your child’s needs.
What If My Ex Isn’t Paying Child Support?
When support payments stop, it can quickly affect your household budget. We help you file a motion to enforce the order and request back payments. Colorado courts can collect unpaid support by garnishing wages or seizing tax refunds. We handle the paperwork and represent you in hearings to ensure enforcement happens through the proper legal channels.
Can I Change A Child Custody Or Support Order Later?
Yes, but you must show that your situation has changed since the last order. Common reasons include job changes, a child’s new school schedule, or relocation. We help you prepare and file a motion to modify the order and present clear reasons for the change. The court reviews whether the update benefits the child and remains fair to both parents.
Can Grandparents Request Visitation In Colorado?
In some cases, yes. Grandparents can ask the court for visitation if the child’s parents are divorced, legally separated, or one parent has passed away. The court decides based on the child’s best interests and existing family relationships. We help grandparents prepare petitions and demonstrate the positive role they play in their grandchild’s life. Most cases do NOT allow grandparents to intervene unless one or both of the parents are unfit.
What Happens If My Spouse Hides Assets During Divorce?
Each spouse must fully disclose all property, income, and debt during a divorce. If one person hides money, investments, or accounts, the court can reopen the case, adjust the property division, and impose penalties. We help clients trace assets, review financial records, and file motions to ensure full disclosure before final orders are entered.
Do I Need A Lawyer For Mediation In A Colorado Family Law Case?
Mediation gives you the chance to resolve family disputes without a judge making the final decision. You’re not required to have a lawyer in the room, but having legal guidance before and during mediation helps you understand what’s fair and what you might be giving up. We prepare you by reviewing possible outcomes, identifying your priorities, and making sure any agreement you reach follows Colorado law. If the case doesn’t settle, we’re ready to continue advocating for you in court.
Get Help from a Fort Collins Family Lawyer Today
When your family is changing, it can feel like everything else is changing with it. You might be worried about your kids, your home, or how you’re going to make it on your own. Even happy events like adoption can be overwhelming.
At Colorado Lawyer Team, you’ll talk with Fort Collins family lawyers who want the best possible outcome for you. If you’re ready to talk, we’re here. We’ll walk through what’s happening, explain how Colorado law applies to your situation, and talk honestly about your options. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now: you just have to take the first step, and we’ll help you from there. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 970-536-5880.