The average couple may not quibble as much over the division of assets and liabilities, or they may find a way to compromise through mediation.  But a marriage can become more financially complicated if the couple owns a family business or a diverse portfolio of investments.  When this occurs, having a pre-nuptial agreement in place will prevent a lot of the confusion and provide a clear path to resolution.

We’ve all heard the horror stories from couples who have suffered great financial hardships after going through a divorce, often requiring a significant reduction in their standard of living. The realities of living separately, paying child support or losing money on a marital home are not unfamiliar to Colorado Springs divorce attorneys.  Over the last few years, many couples have either delayed divorce because it wouldn’t work financially, or they’ve suffered the consequences of post-divorce bankruptcy.

If there’s one thing that military service members worry about, it’s the possibility of losing a sizable portion of their retired pay in a divorce settlement.  Retired pay in the military is different than a 401K or pension in the civilian world and it is treated differently in a divorce situation, but you may need the help of a Colorado Springs military divorce attorney to understand it.

If you are going through a divorce, one of the most contentious issues may involve deciding how your children will be raised.  Questions may include “Who will win primary physical custody?”; “How will holidays and vacation time be divided?” and “How will decisions be made with regard to the child’s religious upbringing and education?”  While all of these decisions fall into the category of “child custody,” it all comes down to one thing:  how will divorcing parents get their fair share of parenting time without endangering the best interests of the children?  As a Colorado family lawyer, I always recommend my clients work this out in mediation, but that isn’t always possible.  When parents don’t agree, it will ultimately become the court’s decision.

Is it time to hire a divorce lawyer, or is it time to hire a family law firm.  A family law firm offers a full-service approach to the various legal issues that may come up over the years, rather than focusing primarily on the divorce itself.  It’s not that a single divorce lawyer is untrained on other aspects of the law; but they rarely have the depth of experience one would expect from a family law firm.

If you’re in the military and getting a divorce, you may start to see the words “military divorce” associated with family law firms.  Just to be clear, a “military divorce” is not a specific proceeding; it is just the same as any other “Dissolution of Marriage” action in the state of Colorado.  It does not take place in a military courtroom, but in front of the same domestic relations judges that preside over civilian divorces.  The only reason “military divorce” is such a big part of an attorney’s practice in Colorado Springs is that the Armed Forces have such a large presence in the region.

Once you have come to the conclusion that there is no way to repair your marriage, divorce is usually the next logical step; but many couples try to get it done too quickly and they make very costly mistakes along the way.  The best divorce lawyers will advise their clients to take it slow and get it right by paying attention to both large and small details.

One contentious element of any divorce settlement is determining its financial impact on each spouse.  When one spouse expects a dramatic change in his or her standard of living after the divorce, spousal maintenance is often ordered.  Some people work hard to avoid the tax consequences of court-ordered spousal maintenance, since it is taxed as income to the recipient.

Child custody is complicated enough in a civilian divorce, but when you are serving in the military it can be downright confusing.  It’s not that a military spouse cannot argue for custody in a military divorce, but there has always been an unspoken assumption that military members would not win a custody battle.  That may have been true when men made up a larger portion of the military, but apparently it is no longer the case.

Many people presume that if they entered into a marital agreement that the terms of the agreement are permanent.  Fortunately, the state of Colorado has put forth specific remedies for attacking the validity of these agreements and rendering them invalid.  If you feel you’ve been a victim of an unfair marital agreement in Colorado, a Colorado Springs family lawyer can help you understand your rights under state law. 

If you’ve ever wondered how the equal rights movement has affected the decisions made by family court judges, all you need to do is talk to a Colorado divorce lawyer.  Child custody laws haven’t changed all that dramatically, but the decision rules used by judges have moved the needle ever so slightly in favor of dads.  One of the biggest changes to child custody laws has been to only consider what is in the “best interests of the children.”  While there is certainly nothing wrong with this line of thinking, it means that certain assumptions can no longer be made. 

Getting divorced while serving in the military?  If there is one way to determine if you are talking to the right divorce attorney, ask them to explain the steps they would take in handling your military divorce.  And even more importantly; be sure they can help you in your “jurisdiction of choice.”   A Colorado Springs military divorce attorney will have a lot of experience in the various aspects of your divorce proceedings and will be able to file motions on your behalf while you are on active duty.

How can military divorce lawyers work behind the scenes on your behalf? 

If you’re worried about getting a divorce while serving on active duty in the military, you have good reason to be concerned.  Not only can it affect your skill level and concentration on the job; you may also have concerns about your military retired pay and other benefits.   In many ways, a military divorce is much different than a traditional one, plus there is the burden of knowing that something is going on back home and you cannot address it.  If you are stationed at one of the many military bases in Colorado Springs, you will soon learn that this is a great place to find military divorce lawyers. 

A child custody attorney doesn’t always get involved in a couple’s disputes or try to nurture the couple’s relationship for “the sake of the kids,” but in reality they probably should.  If there is one thing that can quickly derail a parenting plan it is an ongoing battle between parents.  It seems that no matter how much parents are told that this is unwise; they still continue to “punish” the other parent by limiting their access to the children or making last minute changes. 

If you are collecting child support in Colorado, you know how complicated it can be, especially if the non-custodial parent doesn’t want to pay. But even if the payments are regular, collecting Colorado non-resident child support raises questions for many single parents.  In the past, you may have heard horror stories from a friend, whose ex-spouse moved to another state as a way to avoid paying child support.  But thanks to some changes in interstate child support laws, other states now have the proper authority to act on-non-resident child support orders. 

Getting a divorce can be so stressful that many people don’t spend the time looking for the right lawyer.  But ask anyone who is battle-scarred by divorce court, having a great attorney is paramount.  Unless you already know a lot of divorce attorneys in Colorado Springs CO, choosing one will be like taking a shot in the dark.  If you are facing a divorce and need a lawyer right away, take a step back and look at your options. 

It’s interesting how quickly an unplanned pregnancy can change the lives of teenagers, as well as the lives of their parents, but if a girl decides to keep the baby there is another aspect to consider in a teenage pregnancy – child support.  Teenagers are some of the least informed citizens when it comes to family law, and rightly so, but it doesn’t take long for legal issues to come up. 

As someone who deals with child support in family law cases frequently, I’ve always wondered why there isn’t a campaign directed at teenage boys that reminds them about these issues.  What a great deterrent that would be for teenage pregnancy – a poster in a boys locker room about child support.  Not just that it exists, but that he will be legally obligated to pay it for at least 18 years  This is one area that most guys don’t consider, but it is not something that should be taken lightly.  Even if parents are never married and live separately, they are still legally responsible to support their child. 

As long as couples continue to dissolve their marriages, there will always be a need for divorce lawyers, and thanks to the amount of information now available online, they can also find a lot of help on their own.  The Colorado Springs divorce lawyers blog at MarrisonLaw.com is a unique resource for men and women who are considering a divorce. 

Whether it is a custody issue, child support modification or a military divorce, there is always something that can be learned by reading a Colorado Springs divorce lawyers blog.  This particular blog is organized by “tags” or subject areas, which allow readers easy access to the information they need.  Marrison Law has been updating their blog every week for a few years now, so their content covers a wide range of topics.

Couples who are dissolving their marriage in Colorado usually focus on financial matters first, which can become particularly contentious, even in the most amicable divorce situation.  If you have concerns about property division in your Colorado divorce, you are not alone.  Economic pressures are one of the biggest stressors in any divorce, but particularly in a shaky economy.  Working with a skilled and experienced Colorado Springs divorce attorney is the best way to ensure that your interests are met in a property settlement.

It is all too common to hear about a teenage girl getting pregnant these days, but it’s rare to hear much about the teenage father that got them pregnant.  When a decision is made to keep the baby, it seems that the parents of the girl assume the responsibility of raising their grandchild while the life of the boy doesn’t change.  If this sounds like you, then it may be time to learn more about Colorado family law and ask a Colorado Springs lawyer for a free consultation.