Highlands Ranch Parenting Time Attorneys
When families with children go through a divorce, the emotional toll can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to deciding on parenting time arrangements. A custody battle is one of the most challenging experiences a parent can endure. That’s why it’s crucial to have dedicated Highlands Ranch parenting time attorneys by your side, ensuring that your children’s best interests are protected. At Plog & Stein P.C., our team is committed to guiding you through this difficult process, providing the support and advocacy you need every step of the way.
Whether your child custody case seems straightforward or begins with great complexity, our team has years of experience helping Highlands Ranch clients with all issues, including as relates to parenting time, decision making, and enforcement of orders. As trusted Highlands Ranch child custody lawyers, we understand the specific needs of our clients, including matters related to extracurricular activities and private education. Given the general affluence of Highlands Ranch, our experienced child custody attorneys are also aware of additional subjects that may be important you. Whatever your concern, our legal team will be there to help.
Understanding Child Custody in Colorado
Child custody matters are usually split into two main elements – “physical custody” (where the child lives and visitation rights known as “parenting time”) and “legal custody” (who gets to make major decisions for the child).
Across Colorado, more and more courts are open to awarding equal parenting time and shared decision making responsibilities to both parents. Prevailing psychological and legal theories currently believe that having both parents in their lives is good for a child’s development. However, each case is unique and a judge may rule a different outcome.
Colorado’s Laws on Parental Responsibilities
In Colorado, the concept of parental responsibilities encompasses both physical and legal custody. This includes making decisions about where the child will live (physical custody/parenting time) and who will make important decisions, such as those regarding the child’s upbringing, education, and health.
The court aims to allocate these responsibilities in a manner that serves the best interests of the child, as opposed to focusing on what is easiest for the adults in the situation. Under Colorado law, a judge has a wide array of discretion to determine what is in a child’s best interest, and results can vary from courtroom to courtroom.
Allocation of Decision-Making Responsibilities
hen allocating decision-making responsibilities, Colorado courts consider various factors to determine what arrangement will best serve the child’s needs. Factors include the age of the child or children, medical conditions, the living situations of both parents, each party’s pattern of involvement in the child’s life, history of drug use or domestic violence, and the child’s level of comfort in their home and school.
In addition, the courts may also consider the parents’ ability to cooperate, communicate, and agree on major decisions affecting the child. A judge might order that the parents equally share these responsibilities, or they might grant one parent primary decision-making authority. It depends on the judge’s analysis of the child’s best interest, given the specifics of the case.
Protecting Parental Relationships and Keeping Children Out of Conflict
Because family courts recognize a parent’s fundamental right to have a relationship with their children and believe this relationship (barring extenuating circumstances) is to the benefit of the child, any actions on the part of one parent to harm the other parent’s relationship with the child are taken very seriously by the court.
Courts don’t like to see children put in the middle of conflict or used as pawns. However, courts are also aware that some cases necessitate protecting children, which calls for lesser, restricted, or supervised visitation for one of the parents.
FAQs About Child Custody in Colorado
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about child custody.
Can a Child Choose Where They Want to Live?
In Colorado, a judge may consider the child’s preference regarding which parent they want to live with, particularly if the child is mature enough to express a reasoned and independent preference. However, this preference is just one of many factors the court will consider, and it is not determinative on its own.
Can You Change a Custody Arrangement?
Yes, it is possible to modify a custody arrangement in Colorado. To do so, you must demonstrate that there has been a significant change in circumstances that justifies the modification and that the change is in the best interests of the child. Common reasons for modification include changes in a parent’s living situation, job relocation, or concerns about the child’s well-being in their current environment.
How Are Best Interests of a Child Defined in Colorado?
The child’s best interest is a legal standard used by Colorado courts to guide custody decisions. It involves considering various factors, including the child’s emotional, physical, and educational needs, the parent’s ability to meet those needs, the child’s relationship with each parent, and any history of abuse or neglect. The goal is to create a custody arrangement that supports the child’s overall well-being and development.
Tailored Custody Solutions with Highlands Ranch Child Custody Attorneys at Plog & Stein P.C.
At Plog & Stein P.C., our Highlands Ranch parenting time attorneys focus on obtaining the best possible custody and visitation orders for our clients. This includes seeking realistic orders with the requisite amount of detail. Specificity matters when it comes to dealing with lesser issues, such as holidays, parenting time exchanges, how parents will communicate regarding child-related decisions, or whether things like private education or soccer will continue after the case is done.
We believe that comprehensive orders, whether arrived at via settlement or court hearing, lead to a smoother road for our clients and their children after the case is concluded.
Not all cases are amicable and some may require also engaging a child custody expert, such as a Child and Family Investigator. Our Highlands Ranch parenting plan attorneys are skilled in dealing with all aspects of custody, from drafting of simple parenting plans, to complex litigation, to dealing with issues of child or substance abuse. We also deal with custody emergencies and can often get clients on short notice. At Plog & Stein P.C., we recognize that nothing matters more than the future of your children.
Custody matters are a major part of our Colorado family law practice at Plog & Stein. As such, our team is skilled at litigating all types of child custody issues, either as part of a divorce or as a stand-alone case. If you have child custody questions, talk to a Highlands Ranch parenting time lawyer who knows the Highlands Ranch/Douglas County court system. Call us at 303-781-0322 or contact us via our website to get the process started.
