Wheat Ridge Divorce Attorney Blog | Front Range Family Law

Is your ex a detriment to your children's well-being?

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Friday, October 4, 2019.

Deciding to file for divorce in a Colorado court was likely one of the most significant choices of your life. As a parent, you may have second-guessed your decision soon after filing the petition, as you worried how the outcome would affect your children's lives. The fact is, most kids are resilient and highly adaptable.

As it applies to divorce, this means that children often fare well when they have strong support systems in place. If there are extenuating circumstances, such as parents locked in a contentious custody battle in court, it can definitely cause high levels of stress for the parents and kids alike. However, some things are worth fighting for, such as sole custody if you believe your ex is an unfit parent.

You might encounter these post-divorce issues with your kids

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

When you told your children you were getting divorced, you might have noticed several types of reactions, depending on the ages and individual personalities of your kids. Just as adults experience a wide range of emotion in such circumstances, children also may have ups and downs, perhaps feeling sad one moment, then angry or scared the next.

Some Colorado parents worry about their children's ability to cope with divorce and move on in life. If you build a strong support network from the start, chances are your kids will be okay. It's helpful, however, to think ahead and prepare yourself in case certain issues arise.

Colorado spouses in their 50s are prone to divorce

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

If you're in your 50s, you're at the tail end of the baby boomer era. Especially regarding issues such as marriage, things have changed a lot since your parents or grandparents' day. For instance, society expected women to stay home full time and raise a family while their spouses acted as sole providers. This, in fact, is one of many issues that influenced a lot of women to stay in unhappy marriages.

Whether you're a woman or man, you've probably noticed less negative stigma attached to divorce today than there was in decades past. You may also be aware (and living proof) that modern households often contain spouses who earn dual full-time incomes. This issue leads many spouses who are in their 50s to decide to file for divorce. Doing so at that age is definitely not a stress-free task, which is why it's important to know where to seek support, as needed.

Larry King files for gray divorce

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

If you've been married to your spouse for more than 20 years, you might be able to relate to a current situation that is unfolding in the life of iconic celebrity interviewer Larry King. He has reportedly filed for a gray divorce. While "gray" is not actually a legal term, most people use it nowadays to refer to divorces that occur later in life.

As many Colorado elders experience, King has had some recent health problems. It was during a hospital stay that his two grown sons, ages 19 and 20, are said to have convinced their dad to file for divorce form their mother, who happens to be King's seventh wife. If you're currently having marital problems and are age 60 or older, you may want to follow this case.

Issues you might face as you cope with divorce

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

When you got married in a Colorado courthouse or church, the months that followed were likely some of the most joyful and exciting times of your life. Everything in your relationship felt new, and you were enjoying building a life with your spouse. There may have also been stress as you adapted to a married lifestyle, just as you might now be experiencing stress as you prepare to divorce.

Whether your marriage never saw its fifth anniversary, or as many as 10 years or more have passed since you tied the knot, getting divorced is seldom stress-free. While you can likely still recall some of the problems you encountered when you were "just married," there are numerous issues that may arise when you're "just divorced" that can be quite challenging, as well, which is why it's critical to know where to seek support when you need it.

Is your child's post-divorce tummy ache related to a legal issue?

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Divorce is never easy. Even if yours and your spouse's decision to file for one was mutual, chances are the process will not be without challenge, especially concerning your children. If you're one of many Colorado spouses who often argue with your spouse about your kids, you may really have your work cut out to achieve a fair and agreeable settlement in an amicable fashion.

Children are typically highly adaptable, even under trying circumstances. However, it's never a good idea to assume your kids will sail through divorce unscathed. Doing so might cause you to overlook signs that suggest they might not be handling it as well as you'd hoped. From the start, the best thing parents can do when planning to divorce is to build a strong support network for their kids.

John Schneider is out of jail but still having legal problems

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Monday, July 8, 2019.

When you file for divorce in a Colorado court, you can expect to have to resolve numerous issues. Depending on your state in life, whether you have children and how old they are, you may have to negotiate terms for a co-parenting agreement in addition to discussing financial topics such as child support or alimony. If you and your ex see eye-to-eye on such issues, it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a plan.

It's not uncommon, however, for disagreements to arise, especially concerning financial matters. Actor John Schneider knows what that's like as he's been entangled in a legal dispute with his wife since she filed for divorce in 2014. You may want to follow the case if you expect to face alimony obstacles in your situation.

When a no-show parent wants to re-enter the picture

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

When you filed for divorce in a Colorado court, you were hopeful that even though you and your spouse weren't parting on all that great of terms, you'd be able to work out a fair and agreeable parenting plan. After all, you both love your kids, right? You were ready to be encouraging and welcoming to the idea of a close relationship between your kids and your ex, except that it all went south when he or she dropped out of the picture and deeply hurt your children's feelings.

After weeks, months or maybe even years, your former spouse suddenly wants to re-enter your children's lives. Understandably, you have kept your guard up and remain hesitant about the idea, but you also want to make sure you do what's best for your kids. Re-establishing a co-parent relationship with a parent who hasn't been around much since the divorce may be possible if you keep several things in mind.

Child custody: Are you a victim of parental alienation?

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Friday, June 7, 2019.

When you and your spouse decided to file for divorce in a Colorado court, you understood that you might encounter challenges regarding your future co-parenting plan. In fact, you might be one of many parents who often fought about your kids during marriage, especially if you and your co-parent tend to disagree on how to interpret your children's best interests.

All that aside, getting divorced doesn't mean you're abdicating your parental rights. You're not divorcing your kids; you're divorcing your spouse. Therefore, your ex has no right to try to systematically undermine your relationship with your children by filling their heads with lies or trying to turn them against you. This is called parental alienation and it is not okay.

Is co-parent conflict impeding your ability to move on in life?

On behalf of Rebecca Gumaer of Front Range Family Law on Monday, May 27, 2019.

It's not uncommon for Colorado parents to disagree about child-related issues after divorce. In fact, such disagreements may have been a key factor in your decision to sever your marital ties. It takes time and a lot of effort to develop a working system between households. In short, it's not so much about obstacles arising (as they often do) as much as how you react to a problem situation.

If you and your ex can barely be in the same room without arguing, chances are you might have trouble resolving co-parenting issues. The good news is that you don't have to handle such problems on your own. You can seek guidance and support as needed. You can also be proactive in keeping contentious conflicts at bay.

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