When a spouse is physically abusive, you know it. However, emotional abuse is often harder to detect – usually because it’s both subtle and sophisticated. Emotional abuse usually increases in intensity over time, as the negative patterns of behavior by the abuser...
Family Law
Reasons to negotiate a postnuptial contract when considering divorce
Some people in Colorado decide to negotiate a marital agreement, like a postnuptial contract, when life throws them a curveball. Fertility treatments, early parental death and unexpected career success are all among the scenarios that sometimes prompt couples to...
3 family situations that may justify a postnuptial agreement
Some couples planning to get married recognize that there are challenges or complications that require careful planning. Other couples marry and then later realize that they need to legally protect themselves. Postnuptial agreements are an option in Colorado if you...
What is a common-law marriage, and how does it work?
Did you know that Colorado is one of nine states that still recognizes common-law marriages in the United States? Common-law marriages don’t require you to get married, legally speaking. Instead, a common-law marriage can be identified by looking at factors that...
Not on the deed? You may still have a claim to your home
If you are getting a divorce and are concerned because you’re not on your home’s deed, now is a good time to talk about how equitable distribution works in Colorado. You may actually be able to claim a portion of your home’s value or even seek to keep the property in...
What if your spouse denies your divorce request?
You and your spouse have not run into any major complications, like someone having an affair or perpetuating domestic violence, but your relationship has been stagnant for years. You simply feel that you've drifted apart and you don't want to be married anymore. As a...
Will your spouse’s cheating impact your Colorado divorce?
Infidelity is one of the top reasons that people decide to file for divorce. Discovering an extramarital affair feels like such a deep violation that it seems like a crime. Many people still reeling from the discovery of their spouse's unfaithfulness may hope to...
State courts have changed the meaning of common-law marriage
Only a handful of states recognize common law marriage, but Colorado is still one of them. In a common-law marriage, a couple lives as though they have married, typically cohabitating, filing taxes together and presenting themselves to the community as spouses. What...
Your divorce should build your future, not tie you to the past
Many people start planning their divorce with scorched-earth tactics in mind. They are so angry or hurt about the end of their marriage that all they can think about is getting justice or punishing their ex in some way. This kind of approach can give people a...
Some approaches to dividing a family business during a divorce
Colorado has no shortage of entrepreneurs, and divorcing couples who started a business together often need to consider how to divide it. Under the state's equitable distribution laws, two spouses may negotiate a plan to split their business fairly. Assets acquired...