Jefferson County Family Law Blog

When couples in Colorado get divorced, one spouse may try to conceal assets from the other person. One way to do this is to hide portions of one's income, such as bonuses, commissions and dividends. For example, a person may receive a year-end bonus but ask an employer to hold on to it until the divorce is final, so it is not included in marital assets. This might be detected if the individual's spouse knows when the bonus is paid and notices that it is not included in the list of assets for the year.

There are other ways for spouses to hide assets to be on the lookout for as well. For example, a person might make a large withdrawal and claim that it was to pay a credit card bill or the IRS. What may actually be happening is that the individual is overpaying the creditor, but the money will not be refunded until after the divorce. Someone who suddenly takes an interest in collectibles, such as antiques or art, could be purchasing valuable items and claiming they are worthless.

Colorado residents who are seeking child support may need to establish paternity. This is true if the alleged father of the child was not married to the mother at the time of conception or birth. In most cases, DNA tests are used to establish paternity because of their high degree of accuracy. Tests are generally conducted by taking cells from the inside of a person's cheek.

This is designed to be a painless procedure and has also been shown to be as accurate as a blood test. If a man is deemed to be a child's father, he will likely be ordered to pay child support, and he may also be given visitation rights to the child. A DNA test may be required to determine parentage if a parent signs up for public assistance programs. Doing so can help to identify noncustodial parents and ensure that they are helping to provide for their children.

Though divorce is something many people experience, that doesn't mean the process is easy. Most people go through numerous changes during their lives, and it's difficult to know the best way to proceed.

If you're considering a divorce here in Colorado, you likely understand that it impacts your personal finances. However, one thing you might not have thought about is the need to hire new professionals to replace those the two of you used jointly. Finding a new financial adviser is particularly important. Understanding why and how to go about doing so can offer you a sense of security.

When you decide to move forward with divorce, you may not be certain that you want to go through a stressful, contentious battle with your spouse in a Colorado family courtroom. Fortunately, the divorce process can be much easier than that, and you may not even have to go to court at all. When you resolve your disputes out of court, you can save yourself the time, money and hassle associated with traditional divorce litigation.

Mediation is a process by which couples can resolve their divorce disputes in a peaceful, mutually respectful process. Through this form of alternate dispute resolution, couples may be able address their specific concerns and work together for a mutually beneficial resolution. If the thought of going to court overwhelms you, you may want to think about the benefits of mediation and how it could work for your situation.