Jefferson County Family Law Blog

Just as there are many ways to maintain a healthy marriage, there are many ways to end one. Divorce is the most common, while legal separation is a worthwhile solution for some. There are tangible benefits to separation -- perhaps one partner requires health insurance and has a complex medical background, or maybe it always seemed easiest to tell the kids you were separated instead of divorced.

In its simplest terms, separation is often considered a short-term solution and its benefits may hinder other parts of your life the longer you maintain the status. If you've been in a long-term separation, it feels normal, but many aspects of your life are legally on hold. Everyone falls victim to routine and it's easy for one year to become three or ten. What happens if you've fully moved on from your former partner and you've met someone new-but you're still legally married?

When the divorce rate in this country reached an all time high of 50 percent, couples here in Colorado and elsewhere became disheartened by the cost, time and hassle involved in going through the traditional court process. It seemed to only cause deeper discontent and contention between couples and often caused far more harm than good, especially for couples with children.

For these and other reasons, divorce mediation gained popularity. Even couples who may have failed to agree in a courtroom setting were putting aside their differences in order to take advantage of this kinder, gentler and less expensive way to end their marriages.

If you and your spouse have made the decision to take separate paths in life, you could be wondering how the process might affect your future. Going through a divorce can be a stressful and harrowing experience, and the outcome of the situation can have a substantial impact on your finances.

While there may be certain steps you can take to prepare yourself to pursue a favorable outcome during divorce proceedings, this might not be the only area that requires your attention. Even after you obtain a divorce decree, you may still need to take steps to protect your financial future.

When you realized your marriage was headed for divorce, you began to consider ways you might be able to help your children come to terms with idea. A main concern of yours involved telling your kids you'd all be moving to a new home. They really like where they live now, have been at the same school for a long time and have established friendships, as well as participate in various sports and community activities. You don't want to bear the news that all that's about to change.  

The good news is you may have another option! Many Colorado parents implement a creative form of co-parenting in divorce known as bird nesting. You can research the topic to determine if you think it may be a viable option in your situation. It definitely doesn't work in all cases; however, if you try it and decide it's not best for your family, you can always ask the court to modify your parenting plan. If you know where to seek support ahead of time, that process needn't be difficult.