Colorado Springs Divorce Lawyer

Award-Winning Divorce Representation in El Paso County

Divorce is both a deeply personal journey and a legal process meant to transition one household into two. As such, separating spouses are forced to address issues that greatly impact their futures, while also managing their emotions and the potential for considerable conflict. 

If you are contemplating divorce or preparing for the process, our Colorado Springs divorce attorneys at The Harris Law Firm are here to help.

Backed by over 250 years of combined experience, we’re one of Colorado’s largest and most trusted family law firms. Whether you have what appears to be a straightforward case or are anticipating disputes and difficulties, we have the insight and resources to guide you step by step through the process and toward a favorable outcome.

The Harris Law Firm proudly serves divorce clients across Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and beyond. Call (303) 622-5502 or contact us online to request a consultation.

Comprehensive Counsel for All Divorce-Related Issues

Divorce is a legal action meant to split one household into two. Naturally, this entails the unwinding of many different things – from assets, financial accounts, and debts to real property, pets, and children. 

At The Harris Law Firm, we provide award-winning counsel with a caring and compassionate approach. We know that clients come to us amid major changes in their lives, and work to empower them with the information and insight they need to make important decisions.

We offer support for all divorce-related issues, including:

• Child custody
• Property division
• Spousal support 
• Child support
• Temporary orders
• Domestic violence and protection orders

With thriving military, defense, and tech industries, Colorado Springs is home to many couples with unique and complex estates. At The Harris Law Firm, we leverage the insight of our award-winning attorneys and network of professional connections with experts in fields such as finance, business valuation, and more to address the unique challenges that divorcing Colorado Springs couples can face. 

This includes specialty cases involving:

• Business ownership and property division
• Complex estates and assets
• High net worth
• Military service and division of military benefits

Military Divorce Attorneys Serving Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is home to a large military community, with more than 45,000 active-duty troops and over 100,000 veterans in the city alone. This includes those who live or work in the area at installations such as the Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, U.S. Air Force Academy, and Fort Carson. 

For these folks, military service can introduce some unique challenges when it comes to divorce. Fortunately, our Colorado Springs divorce attorneys have represented numerous service members and veterans and have the experience to tackle military divorce issues involving:

• Custody and parenting plans impacted by a parent’s active-duty service, including serving overseas.
• Property division, including the division of military benefits, pensions, and other special assets. 
• Reasonable child support and spousal maintenance agreements. 

Grounds for a Colorado Divorce

Colorado is a no-fault divorce state, which means that you do not need to have a qualifying justification when you file for divorce. If one or both spouses want to divorce, they can do so for any reason. 

For many divorcing couples, the concept of no-fault divorce can be confusing, especially when it comes to a spouse’s purported “bad behavior.” While divorcing couples in the past may have been required to cite adultery, addiction, and other types of “bad” conduct to get a divorce, the true impact of such behavior is limited in today’s divorce cases. 

This is not to say that a spouse’s bad actions can’t come back to haunt them. There are several situations where bad behavior can become a factor that the Court considers when issuing determinations about important issues. Some examples include:

• Hiding assets in divorce in hopes of protecting them from division.
• Willfully failing to disclose important information material to a divorce. 
• Criminal activity, substance abuse, and other conduct that can endanger a child.
• Bad behavior that relates specifically to parenting. 

Colorado’s family law system was not intended to decide who is right or wrong or pick winners and losers, but there are “bad” actions that can have consequences in divorce cases. One of the best ways to avoid making these mistakes, or to ensure that serious issues are taken into consideration, is to work with experienced attorneys who can help you pursue the best possible outcome.

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Colorado?

Because they deal with different marriages, people, and variables, divorce cases are highly fact-specific matters. As such, there’s no definitive answer for how long it takes to divorce.

There are, however, certain minimum time periods for legal work, response filings, and other procedural issues – including the minimum 91 days between the time a spouse is served with divorce papers and the date that a divorce decree can be granted. As such, the quickest you can obtain a divorce in Colorado is three months. 

There are several other factors that can influence the trajectory of a divorce and how long it takes to finalize. For example, divorce cases can be more expeditiously handled when:

• Couples have simple estates with little to no assets or debts.
• Spouses can communicate effectively and engage in productive conversations about key issues.
• Disagreements can be resolved with negotiations or mediation.
• Spouses are committed to healthy co-parenting and shared parenting time. 
• Spouses can create a settlement agreement without court intervention.

Conflict and disagreement are natural in divorces, but when those issues prove to be major barriers to communication and compromise, they can greatly increase the length of time that it takes to finalize the process. That’s especially true when spouses can’t agree on important issues such as property division or child custody and need to have those issues resolved in court hearings or trial. 

What Is The Colorado Divorce Process Like?

While the divorce process looks different in every case, there is a general process. 

1. A preliminary stage during which a summons and petition are filed with the court and the other spouse is served with divorce papers. After service, spouses can file responses within 21 days (if they reside in Colorado) or 35 days (if they live out of state). During this time, you and your lawyer can inventory assets, gather financial documents, and discuss your goals and objectives for living arrangements and child custody while a case is pending.
2. An interim stage during which you must submit financial disclosures, conduct financial discovery to determine marital property subject to division, determine where children will live during the pending divorce, and attend temporary order hearings, if necessary. 
3. A final stage where final negotiations with a spouse are held for issues regarding finances and parenting plans. In cases where spouses can’t reach agreements, they may need to attend mediation or appear before a judge for a permanent order hearing. 

Call to Speak with a Colorado Springs Divorce Attorney: (303) 622-5502

The Harris Law Firm is known across the state for providing tailored representation to individuals and families facing all types of family law issues. As experienced divorce attorneys, we take a collaborative approach to guiding clients through the process and leverage the insight of a highly experienced team to tackle even the toughest issues.

If you’re ready to begin a divorce, The Harris Law Firm can help you navigate the journey ahead. Call (303) 622-5502 or contact us online to request a consultation.