The child custody decision is often the most contentious aspect of divorce because in many cases, both parents want to be the primary caretaker of the children. While many people believe the mother will automatically get custody of minor children that is not always the case. In fact, in recent years, more and more fathers, even those with full-time jobs, were awarded primary custody of their children for a variety of reasons.
If you are a woman with children and are contemplating divorce or have been asked for a divorce already, you must not assume you will be awarded primary custody of your children. If you are a father who is contemplating divorce or has been asked for divorce, you have just as good of a chance of being awarded custody of your children as their mother. Experienced divorce lawyers like those at the Harris Law Firm have handled tough Colorado child custody cases for fathers and mothers, and we can help you, too.
It’s important to understand legal terms when it comes to custody and parental rights issues in Colorado. In Colorado, the term “custody” has been replaced (in the statutes) with the term, “allocation of parental responsibility” (APR). When referring to “parental responsibility,” the statute refers to parenting time and decision-making responsibilities such as medical care, school placement and time spent with relatives. Colorado child custody law advocates continuing and meaningful contact between parents and children after a divorce is final. Parenting plans can be decided one of two ways:
- The parties come to an agreement as to how parental rights and responsibilities will be shared and the Court decides whether or not to accept this agreement.
- The Court hears evidence regarding a parenting plan and makes a decision regarding that evidence; the Court’s decision is then so ordered.
If you have questions about Colorado child custody, request a consultation today with the Harris Law Firm. We are here to help.