DENVER FAMILY LAWYERS

Colorado Family Law Services We Provide

Our firm’s family law services go beyond the standard representation related to divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities and child custody. We have assisted thousands of clients with a wide assortment of family law matters, which we discuss below.

By being the firm our clients turn to whenever they have a family law conflict, we provide a reliable source of legal advice and advocacy. Our collective institutional wisdom allows us to identify and carry out the best possible strategy in each case. We take care of legal issues in your personal life correctly the first time, eliminating the need for costly revisions later on. Finally, we help take the worry and uncertainty out of highly emotional situations.

Appeals

An appeal in a family law matter happens when a person feels a lower court judgment was made incorrectly. This person then requests that the matter be reviewed by a higher court in the hopes of a different conclusion or judgement.

An individual’s request for a review must be based on a final order. This implies that in the courts, all considerations for this matter have been finished. This is referred to as a temporary order if any of these issues have not been addressed. If you want to appeal a temporary order, you must first get authorization from the judge.

If you disagree with the conclusion of a final order, you can request that it be reviewed by a higher court. The higher court will evaluate any evidence or documents utilized in the prior trial.

An appeal does not imply a new trial or a retrial of the previous one. In the courtroom, you are unable to present any fresh evidence. It’s simply a re-examination of the facts and evidence presented in the preceding case in the lower court. They have the option of either changing the final order or agreeing with the lower court and upholding it.

It’s critical to understand what can and cannot be appealed in family court. The way each state and court handles appeals is unique. Only when a final written order is issued in Colorado may you file a review with the appellate court. We will represent you at Litvak Litvak Mehrtens and Carlton throughout this procedure. Our lawyers are known for being among the greatest negotiators in the state when it comes to family law. We are here to answer any questions you may have about family law appeals.

Grandparents Rights

While parents are usually the primary caregivers for their children, grandparents may have rights to visitation and custody. Grandparents in Colorado can seek visitation and even custody under certain circumstances. Litvak Litvak Mehrtens and Carlton have a wealth of skills dealing with grandparents’ rights as recognized Denver family lawyers.

Grandparents do not have a right to visit their grandchildren automatically. Grandparents rights were not even recognized until about 40 years ago. In many courts, recognizing a child’s need for a relationship with his or her grandparents is a relatively new concept.

When a grandchild’s parents divorce, it might be difficult for grandparents to exercise their rights. If one of the child’s parents does not want the contact to happen, that might be very persuasive in court. Grandparents, on the other hand, can still apply to the court for contact rights. They may even be awarded these rights with the aid of a skilled attorney.

Post Decree Remedies

Following the divorce, a judge will assign orders to each spouse. These final decrees are anticipated to be followed by both parties. Spousal support, child support, and child custody may all be covered by these court judgments. There are methods to change the divorce agreement if one side does not cooperate. Post-decree remedies or adjustments are the terms used to describe these alterations.

Failure to follow court instructions after a divorce is finalized usually results in post-decree remedies. For example, if your former spouse refuses to pay the agreed-upon amount of child support, you may be able to petition for post-decree remedies.

However, post-decree remedies aren’t usually the outcome of a contract violation. The circumstances surrounding a divorce might alter at any time. It’s possible that one of the parties has lost their employment since the divorce and requires more financial assistance. Any abrupt loss of assets might trigger a post-dissolution remedy. The same may be said for any unexpected increase in wealth.

Though it’s never a good idea to reopen old wounds, especially in the event of divorce, there are instances when you don’t have a choice. You are entitled to these remedies if your ex-spouse does not follow the terms of your divorce agreement.

Settlement Conferences

People typically settle their cases outside of court because of the uncertainties and anxieties that come with going to trial. A settlement conference can be used to accomplish this. In certain places, these meetings are required before appearing in court. One of these states is Colorado. If separating parties live in Colorado, they must attend a settlement conference regardless of the kind of petition filed.

A settlement conference is intended to resolve the matter before it goes to court. Taking a dispute to court may be time-consuming, nerve-wracking, and costly. These meetings are a less formal approach for parties to achieve an agreement before a trial. When it comes to divorce, revealing facts in a public courtroom might be detrimental. Settlement conferences are a more personal option.

You need an experienced attorney on your side whether you’re attending a settlement meeting or bringing your case to court. We have almost 60 years of expertise in family law problems at Litvak Litvak Mehrtens and Carlton.

Step Parent Adoption

Adopting a child as a stepparent is a frequent but distinct procedure. It occurs when one of the biological parents’ spouses adopts the kid as their own. Because a birth parent is involved in this adoption, it is easier than other forms of adoption. However, there are still certain legal hurdles to clear before the procedure can be completed.

Adopting a kid as a stepparent is a faster and less expensive process than adopting as a non-family member. It’s also a lot more straightforward procedure in general. Extensive screening processes must be carried out in an adoption where no family member is involved. Home visits and studies, as well as background checks and lengthy interviews, are all part of this process.

Many states don’t need some of these processes in step parent adoption since there is a biological parent involved. If they do, it’s usually not to the same amount as other forms of adoption. Depending on the state where the adoption takes place, the child may be required to consent to the adoption. If the kid is over the age of 12, they must provide their agreement in Colorado.

After the adoption is formalized in court, the biological parent relinquishes all duties, which are assumed by the stepparent. A new birth certificate will be issued to the kid, with the stepparents’ names replacing the original parents’. Depending on the wishes of the family, the kid may also adopt the last name of their new parents.

Trusts

A trust is a legal framework that permits a trustee to administer and direct trust assets on behalf of a beneficiary. When it comes to asset management, having a trust provides a trustee additional alternatives, whether they wish to safeguard their money or just pass it along to the next generation. Although trusts are sometimes linked with wealthy families, you do not need to be a billionaire to form and profit from one.

It’s difficult enough to get through a divorce. The inclusion of one or more trusts complicates things further, leaving one or both spouses unsure of how to proceed. If you’re having trouble with this, a trust litigation lawyer at Litvak Litvak Mehrtens and Carlton can assist. Everyone deserves a stress-free divorce, especially when there are trusts involved.