Putting Kids First
The determination of child custody or “allocation of parental responsibilities” is the most emotionally charged topic in any family law case involving children. As a general matter, it’s in the children’s best interests for both parents to be actively involved in their care. Parents are encouraged to minimize children’s involvement in their conflict and to maintain a cooperative parenting arrangement during and after the divorce or child custody case.
In most cases Colorado courts will order a shared parenting schedule, unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise. Some of those reasons might include a parent who doesn't want that much parenting responsibility, abandonment, incarceration, or a danger to the child posed by a parent’s mental illness, history of violence or substance abuse. Relocation cases also compel the court to make hard decisions about which parent the children will live with while school is in session.
Sometimes a parenting plan that worked well when children were younger will need to be modified as they grow older and more independent.
For assistance is developing a parenting plan that is fair and flexible, call (719) 649-1809 to schedule a consultation.