Any process that requires the assistance of a Divorce lawyer in Westminster is bound to be stressful, as, innately, two parties are fighting toward a resolution to some unpleasant disagreement. Divorces and child custody battles are among the most gruesome and anxiety-ridden for the clients, simply because of the nature of the disputes therein. To ease concerns of all types and to allow the necessary legal proceedings to flow as painlessly as possible, finding the right law practitioner is crucial. Experience, credentials, and expertise are musts to consider as criteria when looking for trustworthy legal counsel in Westminster, Erie, and Broomfield. They must help their client make the best decisions for their situation and help support them through trying. Divorces and child custody disputes go hand in hand. A lawyer has to have the wisdom, patience, and knowledge to tackle many complex and nuanced issues, always with their client’s best interests in mind.
Division of Property/Assets
For separating couples of all socio-economic positions, dividing co-owned assets comes with the territory. Especially in more problematic separations, protection and planning of one’s financial prospects are essential, and one area in which a law practitioner is needed to lend their hand. They must inquire and research a splitting couple’s state of affairs, and help devise a realistic and effective plan to divide assets. An attorney must verify that the divorcing spouse is being truthful and releasing all pertinent records to prove that their assets are as they say. Sometimes this process will require partaking in a “like-kind” exchange, a tax-savvy asset trade, or less conventional, but constructive, agreements in order to avoid unnecessary costs in time, money, and stress.
Particularly in the case of separations with major assets at stake, the attorney must accurately establish what property qualifies as part of the marital estate. Usually this refers to possessions gained during the marriage, and does not include anything acquired before. In states like Colorado, all marital property is divided by law. This process often involves the assistance of outside establishments and parties, such as business valuation experts, in order to properly resolve issues dividing wealth tied into land and small businesses, for instance. Attorneys must be ever aware of how certain financial decisions could impact tax matters as well and offer their advice accordingly.
Alimony and Spousal Support
Spousal maintenance laws are a bit different depending on the state, so divorcing couples in the Westminster, Erie and Broomfield areas must comply with the legislation set forth by the state of Colorado. How a divorce lawyer erie, or a lawyer broomfield conducts business pertaining to spousal support can make a huge difference in the final ruling by the reigning judge. For those in Colorado, alimony is determined by a certain formula for couples with a combined yearly income less than $250,000. There is no clear cut formula for more wealthy couples, and the role of the attorney is especially crucial in these cases. Just as in the process of properly dividing belongings, the issue of determining alimony payments can also be solved by more innovative means, such as one spouse waiving alimony in exchange for a certain asset, like a house.
Post-Separation Issues
The Divorce process is difficult in any case, and, sometimes, still more complications arise after the initial process has ended. Adjustments may need to be made in the original agreements to accommodate for life changes, and this will require the assistance and advice of a lawyer too. Losing a job, remarriage, or struggling to make child support payments may require a change in terms, just as a major move or developments in a child’s needs may call for a revision of the agreements related to custody and visitation. If a problem arises as far as a spouse failing to comply, an attorney can also assist in obtaining an order for contempt to resolve the difficulties.
Child Support
The procedure to determine child support is another aspect determined by the state, so parting couples in the Westminster, Erie and Broomfield areas, legally married or not, will have their terms overseen by the state of Colorado. The formula to set forth relevant terms looks at factors like health and day care expenses, as well as how much the child stays overnight with each parent. The aid of an attorney is needed to verify that each parents’ income is fully disclosed, especially as some situations are complicated by elements like owning a small business or being an independent contractor. These issues are not always able to be solved just by looking at a person’s W2 tax form.
Child Custody and Visitation
Children very often bare the brunt of hardships brought on by parental separations, and as such it is imperative both the client and attorney work together to procure the best outcome for the child, above all other issues. In more amicable cases, parents may be on the same page as to what is best for their child, while also protecting their individual parental rights, but in more rough, tumultuous cases, communication with the assistance of legal counsel may become a necessity.A child custody lawyer Erie can assist with making modifications to custody agreements should concerns arise over parenting time, for instance.
Similarly, they can help for either court approval or objection relating to an out of state move by one parent. Moreover, attorneys can even assist in emotionally taxing situations like a kidnapping, when one parent moves out of state with the child before seeking permission from the other parent. In every case, an effective and committed attorney will seek to have a deep understanding of what the child requires, their relationship with each parent, as well as the parent’s priorities. Furthermore, an attorney must be honest and clear about realistic expectations as to the judge’s ruling, and needs to be willing to help their client negotiate.
