By: Stephen J. Plog A traditional marriage is not the only type of legal union recognized by the courts in Colorado. There are two other possibilities: a civil union and a common law marriage. Learning the similarities and differences between these two types of unions may be important for legal reasons if
Divorce
I’m Unemployed and My Alimony is Ending, Can I Extend the Payments?
By: Jessica A. Saldin Prior posts have discussed the law and standards regarding the modification of maintenance (alimony). However, a unique area is the modifiability of maintenance for the recipient spouse if they are unemployed or lacking income when their maintenance is about to end. In that situation, they may feel that
Removing a Spouse’s Name on a House Mortgage After a Divorce
Getting a divorce will change many things in your life, including property ownership. If you received sole ownership of the family home in your divorce in Colorado, you may need to remove your spouse’s name from the mortgage. Otherwise, your spouse will remain legally responsible for paying the loan. You may benefit
How Does Unemployment Affect Alimony Payments?
By: Stephen J. Plog Alimony, known as spousal maintenance in Colorado, is a payment one spouse may be ordered t0 make to the other during or after a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to ensure each spouse has the ability to meet their basic needs post-divorce. The person making alimony payments
My Spouse Didn’t Disclose Assets in Our Divorce: C.R.C.P. 16.2
Part of any divorce case in Colorado is the required disclosure of all assets by both parties. Pursuant to Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (C.R.C.P.) 16.2, all parties must openly acknowledge and list their assets as part of the divorce process. Each party must provide the opposing party’s counsel with asset documentation
How Does a Declining Stock Market Impact Your Divorce?
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to make waves around the world. A shared concern among many people has been the related economic fallout. While the US stock market plummeted at the beginning of the pandemic, it has since had several consecutive weeks of increases. As of June 2020, the US stock market was
How Are Family Law Courts Affected by the Increase in Divorce Filings?
The coronavirus has prompted many changes for families around the globe. Fear, uncertainty, financial stress and being stuck at home have caused marital strains and led to an increase in divorce filings. In Colorado, courtroom shutdowns early in the pandemic created a significant backlog of cases in the family law department. Thousands
How to Distinguish Separate and Marital Property in a Divorce
Property distribution is one of the most difficult aspects of a typical divorce case. Both spouses may wish to keep shared assets such as real estate or vehicles, leading to a contested divorce. In Colorado, the courts allow divorcing couples to determine property division before forcing a judge to intervene. If the
Tending to Marital Property
By: Sarah T. McCain While generally issues of custody and complicated visitation schedules often seem to take precedence in divorces, the division of property and debt is an also pressing matter that should not be overlooked. Complacency can easily set in place as individuals see the court’s position of dividing marital property equitably between
Divorces and Reproductive Rights: How the Courts Address Disposition of Pre-Embryos
By: James C. McTurnanThe judge in a divorce case has the unenviable task of disentangling the lives and livelihoods of spouses who are unable to reach agreements on their own. Often, the lives of divorcing spouses are complex, and it is not unusual for any case to have its fair share of