Child Custody
Attorneys in Denver, Colorado
The Colorado courts no longer use the terms “child custody” and “visitation,” but instead use the phrase “allocation of parental responsibility.” Parental responsibilities include decision-making regarding the children and parenting time. The court allocates decision-making and parenting time according to what it considers to be in the best interest of the children.
Decision-making could include religious upbringing, education, medical care and general welfare of your children. The court has different options available in allocating decision-making authority. It can order that both you and your spouse jointly make all major decisions regarding your children, or it could award sole decision-making to only one of you, or it can divide sole-decision making depending on the issue. For example, your spouse may have sole decision-making authority regarding the education of your children, while you may maintain sole decision-making authority about their health care. Though not a legal standard in Colorado, the courts favor joint decision-making when possible.
Parenting time, also known as visitation, is not affected by the allocation of decision-making. The court, once again, uses the “best interest” standard to determine how much time children should spend with each parent. In most cases, a very specific parenting time schedule will be imposed.
Contact Hull & Zimmerman if you live in the Denver, Colorado area have questions about child custody and visitation rights.
Greater Denver metro area and Colorado Child Custody Attorneys.
Hull and Zimmerman, P.C.
2921 W. 120th Ave., Ste 220
Westminster, Colorado 80234
Phone: 303-423-1770
Fax: 303-423-2102
Toll Free: 1-866-385-3505
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