Just from our name, it’s easy to tell that we excel in divorce law, but what other kinds of cases can Divorce Matters handle? We are a law firm specializing in family law. Family law covers a wide variety of different cases including:
This Is How The Divorce Process Works and How Long It Will Take
When it comes to divorce most would say they want the process to be over as soon as possible so they can move on with their lives. This inevitably leads everyone to ask “how long will it be until I am officially divorced from my spouse?” A great place to start is our Divorce Timeline, which can be found under the Tools tab on our website. However, we also want to give a more general overview of how long the process might take. The specific circumstances and complexity of your case will determine the timeline, but overall, this is what you can expect the process to look like.
When You First File-
Once you have filed a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the courts in your county, your spouse must be personally served. Learn more about what to do if you are the one being served divorce papers.
Once your spouse is served, he or she has 21 days (35 for out of state) to file a response. If you and your spouse both want the divorce and sign a petition jointly, the Service/Response step can be ignored. Your spouse may also agree to waive service if you do not file jointly. Just because you sign jointly does not mean the process is complete, and you will still need to follow the rest of the requirements in the process.
Once Your Ex Is Served-
You have 42 days after the date of filing to set up an initial status conference with the court and submit your financial disclosures. The initial status conference is your first court appearance and is an informal way for both parties and the Court to get on the same page about dates and deadlines in your case. It depends on the county and jurisdiction that you are in as to whether they will schedule a time for your initial status conference automatically once you file, or if you or your attorney have to reach out to the court to schedule your own. The timing for this solely depends on your county’s court and its timeline. You also will need to have your financial disclosures submitted within that 42-day deadline as well.
After Initial Status Conference-
You have the option to file for Temporary Orders, which is only necessary if there is an immediate conflict that must be addressed while your case is ongoing. Temporary Orders can help with decision making, child support or spousal support, or who will live in the marital residence during the divorce process. Temporary orders will be replaced by permanent orders at the end of your case. A temporary orders hearing, which is a separate court date, must be set to decide this and it will extend your case.
Once you’ve had your initial status conference, you and your spouse are then required to attend mediation by the state of Colorado. Everyone who files for divorce in Colorado must attend mediation, with a few exceptions. In rare cases where the parties agree to every issue, it is possible to skip mediation, which would shorten your case. Additionally, you may request mediation be waived in cases of domestic violence.
Mediation-
Mediation is a formal settlement conference where the mediator (whom you hire) assists in trying to reach a full agreement between you and your ex. If mediation is successful, you will leave with a signed or partial settlement agreement. Then your attorneys draft the final agreements and file the documents with the court.
If mediation is not successful, you must either come up with a settlement or prepare to go to trial. If you need to go to trial, this must be scheduled with the court and the timing completely depends on their availability and timeline. This can extend your case; therefore, it is ideal to come up with agreements in mediation or a settlement.
Finalized-
Your divorce will be finalized once a judge issues a decree of dissolution of marriage which then severs the marriage, and you are no longer married.
Post-decree-
If a party is not satisfied with the final decision made by the court, then an appeal can be made. There are specific time constraints around appeals, so you will want to speak with your attorney if you wish to appeal any part of your divorce decree.
You also may modify certain orders put in place by the courts if circumstances change after the final agreement has been made. Again, you will want to speak with your attorney if you would like to modify any documents or orders post-divorce.
Overall, it can be difficult to determine the exact length that it will take to finalize your divorce because every situation is different. Your timeline will depend on the specific circumstances and jurisdiction of your case.
If you have questions about your particular situation or would like to speak with an attorney today, contact us.
Appealing a Judge’s Decision Regarding Your Colorado Divorce
Judges sometimes make mistakes, and when they do, there is a process for getting the error corrected. This process is called bringing an appeal. You file an appeal by asking a higher court to review the decision below and decide whether to overturn the trial court’s decision.
Bringing an appeal doesn’t always make sense. Sometimes a client is so upset with a judge’s decision that they immediately want to file an appeal. But it is important to first understand what an appeal is so that our clients can decide whether an appeal is the right move for them.
Appealing a Divorce Decision in Colorado is Decided Only on the Record
In an appeal, the court will rely only on the record created at trial to determine whether the judge made a mistake. This means the court will look at the transcripts and any written decisions a judge issued.
As a rule, appellate courts do not accept new evidence. No witnesses testify, and no new physical evidence is presented. If you didn’t present a key piece of evidence at trial, you don’t get a chance to do so on appeal. Instead, lawyers point to the transcripts from the trial and argue why the judge made an error that warrants reversal.
Appellate Courts Reverse in Only Limited Situations
Many of the issues in dispute in a Colorado divorce are judgment calls. For example, a judge must look at a variety of factors to determine what is in the child’s best interest when deciding custody. No two judges will analyze the same case the same way, and you generally can’t appeal because you are unhappy with how the judge weighed the different factors.
Instead, most appeals are brought for one of two reasons:
- The judge got the law wrong. For example, a judge might say Colorado law requires that mothers be given custody of young children, which is wrong. If the judge decides custody based upon this wrong legal standard, then the appellate court will usually reverse and send the case back down to the judge to decide using the correct law.
- The judge’s decision is completely unreasonable. This is harder to win an appeal on. Appellate courts don’t want to second guess a judge’s decision. However, if a judge completely ignored evidence, you might prevail.
If either situation applies, it can be to your advantage to bring a prompt appeal.
Appeals Can Be Expensive
Unless the judge made an obvious error, an appellate court is unlikely to reverse. Even if you win on appeal, your divorce case will likely go back to the trial judge to decide again, and you still might be unhappy with the new decision.
Instead of immediately appealing, we encourage clients to consider other options. For example, they might bring a motion later to modify custody or child support, which could be less expensive and have a higher degree of success.
If you are unhappy with a judge’s decision, speak with your Colorado divorce lawyer about what you should do. The lawyers at Divorce Matters have brought many successful appeals and have counseled countless clients about their best options.