Family Law Attorneys Helping People in Highlands Ranch
Whether you’ve been to family court multiple times trying to navigate issues with your ex-spouse or this is your first time taking a legal issue to court, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next. We’re here to help.
Our family law attorneys in Highlands Ranch are committed to helping you with the emotional and legal challenges you’re facing, from child support, divorce and child custody to complex adoption cases and marital agreements.
Our attorney Robert Pomper brings over THREE DECADES of family law experience to the table, giving our law firm an incredible body of knowledge that we can leverages to effectively handle your case. Even if you feel hopeless right now, we will be at your side to guide you through the process.
Skilled & Experienced Family & Divorce Lawyers
Elkus & Sisson, P.C. are family lawyers located just a short 9.5 mile drive from Highlands Ranch. Our address is 7100 E Belleview Avenue, Suite 101 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (open in Google Maps and see our reviews). Call us today at (303) 567-7981 or fill out a contact form and we will call you to schedule a free initial consult to discuss your family law & divorce needs.
Facing Family Law Issues in Highlands Ranch? You Need an Attorney
Many people consider self-representing in the initial stages of a family law concern. We understand why. When you’re going through a divorce, you’re taking your current family income and using it to support two households instead of one—the thought of incurring another expense may seem unnecessary at first. However, the fact is that not hiring an attorney often costs you more than hiring one would. The issues at stake in family law cases are among the most important in your life, from your time with your children, your home, where your income goes, to what happens to the all of your assets you’ve worked so hard to earn.
Without an attorney, it’s unlikely you’ll know your rights and what you stand to lose and the best strategy for your case. Working out a divorce amicably is always an option, but that doesn’t mean giving up your right to legal counsel. Even if you and your spouse agree on important topics like custody and child support, having an attorney advise you of your options and their outcomes can give you peace of mind.
Having an attorney help you from the very beginning can save you time, money, and heartbreak. Those who reach out to us to resolve issues after handling their own family law matters often find that going back and trying to fix everything takes more time than hiring legal counsel from the very beginning.
At Elkus & Sisson, we always put your best interests first—always. Get the help and support you deserve during this challenging time.
Divorce Considerations in Colorado
You may still be weighing your options with your marriage, or maybe you’ve already decided that divorce is the only path forward for you. It’s important to understand what Colorado law says about divorce and what you’ll need to do to dissolve your marriage. You or your spouse must have lived in Colorado for the 91 days before your filing. There is a 91-day minimum wait between when you file for divorce and serve the other party and when it is granted assuming all matters are agreed upon. If you and your spouse file together, the wait starts at the time of the joint filing. . If only one party files, the 91-day window does not start until the other spouse is served.
In the interim, you’ll need help navigating the entire divorce process so both parties have full transparency before trying to negotiate the important issues of your divorce. Note that the 91-day window is a minimum—it does not mean you need to figure everything out that fast. Divorces can easily drag on for months or even years if the issues are complex, experts are needed, etc. A Highlands Ranch divorce attorney at Elkus & Sisson will go over the important issues of your divorce with you. This is your chance to figure out what matters most to you, what doesn’t matter at all, and where there is room for compromise.
Navigating Child Custody and Support
The court puts the best interests of the children first in all family law matters. It’s important to keep this at the forefront of your mind throughout negotiations. Even if you and your spouse agree on child custody and support, the court can choose to put a different order in place if yours does not serve the children’s best interests.
Colorado generally uses the term “allocation of parental responsibility” to refer to custody. Parenting time can be considered “physical custody” and decision-making responsibility can be considered ”legal custody.” As is the case in many other states, while some believe there may be a general preference for having children , it is really case specific and based on the best interests of the children. For some parents, that means a 50/50 split. For others, it means one parent having majority parenting time and the other seeing the child on a regular schedule. In some situations, the child may not be safe around one parent—when this happens, the court may either require supervised visits or completely take away the parent’s time. By considering both parents’ work obligations, preferences, and capabilities, you can devise a schedule that helps your children thrive.
Child support will be affected by the parenting time schedule you and your coparent decide on. The court uses several different variables in its calculation, including both parties’ income, the child’s time with both parents and parenting-related expenses like child care. Be aware, though, that the final child support order may stray from the basic calculation if the Court finds a legal basis from which to deviate.
Protecting Your Assets
Many divorce clients stress over the division of assets, and for good reason—the assets you walk away with may determine your financial stability and what type of life you can build for yourself after divorce. Through an in-depth analysis of your assets, we’ll help you figure out what you want to keep, what you’re not concerned about, and where you may have some room for negotiation. The Colorado courts follow the principle of equitable distribution, which means that assets may not necessarily be divided equally. Factors like your contributions to the marriage, earning capacity, and separate assets may play a role in what the court considers to be equitable.
Other Cases We Take
In addition to divorce cases, attorney Robert Pomper accepts many other family law cases, including:
- Marital agreements (prenuptial and postnuptial agreements)
- Child custody and child support for non-married parents
- Spousal support
- Adoption
- Grandparents’ rights
Reach Out Today to Get Started
At Elkus & Sisson, we pride ourselves on putting our clients first and tailoring our approach to your needs. Find out what we can do for you and your family law issues during a consultation. Call our office at 303-567-7981 or fill out our online contact form now.