Family Law Attorneys Lakewood, CO
Family law issues can throw your peaceful life in Lakewood into turmoil. These issues are often completely unpredictable; a divorce request comes out of the blue or a sudden stop in child support payments wrecks a single parent’s budget. At Elkus & Sisson, we focus on helping people like you navigate all types of family law issues.
Attorney Robert Pomper brings three decades of experience and in-depth knowledge to every family law case we take. Ready to learn more about your options?
Skillful Family & Divorce Lawyers
Elkus & Sisson, P.C. are family law attorneys located just a 15 minute drive from downtown Lakewood, Colorado. Our address is 7100 E Belleview Avenue, Suite 101 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (open in Google Maps). Call us today at (303) 567-7981 or fill out a contact form and we will call you to schedule a free initial appointment to discuss your family law or divorce needs.
Is a Family Lawyer Necessary?
One of the questions we often hear is, “Do I really need a family law attorney?” The fact is that some legal issues can be handled on your own. For example, a minor change in custody that both parties agree on may be small enough for you to fill out and file without assistance. But in most family law situations, a lawyer is crucial if you want a favorable outcome.
Think of it this way—the agreements made in a family law case are far-reaching, affecting nearly every part of your life and will affect how you are able to move forward.. Attempting to do your divorce or custody issues on your own could have a devastating effect on your finances, your relationship with your children, and your future as a whole. This is true even when a case is currently uncontested.
Perhaps you and your ex are open to working together on your divorce, and you’re relieved to avoid the expense of an attorney. Then they find out you’re dating again, that you are completely closed off to the idea of ever getting back together, or that you will be relying on your parents for help with childcare after the divorce—or any other number of problems. Out of nowhere, your previously friendly divorce is now contentious and your ex has an attorney. Working with a lawyer from the very beginning can help you avoid these complications and delays.
Even if you’re not sure whether or not you need a lawyer yet, it’s always worth a consultation. You can ask your questions, explain your concerns, and get some professional guidance. From there, you can decide whether or not to move on with hiring them.
The Cases We Take
The team at Elkus & Sisson takes a wide range of family law cases in Lakewood, including:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Division of assets
- Spousal support/alimony
- Marital agreements/prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Child support
- Modification of family court agreements
- Violations of family court agreements and enforcement of court orders
- Adoption
- Grandparents’ rights
What You Should Know About Divorce in Colorado
Understanding what to expect of your Colorado divorce can help you prepare for the coming months and get the support you need. In general, a divorce takes six to nine months from start to finish. It may take less time if both parties agree on everything in the divorce, or it may take much longer if there are huge disagreements that the parties cannot compromise on and if experts are needed on contested parenting time cases or in dividing up assets and debts. At a minimum, it takes 91 days from filing or having the other person served to the court awarding the dissolution of the marriage.
Shortly after the divorce petition is filed, the court will schedule an initial status conference. This lays the groundwork for a temporary hearing (if necessary) and sets expectations for disclosures on both sides. Discovery may be an important part of your divorce case, depending on how forthcoming both parties are about their assets and debts, how they have handled the assets and their income.
Both parties have to make full financial disclosures before the process can move forward. This means disclosing income, separate assets, and marital assets. You can discuss this with your attorney if you have concerns—many people worry about their spouse hiding assets, especially if their spouse is the high earner of the family or has maintained full control over the finances. The good news is that these tactics rarely work; there are many ways to uncover hidden assets. When they come to light, the court is not happy with the person who tried to cheat their spouse.
In most cases, the important issues of divorce are hammered out by the parties and their attorneys. This is generally preferable to the court making these decisions—after all, they affect your life. Even if you have to make compromises, it’s still better to have some control over the outcome than to leave your future in the court’s hands. Mediation is required for contested divorces, as a mediator may be able to find compromises in areas where negotiations have failed.
How the Team at Elkus & Sisson Can Help You
Whether you’re handling an adoption, trying to figure out if you need a prenuptial agreement, navigating a divorce, or facing a different family law issue, the team at Elkus & Sisson is here for you.
Our approach to family law issues in Lakewood puts clients first, prioritizing their top concerns and ensuring that they are fully informed at every step of the process. You know what matters most to you as you prepare for the next chapter in your life, and our goal is to support you in reaching the best outcome for you. Along the way, we’ll present you with your options, explain the possible outcomes of each decision, and give our recommendations.
If you’re preparing for divorce, this may be one of the hardest things you ever go through in life—make sure you have the right resources, support, and guidance to navigate it as smoothly as possible. We’ll be here not just through your divorce, but for any future legal needs you may have, including child support modifications, court order enforcement, and custody modifications.
Contact Us Today to Set Up a Consultation
Whenever you’re ready to move forward and start working on your family law issues, our family law firm is here to support up. Set up a consultation where you can discuss your needs and learn more about your options. Just call us at 303-567-7981 or reach out online to set up a consultation with our Lakewood family law attorneys.