After reading through our blog, you probably know we fully understand that divorce is necessary for some people. We know that you didn’t go into your marriage with the expectation that you would have to file for divorce. You probably didn’t even think about things like how you would divide property or raise your children if your relationship ended. While divorce does have to take all of those things into consideration, it doesn’t have to be a process that is overly stressful.
By knowing what to expect during the divorce process in Colorado, you might be able to take some of the stress out of the process. With that in mind, let us take you through some of the basics of the divorce process.
The first thing you or your spouse will do is to file the divorce petition. You can even opt to file a joint divorce petition that shows you both want the divorce. Within 40 days of that filing, you will have an initial status conference in front of a judge. This usually doesn’t happen in a courtroom, so it is informal. At this conference, you can ask for orders that require immediate attention. A trial date is set at this conference.
During that first 40 days, you will also have to exchange financial documentation. This includes a variety of information, such as real estate, bank accounts, cars and retirement accounts.
In between the date of the petition and the date of the trial, the court can issue temporary orders that stipulate who pays what bills and who is responsible for what tasks. This ensures that everything is taken care of as the divorce moves forward.
At some point before the trial — at least 30 days before it — you and your spouse will go through mediation in an effort to settle your divorce. This gives you and your spouse a chance to work together to come up with a settlement.
Between the filing of the petition and the trial for your divorce, at least 90 days has to elapse. This means that you could potentially be divorced in three months if you and your spouse can work together. We know that the process seems like a lot of work, but we can stand by you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are respected and your needs are met.
