Experienced Child Custody Lawyers in Denver, Colorado

A divorce can be an incredibly challenging time, especially when child custody is at the forefront of the issues. The court’s decision regarding custody will significantly impact how much time you get to spend with your child over the coming years, making it one of the most critical aspects of the divorce process. This is not a situation you should face alone — having a trustworthy attorney by your side can make all the difference in ensuring your rights and interests are protected.

At Littman Family Law, we understand the complexities involved in child custody cases, including the need for child custody enforcement if the other parent fails to comply with court orders. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to advocating for your rights and helping you navigate these challenges, ensuring that your child’s best interests remain the priority. We also recognize that other family members, such as grandparents, often play a vital role in a child’s life. If you’re a grandparent seeking visitation rights or aiming to maintain a meaningful relationship with your grandchild, we can assist you in pursuing those rights in a legal and effective manner.

In addition, circumstances may change that require child relocation, which can complicate existing custody arrangements. Whether you are the parent wishing to relocate with your child or the one seeking to prevent an unapproved move, our team can help you understand your options and advocate for your position. By having a skilled attorney who is experienced in matters of child custody, grandparents’ rights, and child relocation, you’ll be better equipped to navigate this challenging time and ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family.

A custody case is often complicated and multi-faceted, with several different facets for the court to consider. At Littman Family Law, we support you every step of the way to resolve your child custody issues and put your children’s needs first.

Types of Custody

Before you ever set foot in a courtroom, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of child custody. The two main types that exist in Colorado are:

• Physical custody
• Legal custody

As you might expect, physical custody involves which parent the children live with at any given time. Legal custody involves which parent can make legal, medical, educational, and other decisions for the children until they reach adulthood.

Depending on the family situation, courts may divide both physical and legal custody into several different arrangements. In many cases, one parent will retain both legal and physical custody, but this isn’t true for every child custody case.

• Alternating custody: both parents retain legal and physical custody at different times.
• Joint custody: both parents retain legal and physical custody over the child at the same time.
• Shared custody: both parents retain legal custody over the child but hold physical custody at different times.
• Sole custody: just one parent retains legal and physical custody.
• Split custody: each parent retains full custody over different children.

In today’s family law courts, fewer cases award alternating and shared custody, as these arrangements can be difficult for the child. The child custody attorneys at Littman Family Law always work to put the needs of your children first, and Denver divorce courts follow this philosophy as well.

Parenting Time

Your child custody lawyer in Denver will educate you on the finer points of parenting time and responsibility. In actuality, “child custody” is an outdated term. Today’s courts use the term “allocation of parental responsibility” to refer to the same concept.

No decision made in a divorce court is made lightly. When deciding parental custody and responsibility, your Denver child custody attorney will fight for both your preferences and those of your child. The court will also consider the wishes and history of both parents and all children involved.

For example, if one parent has a known history of drug use, criminal conduct, or neglecting responsibilities, the court will weigh in favor of the more responsible and stable parent. If the children involved in the custody battle are old enough to state their preferences, their wishes will also play a role.

Of course, if one parent wants more or less parenting time, the court will also consider their wishes. However, the court will always work to find a solution that favors the long-term health and well-being of the entire family.

Decision-Making Responsibilities

Parenting time and legal decision-making power are not necessarily mutually inclusive. Even if both parents alternate physical custody of the child, one may retain sole decision-making power. This is especially common if the parents have historically been unable to make joint decisions for their children.

Similarly, if the court deems one parent unable to make decisions in the best interest of the child, this parent may lose legal custody. In some cases, a court determines a modification to existing custody arrangements based on historical behavior by one or both parents.

Why You Should Work with Littman Family Law

Divorce is a complicated and sometimes painful process, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Hiring a professional Denver child custody lawyer is always a good idea. At Littman Family Law, our experienced team always makes an effort to take things another step further. We want to put our legal experience to work to help find a solution for you and your children.

If negotiations with your ex-spouse are not going well, don’t forget that we offer mediation services, too. While legal mediation should not be your first course of action, sometimes it’s necessary to ensure a smooth transition and the well-being of everyone involved.

When you need the services of a Denver child custody attorney, we’re ready and willing to assist you. Contact Littman Family Law at (303) 832-4200 or send us an email to start the consultation process.