Family Law Blog

Colorado Legislature Considers Same-Sex Civil Union Bill

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on April 27, 2011

A bill in the Colorado Senate that would permit same-sex couples to enter into civil unions has been gaining support recently, according to an article in The Colorado Independent. The bill recently received five votes from Democrats in the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee, in addition to a vote from Republican State Senator Ellen Roberts.

Roberts, who practiced law in Colorado for two decades, has often fought for laws that affect children’s health and welfare, including laws relating to child support, child custody, and similar divorce and family law issues. She says that a civil union law would help protect Colorado’s children by giving them the same legal rights and protections that children with opposite-sex parents have in their relationships with their parents, particularly in cases of divorce, the death of parent, or when the children need medical care.

Among other things, the Colorado civil unions bill will require same-sex partners to support one another financially, to arrange for alimony or similar financial support if they separate, to work out child support arrangements, and to recognize each other’s rights to visitation with their children if the couple divorces. These rights and responsibilities will be identical to those that opposite-sex couples currently face when they divorce.

Divorce is an emotionally charged process, whether or not children are involved. Having an experienced Colorado divorce attorney on your side can help you make informed decisions that protect your rights and give you the support you need. If you live in Colorado and are considering divorce, please don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with the experienced divorce lawyers at Kaplan Law. Call 1-877-527-5260 today to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Issues Surrounding Grandparents’ Minimal Visitation

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on February 4, 2010

Grandparents are not always thought of in child custody cases. For many families though, grandparents can provide stable environments for children and, as consequence, shouldn’t be forgotten about when it comes to child custody and parceling out visitation rights. According to a chicagotribune.com article, grandparents can sometimes find themselves completely at the mercy of their grandchild’s parent, and there is little they can do about it.

Reportedly, two grandparents in Iowa are having a very difficult time spending time with, and even seeing, their two grandsons. The article explains that the boys’ mother passed away, that they now reside strictly with their father, and that their father (son-in-law to the aforementioned grandparents) chooses to rarely respond to visitation requests made by the grandparents. This renders their time with the grandchildren practically non-existent. Legislation in the state of Iowa, where this particular story is playing out, does not make it very easy for grandparents to see the grandchildren, particularly when one of the children’s parents is deemed fit and capable of raising the children and the best interests of the child are satisfied. In the eyes of the courts, grandparent visitation rights are the decision of the children’s parent or parents. Grandparents have little recourse in the way of filing suits, especially since, if such a visitation suit is sought and lost, the grandparents may never again see their grandchildren.

In the state of Colorado, the best interests of the child always take precedent in child custody and visitation rights hearings. If you are a grandparent and are seeking visitation rights of your grandchild, contact an experienced Colorado child visitation rights attorney at Kaplan Law, LLC. Our skilled Denver family law attorneys will examine the circumstances of your visitation rights case, and will work on your behalf to ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law. For more information about grandparents’ rights, please call us today at 1-877-527-5260.

Source:http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/dec/20/local/chi-ap-ia-grandparentsright

Communication Styles Could Be an Early Indication of Imminent Divorce

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on January 27, 2010

A recent CBS.com article discussed an episode of The Early Show in which a well-known psychotherapist visited the program. The discussion focused on how communication styles and positive-to-negative interactions can contribute towards a divorce. More specifically, a total of five types of marriages were reportedly identified.

A “pursuer/distance marriage” carries with it a high risk of divorce. This type of marriage is characterized by problems being dismissed and not talked about. “Disengaged marriages” involve individuals who don’t need intimacy or lack mutual interests, and these marriage types are also prone to having a high risk of divorce. “Operatic marriages” are characterized by repetitive cycles of fighting and reconciling, also translating to high risk of divorce. “Cohesive individuated marriages” consist of shared responsibilities and marriage being viewed as a refuge, translating to a lower risk of divorce in the long run. Marriages labeled as “traditional” consist of genders roles being interpreted by couples as simply traditional, with instances of divorce in these cases being lowest.

The article goes on to mention that strong marriages have a positive-to-negative interaction ratio of at least 5-to-1, meaning that these couples have at least five positive experiences together for every one negative experience. As this ratio diminishes, it is speculated, the risk of divorce inevitably rises. Other factors mentioned in the news story included length of marriage, the age of marrying couples, and whether or not a child has become a part of the marriage.

Sometimes, filing for divorce in Colorado ultimately proves inevitable. In such cases, retaining the services of an experienced divorce attorney will prove to be your best option in protecting your interests and safe guarding your well-being. Regardless of your situation, the skilled Colorado divorce attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC are prepared to assist you every step of the way. If you are thinking of filing for divorce and would like helpful information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at 1-877-527-5260.

Source:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/06/earlyshow/health/health_news/main517731.shtml

When Divorce Turns Into a War of Words

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on November 11, 2009

Divorce proceedings don’t always have to be characterized by negativity. However, for the divorcing couple highlighted in a story talked about on blogs.wsj.com, this notion was disregarded altogether. According to the story, both of the divorcing parties have accused the other of being financially dependent. Consequently, the husband in this case claims that he shouldn’t have to pay his wife spousal support, while the wife argues that her husband, though he is unemployed and claims to be bankrupt, is in fact spending thousands of dollars each and every month.

The husband in this case claims that he is in fact bankrupt, and that the money he has been spending has come from handouts from friends. He further claims that the monetary amounts his wife claims he is spending are greatly exaggerated. The husband’s main argument against having to pay his wife spousal support payments centers-around the fact that the wife supposedly has $200,000 hidden away in a safety deposit box and that she has numerous assets, including fur coats and jewelry reportedly worth over a million dollars, are more than enough to sustain her.

Undoubtedly, the presiding judge in this case will carefully examine all of the facts, and make a decision based on those facts. Regardless of what is said by either party, only the facts of this case will ultimately be considered. Though both the husband and wife have made public much incriminating evidence against the other, such evidence may not even be given that much weight in a court of law, particularly if said evidence is little more than he-said, she-said type gossip. Ultimately, the best path taken by each party involved includes retaining a skilled divorce attorney who will see to it that the client’s best interests are always kept in mind and not infringed upon in a court of law.

The experienced family law attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC represent all types of divorce cases. If you are going through a divorce, you’ll need someone on your side who will fight for your best interests at all times. The divorce attorneys in Denver at Kaplan Law, LLC understand how complicated such situations can be, and work towards making divorce proceedings not only as equitable as possible, but also as stress free for everyone involved. Please call Kaplan Law, LLC today at 1-877-527-5206 for more information about divorce, alimony payments, and your legal options.

Source:http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2009/10/13/bankruptcy-plus-divorce-equals-major-drama/

Military Personnel Protect Our Country, but Marriages May Suffer Nevertheless

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on November 4, 2009

A recent examiner.com article discusses the unfortunate tendency for spouses of military personnel to grow so tiresome of their significant other’s deployment that divorce becomes a solution to the problem. The story cites another article from the Washington post that explains how the commanding officers of soldiers that find themselves on the verge of divorce have the ultimate say over whether or not the soldier is granted an emergency leave on the grounds of correcting problems at home, including a looming divorce.

Among the many reasons often cited for divorce amongst military families is a lack of interaction that a deployed soldier has with his or her spouse. Feelings of abandonment and loneliness may slowly creep up on unsuspecting spouses when their significant other is deployed overseas or even out of state. Child custody and other issues arise in many divorce proceedings, and child custody can often be difficult for a deployed soldier to contend with. In all cases where divorce seems like a likely possibility, and especially if children are involved, an individual’s best course of action is to retain the services of a skilled Denver child custody attorney who will see to it that all decisions made in regard to divorce are as equitable as possible for both parties involved.

According to the article, many states have passed laws preventing military deployment as being cited as a significant reason for seeking a divorce. To ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law, don’t hesitate to contact the family law attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC. Our experienced divorce lawyers have represented a large number of clients in a variety of divorce proceedings, and are prepared to make your divorce proceedings as stress-free as possible. Our Denver family law attorneys understand how complex such situations can be, and are prepared to handle every detail of your case so that you don’t have to. Please call Kaplan Law, LLC today at 1-877-527-5206 for more information about divorce and your possible options.

Source:http://www.examiner.com/x-3145-Miami-Relationships-Examiner~y2009m9d6-Custody-battles-and-divorce-in-military-families

Economic Woes Can Prolong Divorce

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on October 21, 2009

A recent article featured on the website ozarksfirst.com discussed the impact that the down trodden economy is having on married couples and those looking to marry. Specifically, the website cites USA Today and MSN Money reports that explain how people seem to be holding off on both marriage and filing for divorce due to worries regarding the potential costs associated with each. According to the national average, one out of every two marriages will end in divorce. However, one can assume that, if people truly are putting off divorce due to the potential monetary costs associated with it, then the number of couples that actually want a divorce could be much greater than the 50% who actually go through with it.

The article reasons that many individuals may be either unemployed or underemployed, and that could be the reason why divorces and marriages are being put off. Financial struggles are one of the most common reasons cited for arguments that ultimately lead to divorce. The article also states that 60 to 70 of people now choose to live together prior to marriage, a practice that in and of itself is relatively close to the rigors that officially being married to one another actually has to offer. By the time couples may decide it’s time to actually enter into marriage, those couples may go through with the marriage, but ultimately may be skeptical about whether or not the marriage will last, and are more susceptible to decide that, in the end, it won’t last.

Regardless of your marriage situation, a divorce can seem overwhelming at first. Whether you’re unemployed or underemployed, chose to live together for years prior to marriage or simply chose to wait until after the marriage, or have come to the conclusion that your marriage just won’t work, divorce proceedings can be complicated. If you are seeking a divorce from your spouse, it is in your best interest to retain the services of an experienced divorce attorney that will help sort through every detail of your divorce proceedings.

The skilled attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC represent all types of divorce cases. Remember, divorce can completely change a person’s life, and as a consequence may be accompanied by tremendous amounts of stress. The divorce attorneys in Denver at Kaplan Law, LLC understand how stressful such situations can be, and work towards making divorce proceedings not only as equitable as possible, but also as stress-free for everyone involved. Please call Kaplan Law, LLC today at 1-877-527-5206 for more information about divorce and your options.

Source:http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=196562