Family Law Blog

Distribution of Assets in a Colorado Divorce

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on November 18, 2010

Dividing a couple’s assets during a divorce in Colorado can get very complicated, even if the separation is amicable. In the United States, each state has their own set of laws regarding how marriage assets should be divided. Colorado is what’s called an “equitable distribution” state, which means the court will rule on what is considered a fair division of the assets if the parties are unable to reach a settlement. Forty-one states in the U. S. are equitable distribution states.

Marital assets can include a wide variety of things, such as your home, the money in your bank account, the money in your retirement account, any real estate that has been acquired during the marriage, furniture, motor vehicles owned, and even jewelry.

To determine how the marital assets should be distributed in a Colorado divorce, the court will go through what’s called a discovery process to categorize which assets, debts, and property are considered marital. Then a monetary value is assigned to each item. Lastly, the court will distribute the marital assets between the two parties equitably, which does not mean equal, but instead means what is determined by the court to be fair.

There are a variety of factors that can influence how the court divides the marital assets between two parties in a Colorado divorce. These include:

• The duration of the marriage;
• The income of both parties;
• Whether children are involved, and which party is responsible for providing for them;
• Whether one party owns separate property that is of great value;
• The age and health of both parties; and
• Whether there was abuse or infidelity (to penalize the offending spouse).

Sometimes, a spouse may attempt to get a more positive result from a Colorado divorce filing and hide assets or income, or even falsely accuse the other spouse of mistreatment. A family law attorney who has dealt with many Colorado divorce cases and has experience with the distribution of assets can help bring these dishonest tactics to an end. They can also work with you to help you obtain the maximum amount of assets while adhering to good ethics.

If you are considering filing for divorce in Colorado, contact the Denver divorce attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC to find out how we can help you protect your assets during the divorce process. For more information, call 1-877-527-5260 today.

Tough Economic Times Translate to Fewer Births and Divorces

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on September 9, 2010

Everything in life costs something. Whether it’s a piece of fruit, a new car, or a cross-country trip to visit relatives, all things have some value associated with them that require money. No exception to the rule is having a new baby, or looking to start life anew via a divorce also requires funding. According to an npr.org news article, a down economy can discourage many Americans from spending, even when it comes to having a baby and filing for divorce.

Reportedly, in the United States, there were 13.9 births per 1,000 people in 2008, and slightly fewer in 2009, with data coming in at 13.5 births per 1,000 people. While this difference doesn’t seem like much, it is when consideration is given to the birth rate in 2007, which came in a 14.3 births per 1,000. This particular year is significant because it was the period immediately preceding the recession that we are still in today.

Similarly, the divorce rate, which was 3.4% in 2009, has also declined over the last few years, although not as dramatically as birth rate has. However, it is speculated that the high costs associated with divorce have contributed to its decline over the last couple decades. While some analysts suspect that many couples are being more mindful of marital commitments prior to entering into marriage these days, the state of the economy cannot be ignored, as more and more couples realize that, while divorce would be ideal, it may not be the smartest move to make from a financial standpoint.

Choosing to file for divorce is a difficult decision to make. At Kaplan Law, LLC, our experienced divorce attorneys can help walk you through the divorce process from start to finish. If you are thinking of filing for divorce in Colorado, please contact our Colorado Springs family law attorneys. For more information, call 1-877-527-5206 today.

Alicia Key’s Boyfriend in Middle of Divorce

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on August 11, 2009

The website divorcecentral.com reported in an account that Swizz Beatz a.k.a. Kaseem Dean has admitted he is madly in love with Grammy winner musician, singer Alicia Keys although he would appreciate it if his separated wife Mashonda would refrain from involving her in their divorce. Swizz Beatz has gained fame for producing countless beats for hip-hop artists. The couple had been rumored for several months to be an item but both kept things private.

On Drake’s new remix of “Best I Ever Had” he appears to be referring to Keys with the following lyrics:
“Wake up in the morning and my baby cooked me breakfast, A’s naked wearing nothing on but a necklace …Yeah, she say she wanna treat me like a king; I get big gifts so the money ain’t a damn thing.”

According to Swizz, Keys threw him a party at the Guggenheim. A laughing Swizz said, “But we’re nowhere near ready for a baby or a ring. This whole song is not about Alicia. The part about her cooking breakfast for me naked – she never done that for me.”

Mashonda filed for a divorce in February and is pursuing interim support for their 2-year old son, Kasseem Jr. Mashonda contends that Swizz has cut his payments.

A friend of Moshanda said, “He’s been tightening the screws on her. It’s becoming intolerable. Meanwhile, she’s seen the charges for jewelry he’s bought Alicia in France.” All the while Mashonda’s Westchester mansion sat with a broken heater while reportedly “Swizz wouldn’t repair her heat.”

Divorce is a common reality in our society. Every day, hard-working couples as well as famous celebrities sometimes realize that divorce is their best option.

Divorces can be very ugly and messy for anyone close to the situation, especially when a child is involved. The compassionate and experienced Colorado divorce lawyers at the Marc Kaplan Law firm have assisted individuals during these difficult times. Please call 1-877-527-5260 for a free consultation.

Nas’s Pregnant Wife Files For Divorce

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on August 4, 2009

The website accessshollywood.com reported in an article that Kelis, wife of hip-hop star Nas, has filed for divorce after being married four years. An associate of Kelis confirmed the news to Access Hollywood.

The associate said, “I can confirm that she has filed for divorce. We request the media to respect her privacy during this very difficult time.”

Kelis gained fame with her popular song “Milkshake”, and filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

Kelis is pregnant with their child, and is requesting spousal and child support.

In an interview with MTV News, Nas showed no signs of any marital problems.

Nas said, “She’s great man. She’s doing good. I’ve been thinking about kinda putting something online: ‘Choose his name.’ You get a couple of stacks for that. We take care of you for that. You win something real. But we’re thinking now.”

The couple was married in Atlanta in January 2005.

Many states view divorce differently and have different rules as to what may warrant a divorce. The State of Colorado follows a “no fault” divorce law, which means that either the husband or wife can request dissolution of marriage merely because the marriage is broken and they do not feel that the marriage can be repaired. The Colorado divorce attorneys at Kaplan Law can assist you in the division of personal items which were acquired during the marriage, as well as the determination of monthly spousal support, if warranted.

At Kaplan Law, their skilled Colorado divorce lawyers understand that their clients are going through what is, at best, an emotionally difficult process. The family law attorneys at Kaplan Law can help with decisions of personal and or property matters, collection of funds, and child custody. It is their goal to make the process of getting divorced as quick and easy as possible so that you can get on with your life. Please call 1-877-527-5260 for a free consultation.