Ending your marriage is likely to be one of the most important and most stressful events of your life. Divorce is never easy, even when a couple mutually decides to end their marriage. If you are preparing for divorce in Fort Collins, a divorce lawyer is your best asset for ensuring a fair and reasonable outcome to the situation. The Johnson Law Group can provide the legal counsel you need during this difficult time and guide you toward the best attainable result in your divorce case.

If you are planning to end your marriage, the formal process of divorce involves splitting property ownership rights with your spouse, determining custody of your children, and resolving many other legal matters. Having an attorney assist you with this process is invaluable. You will be able to separate your personal issues with your spouse from your practical concerns regarding the divorce process more easily and approach the situation with confidence.

The right attorney can streamline your divorce proceedings in many ways and increase the chances of securing the results you want to see. It is especially crucial to have legal counsel on your side if your spouse retains their own attorney. If you do not, this puts you at a tremendous disadvantage in your divorce proceedings, regardless of whether you litigate or pursue alternative dispute resolution.

The terms “attorney” and “lawyer” are generally interchangeable. However, you may wonder whether you should hire a divorce lawyer or a family law attorney to assist you with your divorce case. A divorce lawyer typically specializes solely in divorce cases, while a family law attorney can provide legal counsel for a broader range of family law issues, such as annulments, adoptions, and legal separations. Ultimately, you should choose an attorney with a solid reputation for successful divorce representation who inspires you with confidence about your position in your case.

The majority of family law attorneys and divorce lawyers working in Colorado will bill their services by the hour. Your attorney should provide you with a clear breakdown of how they plan to bill their time. The longer your case requires your attorney’s services, the more expensive it will ultimately be for you in legal fees. Before agreeing to the representation of any Fort Collins divorce lawyer, make sure you fully understand their billing practices and determine how long you expect your case to take, so you have an idea of how much your legal representation will cost.

Experiencing the divorce process for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. A good Fort Collins divorce lawyer should be able to clearly describe the services they can provide to you during this process. First, your attorney should help you determine the best approach to the situation. Are you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse agreeable enough to mediate your divorce? If so, alternative dispute resolution could allow the two of you to reach a more personalized divorce agreement than litigation.

Your attorney will assist you with all the procedural elements of your divorce. This includes court filings, submitting your financial disclosure, and navigating the various proceedings your case will entail, whether that includes mediation sessions or courtroom appearances.

Before you accept any attorney’s services, you should take time to schedule a consultation to allow yourself to interview the attorney before signing any contracts with them. Consider a few important questions to ask a potential Fort Collins divorce attorney:

• “How long have you practiced family law?” Experience should always be a major determining factor in choosing the right attorney for your case.
• “Do you notice any unique factors in my case?” A good attorney should quickly identify any challenges or opportunities you are likely to face in your divorce proceedings.
• “What approach will you take to handle my case?” Most modern divorce attorneys encourage their clients toward alternative dispute resolution whenever possible. Find out how the attorney intends to handle your case and what kind of legal philosophy they uphold regarding alternative dispute resolution.
• “How do you bill your time?” Most divorce lawyers bill their services based on every hour spent working on a case, typically counted in quarter-hour increments. Find out how much your attorney charges by the hour before agreeing to their counsel.
• “How long do you think my case will take to conclude?” Once you know how the attorney bills their time and how long they expect the case to take to resolve, you should have an idea of the total cost of your divorce in terms of legal fees.

These are just a few example questions that you should ask during an initial consultation. Be sure to devise some of your own questions that are more specific to your situation so you can hire your Fort Collins divorce lawyer with confidence.

Divorce is more than just the end of your marriage; it is also the legal process of dividing your marital property, assigning custody rights over your children, and arranging terms for child support and spousal maintenance, as necessary. Most Fort Collins, CO, divorce cases involve:

• Property division. Colorado is an equitable distribution state, meaning that if you litigate your divorce, the judge will want to divide your property in a manner that is fair to both parties. The result may not necessarily be equal, but it should be equitable in relation to you and your spouse’s respective financial situations.
• Child custody. If you and your spouse have children, the most important facet of your divorce will be determining custody rights. Your attorney can help you make the most compelling case for custody, identify any issues that are likely to arise, and influence the judge’s decision.
• Child support. When divorced parents split custody of their children, one parent will almost always end up paying child support to the other. The amount paid in support depends on multiple factors, including each parent’s custody rights and overall financial situations.
• Spousal support. In some cases, a divorce will involve alimony or spousal support paid from a higher-earning spouse to a lower-earning spouse. The amount paid and the payment term typically depend on the length of the marriage, the difference in income between the spouses, and each spouse’s unique needs.
• Domestic violence and protective orders. In the event you have suffered any type of domestic violence at the hands of your spouse, your Fort Collins divorce lawyer can secure protective orders on your behalf to prevent any further abuse. They will also ensure your spouse’s actions are appropriately addressed in your divorce proceedings.

Every divorce case is unique and will involve different factors. If you and your spouse have been married for years and have children together, your divorce proceedings will be more time-consuming and complex than a divorce between spouses who were only together for a year and have no children. One common thread for all divorces is the value of reliable legal representation as you navigate the Colorado divorce process.

One of the most important decisions you must make regarding your divorce is how you intend to approach the process. Many couples throughout the US choose alternative dispute resolution such as divorce mediation due to the many benefits this option can offer. Even for divorcing spouses who have trouble agreeing on anything, mediation is almost always preferable to litigation.

During divorce mediation, the divorcing spouses will meet with a neutral mediator and their respective attorneys. This typically occurs in a low-pressure atmosphere such as the mediator’s office. During each session, the divorcing couple will negotiate every item their divorce entails line by line. Most couples will find that this approach to the divorce process is less stressful and more fulfilling than litigation. Additionally, mediation is an excellent way to keep your divorce entirely private. When you litigate, everything said in court becomes public record. By contrast, everything said in your mediation sessions will remain completely confidential.

Mediation allows you and your spouse to have more control over the outcome of your divorce instead of leaving the final results in the hands of a judge, and you can customize your divorce agreement to suit your personal preferences more closely. While you cannot resolve every divorce-related issue in mediation, such as child custody and child support, you can still negotiate many factors that would otherwise require weeks of litigation. Ultimately, mediation can save both of you time, money, and stress when it comes to finalizing your divorce.

Once you have decided to end your marriage, it is vital to secure legal counsel as soon as possible. The attorneys at the Johnson Law Group are ready to provide the compassionate and responsive legal counsel you will need to navigate your divorce case successfully. If you are prepared to discuss your divorce with a Fort Collins divorce lawyer, contact us today and schedule a consultation with our team.