Are you thinking about divorce, but afraid of the lengthy process? There are things you can do to get a faster divorce in Colorado. Learn more.
Whether You Can Get A Faster Divorce In Colorado Depends On You – And Your Spouse
No matter how intense and wide-ranging their differences may be, local couples ending their marriages usually have at least one thing in common – the desire for a faster divorce in Colorado.
After months or years of conflict, resentment, sadness, anger, or even just growing apart, the last thing most spouses want is a long, drawn-out divorce process that further taxes their emotions and finances. While not every divorce can get on the fast track, and not every couple can get on the same page, there are you can increase the odds of getting a faster divorce in Colorado.
Here are five tips to help move the divorce process forward so you can turn the page and get started on the next chapter of your life.
Understand Where You Stand
When preparing for divorce, knowledge is power, and preparation is key. This is particularly true regarding family finances and the couple’s individual and collective economic circumstances.
Spousal maintenance, child support, property division, and asset valuation are often some of the most complex and contentious in a divorce. And in situations where one spouse has more knowledge of or control over the couple’s financial affairs, the opportunity to engage in underhanded tactics such as concealing or diverting assets can make things even more complicated.
That is why your divorce attorney will want to get as much information about your finances as possible, and you’ll want to have as much of that information in your hands when you start the divorce process. If you can spare your lawyer the time and expense of gathering all of the material, you are on track for a faster divorce in Colorado.
Keep Your Emotions In Check
While some partners can part ways amicably and approach the divorce process in a businesslike way, most people struggle with the range of intense emotions that come with the end of a lengthy relationship. Those feelings can often be harmful, destructive, or self-defeating.
You may not be able to control how your spouse manages their emotions during the divorce, but keeping your emotions in check can prevent the process from unnecessarily going off the rails. Allowing your feelings to control your decision-making or cloud your judgment can make it harder to resolve differences and increase the odds that you’ll do something that could backfire and make your situation worse.
Seek support and get the help you need to manage your emotions instead of letting them muck up the proceedings.
Resolve As Many Differences As You Can
The biggest key to a faster divorce in Colorado is the extent to which spouses can resolve core issues such as child custody, support, visitation, and property division and valuation. More agreement means less fighting and fewer issues that require the judge’s intervention to resolve, all of which will lead to a faster divorce in Colorado.
In the best case, you and your spouse agree on all significant issues in the final settlement agreement. If you do so, you may be eligible for the cheaper – and faster – process called an “uncontested divorce.”
Of course, reaching an amicable resolution on core issues can be difficult, if not impossible, for some couples. This will, unfortunately, lead to lengthy court fights and may make a trial necessary to conclude your divorce, adding months (or even years, in cases of extreme contention) to the process.
Related: Divorce Mediation: Is It Right for You and Your Spouse?
Hire An Experienced Divorce Lawyer Who Understands Your Situation and Goals
In divorce and other legal disputes, lawyers should balance protecting their client’s rights with efforts to reach a favorable resolution. A divorce lawyer should be a fierce advocate but also a skilled negotiator. To do all of these things, your lawyer must know Colorado law and the divorce process in your specific County courts and understand your needs and concerns.
Additionally, they must be able to work professionally and productively with opposing counsel and the judge so that petty or irrelevant issues and arguments do not distract from the goal of concluding the matter fairly, equitably, and as quickly as reasonably possible.
Start The Process Sooner, Not Later
Even when spouses agree on every issue, Colorado law still requires a 91-day waiting period between the date a spouse files the divorce petition and the earliest possible date the court can issue a final divorce decree. If you are looking for a faster divorce in Colorado, the sooner you get the ball rolling, the sooner you will reach the finish line.
Faster Divorce in Colorado Starts With One Call
Ending a marriage is never a pleasant experience, no matter how long a couple has been together. You need a compassionate and experienced advocate who will actively protect your interests while understanding your desire to put the ordeal behind you as soon as possible.
If you are considering divorce, contact the divorce attorneys at Perkins Law in Colorado Springs today. We look forward to helping you move forward with your life.