For married parents who are planning to get a divorce or unmarried parents who are separated, issues related to their children are among the most important matters that will need to be resolved. Determining how you and your children's other parent will share responsibility for making major decisions while also addressing where children will live and when they will stay with each parent can be a complex undertaking. Whether you are looking to work together with your soon-to-be ex to reach an agreement on these issues or need to address these matters in the courtroom, you will need a skilled and experienced family law attorney on your side.

The team at Pesch Law Office PC understands that addressing issues related to the custody/parenting responsibilities of children can often be a difficult process, and we are here to offer the legal help and support you need. We will ensure that you understand how the law applies to you and your options for addressing child custody disputes. We will work to calm any fears that you may have and address concerns about your children's safety and well-being. Throughout your case, we will advocate intentionally to help you reach an outcome that protects your children's best interests.

Legal and Physical Custody of Children

In Colorado, child custody is referred to as the "allocation of parental responsibilities" (APR). These responsibilities are divided into two categories: decision-making responsibility (formerly known as legal custody) and parenting time (also known as physical custody or visitation). Courts recognize that in most cases, it is best for parents and children to have close and continuing contact, and divorcing spouses or unmarried couples are encouraged to share in parental responsibilities and make sure children can maintain loving and supportive relationships with both parents.

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During a child custody case or APR case, parents will need to create a parenting plan that addresses how parental responsibilities will be allocated. This agreement will detail how parents will divide or share different areas of decision-making responsibility, including decisions about children's education, medical treatment, or extracurricular activities. It will also include a schedule for parenting time, specifying the days and times that children will spend time with each parent on a daily basis as well as on holidays or during vacations from school. A parenting plan should also address how parents will transport and exchange children for parenting time purposes, how parents will communicate with each other about child-related issues when a parent can communicate with children during the other parent's parenting time, and any other child-related decisions.

Ideally, parents will be able to work together to create a parenting plan that provides for their children's best interests and considers the past parenting responsibilities between the parents. They may do so through negotiation or mediation. If parents cannot reach an agreement, each parent may submit a proposed parenting plan to the court, leaving the final decisions about child custody (APR) up to the judge in their case. When determining how to resolve these issues in a way that provides for children's best interests, a judge will consider factors such as the wishes of the parents and the children, whether each parent is willing and able to encourage children to have a loving relationship with the other parent, and whether the parents' previous level of involvement with their children demonstrates a commitment of time and mutual support toward meeting children's needs.

Contact Our Attorney Handling Cases on Parenting Plans in Jefferson County

At Pesch Law Office PC, we believe in helping parents find amicable, cooperative solutions to child custody disputes. We can help you work with your soon-to-be ex-spouse to create a parenting plan that you can both agree on, but if necessary, we are prepared to represent you in the courtroom and advocate for your children's best interests. To get the legal help you need in your child custody case, contact us today by calling. We work with divorcing and unmarried parents in Denver and the surrounding metro area, including Boulder, Columbine, Broomfield County, Denver, Arapahoe County, Golden, Weld County, Boulder County, Littleton, Jefferson County, Douglas County, and Highlands Ranch.