Colorado Joint Child Custody Laws
Joint custody rulings in Colorado are a little different than in other states. If you are going through a divorce and there are children involved, it is important to understand what happens in family court. Knowing what decisions need to be made in joint custody situations will help make the process less intimidating for all involved parties.
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Shared Custody
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Colorado judges strive for shared custody solutions rather than traditional joint custody. Shared custody involves both parents sharing equal time and financial responsibility for the child.
Child Support and Shared Custody
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In shared custody, the parent who makes more money will be required to make payments to the other parent. It is not official child support, as both parents are splitting the cost of child rearing.
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Shared Custody Decisions
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Parents work together with a judge to set up a shared custody schedule. Teens are allowed to give input on the schedule but adults make the final decision.
Joint Legal Custody
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Joint legal custody in Colorado is different from shared custody. One parent has most of the parenting time and responsibility but both parents have the right to make decisions in the best interest of the child.
Determining Shared, Joint, or Sole Custody
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The best interests of the child are always at the heart of determining custody. When one parent is unfit, the other will receive sole custody.
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