Ideally, all assets should be divided out between you and your husband or wife. This includes the marital home, even if only one individual contributed to its purchase or acquisition. The division of assets is usually based on the financial needs of each person.
How is property split in a divorce in Colorado?
Colorado is not a community property state in a divorce. Colorado is an equitable distribution state, which means property will be divided by the court in a manner that is deemed fair to both parties, but not necessarily equal, if spouses cannot come to a resolution on their own.
What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Colorado?
A wife has the same rights as her husband to seek her fair share in divorce matters, such as property division and alimony (spousal maintenance). Each of these issues is determined separately during divorce, with its own guidelines and factors to consider.
Can my spouse sell our house without my consent in Colorado?
Sometimes both spouses own a home and the deed lists both as owners. Other times, only one spouse owns the house. In either instance, the answer is “no”. One spouse cannot sell the couple’s residence without the consent of the other.
Is Colorado a 50 50 state in a divorce?
No, Colorado is an “equitable distribution” state, not a “community property state”. Meaning that your house — a marital property — is not automatically divided equally (50:50) during the divorce. Instead, the judge analyzes your personal circumstances and suggests a “fair” division.
Is it better to file for divorce first in Colorado?
The person who files for divorce first in Colorado won’t automatically have different rights or a stronger divorce case. The courts will give equal consideration to the claims made by petitioners, those who are first to file, and the respondents, their spouses.
Does Colorado require separation before divorce?
Couples do not have to be legally separated before filing for divorce in Colorado, and in fact, some divorces are started while the parties are still living together. If tensions are running high in the home, we often recommend that one of the parties move out while the divorce is pending.
Does infidelity affect divorce in Colorado?
Because of Colorado’s “no fault” status, adultery no longer has a major effect on divorces. A spouse may use adultery as a source of satisfaction during the filing process, but it generally has little impact on alimony, child custody, or property division.
Does Colorado have alimony?
Alimony, or “maintenance,” as it’s referred to in Colorado, ensures that the basic financial needs of a disadvantaged spouse are met after a divorce. It’s typically imposed only if there is no other feasible source from which the support needs can be met.
What is considered marital property in Colorado?
Colorado is a marital property state, not “community property”. That means that the assets and debts acquired during marriage (i.e. the marital estate) should be divided equitably between the spouses upon dissolution of marriage, legal separation or annulment.
How is spousal support determined Colorado?
According to a 9News report, Colorado courts calculate the alimony amount by taking 40 percent of the higher gross income and subtracting 50 percent of the lower gross income. The difference is then divided by 12 to determine the monthly alimony payment.
What are my rights if my name is not on a deed but married in Colorado?
If the wife’s name is not on the deed, it doesn’t matter. It’s still marital property because it was bought during the marriage. This makes it marital property and is still split between both parties. The wife is entitled to receive either equal share or equitable share of the house.
How do I protect my home in a divorce?
In many cases, the simplest way to keep the house in a divorce if it still has a mortgage is to refinance. The best-case scenario is for you to refinance and remove the mortgage from your ex’s name altogether. You’ll need to qualify for the mortgage on your own, so make sure to have all your financial ducks in a row.
Am I still entitled to half the house if I leave?
In short, yes. However, this is rarely advisable if the family home is owned by you and your spouse jointly as you will both have the right to occupy the property unless a Court orders otherwise. If one party temporarily leaves the family home, they still have the right to return and gain entry.
Who has to leave the house in a separation?
Where the home is in one person’s name only, the other may still be entitled to stay, even if the owner objects. If the couple are married, the spouse not named as owner still has a right to stay in the marital home and ‘occupy’ it. They can register their Matrimonial Home Rights with the Land Registry.
How many years do you have to be married to get alimony in Colorado?
Requirements for Spousal Maintenance First, you must be married for at least ten years. Second, you must show that you are unable to support yourself. Lastly, you must show that your spouse is able to support you. If you meet these requirements, then you may be eligible for alimony in Colorado.
Is spouse entitled to 401K in divorce?
California is a Community Property State This means that assets obtained during the marriage are divided in half upon divorce, including retirement savings and pension plans. In the case of a 401K or another type of plan, a spouse is entitled to 50% of the plan’s acquired value during the course of the marriage.
How long does a Colorado divorce take?
Most divorces in Colorado take about 6-9 months to complete, depending upon the issues involved, and especially upon whether they are contested or not. There is no one set of procedures that will apply to every case, since the necessary steps will depend upon the specific issues in your case.
How much does a divorce cost in Colorado?
The cost of filing a petition for dissolution of marriage in Colorado is $230.00. The cost of filing a petition for allocation of parental rights (custody case when the parties are not married) is $225.00. It then costs $116.00 to file an answer to the petition.
Can you date while separated in Colorado?
Can I date while legally separated from my spouse? According to Colorado law, while you are legally separated from your spouse, you are still technically married. You can date other people without violating bigamy laws. Colorado is a no-fault state which does not consider fault in reasons for divorce.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Colorado?
On average in Colorado, standard representation can range between $230 and $280 per hour but one should expect to pay more for an experienced attorney who specializes in divorce and family law. This is close to the national average.
How long do you have to be married in Colorado to get half?
After 20 years of marriage, the courts will order duration for closer to half of the total length of marriage. After 30 years of marriage, the courts are more likely to award permanent alimony. A judge, however, will have ultimate jurisdiction over all alimony arrangements in Colorado.
Do both parties have to agree to a divorce in Colorado?
In Colorado, you do not need the consent of your spouse to obtain a divorce. You simply need to show that the marriage is irretrievably broken. If your spouse is denying this requirement, be prepared to attend court-ordered mediation or even possibly counseling.
Is adultery illegal in Colorado?
In fact, Colorado case law explicitly says that adultery is not a legally recognized reason for divorce. At one point in time, adultery was a criminal offense in Colorado.
What is considered abandonment in a marriage in Colorado?
First, there is no such thing as abandonment under Colorado law. Colorado is a no-fault divorce state. So, if you do decide it is best to move out, your spouse cannot, in most cases, use this against you in a child custody dispute.