Parenting Arrangements

Colorado Springs Child Custody Lawyer

Where the children will reside is often the most difficult decision in a divorce case. Sometimes, both parents feel that they are the better parent and that the children should live primarily with that parent. Results are fact driven. If you are the superior parent, we must devise a strategy to convince the court that your children should live primarily with you. Often it is appropriate to have an evaluator review the circumstances of where the children should live and report to the parties and to the court.  

Sometimes, the parents agree that it is more appropriate for the children to live with one or the other parent. Sometimes, the parents agree that they should co-parent; that they should essentially jointly and equally have responsibility for raising their children. The age of the children, the children's activities and the geographic locations of the parent's residences contribute to the result. The key thing to remember is that the children usually want to see as much of both parents as possible.

Remember, that under Colorado law, all decisions affecting your children are made using the best interests of child standard. Despite the parties' differences, all parents should be guided soley by this standard in making decisions concerning their children.

Whatever your situation, Royal A. Martin, P.C. can represent you with the objective of protecting your rights and your ability to have a fulfilling and enriching relationship with your child.

Call our firm at (719) 473-7373 to arrange a consultation. Attorney Royal A. Martin can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and discuss how our firm may be able to help you.

Royal A. Martin represents clients in all types of parenting arrangement matters, including:

How the Court Decides

Legally speaking, the term for child custody in Colorado is now allocation of parental decision-making responsibility. The courts differentiate between decision-making responsibility and parenting time, and tend to favor joint decision-making by both parents for important areas of the child's life such as education, religion, and health care. However, in appropriate cases, courts will grant sole legal custody to one parent. Often, the parents will agree on the allocation of parental decision making. If they cannot agree, the court can impose a solution. In that situation, a strong presentation of the facts by an attorney may help to advance your position in court.

But joint decision making does not mean that the children spend and equal amount of time with each parent. Instead, the parenting plan may designate a primary residential custodian, or the parents may agree to a parenting time schedule where they equally share time with the children. Probably the most effort, emotion and time in divorce cases is spent on parenting time issues. Which parent gets how much with the children. In that situation, a strong presentation of the facts by and attorney may help to advance your position in court.

The principal of our firm, Royal A. Martin, has 18 years of experience in family law matters. He understands how courts make assessments in child custody and visitation matters. During the divorce process, we can negotiate child custody and parenting time matters with the attorney for the other parent. If we cannot successfully agree on custody and visitation arrangements for any reason, our firm will present a strong and persuasive case on your behalf.

Our overriding goal is the achievement of a solution that furthers your goal, protects your rights and provides for the well-being of your child.

For a consultation with Royal A. Martin, call (719) 473-7733, or contact us online.

Royal A. Martin, P.C.
320 South Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO  80903
Phone: (719) 473-7733
Fax: (719) 473-9271

Serving clients in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the surrounding areas, including the cities of Security-Widefield, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Woodland Park, Black Forest, and Falcon, and Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Academy, and Schreiver Air Force Base. 

El Paso County •Teller County