Denver, Colorado Family Law Firm

If you are seeking legal representation for matters concerning family law in Denver and the surrounding areas, look to an experienced law firm with a proven ability. Look to McGuane and Hogan.

For more information about a practice area, click on the heading.

Divorce

Our goal as divorce lawyers is to listen to your needs and concerns and, based on our many years of experience, suggest an array of options. We promise to be strong advocates when necessary, but we will not start a fight where a battle is neither wanted nor warranted. For example, some families may come to a divorce attorney with matters such as child custody already decided, but still having questions about asset division. In cases like these, our civil, principled approach is calculated to produce the maximum benefit with a minimum amount of stress.

Asset Division

Asset division in divorce is complex and requires an attorney with knowledge of accounting, asset valuation, tax issues, and other financial matters. It also requires an attorney who knows what family law judges tend to do in certain situations — although judges are never entirely predictable.

Child Custody

The umbrella term for child custody and visitation in Colorado is "parental responsibility." Parental responsibility includes two components: Decision-making, which relates to the time the child spend with each parent. This terminology includes educational, medical and religious decisions; and Parenting Time, which avoids the win-lose mentality of child custody and visitation.

Child Support

Colorado child support guidelines are based on the combined monthly gross income of both parents, before taxes or any other deductions. The guidelines will show an amount for one child, two children, or three or more children based on combined monthly income and the amount of time (meaning overnights) the child or children spend with each parent and other financial matters.

Maintenance (Spousal Support)

Spousal support, or alimony is called maintenance in Colorado law. Maintenance may be awarded in a Colorado divorce or legal separation. However, no Colorado formula or guidelines specify how courts should deal with the final resolution of questions such as whether a spouse should receive support, how much that support should be, or how long it should last. As a result, spousal support is often varied in Colorado divorce settlements, and requires careful preparation.

Mediation and Arbitration

A mediator or arbitrator is a neutral third person who helps the two parties in a divorce resolve issues such as asset division, child custody and support, and spousal support out of court. A growing number of courts require mediation before trial of disputed issues. In mediation, the neutral mediator does not get to make any decisions if disputes are not resolved by agreement. By contrast an arbitrator does make decisions on disputed issues. Mediation or arbitration can be particularly useful when only a small number of issues remain to be resolved to reach a divorce settlement, or when the parties prefer to resolve their family law issues in a non-public way.

Collaborative Law

Collaborative law is a relatively new way to resolve divorce issues such as asset division, child custody and support, and spousal support out of court. The hallmark of the process is a commitment by all involved to resolve the issues without litigation.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Our attorneys have the background necessary to prepare and review prenuptial agreements. These agreements can be important when one or both partners have significant assets, wish to protect assets for prior children, or anticipate a sizable inheritance in the future.

Family Law Appeals

If a family law matter seems to have been decided incorrectly in the trial court, an appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals or the Colorado Supreme Court may be an option. Our lawyers at McGuane and Hogan, LLP, are experienced in all aspects of family law appeals.

Estate Planning

The end or the beginning of a marriage often marks a time when estate planning arrangements should be made or reexamined.

During our estate planning consultations with you, we will listen closely so we can understand your family and your desires. Every family is unique. For example, some families have children from prior marriages whose interests need to be protected, or family businesses they wish to pass on to children.

Contact the Denver, Colorado family law firm at McGuane and Hogan, LLP.

The divorce lawyers at McGuane and Hogan, LLP serve clients throughout Colorado, including Denver, Aspen, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder, Steamboat Springs, Vail, Grand Junction, Adams County, Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Jefferson County, Broomfield County, Eagle County, Pitkin County, Gunnison County, El Paso County and Garfield County