Arvada Child Custody Attorney

If you are a parent facing a child custody case, you may be unsure where to turn for honest advice and legal guidance. Making decisions about your children is stressful and can be emotionally overwhelming.

At Danielsen Westhoff, PC, we understand the difficulties parents must confront when dealing with a divorce, child custody modification, parentage case, or any other issue involving their children. We also know how hard it can be to work through these matters with your co-parent. If you are going through a child custody battle, contact our child custody attorneys today for a free initial consultation.

Why Choose Danielsen Westhoff, PC, for Your Child Custody Matter?

The Arvada family attorneys at Danielsen Westhoff, PC, want to help alleviate the anxiety you have about the legal facets of your situation. We can offer you forthright advice regarding the strengths and weaknesses of your case and prepare you for each step of the legal process.

If child custody is part of a larger legal issue such as a divorce or legal separation, the Arvada divorce lawyers at Danielsen Westhoff, PC, can represent your interests in those matters as well. We also offer stand-alone services to help meet every budget.

Regardless of your circumstances, you do not have to face your child custody case alone. Reach out to Danielsen Westhoff, PC, today at (720) 739-1770 to schedule your confidential child custody consultation.

Child Custody in Colorado

Colorado does not use the term child custody. Instead, Colorado refers to child custody as the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities.

Parental responsibilities are separated into parenting time and decision-making responsibilities. These may be held by one parent alone, both parents jointly, or some combination of the two.

Physical and Legal Child Custody in Colorado

For parents to share parenting time responsibilities (physical custody) jointly, each parent must have more than 90 overnights with a child per year. Parenting time responsibilities include meeting a child’s daily physical, emotional, and social needs.

Decision-making responsibilities (legal custody) of a child allow a parent to make important life decisions for a child such as their:

  • Religious upbringing
  • Medical care
  • Schooling
  • Extracurricular activities

Typically, parents who can cooperate in the best interests of a child can share decision-making responsibilities jointly.

The Best Interests of the Child Standard

In Colorado, all child custody decisions are based on the best interests of the child.

Except in cases where a parent is a danger or threat to their child’s health, safety, or welfare, a child’s best interests include frequent and continuing contact with both parents.

When a child is at risk of harm by a parent, the court may require any parenting time to be supervised or deny parental contact altogether. Colorado’s best interests of the child standard is outlined in Colorado Revised Statute Section 14-10-124.

The court will examine these statutory factors before making a child custody order:

  • The wishes of the parents
  • The wishes of a child of sufficient maturity
  • Any existing familial relationships
  • The child’s ability to adjust to their home, school, and outside activities
  • The mental and physical health of the parents
  • The ability of each parent to encourage the sharing of love and affection between the child and the other parent
  • The prior involvement of each parent in the child’s life
  • The geographical distance between the parents’ homes
  • The ability of the parents to make joint decisions and cooperate
  • The ability of the parents to place the child’s needs above their own
  • Any history of child abuse or neglect
  • Any history of domestic violence between the parents

No preference is given to parents based on gender.

Contact an Experienced Arvada Child Custody Attorney Today

For more information on child custody in Colorado, contact an experienced Arvada child custody attorney at Danielsen Westhoff, PC. Our attorneys provide quality, dedicated representation that is customized to fit your legal needs.

Danielsen Westhoff, PC, wants to help you and your family. Contact us today for answers to your child custody questions. Call us at (720) 739-1770 or contact us online to get started today.