Post Decree Matters

You’ve litigated your divorce or your custody action and everything should now be completed, right? Wrong. Especially when children are involved, it is a rare case that does not have to go back to court at some point in the future for modification. The legal age of emancipation in Colorado for the termination of child support is age 19 (barring some exception circumstances). The court may continue to review and modify parenting time and decision making in the future when circumstances change. Parties often try to craft parenting plans that prevent any future changes in parenting time or child support when they represent themselves in an original divorce or allocation of parental responsibilities action. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the court retains jurisdiction (the ability to modify these orders) because we simply can’t foresee what will be in the children’s best interests in the future. The standards the court has to use in modifications may change depending on what prior proceedings have occurred, but if children are involved, it’s a safe bet you may have to go back to court at some point after you thought everything was completed. It is rarer to modify property settlements or order from a divorce but there are rare circumstances where it can be done.

More commonly, parties may seek modifications of spousal support orders. It is important to these post decree modifications how the original orders were entered and what agreements the parties made. Rikeman Law is dedicated to providing effective and zealous advocacy to parties facing post decree modifications of parenting time, child support, property orders, or spousal support orders.

Contact Rikeman Law to schedule a free hour long consultation to discuss your rights.