Fort Collins Family Law Blog

Can you divorce later in life and still have a retirement?

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

Sometimes, couples can make it through multiple decades of working life and raising a family together only to near retirement and realize that they will not enjoy one another's company anymore. No one should stay in an unhappy marriage solely for financial reasons, but many couples at or near retirement age find themselves doing exactly that.

Couples become so worried about the quality of life they may be able to secure during their golden years with reduced retirement savings that they end up compromising that quality of life by staying in a marriage that makes them miserable.

Tips to help children live between two homes after your divorce

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

One of the most significant changes that children go through when their parents divorce is having to learn how to live between two homes. They won't see both parents daily, and they will have to split their time. These big changes can make it very difficult for them to handle.

There are many ways that parents can help their children to adjust to having more than one home. One of the most important is that you need to ensure that your child isn't dealing with stress related to the transition times.

Are you interested in adopting your stepchildren?

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC on Sunday, August 25, 2019.

When a parent marries a new partner with no biological relationship to their children, that individual becomes a stepparent. Being a stepparent is a beautiful thing. You get to play an important role in the development of the children in your life. You can provide them with stability, financial resources, guidance and love.

Those are the same exact things that biological parents provide to children. The only difference is that you choose to do it selflessly for someone who does not have a direct genetic relationship to you. Over time, you may develop a close bond with your stepchildren. If you feel like you want to provide them with the security that comes from a legal relationship, you may want to consider stepparent adoption.

A prenuptial agreement can help if you divorce in the future

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in Prenuptial Agreement on Friday, July 26, 2019.

There's nothing more exciting than planning your wedding. While doing so, it's important to turn your attention to the future. A prenuptial agreement can benefit both you and your spouse, so it's something you should discuss before your big day arrives.

For many people, the biggest issue with a prenuptial agreement is discussing it with their partner. It's never easy to have this conversation before your wedding day, as it can look like you're already planning for divorce.

Gaining the confidence to proceed with a divorce

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in Divorce on Saturday, July 20, 2019.

It is very common to feel trapped within a marriage. Marriage is not simply a relationship that you can walk away from when things get tough. It's not only emotionally binding, but it's legally binding, too. While deciding to proceed with a divorce should never be taken lightly, it is important that all spouses who are unhappy in their marriage dare to take the appropriate action.

If you want to file for a divorce but feel too worried about the many challenging aspects, it's important that you take the time to fully reflect on your situation. You likely have many conflicting emotions and concerns, which can be confusing. The following are some things you should consider when building up the courage to take action.

Parental kidnapping: Here's what you can do to prevent kidnapping

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in Kidnapping on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

There are some cases of parents who go against every parenting plan and custody order they're given, choosing instead to take their children and flee. They hide where they're going, and sometimes leave the country.

The parent who is left behind has no choice but to seek help for a parental kidnapping. Parental kidnapping occurs when a parent violates a custody order and holds the children "hostage." The other parent usually has no idea where the children have gone or where the parent is.

Filing an uncontested divorce can help you keep costs low

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in Uncontested Divorce on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Divorce can have a strong impact on your financial stability. Not only do you have to split all of your assets with your ex, but you also have to pay for the time you spend in court and with each of your individual attorneys.

Divorces can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, and the process is much more expensive if you have to have protracted court battles about important issues. For some couples about to divorce in Colorado, filing an uncontested divorce could be a way to minimize the stress and expense involved.

Teen conflict: Handling your teenagers as you go through divorce

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in Family Law on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

Teenagers are nearly independent. They're approaching the age when they need their parents less and less. This independence may be spurred on more quickly if you and your spouse divorce.

When you go through a divorce, children may feel they need to do more for themselves right away. Why? Some teens may feel it will reduce conflict if they can take care of themselves without bothering either of their parents. Others withdraw and try not to stand out, so they can avoid having conversations with their parents.

How to ask for divorce without making things worse

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in Divorce on Friday, April 26, 2019.

If you plan on asking your spouse for a divorce, it's safe to assume that your marriage is already on the rocks. For this reason, you have every right to have concerns about what will happen when you finally muster up enough courage to bring this topic to light.

There are several steps you can take to ask for a divorce without making things worse. Here are five things you should consider doing:

Prepare yourself: Don't ask for a divorce on a whim, but instead prepare accordingly by thinking long and hard about what you want to say and how you'll react as the conversation progresses.
Choose the right time and place: This goes along with proper preparation, as choosing the right time and place will provide the setting necessary to have one of the most important conversations of your life.
Don't walk back: Once you ask for a divorce, your spouse may do everything in their power to get you to change your mind. It's okay to hear them out, but if you're 100 percent sure that divorce is the solution to your problems, you should stand firm. Providing false hope during this conversation is never a good approach.
Don't discuss the details of your divorce: Even if your spouse wants to discuss details, such as those pertaining to property division and child custody, you should avoid doing so. Neither one of you are in the right frame of mind for this conversation, so put this off until the actual divorce process is underway.
Expect the unexpected: Maybe your spouse will go along with your request for a divorce because they feel the same way. Maybe your spouse will begin to cry. Maybe your spouse will become aggressive. You need to expect the unexpected, to ensure that you're properly prepared.

Does your child's other parent undermine you?

On behalf of Lunt & Associates, LLC posted in child custody on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

Developing your parenting style and values is difficult under any circumstances, but dealing with a co-parent who undermines your relationship with your child is exceptionally hard. Often, this behavior is simply something that you must overcome or ignore, but not if your co-parent's behavior violates your rights.

Direct parenting time interference can occur when one parent keeps another parent from spending time with their child as outlined in their custody agreement. Indirect interference, on the other hand, may not steal your time, but may attempt to manipulate your parent-child relationship or undermine your authority.