Four Things That Could Delay Your Colorado Divorce Timeline

Approximately half of all marriages end in divorce, and when you have decided to end your marriage, you probably want to get things finalized as soon as possible. 

Unfortunately, multiple factors could have an impact on how fast you can get divorced. Here are four of the top things that delay Colorado divorce timelines.  

Child Custody Disagreements

One of the most significant points of contention in any divorce is child custody. Some spouses have trouble putting the best interests of their children first. They care more about spiting their soon-to-be ex. You will need a divorce lawyer who will put you and your children's needs first so your spouse doesn't take advantage of this challenging time in your life. 

There are several different types of custody agreements, and the longer it takes you to formalize a child custody agreement, the longer it will take for your divorce to be finalized as well. This also puts additional stress on the children throughout the divorce, so it’s wise to hire a lawyer who has ample experience in contentious child custody issues. 

Child Abuse or Neglect Accusations

If either or both parents have been accused of abuse or neglect of their children, this will also delay your divorce proceedings. Instead of focusing on your divorce settlement, police investigations into the abuse will need to be done, and child protective services will need to investigate and interview the whole family. 

The outcome of these accusations could have a dramatic impact on your child custody dispute. If one spouse is found to have abused or neglected their child, it could adversely affect that parent’s ability to be awarded joint physical and legal custody of their child. If both parents are found to have abused or neglected their child, the children may be placed in the care of another family member, legal guardian, or in foster care. 

Child abuse and neglect accusations are serious and not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, it is not unusual for one parent to make false abuse or neglect claims against the other parent in the hopes of gaining an advantage in their child custody and divorce proceedings. Your attorney will fight tirelessly to prevent you from being taken advantage of and wronged in this way. 

Active Military Duty Away From Home

If one or both spouses are on active military duty outside of the state of Colorado, you could expect your divorce proceedings to take considerably longer. 

There have been increases in the ability to use telecommunications in the family court system. But we may still need to rely on mailing systems worldwide to make sure that both spouses have access to the documents they need to finalize the divorce. 

Depending on where you or your spouse is stationed, it could take a considerable amount of time to finalize active military duty divorce proceedings. 

Hidden Finances

One of the most significant roadblocks that stall divorces in Colorado is when one spouse attempts to hide financial information and funds from the other. 

In some cases, assets can be relatively easy to hide, which is why you’ll need an experienced divorce attorney who knows where to look to unearth these hidden assets. Some common assets people try to hide when they divorce include: 

• Insurance policies

• Bonds

• Stocks

• Annuities

• Municipal bonds

• Real estate

• Collectibles

• Expensive art

• Vehicles and boats

• Expensive jewelry

• Cash

• Traveler’s checks

These are just a few of the different types of assets your spouse may try to hide in the divorce. Divorce lawyer Mitch Geller will search for any and all hidden assets and finances your spouse attempts to hide. But doing so may take time, which can delay a finalized divorce. 

Get Help From a Colorado Divorce Lawyer Today

When you want to move forward with your life, you need to take action against these complicating factors that could make your divorce that much more difficult. Make sure you have a talented Colorado family lawyer by your side to assist you throughout your divorce proceedings. 

Schedule your initial case review with attorney Mitch Geller when you call our office at 720-696-7897. Or fill out our online contact form, and we will reach out to get started on your case.