Skip to Content
Offices In Colorado Springs, Pueblo, And The Denver Metro Area
Top
Child's Best Interest

Protecting a Child's Best Interests in Colorado Courts

How Divorce Impacts Kids

Divorce can be an incredibly challenging experience for everyone involved, but this is especially true for children. Watching their family fall to pieces, they often suffer considerable emotional trauma and distress as they wonder what the future holds. The months and years following the divorce can also be highly stressful, as they struggle to adjust to life with parents who live apart, possibly splitting their time between two homes and often dealing with the fact that their parents on not on friendly terms. The family law courts in Colorado Springs and throughout the state attempt to soften the impact of divorce by seeking an arrangement of child custody and visitation that serves the best interests of the children.

How is the child's best interest determined?

State law specifically addresses this subject with Colorado Revised Statutes ยง14-10-124 (2012), "Best interests of child." The law considers that it is beneficial for both parents to play a full and active role in the lives of the children, provided that this will not place the children at risk of suffering any type of emotional or physical harm.

Factors that the judge is directed to consider when determining what type of custody arrangement is in the children's best interests include the following:

  • Each parent's wishes, as well as the wishes of the child, provided that he or she is mature enough to express such a preference
  • The quality of each parent's existing relationship with the child, including the amount of time spent with the child and the parties' level of interaction
  • What is the child's current level of adjustment to school, the home, and the local community
  • Each parent's physical and mental health (though a parent's disability is not to be used as a prejudicial factor)
  • Each parent's willingness to foster a loving and meaningful relationship between the child and the other parent
  • Any history of domestic violence or child abuse
  • How willing each parent is to place the child's needs ahead of his or her own

Similar considerations apply both in allocating the amount of time that the children will spend in the physical custody of each parent, as well as awarding authority for making important decisions affecting the children's education, health care, and similar matters.

How a Colorado Springs Divorce Attorney Can Help

At Clawson & Clawson, LLP, we fully understand just how important it is for you to maintain your role as a parent and to ensure that your children's best interests are served both during and after the divorce. When we represent a parent in divorce, we take every possible precaution to avoid a lengthy and heated custody battle that has the potential to cause everyone involved a great deal of emotional distress.

Our goal is to make a powerfully compelling case on your behalf to demonstrate to the judge that it would be most beneficial for your children to spend as much time as possible with you and for you to be given a large say in making important decisions about their upbringing.

Let us put our skill and dedication to work for you. Contact our Colorado Springs divorce attorneys now for a free consultation.

Hear From Our Happy Clients

At Clawson & Clawson, LLP, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

    "The only law firm I would recommend"

    I want to take this time to say thank you for all the work Mike, Tammy, Brenda and all the rest of your office staff. I was ...

    - Rose and Bryan
    "Honest, great family guy!"

    I was injured on the job in 2006, and due to improper care from Workers Comp I developed CRPS. I had Mike Clawson for my ...

    - Donna Baumann
    "Best in the Business"

    They treated us with respect, kindness, compassion, and had integrity in all they did.

    - Christy
    "They were very professional and reliable."

    I recently had the pleasure of working with the law firm of Clawson and Clawson regarding an injury I sustained during a ...

    - Ann
    "In a word - Outstanding!"

    Matt Clawson was simply outstanding! He was always responsive, seemed to take personal care of my divorce, and was ...

    - Former Client
    "Excellent Law Firm"

    I do believe my attorney Matt Clawson, has been given a gift from Lord God to protect women and help them through a divorce process.

    - Kathryn P.
    "I liked the fact that after giving me guidance, they encouraged me to attempt to find a way forward by myself to reduce their fees and avoid court costs."

    I liked the fact that after giving me guidance, they encouraged me to attempt to find a way forward by myself to reduce their fees and avoid court costs.

    - Terry
    "I am very satisfied with my results. I'd definitely recommend them!"

    I am very satisfied with my results. I'd definitely recommend them!

    - Former Client