Facing a challenging legal endeavor can quickly become overwhelming, especially for those with limited experience with court cases. The legal system in Colorado and other states is divided into distinct courts, each serving a particular purpose. For instance, the criminal court focuses on punishing wrongdoers and deterring others from committing crimes due to the threat of penalties, such as imprisonment. But what about the family court and civil court in Colorado? What are the differences between the two types of…

Divorce is always a source of emotional and legal distress. Still, it’s particularly challenging when parents share children and harbor contentious feelings toward each other, use conflicting parenting methods, and struggle to communicate and compromise effectively. The Colorado courts prioritize a child’s best interest in all decisions related to family law, divorce, and child custody, including when appointing a parenting coordinator or decision-maker to assist parents in navigating the terms of their custody agreement. This is a tool used by…

We’re honored to announce that five attorneys from Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C., have been recognized as 5280 Magazine Top Lawyers for 2026, a prestigious honor determined through a rigorous peer-review process. 5280 is Colorado’s largest circulated magazine and is now in its 12th consecutive year featuring a Top Lawyers list in their publication, with approximately 550 area attorneys selected each year. This year’s recipients include: Cynthia L. Ciancio – 7-time Top Lawyer winner Loren M. Brown – Top Lawyer recognition…

In Colorado, spouses who choose to go their separate ways have two paths. They can file for divorce or choose a legal separation as a temporary solution while deciding the future of their marriage. A legal separation in Colorado provides the same rights and protections as a divorce, with legal terms for child custody, child support under the state’s guidelines, the division of assets, and spousal maintenance (alimony) when appropriate. During a legal separation in Denver, the spouses live apart…

Facing divorce is an emotionally distressing and legally complex prospect. It can also quickly become contentious when one or both spouses become defensive over assets to which they feel they are entitled or wish to prevent a spouse from keeping during the separation of assets required by Colorado divorce law. While this is a common reaction to divorce, if the urge to protect assets leads to hiding assets in a Colorado divorce, there can be adverse consequences, including the other…